September 10

I reveal the secret of my success

1981

Sometime in the last day or so a cold snuck up on me and grabbed my nose. So now I sneeze and blow and cough. Hopefully, I’ll be better by tomorrow…the coverlet exhibit and symposium are getting closer. Mostly it’s a drag, because it wears me out. I slept very soundly last night, though, and woke up feeling better. Now that I’ve been up for 1 1/2 hours, the feeling is fading. I may minimize my work today, as much as possible.

I ran into a student yesterday who, 2 minutes into the conversation, announced that she just had what they think was rubella. I backed off at high speed. Just what I need: one more thing to be paranoid about. I wonder if my office mate is immune to rubella. Probably not. I wish I had been alerted to the time required for immunization (3 months before getting pregnant). I would have done it and had one less thing to worry about.

1985

The last hot day for a while, according to the forecast. So we just have to get through today. Last night Kiddo and I went to the mall for dinner and some shopping because the power was off at home. We had a really nice time. It is getting to be lots of fun going places with her. She’s a good companion- enthusiastic, talkative and usually well-behaved. Besides getting her some shoes, I also got some fabric and a pattern, so I can do more sewing, which I’m looking forward to. The basic plan is that I do more on campus while Kiddo is in daycare and then bring less work home for evenings and weekends. That’s the plan, anyway.

Kiddo’s new word: “Tryonian” : the person who helps you try on shoes at the store.

1993

I had two wonderful classes yesterday, both very active. I hope the students became engaged in the subject as much as they appeared to.

Next semester I will be teaching an honors seminar version of American Studies 205. Small class! Great students! Crazy schedule! Three classes again.

1996

Well, the school year is upon me with a vengeance! The two biggies – graduate director and College Park Scholars are really all over me, and taking a lot of my time and energy. Luckily, I have help.

College Park scholars is off to a bumpy start. The contra dance and  folk festival were fun for some, but not for all, and many people missed one or both, thanks to miscommunication. But it will improve!

Graduate student business? What graduate student business!! I have done hardly anything. But this week should be an improvement…

1997

This semester feels like a blessing, after the last five years. “Home” at last, teaching what I know. Doing what I enjoy - - working with students. Feeling more peaceful at home. Amen, amen. I still do too much, but the list is dwindling.The various projects are also coming together in interesting and complementary ways.

Comment 2023

Once again, I have no clue what I’m talking about. “Teaching what I know?” Was this the year I taught that course about “craft and production”? It’s too early to be the beginning of the fashion and consumer culture course. How pathetic is it that I can quote chapter and verse of so many things that pissed me off, but not one thing about whatever was so delightful in September 1997? The only thing I know for sure - thanks to my CV - is that it was the year I stepped down as graduate director and never stepped up again. Directing graduate students in American Studies was always weird.

Grad Student: My goal is to get a tenure track position in American Studies.

Jo: Great! Here’s how I did it. I got three degrees in a dying field, and accidentally got a tenure track job in one of the top programs in the country. That pushed me to publish like a crazy woman for long enough to get tenure. Then the department went upon flames politically and was targeted for elimination for being a thorn in the administration’s side. (They said it was the recession, but they also said “good riddance”.) I took no sides, was labeled a traitor by everyone, but came out smelling like a rose. I was so desirable that there were FOUR departments sending me invitations. I picked American Studies - oh, be sure there’s an AMST program available - and the rest is history. That’s all there is to it.

Grad Student: Um, okay. Thanks.

2004

Choir last night was more fun than I expected. We sounded pretty good!

Comment 2024

That was our first rehearsal with our new music director. This summer, he accepted a new position with a different church. We had an amazing, teary loveliest of a farewell party for him last Sunday. Twenty years of musical adventures! 

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