September 7
Time management is mostly weeding.
1980
Now I really must get back to work! My classes are in gear and my thesis is at the typist, and there is more work to do. It’s a little difficult to get started. My new office mate at least has a fresh start here. I have so much baggage left over from being a grad student.
1988
Whew! The year is underway, at last. Kiddo 1 is in a 2/3 combination class with a teacher she already adores. She is more excited and enthusiastic about school than I have seen in a long time, and that is great to see. Mrs. W has a good reputation for being creative, organized, and interested in math (yay!). Looks like we lucked out.
I met with my class for the first time, and we had a very lively discussion. Lots of fun and good ideas, which has made me less worried about the course (a little). I’ll feel better when I have taught the course once through. I also met with the new dean this afternoon, which turned out to be a very pleasant experience. She’s just a few years older than I am, with three children (the youngest is four). We share some of the same views on the future of Human Ecology, and really hit it off. She’s the sort of administrator I could even be friends with.
Now if she’d only make me the associate dean. (Ambition rears its ugly head.)
1989
The Costume Society of America papers are moving along. Now I need to know who the other reviewers are so I can send them off. Then comes the ACPTC schedule; one master copy and it's off to Fran. When those two jobs are done it will be a big relief!
Comment 2023
I no longer volunteer with any professional organizations. Now THAT’S a big relief!
1997
My first busy weekend of the school year…yet I managed to make it somewhat relaxed. By using the time that Kiddo 1 is in class to go for a swim, and by saying “no” to an acquaintance’s anniversary party. Which would have been nice, but just one more thing to do. Time management is mostly weeding.
2004
Yesterday was a very productive day. I actually did a fair amount of the planning and writing I needed to do. I did not exercise, which I also needed to do. But at least I am feeling more caught up. Would have gotten more done except there was a “What Not to Wear” marathon on all day.
I really am deep in empty nest-ness, alternately loving it and feeling empty and melancholy. Raising my kids was a BIG part of my life, and the day-to-day was both a burden and a joy.
2016
2016
I used to joke that I wrote a poem a decade. That should make them easy to remember, right? So it was a bit unsettling to find this poem tucked in an old notebook, dated July 2007. I have no recollection of writing it, and no idea what was on my mind at the time. Apparently I penned it after walking the then-new labyrinth at the University of Maryland.
Labyrinth
My arms ache for you,
Your youth
Your giddiness
Your serious facade
Your tears
I ache to hold you
hug you
comfort you
I held you in the wordless night,
My fingers tracing your fingers and wiping your tears,
gathering in your frayed ends.
My arms enfolding your fragile soul.
Eyes memorizing your skin and hair.
Eyes meeting yours and diving deep within.
Who can hold you now?
Who can look into your heart?
Only you.
I promise this:
Your arms will be warm enough.
Your touch will be gentle.
Your eyes will be caring.
Your voice will be strong enough.
To hold a child against your loving heart,
To sing love songs to the lonely world.
To love yourself
To hold yourself
and then another...and another...and another.
2016
Another poem lost and found. This was stuck in my Facebook memories for today.
Fountainside
It's not an island harbor,
And this bench can't rock.
Sparrows, not seagulls.
But there are voices
Murmuring women,
Chattering children.
Smiles and clear blue sky,
And best of all, water.
2017
Yesterday was an excellent day. I got up early with Jim, drove him to work, and then went to Steppingstone Farm to meet with the curator to discuss helping out with their collection. I ended up spending about 90 minutes moving their costume collection to new storage. Then I drove home, stopping for fried cod and hushpuppies (!!) at Maryland House. When we got home, I did an interview with a Dutch journalist about pink and blue (what else?).
Comment 2024
One of my retirement ideas was to spend more time volunteering in local costume and textiles collections. It didn’t last.
2023
Gack! Another day in the nineties. I consolidated all my errands for the week and jammed them into yesterday, so today I get to stay in the AC. Today is opening day for Jawan, the latest movie from my age-appropriate movie star crush. I have tickets for Sunday, hubba hubba. Maybe I need to warm up with one of his other movie before then… Jab Harry Met Sejal? Chennai Express? Chalte Chalte? Or just the hotel scene from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna on a loop?
Comment 2024
I have just spent the last week collecting video clips and trailers for a talk about Indian films. It was a HUGE effort not to just use all Shah Rukh Khan movies.
2024
Whoops! Here comes a fresh poem!
Seasonal change
Mistaken for Fall,
after her morning shower
does Summer feel sad?
Keep this up and you’ll be conscripted into Poetry-Stack!