![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
20 Cheshvan/7 November, 2009
Nov. 7th, 2009 11:00 pmThe House is voting on the health care bill as I write this. This is quite exciting, voting actual legislature in action that might pass even a crappy health bill. At least this will be a step in the right direction. Right now they are voting on various amendments. (They just passes abortion amendment bill- argh. Well if this is the compromise. I do find it interesting that they are voting on late Saturday night.
This morning I woke up after 6:30 because I was too nervous about my conference paper, I think I was having dreams. So I just turned my computer on and looked over my Kalamazoo paper, since that went fine and this paper has a similar methodology and got a bit reassured that I have a brain. (Lately it doesn’t seem so, I forget names sometimes and need to think longer about it, I’m getting old). Then I looked over my paper for the last time and just read my “Miracle on the Hudson” book. I think I changed shirts couple of times before heading down to breakfast for the most professional look.
After free breakfast I finally met Lindsay and our commentator (whose books I read and liked). Then we headed to our 8:45 panel. I was happy to be first so I could get it over with. I liked Lindsay’s paper but our other panelist while smart was a bit more theoretical for me. It was how discourse regarding women was used in the 18th century corruption trial. The Commentator then did a tremendous job of talking about our papers together, bringing up comparative studies of times and space and optimism and pessimism about women’s rights in law and jurisdictions. That just started a great discussion. Afterwards a medieval historian who gave a paper yesterday on Joan de Valence talked to me and gave me suggestions. The fact that she took me seriously was a great validation. Later at lunch Advisor told me that he liked my paper and how I presented it and how I answered question. He never gives false compliments so that made me happy. The best part about the morning panel was that is was over by 10:30 and I could relax a bit.
I went to another panel on religious women which was entertaining. There were two interesting papers and one not too much, too literary. But I could actually understand a lot of it because of my book review of Sanok and I actually gave the suggestion of this book, which was cool.
Then came time for expensive lunch with Plenary Address by a historian of aristocratic women. The lunch was actually pretty good – a salad, salmon, potatoes and beans and chocolate cake. I mostly talked to Advisor and I asked him what he does as chair the most, that was quite a fun inside look into the department and what goes on in departments. The talk was good, involved lots of tombs. (I told Cat about this later, because my knowledge of the subject comes from her).
After the plenary address I headed back to my room. I couldn’t bring myself to go to another session, I was tired and I needed to grade. I read a bit and took a nap after talking to Bear. Then I managed to grade four papers until Cat and her fiancée came.
It was so good to see her and to meet her fiancée. I haven’t seen her in forever. We went to an English pub called The Pub where I got Ale (yes, an alcoholic beverage that is sort of like beer. It is weird how I like ale for the most part but can’t stand beer) and English breakfast type food. After a big lunch, I was not in the mood for a lot of food again and eggs, sausage, mushrooms and toast and beans sounded about right. We chatted for two hours about various topics like languages and history stuff. Cat’s fiancée was a trooper to let us catch up and talk and just watch the football game in the background. He was very caring toward Cat and they were very good together so I’m very happy for them and I’m glad she found somebody so right for her. I just wished we could have hung out longer but I understand that they had quite a drive home.
When I got home and realized I was no longer in the right grading mood and I wanted to watch something I tried the TV. There was really nothing on. While contemplating buying more internet time I remembered that I brought “Veer-Zaara” with me, a Bollywood movie that Marianna gave me to finish in June. We first watched it as a group on Seder in April, but Bear and I had to leave with the Intermission. I wanted to finish it in a while but just couldn’t get to it. So I finally finished it now. While overdramatic and preachy at times (all about India-Pakistan relations) it had its nice and romantic moments of star-crossed love. The scene where they are saying goodbye because she is getting married the next day for her family and he knows it is the right thing but it is breaking their hearts was very mushy. Overall, there were some nice songs too and I enjoyed it.
Now I will watch the historic vote or I might just go to sleep. Tomorrow I have one last panel and then I will have to fly home. And I need to grade and grade and grade. This conference is making me feel like a productive human being again and I’m glad I could come and manage by myself for a little while.
This morning I woke up after 6:30 because I was too nervous about my conference paper, I think I was having dreams. So I just turned my computer on and looked over my Kalamazoo paper, since that went fine and this paper has a similar methodology and got a bit reassured that I have a brain. (Lately it doesn’t seem so, I forget names sometimes and need to think longer about it, I’m getting old). Then I looked over my paper for the last time and just read my “Miracle on the Hudson” book. I think I changed shirts couple of times before heading down to breakfast for the most professional look.
After free breakfast I finally met Lindsay and our commentator (whose books I read and liked). Then we headed to our 8:45 panel. I was happy to be first so I could get it over with. I liked Lindsay’s paper but our other panelist while smart was a bit more theoretical for me. It was how discourse regarding women was used in the 18th century corruption trial. The Commentator then did a tremendous job of talking about our papers together, bringing up comparative studies of times and space and optimism and pessimism about women’s rights in law and jurisdictions. That just started a great discussion. Afterwards a medieval historian who gave a paper yesterday on Joan de Valence talked to me and gave me suggestions. The fact that she took me seriously was a great validation. Later at lunch Advisor told me that he liked my paper and how I presented it and how I answered question. He never gives false compliments so that made me happy. The best part about the morning panel was that is was over by 10:30 and I could relax a bit.
I went to another panel on religious women which was entertaining. There were two interesting papers and one not too much, too literary. But I could actually understand a lot of it because of my book review of Sanok and I actually gave the suggestion of this book, which was cool.
Then came time for expensive lunch with Plenary Address by a historian of aristocratic women. The lunch was actually pretty good – a salad, salmon, potatoes and beans and chocolate cake. I mostly talked to Advisor and I asked him what he does as chair the most, that was quite a fun inside look into the department and what goes on in departments. The talk was good, involved lots of tombs. (I told Cat about this later, because my knowledge of the subject comes from her).
After the plenary address I headed back to my room. I couldn’t bring myself to go to another session, I was tired and I needed to grade. I read a bit and took a nap after talking to Bear. Then I managed to grade four papers until Cat and her fiancée came.
It was so good to see her and to meet her fiancée. I haven’t seen her in forever. We went to an English pub called The Pub where I got Ale (yes, an alcoholic beverage that is sort of like beer. It is weird how I like ale for the most part but can’t stand beer) and English breakfast type food. After a big lunch, I was not in the mood for a lot of food again and eggs, sausage, mushrooms and toast and beans sounded about right. We chatted for two hours about various topics like languages and history stuff. Cat’s fiancée was a trooper to let us catch up and talk and just watch the football game in the background. He was very caring toward Cat and they were very good together so I’m very happy for them and I’m glad she found somebody so right for her. I just wished we could have hung out longer but I understand that they had quite a drive home.
When I got home and realized I was no longer in the right grading mood and I wanted to watch something I tried the TV. There was really nothing on. While contemplating buying more internet time I remembered that I brought “Veer-Zaara” with me, a Bollywood movie that Marianna gave me to finish in June. We first watched it as a group on Seder in April, but Bear and I had to leave with the Intermission. I wanted to finish it in a while but just couldn’t get to it. So I finally finished it now. While overdramatic and preachy at times (all about India-Pakistan relations) it had its nice and romantic moments of star-crossed love. The scene where they are saying goodbye because she is getting married the next day for her family and he knows it is the right thing but it is breaking their hearts was very mushy. Overall, there were some nice songs too and I enjoyed it.
Now I will watch the historic vote or I might just go to sleep. Tomorrow I have one last panel and then I will have to fly home. And I need to grade and grade and grade. This conference is making me feel like a productive human being again and I’m glad I could come and manage by myself for a little while.
