Bearshorty's musings

I went to sleep late again, I can’t seem to want to go to sleep earlier than 1 or 2 lately which is not good. And today, since we are in Yeva’s place and my parents usually go to sleep at 10pm, that will be a problem. Maybe, I’ll read Kindle with my night light.

Yeva actually woke me up after 8am when she called to make sure we remember to bring pillows and other things since she moved most of her stuff to her boyfriend’s this summer. I finished packing, added a pillow, took a shower, ate breakfast and then helped Papa put garbage bags over books. He is not worried about TV or anything breaking or flooding – he is just really worried about his books. I also took my big cross stitch paintings off the walls and put them face down on the floor in case the windows blow in or something. Basically, many precautions that I hope won’t come to anything.

We left about 10am and the sky was already gray and it was raining a bit. Got the keys from Yeva and settled in to her place. She just has antenna TV so it was basically news about Irene on all the time. I can’t believe some people actually think the hurricane is great for surfing. I’m just glad we have power today so I can use my computer. There is internet and I can watch Netflix too.

I did work this afternoon and figured out my syllabus for the writing classes. (Which involved read many many articles from the new textbook.) I’m going to start with Kristof and WuDunn’s “The Girl Effect” (which is an intro to one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read in the last few years), then go to Gladwell and his pretty erroneous thoughts on Twitter and revolution, then on the Sherry Turkle’a “Alone Together” and robots and sex and whether we lose authenticity is attaching ourselves to technology and forming connections with and through technology. (I have a feeling my students might like it.) The fourth reading will be Slater and the ethics of brain implants for physiological problems and the fifth reading will be the one I taught before: Lisa Belkin’s “Made to Order Savior” about the ethics of having a child to be a genetic match and donor for a sick older sibling. I will figure out the final exam reading at the end.

I also put together the first day writing sample, which is basically to see if the students can understand what they read. And the reading guide for the first reading. I’m set for next week.

In the evening I also caught up a bit on National Geographic and read the article on Cleopatra and the search for her tomb in the July issue.

One thing the hurricane Irene is preventing is me watching the new episode of Doctor Who. I did look at some spoilers, though. And I found that someone already made a hilarious YouTube video of Hitler rant about the latest Doctor Who episode “Let’s Kill Hitler.”

Wow, this article describing in detail what exactly middle class is in America is scarily really describing my parents. I mean I knew we are middle class but still. And my parents came to America at the age of thirty six and completely started over and in a new language too. Which always reminds me that anything is possible. But, of course, both my parents have college engineering degrees and are smart, especially Papa, so it is no surprise that they can relearn and be smart at new professions too. And Mama is shrewd with money so she could save up for a house after five years in America. My parents, for all their dysfunctions, actually make a great team because they balance each other out.

Today Papa had a day off (he has to take the remaining vacation days from last year before they disappear) so they can drive me to school. This was I could actually go to the library and take care of things and stay until five without anyone having issues with it.

I went to the writing program campus first, where the director I wanted to see was on vacation. But I saw one of my folder reviewers and had a nice chat. No full time next year – too many budget cuts and many full timers are actually getting fired. Instead, the University generously is allowing PTLs to teach five courses per years instead of just four. That way they can hire a bunch of part time people, pay them less and with no benefits. Joy. So I left my part time form in the directors mailbox and will probably just do that again in the fall.

After that I took the bus to the main campus to the library where I had access to a printer, which I used generously and actually had a nice productive day. By the end of the day (with a break for pizza, as it is Passover next week and I’m filling up on bread), I also went through journals to see if I missed any articles or book and I found a great book from 2008 all about London courts, which will be very useful. And being in the library just reminded me how much I love being in the library and being scholarly. I always feel so at home there. It is a nice feeling to be reminded of who I am after sitting at home for so long.

When I got home the neighbor kids were out playing and they wanted me to play jump rope with them. I taught them a jump rope game I played as a child – you just ten times with both feet, nine times running, eight times on one foot and so on and then you do it backwards. I used to be damn good at that game and even now, with my center of gravity being different and with jumping being much harder is was still easy to impress seven year olds. Then as I had enough of jumping and wanted to go for a walk, the neighbor girl wanted to walk with me, so after we checked with her Dad we went for a walk. I was telling her some mythologies stories like about Perseus and I was mightily amused at her reactions to them. She never heard of Greek mythologies and couldn’t at first understand the concept of many gods. “But there is only one God” she told me bewilderingly, trying to correct my misconception. It took me a bit to get her to understand that people used to believe in many gods and told stories. At her age I used to already read about it. But she doesn’t read much as I don’t think her parents encourage her.

Today is Bear day as Bear came to visit. The weather was a bit gloomy and rainy and sleepy but it is always a good day when I can spend it with Bear.

We were talking about that new Jamie Oliver project, of making kids in schools in VA eat properly at school lunches. I was in England when he did this there and it was just as shocking to watch just how ridiculous school food has become. In Virginia, the kids were getting pizza for breakfast! I hope Jamie Oliver can make some sort of impact there. It is not about the weight of people, it is about eating food that is recognizable food.

Mama got Russian lotto (a game like Bingo) on Brighton on Saturday so when she came home from work she kind of roped Bear and me to play a little. That was actually kind of fun. I called numbers out in Russian so Bear could practice hearing them and recognizing them more. His Russian is getting pretty good. (He is on Chapter 20 out of 30 of his Russian textbook now).

After that we watched “Zombieland” which was entertaining. I give it 4 out 5. Bear didn’t really like the characters that much so he liked the movie less than me, but the movie had its moments and definitely was good for a mild afternoon. After the movie, I tried to push my weather and period induced crappy feelings aside to go out, first to Toys “R” Us to get some toys as presents to take to Minsk (and I just loved getting toys, I will so spoil the kid) and then to Indian restaurant. We do have this Indian place nearby that has amazing rice. I was yawing on the way to the toy store and my head was a bit heavy and pressurized in the store, but once we started eating and the rain outside finally started pouring and I had Advil, I felt like a human being once again. We capped the evening by going to the comic store next door to Indian place. It was a very nice day by the time it was over.

I got the letter for PTL for the Writing Program from University today; I will have to fill it out soon.