voncookie | August 31, 2006
I was going to write a post about my feelings about being rejected from the dissertation workshop (my writing sample ended up being insufficient for admission to the course), but then I realized that would be a better entry for my “serious blog”. Now I have to decide what to put on this blog today [...]
voncookie | August 31, 2006
I was asked recently, as a requirement for admission to a dissertation writing workshop, to write a chapter in about 4 days time. The reason for the collapsed timeframe was because I had missed the deadline for the submission of that chapter, which was 15 August. I missed the deadline not because I was lazy, [...]
voncookie | August 29, 2006
Hey y’all: Thought I’d share my latest playlist with you. It’s called the “antidisestablishmentarianism mix” because that’s always my response to “¿cómo se dice ‘disenfranchisement’ en español?” I think it’s a good summertime amusement mix. Mostly fluff, good sunbathing (does anybody do that anymore?) tunes. There’s a philosophy that I have when making mixes: they [...]
voncookie | August 29, 2006
Well, at the very least I made my *huge* group of students with very critical expressions on their faces chuckle a little bit when I taught Spanish 25 for the first time yesterday. Describing myself as “un poco rebelde” when it came to my dissertation topic seemed to amuse them a bit. And it’s true. [...]
voncookie | August 25, 2006
When I started my studies in Spanish Literature at the University of D…., my original focus was pedagogy, because at the time, I thought teaching high school would be cool… (I can’t believe I ever thought I could cut it in the public school system.) I had to take a variety of courses, like Educational [...]
voncookie | August 24, 2006
My, my, my. When it rains in this particular life of mine, it does certainly pour. I went to teaching meetings today, and there is *much* to do over the weekend to prepare for class on Monday. Spanish 25, the course I’ll be teaching, is in need of major reconstruction, as the course coordinator informed [...]
voncookie | August 22, 2006
I’ve spent years bitching about the use of Index Cards for research projects and as study guides. I spent several months in therapy back in 2000-2001 discussing my guilt about how, while studying for my comprehensive exams at UD, I did not feel the need or desire to use index cards, but because all my [...]
voncookie | August 20, 2006
I came uponthe most amazing thing yesterday, somewhat unexpectedly, especially since I tend to pay very little attention to the academic calendar—surprising since I’m still attached to a university. This phenomenon that I witnessed, though, there really is cause to see it only once in one’s lifetime, that is, if one is careful to avoid [...]
voncookie | August 19, 2006
The Economist: Generally I very much respect this publication, but I was very dismayed when, upon opening a package from Amazon.com, a little leaflet fell out with this one word on it: Brainertainment Hmmm. I didn’t know it was an ad for The Economist until I actually opened the leaflet this morning. I thought perhaps [...]
voncookie | August 19, 2006
Grandpa, left, Grandma, right, June 2004.
voncookie | August 19, 2006
I know this may sound (at the very least) mildly insane, but I am starting to think that this whole mess with my skin is actually Divine Retribution for me spending a few months wading in the pool of vanity. A few pounds lighter, skin a little clearer, I was on top of the world. [...]
voncookie | August 18, 2006
I’m about to meet my poetry teacher from the course I did online. I’m kinda nervous! I’ll keep it quiet that I like the occasional limmerick and that I buy Hallmark cards for my grandmothers to see if they get misty.
voncookie | August 17, 2006
So you think you don’t know *any* Ancient Greek? How wrong you are!!! Check out the latest ads for Snickers bars… they’re brilliant, and they testify not only to etymology, but also to the success of the Snickers’ wrapper design…. I’ll explain. Around the Bay Area lately, I’ve been seeing billboards and entire buses draped [...]
voncookie | August 15, 2006
Mom = Joanne + adoring daughter, June 2006.
voncookie | August 15, 2006
The title of this post has been a joke between my mother and me since sometime in the late ’90s when I found a card with a cartoon of a sheep standing by a stone, and when you opened it up it said “Ewe Rock, Maa”. I nearly fell over laughing, as did my mother. [...]
