Kizz asked for the booklist for my British Novel class, and as this is the class I’ll be using the blog for once or twice a week, I thought I’d post it. We’ll be blowing through these books about one a week as well as our other assignments. This is a Block One course, which means it’s double time and finishes at mid-term.

 James Joyce and A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man.

Ford Madox Ford’s The Good Soldier

Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

E.M. Forster’s A Passage To India

D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterly’s Lover

Evelyn Waugh’s A Handful of Dust

Graham Green’s Brighton Rock

Flann O’Brien’s At-Swim-Two-Birds

 

Have you read any of them? Did you read them because you were in a class and had to or of your own volition?  Did you have any struggles with comprehension, boredom, vocabulary, writing style? Were you engaged by the novel? Which one, if any, on this list incite an “Ohhhhhhh that was sooooo goood” response out of you? Why?

I’m getting through Joyce. Determined is my word of the day. I’m also convinced that if I were in Dublin, and just a little drunk, and perhaps throwing leg at some hairy Irishman, this might read faster. . .

buuuuuuuuut that’s just my opinion.

Yesterday was a big fat brain day.

I knew it would be. I knew that after yesterday, I would blink and it would be mid-term, I would blink and it would be Christmas. Seriously.

Leaps and bounds were made in the name of Progress, however. I do love that.

My first class is going to be amazing. Five minutes into it and I was already wishing that I could take more courses with her, that she had taught my Southern Women class, and that I wanted to ask her to be on my thesis committee. She is the former dean of our Liberal Arts college and she stepped down in order to get back to doing what she loves, which is teaching students. This was her first class and man, she was in sync! LOVE! I have a huge break from 1-5:45 on Monday and Wednesdays and I will be using that time to do work on campus and meet with my thesis prof. I went and found him, Professor Hayes, in his office and we set up to chat a little later.

That meeting was awesome. I enjoy him so much. We settled on a thesis topic. Did you get that? WE SETTLED ON A THESIS TOPIC!!!

Should I post it here? Is it a secret? I don’t know. I’m writing over the works of Flannery O’Connor. And we set up a plan (I do love a plan) to meet every Monday. I have a reading assignment before our next meeting. We laid out the timeline that I’ve initially sketched out and both agree that it’s going to be a bitch, but whatever. I’m not here to get my nails done, I’m here to get my degree. If it were easy everyone would have one. (do you even RECOGNIZE ME from the girl a year ago??? I laugh. It’s crazy.) So, that felt good. Progress. A Plan. An assignment. Boom.

We also spoke of ph.d programs, and finding the right one, and the GRE exam. I feel anxious about the timeline for this. But whatever. It will either work out, or it won’t. If it does then hurray. If it doesn’t then something will happen that will put me on a path. Hurray again.

I think I got a glimpse of my online prof. I was talking to another student (remember when I went days w/o talking to anyone? I talked to LOTS of people yesterday! I knew them and talked and sat next to them…Ahhhh) and we both just looked at stared openmouthed. It was kind of like a Bigfoot sighting. “He’s real” said my friend, awe in his voice. I’ve got so much reading to do for that class that my eyes may cross. I’ll be cracking that book after paying bills this morning.

While I was sitting in the common area, organizing, reading, ordering extra books, someone plopped down beside me at the table. I looked up and it was my prof from the first class! We talked and talked, I explained about my impending trip to San Diego and that I just made the choice and would miss two of her classes, and we arranged a way for me to work online while out there. Then Prof Hayes plopped down and we three started chatting. I could weep. It felt the most like USAO in that moment. A student walked up to our table and asked “us” if we could show her where the bathrooms were. It was a small thing, but in looking back, another sign that tells me that community is the place I want to be.

My night class is Literary Criticism. That in itself sends shivers down the spines of every student to walk the halls in the Liberal Arts Building. The reputation of the professor and the class and the tests and the lectures have a life of their own, so large, so fearful, so negative that  I was really shaky  before class. (also I’d only had two Cliff bars all day long. that didn’t help) The class, I’ll tell you, is what I thought graduate level classes would ALL be like. The professor reminds me of my friend Brad. So I’m no longer fearful of him. He runs a tight ship. That’s fine. It’s an all graduate level class. That’s good, too.

I don’t remember what literary theory, if any, that I’ve had. So, I ordered an extra introduction book that he mentioned in lecture. This is going to be one that bends my brain in ways heretofor unknown. I’m ok with that…but it’s a little scary. If I lose the 4.0 it’ll be because of this class. I’m determined to work that much harder.

This morning I’m paying bills. Tax bills, house bills. Reading. I have to go up to campus and buy another book. Do more reading. Get prepped for tomorrow’s classes.

First, I’m going to go for a walk. It’s beautiful outside. And I need some fresh air.

Happy Tuesday, yall. I love your support and I love George Clooney.

Today begins my last year working on my Masters. I am very aware of the hurdles that are ahead of me. Deadlines. Tests. Applications. Letters of recommendation. Trips. Fall Break. Ph.d programs.

I am very aware of what lies ahead.

I am very aware of what unknowns will be known this time next year.

I am a different person that I was at this time last year.

Peaceful.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not always at peace. I’m cranky. Overworked and cranky it seems every weekend. It’s my choice. I choose to work every weekend. I chose not to give myself time to go to Arkansas before school started. I wish I hadn’t but that’s what I did. I wish I had planned a weekend to spend with friends this month but I’m working and that’s my choice. I’m focused on the reason for savings and full speed ahead. My cranky hangs out some, but hopefully the peace replaces it and it’s easier to be around me.

It will be better in September because I know I’ve got time with Cindy and friends planned, I’ve got family time in California planned. October brings Harvest Fest at Fall Break, right after mid-term.

Today however, is a day of firsts.

First day of school and for many, a new school. My girls in Florida are navigating around a place they’ve been for 14 days. I have no doubt that they will shine bright, but I’m nervous for them. Wonderboy begins his adventures in middle school today. Not gonna lie, I cried a little about him this morning. That’s a big damn deal.

They will all survive. To be sure. But that first step into the unknown is always a bitch, isn’t it?

It’s time to get up, pack my backpack with fresh supplies, (FRESH SUPPLIES!) and run to Walgreens. I’m completely out of shampoo. The irony is not lost on me. Noon class today then meetings with advisors, working online (Remember I’m going to be using this space to post assignments for class from time to time) then my night class.

It’s time to leap.

It’s time to begin. again.

I may never recover from the weekend. I’m exhausted. But in a good way, from work and making money and prepping for the week.

The salon was busy this past week and I bartended back to back weddings Friday and Saturday nights, with last night’s being off the hook busy and fun and late and busy. I only slept about 4 or 5 hours and woke right up bright and early this morning. I tried to sleep but gave up, got up and made coffee and sat on the couch awhile willing my throbbing feet and body to wake up.

I made a quick trip to Bed Bath & Beyond and used my fabulous collection of 20% off cupons to get a few things that I needed, like replacement pads for my Shark steam mop. Man I love that thing. Sarah mentioned a few days ago that she was getting one and made me get mine out. Of course I couldn’t find the cleaning cloth pads so that’s why I haven’t used it much. I’ve pulled a Marilyn and put them in a  “safe place.” Anyways, I got the floors cleaned and mopped and vacuumed. I’ve got to change the sheets then I’ll be finished.

I went out to Laura’s for a Back To School gathering by the pool and spent a few hours with the girls, snacking and laughing and just enjoying some time together. She and I start school tomorrow…last day of play.

I tried to take a nap but only for about 40 minutes. That’s ok because I’ve got steak and veggies that need prepping and Michael is coming over for our Breaking Bad tv time. He had a shitty shitty week and mine almost ate me so tonight, we feast and we reboot for the week.

Hope you’re doing the same

I’ve printed off my first syllabus for the school year. My online class is The British Novel 1900-1940. This is a Block I class so it will be balls to the wall until mid-term then end. I am suddenly face to face with the break neck speed that life is moving towards with each passing day.

I will be using this blog as part of my class from time to time. Just a warning for the 5 of you that read daily. I’ll let you know when I’m posting an assignment. But I’d rather just work here, where I’m comfortable, than go build a whole new blog that won’t be used again after the class ends. I’m excited about the different types of work and projects that are involved with this class. I’m excited about the novels that I’ll read, only one that I’ve read before. Once again, I am sad that this isn’t a classroom class. After two online classes this past summer, I know that’s where I excel and relate.

Lionel Ritchie is on the Today Show.

This requires no more typing and fresh coffee.

Also, let me once again just say:

Game. of. Thrones.

lord.

I had an entire passage written regarding healthcare and insurance and seeing the doctor. Several of us have been dealing with that and in turn, writing about it. My mom has been dealing with pain, several kinds of pain for a long long time now. But I deleted it. I’m firmly in the camp of “if you have health insurance and are not going to the doctor to procure a healthy future? shame on you.”

I went on to hemm and hawww about this variable and that variable, making sure that I was sitting firmly across the fence, one leg on either side so as not to offend anyone.

Fuck that.

If you have insurance, and you aren’t using it to firmly procure a healthy future:

shame. on. you. peroid.

In other news:

I’ve begun watching Game of Thrones. I plowed through three hours last night. Another hour today. Yeah…it’s as good as everyone has said. I need to get back onto the treadmill while I’m watching. That didn’t happen this morning. Sigh.

Back to work today. My week gears up on Wednesday and doesn’t stop. Weddings both Friday and Saturday nights. I’m getting burnt out on that. But it helps to have the goal of trips to work for. Don’t I say that ever post? It seems like I do. Burnt out. School next week. Arranging meetings with advisors. I was incredibly lazy Monday and Tuesday. I don’t care. That’s pretty much it for my do nothing days.

I bought tickets to see Anthony Bourdain on my birthday weekend. I’ve got tentative plans to be out of town for that, if I do I’ll sell my tickets…but if that doesn’t work out I’ll go see the man tell some stories. It’s the same venue that I saw David Sedaris, and I’m excited.

I love having things on my calendar to look forward to.

The air conditioner was fixed yesterday, easily. So easily. There were two discoveries. Apparently something became dislodged-my guess was when the roof was being repaired- and apparently there’s been some carbon dioxide leaking into my house. It couldn’t have been much, I mean I have a home with little to no effeciency, but it’s not a sieve. There’s not a gust of wind blowing through it. And I have an alarm…

Which I discovered was out of commission because I never got it hung on the wall with the fire alarm and Kikimama peed on it. Them. Peed on them.

Alarms don’t mix with Kikimama pee.

I’m buying new ones today.

The other was just a sort of plug that had become unplugged.

“Everything in here is just awkward” says my guy.

He above anyone understands this house. Or has come to learn to not expect any understanding with this house.

BUT! It’s cool. It’s working. I don’t have to deal with replacing a unit in August.

Onwards and upwards.

I bought a case of roasted Hatch Chile yesterday and came home, skinned them, course chopped them and put them up for the winter. It was a process and by the end my hands were burning. I’ll wear gloves for the next case. After having some last winter, and haphazzardly freezing and using them, and then experiencing them for real in New Mexico this summer, I don’t ever want to go without. Ever.

Last night Michael came over for our Breaking Bad date,(IF YOU AREN’T WATCHING THIS SHOW YOU’RE MISSING OUT ON THE BEST…THE BEST THING EVER PUT ON TELEVISION) and I made green chile burgers with Hatch chile monterray jack cheese and chipotle mayo. He brought over some jalapeno and cheese buns. I made some jicima lime salad. We ate and moaned and ooh’d and aaah’d. It was the most amazing thing. I got a case of hot this time. I think I’ll mix it up and get some medium or mild for when I’m entertaining people who can’t take the heat…not that I entertain much anymore but one never knows.

I do have plans to have people over Labor Day weekend. I need to get the word out. Cindy is coming down, some college friends are coming from other parts. The weather has been just lovely, enough that a back yard night seems perfect. I think chile burgers on the grill would be perfect for that!

But first we must tackle Back To School. This time next week I’ll be in the thick of it. Trying to get my head wrapped around that by resting this week, getting things marked off my list so that I can focus. My boys in Arkansas start the same day I do. Wonderboy will be in MIDDLE SCHOOL. Holy shit. Wonderbaby is in PreK three days a week. I don’t even know how to process that information. I miss them. I wanted to try to get over there before school starts but with all of my weekend work, and other work…Blagh. not yet. Maybe after San Diego.

Today, I’m heading out to buy new alarms, and to get some seeds for the garden. Time to pull out the old and prep it for fall crops. I’ve got some reading to do, laundry to hang, sheets to change. I’m nesting. Prepping for the arrival of a new school year…a final school year.

I should probably watch the last two weeks worth of True Blood first.

 

My air conditioner went out yesterday.

The timing was less than perfect.

Two more days and we’d have hit another break in the weather that is supposed to come with rain and temps so low they seem Fall’ish.

Few more weeks and I’d have had windows that opened throughout the whole house so that the beautiful morning low temperatures could seep in. There’s not a breeze stirring, so the two windows I did open last night didn’t help. I didn’t feel safe keeping the back door wide open so I slept as long as I could with a wet towel draped over me and the fans going…but the fans…ugh. Just blowing around the thick, dead air. I’m up now, gritty eyes, weary body, but the doors are open. All of them and it’s so nice outside that hopefully the house will cool down. It was 90 in here when I went to bed last night. It’s cooled of to a frosty 88 presently.

My guy Mark is coming to service it today. Hopefully before it heats up again. The poor cats are just flopped everywhere. Kikimama looks like a wilted southern belle.

This unit…I’ve been baby-ing it since I bought the house. Literally the week that I moved it, it started breaking. It’s just one of the things my batshit Realtor/seller air conditioning guy who checked it-not my current savior but another one– screwed me on. If I was going to pay the full price to get the house (which I did) and the closing costs (plus extra) I should’ve had a new heat and air unit. But no one advised me on that. And I did this thing by myself. And as a first time home buyer I just didn’t know any better. That doesn’t make that “you’re stupid for not demanding this” voice go away.  So. For five years, every summer, I live in fear that it will break. Every year, for five years, something has happened and it’s been fixable.

I’m hoping that this  is fixable, too.

Why not just get a new unit and duct work, you ask?

Surely. I’d love to. But nothing is easy with this house. Every service guy I’ve had out here that’s looked at the old unit just cringes and speaks with wonder at its age, and begins to spin the yarn of impossibility when the time comes to replace it. So I’m paranoid about it.

Yet…surprisingly calm. I’m not freaking out. I know that today will bring answers, one way or another. Any repairs and upgrades that I make this year, should I sell it next year and move, will help drive the price, and I will honestly be able to look someone in the eye and say “it’s a good house…godspeed.”

Until that day, I’m going to go make me some iced coffee ala my soul sister Linda (who called yesterday with all kinds of information from one of their a/c specialists in New Mexico)–I’m going to go outside and lay in my hammock, and soak up the morning before the sun fully wakes up.

Yesterday was devoted to finishing another book…have you read A Discovery of Witches by Diana Harkness? I just finished the second in the series called A Shadow of Night. I really like them. Today will be devoted to getting the house cool, calling insurance to tie up loose ends re: repairs, and who knows what else.

The Olympics are over. School is beginning this week for many. Mine begins a week from today. There’s a lot of change this week. Change that is much easier to handle with cool temps! So, here’s hoping!

 

Woke up to glorious weather this morning. GLORIOUS. I turned off the a/c, opened the doors and am sipping coffee in a morning breeze. Every morning should be this way. It makes all the difference in my mood.

Since I banged every single head of every single client last week, this week has been light. And I’m ok with that. People are gearing up for school, there are things to be done, rescheduling, all of it. That being said, I’ve just got one haircut with Bonusmom mid-morning, and I’m ok with that.

Good news for Mom’s hip. No surgery! It’s a little fracture, she’s to stay off of it, use the walker, and manage her pain, and it will heal on it’s own. Thankful beyond measure for the no surgery! WOOT!

 

There’s laundry to be done, and the back room needs organized and cleaned. Clean sheets on my bed. It will feel good to get that finished. I think, too, that I’ll take today to do some garden work. My peppers are still going, but the rest of it needs to be cleaned out. Most of all, I’m going to go see Audra’s new house! They’ve been busting their humps to get moved today. I’m so thankful that the temps are agreeable for them on this final day. She’s got a brand spankin new grown up house. I couldn’t be more happy for her and Joe. I love this life they’re carving out for themselves. You know that stock phrase that parents say…”I just want my kids to be happy”…well I have always just wanted her to be happy. Wholly happy. It does my heart good to see her in this new life. It means I get less time because she’s got someone to share it with, and that is as it should be. If I didn’t love Joe so much, I’d be jealous. As it is…I feel just like a proud parent.

 

In the spirit of getting things marked off of my list, I had contractors out to the house yesterday. There is still hail damage (not talking about my thighs here, folks) that needs fixing. After some looking and talking we three decided the best thing is repair a few little things, then put the rest of the money into ALL NEW WINDOWS!!!

I’ve been trying to get this done since I bought the house almost five years ago. I am so so so happy. It’ll take two weeks to get them in after ordering, then just a day to install. I’ve only got 8 windows, so hopefully it’ll be an (dare I say it?) easy job. I can’t even imagine what it’ll be like this Fall, with my windows OPEN, then in the winter, when I don’t have to cover them in shrink wrap to keep the heat from escaping. Lord. So excited.

These things make me happy this morning. I hope you have some things that make you happy too. Take a minute and think about them. Quit grumbling. Quit thinking about how it works out for everybody except for you. Just Quit.

And think about what makes you happy. . . for just a minute.

Glorious, isn’t it?

Mom’s hip is NOT broken. It’s torn a bit, but requires no surgery. Just the use of a walker for stability and allowing it to heal. WHEW. That’s brilliant news. I know she’s banged up and bruised and feels like hell, but the thought of hip surgery was putting some wicked stress on her, so I’m thankful that’s out of the picture.

I’ve got to take the GRE.

I didn’t have to take it to get into my masters program. But it looks as if I’ll have to take it to get into a ph.d program.

I am overwrought with anxiety about this.

But I have sent out the call, and am getting great information in regards to prepping for the test. There’s a Kaplan Prep Class that is stupid expensive, but is really really thorough. My friend Lilli said she would’ve never gotten into grad school without it. I’ll have to take the test sometime in October, in order to get results back and admissions into programs by the deadline of December 15th, 2012.

SO.

That’s where my brain is focused right now.

I don’t really have test anxiety. But this one is kind of a big damn deal. I want to do well.

Have you taken it?

What’s the last standardized test that you took?

What’s your brain focused on this week?