Why does telephoning make me nervous? Always has. I’ve been putting off a phone call that I was actually looking forward to having — it’s just that the idea of it made me nauseous, so I delayed, wrote more questions and thought, “maybe tomorrow.” But I did it! At last I did. I’m sure he…
Category: anxiety
Vote Today!
I don’t usually focus on politics, but today all USA-ians have the opportunity to change our country and our influence on the world. It is your duty as a citizen to get out there and vote. Of course, I have definite opinions about who are the best candidates, but my haranguing you here won’t affect…
I should have known better…
Yes, I was a glutton — three medieval classes in one term. I should add, I’m teaching three medieval classes with at least two different textbooks, so I am teaching some of the same texts in different translations (as if conveying the complexities of different parts of the Middle Ages were not hard enough!). I…
October Country returns…
I will put aside for a moment the anxiety I feel that my Halloween cards are not even conceptualised, let alone ready to send (HA HA HA). Instead I will think of all the lovely fall colors beginning to appear — more slowly up here, but much further along in Connecticut. I can’t get over…
Writing & Identity
It’s an interesting time for writers, in all senses of that word. On the one hand, print repeatedly gets declared to be dead, only to have innovations re-spark interest in the written word (if not dead tree versions). Even the dead tree market corpse gets fresh blood repeatedly, as Harper Collins announces: The writer and…
Writing Whuffie
In the wake of David Foster Wallace‘s suicide, there has been an outpouring of reminiscences and grief, as one might expect in the wake of a celebrated writer’s precipitous exit. In the mainstream media, most of it has been from men about his age who found in him a kindred spirit, although I have to…
X-Rays, Crutches and Painkillers
Taking bets now before the x-rays come back: is it only a sprain? torn ligaments? or an actual break? Judge the evidence for yourself, including early Sunday: and today, bruising now visible as the swelling fades, those along the side of the joint made the doctor tsk at me (he’s already written a prescription for…
Mortality
Hands down, the strangest thing I’ve seen in some time: a chipmunk eating a snake. It may be old hat to more knowledgeable folks, but it was a surprise for me to see out the kitchen window here at Domus Crispini. Naturally, I googled to see whether this was the least bit unusual and found…
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
There’s nothing quite like being all set for a week of writing in a great situation: a beautiful house in a gorgeous location — and it comes with a cat (isn’t Hamilton cute?). But then out of the blue — because we’re speaking about my dependable Powerbook G4 — a massive crash occurs. We’re talking…
Perfection
From Ginger Geezer: the Life of Vivian Stanshall: “If someone offered me an exhibition, I’ve got just about enough paintings, but like everything else I wouldn’t be pleased with it. There are a few things that live on, but really I’d like an exhibition of what I’m going to do tomorrow.”