“There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his…
Category: frustration
Seven Deadly Sins
Of course, this spider isn’t deadly, but it looks as if it were! Okay, there’s not really a link to my topic, I just thought this picture Stephen Fry posted on Twitter was terrific. He’s currently down in Madagascar and if you follow his tweets, you will get some cool photos. In class today I…
Too Much Writing
A friend suggested I need to take a break from writing, but I can’t think without writing, so I’m not sure how to do that. But being a little preoccupied at present with work (mostly writing), I cheat with the blog today, offering some words of wisdom from wiser heads than mine about this madness…
Bootless (but Corseted)
I was all pleased to be without the boot any longer, despite the swelling today (pushed things too much yesterday, I guess — missing the whirlpool at physical therapy, sigh). But my trip to the orthopedist this morning resulted in another appliance, an ASO, which naturally I have already dubbed “the ankle corset” (nice lacing)….
Writing and Not Writing
Yes, I have a thousand tongues,And nine and ninety-nine lie.Though I strive to use the one,It will make no melody at my will,But is dead in my mouth. From Stephen Crane’s collection The Black Riders and Other Lines, better known for the lines, “because it is bitter, and because it is my heart,” which also…
Living Down to Expectations
I give up: my students in the Gender and Medieval Literature class have let me know that the fight to gain equal rights for women has utterly failed. Life today is apparently much like that of Anglo-Saxon England (although with better plumbing). Men, they tell me, are still expected to be brave and strong like…
A Moment’s Inattention
I received a powerful lesson in mindfulness today. As I was out on my daily walk — my thoughts a thousand miles away — I twisted my ankle as I walked down the hill coming out of the forest by Buckingham Lake and fell down hard. The scrapes and bruises on my knees and on…
Review: Ginger Geezer
I’m not actually going to write a review of the book: it’s about a fascinating artist, Vivian Stanshall, told in a journalistic manner, which in this case means a meandering although vaguely sequential narrative, without an iota of beauty or style, but one which nonetheless proves to be an enjoyable read just because it is…
No Fun
Gene has just departed with the G4 in hand, leaving behind his old WinBook as my rescue dog. I gave him two pennies for the ferryman, but it could be possible that the Mac doctors will be able to save her (although I have visions of them gathered around, staring with awe, “You still use…
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…