My life on the weekend....

Even more vaginas....

So we made $4000 for the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse and 6 of us are off to New Orleans in April to Eve Ensler's VDay to the 10th celebration. Fabulous! We're off to New Orleans because the president liked it so much he gave us money to go. I gotta say, it's been a really long time since I've been onstage and experienced a crowd like that. Everyone had such fun and the air was just buzzing. I was smug for a week. Take that...Dubyah (those in TN will know what I mean).

Oh and...yeah....I told you so....Dubyah!

tee hee

Oh and...yeah...on a whole different subject...to the dean... regarding one of my former colleagues...I really did tell you so....backed the way wrong horse didn't you? pthttttttt....


not that I'm bitter....

Vaginas....

Yes, I am doing The Vagina Monologues for the first time ever at FMU, but the fifth time for me. I cast half faculty, half students. The experience so far has been wonderful! In fact, today at lunch, the president asked me how the play was going. I said, "very well." He said, "let me know how I can help you." Sigh... He has been very supportive. The FMU Foundation found us a sponsor even. Morgan/Stanley gave us money to hold a fancy ticketed reception in order to make more money for the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse. Pinch me....

Link to the student newspaper article:http://media.www.patriotnewsonline.com/media/storage/paper1198/news/2008/01/08/News/Students.Faculty.To.Perform.Acclaimed.Play-3146869.shtml

Happy Holidays!!!!

Well, it's 80 degrees here in South CackyLacky. Can you believe it? Still no rain, so no paddling. We're heading to MO this weekend for the holidays. I hope to see some Tennesseans on my way. Had a GREAT first semester. I'm so happy to be here. (I just posted grades and am glad it's over, can you tell?)

Jacob has had his share of holiday orchestra concerts. Then last weekend we went to a music party. He played fiddle until midnight, then got bored. I lasted until 2am. Fun fun.

Hope you all have a great holiday season. Hope to see most of you. More blogging next semester.

Some woo woo...

This really resonated with me this morning. My additions are in ().


If a (wo)man thinks that his (her) happiness is due to external causes and his (her) possessions, it is reasonable to conclude that his (her) happiness must increase with the increase of possessions and diminish in proportion to their diminution. Therefore, if (s/)he is devoid of possessions, his (her) happiness should be nil. What is the real experience of (wo)man? Does it conform to this view? No. -- Sri Ramana Maharshi

reception at the presidents house

Yesterday, the AAUP (American Assoc of Univ Professors) was invited to a reception at the president's house. The AAUP is sort of a policing organization to support university professors and make sure they are treated fairly and allowed academic freedom by their administrations. The house is an old plantation home, absolutely gorgeous. Just goes to show you that he (Fred, the pres) knows where his "bread is buttered" so to speak. Last year, he won the highest award given by the AAUP. This is such a weird and wonderful place, one where the administration respects the faculty.

I have also been asked to sing at the annual Pee Dee Fiction and Poetry Festival: http://alpha1.fmarion.edu/~pdfiction I am singing and doing a presentation about Appalachian folk music. Jacob is going to play fiddle with me. I am playing after Sharon McCrumb's keynote (mystery writer who sets many of her novels in Appalachia). Cool huh? I'll remember you little people....

RAIN RAIN YiPPEEEEE

Finally some rain! It is humid as all of hell, but who cares. My little grass seedlings are up and about 3 1/2 inches high. I hope by tomorrow I'm knee deep in new grass! I am so tired of/opposed to watering. Not enough rain forcast to fill up the rivers. I may be finished paddling before I even got started here in SC. Spring will come...

I made friends with some boys at an antique store. Have a cool new wool rug from India and a really funky shelf at much reduced prices. You know me and certain types of boys... It's why I'm single probably... See picture of the rug and den.

As I was out working in my sandbox...

I mean yard, guess what I found under my neighbors' air condition unit? (Now that I'm a city gal, it is right next to my car). Three kittens! After a week and my asking my classes, I'm down to two. The shelter isn't taking any cats right now. The mother came with my house, I just didn't know she was pregnant. The previous owner left her for me as a present, evidently. The mother is feral. I have got to catch her and get her spayed. I won't even launch into what I think of people that dump animals. Because schmucks like me find them and have to help them... And of course, Jacob wants to keep one...

Lord God will it ever rain?

Today is reseed the backyard day. Yesterday Jacob mowed (with my $25 lawn mower - what a deal) the 3 blades of grass that are alive, I raked where the dog (previous owner's) had dug out a hole under the gate, and spent $220 at Lowe's buying a shovel (it is a great shovel)...along with a weed eater, hose, plants, grass seed, etc. So in a few weeks, we hope we'll see lovely little grass shoots. Note the before pictures.

School is still great. People are lovely, just a little wilted.

The conclusion I've come to...

I hate to teach Speech Com. No offense to my beloved ex-colleagues. I think it's my personal weakness. I am so non linear and it seems all speech comm depts. want some kind of linear measurement of how well they are doing. Maybe I should say, adminstrators want some sort of linear measurement device for a non linear art. I can't even follow the instructions for this particular request to evaluate my students beyond how I evaluate them already?

Theatre is my bag. I'm enjoying it here.