JibJab 2008 Year in Review

Chuck

One of my favorite shows. Chuck.

Coherence

So my cold seemed to be getting better, and now it's not. And now it's seeping down into my lungs and through my veins to make me sluggish--brain and body. You know the feeling of the body draining down from the temples to the toes, and then all energy and function seem to float away with the snow drifts. You know how it seems to happen just when you need that energy the most. Like when you're meeting with students and they expect coherent answers to their questions. Like when you have to finish up a project worth nearly half your grade and you can't fathom reading it a tenth time. Like when you have to give your first out-of-town reading on Friday in front of your boyfriend's peers and professors in the Plaza.

McGregor Mountain Lodge. Estes Park. That's where I want to go in January to my little getaway with Jedsen before it all gets underway again. Is it crazy to go into the Rocky Mountains in January? Is that why the hotels are half-price now? Would I mind Colorado snow and cold? Probably a little, but probably not a lot. Vacation. Mountains. Jedsen.

Treat

So I'm planning what Christmas treats I'll be making this year. I'm going all out. I guess.
German Chocolate Fudge. Peanut Butter Fudge. English Toffee. Peanut Butter Brownies. Jolly Chocolate Cookies.
I'm making them for my students, my coworkers, and my family. In different combinations. How does that sound? Sounds good to me, as long as it doesn't break my budget.
I have a crappy oven and not too many baking pans, but I'll make due. I hope I'll make due in the snow tomorrow. It's going to be windy and cold, and I'm going to have to walk to campus. I need boots. Not clunky snowboots but cool, smooth boots to keep my always-cold feet a little less cold. And I have a cold, of course, so my feet need to stay warm.

Honey, you are a rock.

Oh, Coldplay. Again, I was at this concert. Much, much farther away...on the other side of the arena...but I was there. It was magical.

In my Place. Yes, I was there.

Projecting

It's a day of final projecting. Yes, it's a verb now. I have a teaching philosophy pretty much down, and now I just need to work down from there. Relevance--that's key in my philosophy of teaching composition to college students.

It's Saturday morning, and with my limited cable, there's nothing on but CNN. Not even a good cartoon. And it's almost all gray outside. Maybe I'll watch College Gameday on ESPN.

As you can see, I'm filling a few minutes before I get to work.

Aamar

I got to hold a two-day old baby today. Aamar Muhsin Abdi.

Now, I don't want to insinuate that my biological clock is ticking. I love babies. Beth's babies, anyway. I couldn't handle my own. That's another decade or so away. Babies are just amazing.

BATHTUB Collective

Check out our Writers Collective blog. We are the Bathtub Collective. Writers in Lawrence and around.

http://bathtubcollective.blogspot.com/

We're the next big thing.

Killing

I think I'm killing my eyes from all of this computer-staring. But my glasses don't help with computer screens. I've been in my office since 9:15 this morning. That's a nine-hour day already. But it feels like I've done nothing. Nothing. I still have half of a final project to do. A confusing final project that I want to do. But it's confusing.

Jedsen's birthday is Thursday. I almost said tomorrow. It'll be a brief celebration because we're both working on projects. I'm sure he never reads this, so I'll tell you what I'm getting him. His favorite store is Whole Foods Market. I'm getting him a block of Parrano Gouda. He loves cheese. That, and maybe some amazing fresh chocolate cookies. Perhaps a cool reusable bag. Maybe a gift card. Little things that he can use. Eat. I hope it works out because I have to buy it all in Overland Park before showing up to his place in Lenexa. So it'll take some trickery. I'll be a hobbit for the day.

The Lord of the Rings is on my mind. Those are my favorite movies. The only movies that I can just watch again and again. I still need to read the books...

Now, poetry. Reading my classmates' poetry. Poetry class tonight. It's 5:30 and dark. I need some Vitamin D. I wish my office had a couch. Or a big floor pillow. Tile instead. Hmph.