In the Maze of Academia

Let the madness begin

2007-12-04T12:25:00.000-05:00

Indianapolis, 2008

Rock on.

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Hello winter... already!?

2007-11-30T11:43:00.000-05:00

Once again, the lack of blogging covers me with shame much like mucus covers a slug.
Other things that cover me in a similar fashion...

Homework
Ungraded papers
Crumbs (I'm a messy eater in the morning)

Not enough time to even reflect on this post. Many papers need grading. Many papers need proofreading. One paper needs to be finished soon. Argh.

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Good golly...

2007-09-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

Golly gee... has it been this long since I last blogged. I'm, frankly, shocked by this.

I seem to notice lately that time is no longer passing in days. It passes me in weeks now, and I notice only at the end of a week that something has changed. I once asked my mother how she felt about time and she gave me a similar response, saying that as kids, Summer is an eternal playground that never really seems to end, and that school always seems twice as long. For adults, the months mark a change, and eventually the seasons mark changes. Scientifically I suppose there are lots of ways to explain it, but for me it's just strange suddenly realizing that I no longer really feel like I have time at my disposal anymore. Busy-ness is a bad thing.

As for me, it's been a full 3 years of grad school, I'm starting what feels like my "senior" year all over again, just with a different place name. At the same time, I feel like a sophomore having just completed my first year of Doctorate.

Time confuses me. That's all I can say right about now.

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New Poem Night

2007-07-21T11:49:00.001-04:00

Last night was great. I felt confident about my work (after the fact, of course) and got a great response from the audience. All of the new poems during the open mike were top notch, so much talent in the group, good coffee, haikus about Marsupials... who could ask for more.

I read:
The Amish Mafia Guy
Dance Magic Dance
Tooth Fairy
Bone Structure
On The Proper Response
Inevitable

I will get around to posting these somewhere soon...

Back to work now!

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Brief update...

2007-07-12T16:23:00.001-04:00

Okay... poetry fans unite. Here's what I've been working on:

Poem about death - one of the only serious poems I've done recently
Poem about a disappearing pipe organ - Meet Sister Mary Louise, Father Garret, and their quest to stop the organ (UPDATE find this poem HERE)
Poem about the French Tooth Fairy - mmm... warm bread
40 pounds of lard - and don't even think about taking any, it's all MINE
A poem about abolishing bone structure - flop your arms about for a while... now imagine if you had no bones... oh yeah, you get where I'm going with this!

Short and sweet.

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I know they're better than this...

2007-07-11T11:52:00.000-04:00

An open letter to the Canadian Film Board,

Okay... I've seen four of your films now, films that have been dubbed classics. Kamouraska, Maria Chapdelaine, Mon Oncle Antoine, and Jesus de Montreal. I must say that of these four films, only one was any good.

Come on Canada... I know you're better than this. Kamouraska may have been the worst two hours I've spent watching a film in the last ten years. Maria Chapdelaine, NO FUN AT ALL. Mon Oncle Antoine, a pre teen choir boy watching a barely clothed woman bouncing on a couch (seriously, did you go into the future and find footage from the Man Show?) and this after he gets drunk and loses a body that he's bringing back to the funeral home.

I loved Montreal. I really liked Quebec City. Your people are nice, friendly, serve good food, play nice music. Winter sucks, I'll give that to you, perhaps you came up with all of these film concepts in the middle of winter after getting stuck in the snow and having to kill a bear and crawl inside of its stomach to keep warm (seriously, do you guys still do that, because it sounds pretty darn cool if you do).

SO... I think I have one film left to watch in this class. It better be good. I'm giving you another chance.

Don't screw this up, please.

A+ (but your films are right now D+)

Quarterly stuff...

2007-07-05T11:48:00.000-04:00

I've read three French-Canadian books so far this quarter and, as I recall from having read a few during my Undergrad Years, they are still depressing and deal with snow, starvation, misery, and death. Surprisingly enough, the current cycle of books also deals with Incest, Alcoholism, and Race Wars between the English and the French Canadians.

Uplifting stuff... let me tell you.

The films... oh yeah, even better.

Nevertheless, if you wish to give any of these books a try here they are.

Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hemon - boring, like Little House on the Prarie without any of the good family times.
Une saison dans la vie d'Emmanuel by Marie Clair-Blais - Incest, Pedophelia, etc. A real scream. Read it on the weekend when you can shower in between chapters.
La Guerre, Yes Sir! by Roch Carrier - Interesting... All about war, but in a very non-traditional narrative way.

Up next... Kamouraska by someone I have forgotten. I should really look that up, or at least purchase the book since I should probably have it read by the end of the weekend.

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Not bad, two in a week

2007-06-27T12:11:00.001-04:00

Just a note to say hello,
stuck in the I.I. center
and then off to a class
about Canadian Lit.
the... joy?

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One month ago...

2007-06-22T08:59:00.000-04:00

Okay, one month ago I was in the midle of everything FINALS. In between then and now I've had one successful paper, one not-so-succesful paper (but in a subject area that I'm not at all experienced in), and another job-location change.
I'm no longer in the classroom, it's back to the I.I. center for me, and for the summer, that's just fine.

I noticed just then that my comma situation seems to be out of control again. I'm so used to vocal inflection and poetic pauses in my head that they just come right out in the writing I'm doing. Sorry to all you grammar people out there. I am one of you but I can't be held accountable for what I do before 10am on any given day.

Speaking of poetry and of my stalled poetry blog, the reason I'm not currently updating "Bad Poetry" is because I'm going to have a poetry feature on the 20th of July at Kafe Kerouac in the Campus area. It's a new poem night with the Writer's Block Poetry group, and that means that I'm not allowed to have performed the poems anywhere. For my own sake this means I'm not going to post them until the feature is through so that I can use them all in good conscience.

Nevertheless, here are the subjects for some of my more recent poetic outings...

An ambush by squirrels
The Amish Mafia guy
My lovely wife
Someone named James David Lepperacci

Oh the fun. Most of these poems are still in the process of being worked on, but they should be great fun to perform if I get them to where I want them.

Okay, enough for now.

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Not too much time so...

2007-05-16T12:58:00.000-04:00

Brief update although I believe I've seen almost everyone who reads this blog in the last week or so.

Three weeks and counting until the end of the quarter... crunch time already since I'm going to be missing out on the last weekend before finals (when I'd normally be doing my final papers). I'll be working on those from now until the 31st of May. My sister graduates on the 2nd of June from SCAD (in Savannah) and I'll not be missing it although it'll be a 12 hour drive.

Still no word on when, if, or what I'll be teaching this summer.

Gotta finish my German program as well... too much to think about. So stressed by all of this.

Alright... gotta go teach now. The only part of this Grad program that I'm even remotely attracted to at the moment.

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News from OSUse...

2007-04-23T12:15:00.000-04:00

Yeah, that title is why I should no longer be a poet. In fact I believe that people are probably at this moment coming to take my poet card away from me.

BANG BANG BANG

Oh yeah, there they are, at my office door.

In other news, I gave my first exam of the quarter on Friday. Not bad. Not great. I always think I'm grading more harshly than I actually am. I was surprised at the number of A's and A-'s. Perhaps I just need to toughen up. But then again, perhaps my class is actually learning something. What a concept!

Amanda and I made a video game purchase this weekend, something I thought we would never ever do as a couple. It's not that I think that video game systems are necessarily destructive in and of themselves, but I remember in the early days of our relationship, I could never even get Amanda to touch a controller and play me in any game whatsoever. Now we seem to have found some sort of comraderie with the Sports Game and Smooth Moves.

Tennis anyone...?

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Hello again

2007-04-04T11:01:00.000-04:00

I title too many of my posts this way. I know that this is not exactly a high traffic site, but I feel I owe people an apology since I don't update more regularly.

Lately I've just been tired, and a bit under the weather. Nothing major, just the end of the school year being around the bend blues. The end of the school year is normally a subject that can be met with much celebration because it stands for the liberation of summer, warm weather, some time to relax, etc.

Unfortunately, and I don't know when or why this started, the beginning of summer takes on a different type of meaning for me now (and for the past three years)

- Will I have a job this summer (or will I be liberated to be poor and sad)?
- Will the window air conditioner cause our electric bills to be in the 100s of dollars again?
- Can we afford to do anything fun and vacationlike this summer?

I hate it. Money is indeed one of the roots of all evil. I've struggled with this concept for years and years now. I suppose it's one of the traits I inherited from my Grandfather : wanting to be able to provide my wife and eventual family with what they deserve and what they need (not that this is MY job, rather GOD's job). My father did a great job of providing for my family with the VERY little that he earned as a pastor in North Dakota. Once we moved back to Ohio, his salary went up a bit, and eventually my mom went back to work because she didn't just want to sit around the house (and because she still has a masters in education and wanted to put it back to good use). I don't come from a family where money was discussed, worried about (at least not in front of my sister and I), spent frivolously, or locked away tightly in a safe where no one could get to it. It was there and it was respected, but it didn't rule our lives.

So where did my worries about money come from?

I've turned this issue over to God many times, because I really do believe that He is the provider of all things, and that the money that I earn here on earth won't serve me when I die. I've even come to the conclusion on several occasions that I believe that Amanda and I aren't meant to have lots of money for ourselves alone because we are to put it to work in His name. But I still have those nagging worries about money, bills, vacation time, etc.

So, in conclusion, some prayer would be nice, just for peace about this situation.

Thanks!

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For your reading enjoyment...

2007-03-10T17:55:00.000-05:00

As for the reason I have stopped blogging recently, I present to you page ONE of my French paper on Robbe-Grillet and the Nouveau Roman. Knock yourselves out translating this on any translation site you want...

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Une feuille de tissu blanc sur lequel apparait des produits chimiques noirs en forme de signes qui décrivent la différence entre un style littéraire du XIXème siècle et un style littéraire du XXème siècle.

"Le roman n'est plus l'écriture d'une aventure, mais l'aventure d'une écriture."
Jean Ricardou

Les objets sont sans doute une partie importante de la narration dans la littérature. Une histoire qui ne contient pas d’objet, soit réel soit imaginaire, cesse d’être une histoire. Bien sûr, il est possible d’imaginer des histoires où l’objet est mis dans l’arrière plan, où le narrateur ne met pas trop de valeur sûr l’objet, mais le fait même de raconter une histoire oblige qu’on inclut des détails pertinentes, ce qui oblige l’inclusion d’un objet quelconque. Si ce fait est accepté en général, ce qu’on fait avec l’objet est le sujet d’un débat très vif dans la littérature. La signification de l’objet, la description de l’objet, la personnification de l’objet, tous font partie des distinctions entre les grands mouvements littéraires. Ces différences dans le traitement des objets impliquent le plus souvent le narrateur à cause de sa position ultra-puissante dans une histoire. Le narrateur sert comme guide dans les histoires, dirigeant l’action (ou la manque d’action) manipulant ce que voient les lecteurs et comment ils aperçoivent le monde dans l’histoire. Certes, les lecteurs ont la possibilité d’inventer, de reconstruire les actions décrites à moitié, mais le narrateur à la responsabilité de mettre la scène pour les lecteurs puisque c’est à travers ses yeux que le lecteur perce dans le monde d’une histoire.
Qu’est-ce qu’on peut dire des différences dans les styles de narration et de la manipulation des objets dans les mouvements littéraires des XIXème et XXème siècles, et surtout dans les contes et romans d’Emile Zola et de Alain Robbe-Grillet1 ? Cette étude ne se veut pas du tout exhaustive puisqu’un tel travail couvrirait des volumes, elle vise surtout les raisons pour lesquelles ces auteurs et leurs mouvements littéraires utilisaient les objets de manière si différente. Elle visera aussi les différences dans le traitement des personnages, et la fonction du narrateur dans ces deux styles littéraires qui partagent les mêmes éléments littéraires mais qui ont pris des chemins variés dans l’utilisation de ces éléments.
Le narrateur sert de guide dans une histoire. Il peut avoir un seul narrateur qui voit tout et sait tout sur les personnages du roman, ou des narrateurs qui voient seulement ce qui est présent dans la scène et savent seulement ce qu’ils peuvent inférer de cette scène. Le narrateur peut être présent dans la scène avec les personnages ou invisible et partout. Bien sûr il y a des variations dans ce style si l’on considère les romans de Camus et de Sartre où les récits sont au première personne, et alors où le narrateur est le personnage principal. Mais cela ne se trouve pas ni dans les romans de Zola ni dans les contes de Robbe-Grillet. Entre les récits de la première personne et les récits de Robbe-Grillet et de Zola il y a aussi des différences dans la conception du personnage. C’est ici dans l’espace entre le narrateur et les personnages qu’il narre où une étude peut vraiment commencer.

Just some stuff I've been thinking...

2007-02-27T09:04:00.000-05:00

Bryden Place - Rock on. Those people know how to have a good time despite unpleasant circumstances. Worship with the BP folks is always awesome because they don't care how well or how poorly you play/sing/flail arhythmically, they just worship and sing along. One of the residents just started singing while I was strumming on some chords making sure that I was in tune (I was, almost), and so we started worship immediately. Way to kick us into gear.
Then, craft time came around: making prayer bracelets. Oh dear. We had 5 guys and one girl sitting around the table. How could this possibly turn out well.

Well, goes to show you can't doubt the Holy Spirit... the craft rocked. The guys were happy just talking about their kids, their wives(?), their fellow residents. When it came time for prayer ministry, they really got into it. It was the most responsive group I've seen in a long time. I should guest lead more often. It really does make my day. And what can I say, I love making little beaded things.

School - How does it always seem to happen that I get to two weeks left in the quarter and never know it's been that long since the quarter started? And how am I going to get myself out the hole of work I've dug for myself. Certainly not by blogging...

Music - Going through lots of old CD's, remembering those one hit wonders of the early 2000's. Ah, those were my formative years... of college... and my M.A.

School again - Hold it now... how is it that I'm currently teaching some students who were born in 1990... this kind of madness has to stop. I didn't even move BACK to Ohio until 1989 when I was 8. I remember things that happened in 1990. These kids wouldn't really even remember Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. I was in 6th grade. It's just cruel I tell ya. And don't even post something about how I'm a young whippersnapper and how you remember Regan's inauguration in 1981 because I'm dwelling on ME right now. ME.

That's about it. I promised Manda I'd try to write a song today. So I'm off to try. OH... and to get some work done. Yeah. That's it. Work.

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And my Grammy Awards go to...

2007-02-12T15:13:00.000-05:00

Grammy for flagrant abuse of a capo - James Blunt (dude, the capo is for AT MOST 5 frets. And even that's pushing it.)

Grammy for having James Blunt as a love child - Smokey Robinson (aside from the botox induced wrinkle-less forhead, check out the resemblance in the panicked look in the eyes after every line of the song.)

Next Year's Grammy for best remix - DJ Danger Mouse who will mix together classic BeeGee's recording warbles with James Blunt's high pitched and somewhat atonal melodies and finally show the world that James Blunt, while he is the love child of Smokey Robinson and a Botox Factory, is the spiritual descendant of the BeeGees.

Grammy for Supporting Organic Farms - Imogen Heap... what was that thing... what was it? Was it eating her hair? Was she pulling a David Blaine and living suspended in a hydroponic planter for the month preceding the Grammy's?

Grammy for most effort put into playing very few notes - John Mayer. Okay. I know you really really feel the notes you're playing. But if you'd taken Immodium before you began playing, I'm sure the cramping wouldn't have been nearly as bad.

And My Grammy Moment of the Evening (and I'm actually serious for once)

The James Brown Cape guy. The only tribute that needed to happen last night. Beautiful. Poignant. I'm surprised that the spirit of James Brown didn't throw off the cape and do another dance.

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More updates!

2007-02-07T21:17:00.000-05:00

I keep posting... but I don't know why. I guess it's partly to keep myself organized and partly because I enjoy knowing what I'm doing... lest I forget.

What was I just saying...?

Another worship song. Perhaps more on the way. Don't really know.
Three days of public school being cancelled and 0 days of OSU being cancelled. Hmm... I can see it now as tour groups go through...

"Please disregard the frozen students as you're walking from building to building. We'll have maintenance take care of them after it warms up a bit."

Well... perhaps I exaggerate, but still.

Okay. Short but sweet.

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More new material

2007-01-29T13:50:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been on a rather surprising writing spree. Three fun songs in the last month, one worship song, a poem or two... you'd think I was back in the middle of my teenage angst years (not that I had any of those, mind you).

This brings the total number of recorded pieces I've got on my computer to... 23. 7 of those are singing songs, and the rest of them are a combination of instrumental/electronica, and spoken word with instrumental backdrops. If I can keep up this pace... well my head will explode.

It makes me think about the creative process in an entirely new way. Often when I've written a song, or a poem, or an electric thingy (My genre of choice) my wife and my parents-in-law will look at me and say...

Um... where did you get that from

... since the ideas are normally odd, quite odd, terrifyingly odd. I'll go for months and months with no creative output at all, I mean ZERO. Then it's as if a cork pops out of some blocked neuron bundle full of strange ideas that all come rushing out at once, and I feel like a bear in a stream full of salmon, trying to catch the ideas as they shoot on by. More often than not, at least one fantastic idea gets lost as I'm going home on the bus, or walking to class without the aid of a guitar or a recording device of some sort (and those memo taker things don't work either because I would need to synthesize for a good ten minutes before I'd have the idea firmly embedded in my head).

SO... where does this lead?

Beats me!

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Finally some actual news...

2007-01-05T09:53:00.000-05:00

Enough about all the other junk I've been posting about, I'm finally back on track, my brain is back in gear, and I'm ready to post something informative for once, instead of the crap you've all come to expect from this strange forum.

First, an update - I'm back to about 95%, the 5% being the waiting until next week before resuming ALMOST entirely normal activities, such as lifting washers and bass amplifiers, carrying heavy loads of bricks up steep hills, rolling boulders across rugged terrain, etc. AMANDA on the other hand is down to about 30%, having caught a rather nasty bout of bronchitis which has reduced her sleep to swiss cheese. She is on the mend, but prayers would be appreciated.

In other news, I'm back to OSU and my regular teaching schedule. It's nice to be back on a schedule because I get rather disoriented otherwise, not knowing what day it is, not remembering to eat regular meals, forgetting where I live, etc.

I've also finally gotten a lot of my music recorded in cheapo format using my Mac and a guitar (no separate vocal tracks for me, no sir, it's always perfect the first time) and I'm trying to write more often (both songs and poetry).

All in all, it's been busy. But now I must fly, students await and I've got a car to lift.

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Still around... just been busy...

2006-12-26T00:35:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been a busy week. Busy but good.

Service at CV yesterday that really set the mood for how I'm going to be looking at this coming week. I had a great service and am planning on having a great week. Feeling stronger all the time, off the pain medication for almost a week now, except for scattered use before bed when I get sore.

Christmas was overly good to both Amanda and myself. We were showered with gifts to the point that I really almost feel ashamed at how lucky we both are. Our families and extended families are huge blessings in our lives. I won't bore everyone with the dirty details, but suffice it to say that I'll be better dressed for both the house and for work in the coming year, although I do love my jeans with my homesewn patches.

Amanda has work tomorrow which is a real bummer, since I do so enjoy having her around all day long. Perhaps we'll be able to find her some time off in the next few weeks. I go back on the 3rd of January and although I'm looking forward to it, I feel like I wasn't able to do nearly as much as normal during break because of the surgery and the limitations on what I SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be doing.

Well, this post was boring but essential for all those who are dying to know exactly what makes me tick...
Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years to all of you!

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Post-op (but not that kind)

2006-12-12T20:25:00.000-05:00

It's all over but the swelling.
And I feel not too bad, although I'm still mighty confused from the anesthesia and the drugs. The procedure went well, although I had two hernias instead of just one. As John said when he called earlier this evening, "Congratulations on twins!" and indeed I feel celebratory with the pain medication I'm taking. The pre-op room was fun, but a terribly long wait. I believe I waited for almost three hours in pre-op, from 7am until about 9:45 when they moved me into the OR. I was told I would receive a good sedation and then a local anesthesia for just the area where the doctor was working, but when I came to in the recovery room I noticed that I had a sore throat and an oxygen feed, which leads me to believe that at some point during the procedure they opted for a general anesthesia. HOWEVER, and this is what bothered me the most about today, I have no idea what really happened. I don't know anything about what exactly the procedure entailed, whether they used a mesh patch to fix the hernia or just a suturing of the muscles, I didn't speak to the surgeon after the surgery at all, and when Amanda did, she didn't get all the information she really wanted. Still... my hernia is gone, and I have appreciated the prayers and well wishes I have gotten since I returned home.

I'm off to bed... drugs kicking in... eyelids closing...

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The strange passage of time...

2006-12-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

I find it odd that scheduling an appointment to find out if you need surgery is actually much more difficult than scheduling the surgery itself...

Time between initial referral and appointment - Tues. Nov 21-Dec 7
Time between appointment and procedure - Dec. 7-Dec 12.

Sigh... or rather double sigh...

I don't really want to have anything done because I've done WAY too much reading about this hernia thing and, knowing the chances of recurring problems (between 10-15 percent within the next 5 years) especially with the type of surgery that my doctor wants to do, I just don't have that type of money or time to put into this.

BUT

Like the doctor said, "You're not 80 and you'll be living with this for a long time."

Funny but that's what my knee surgeon said as well and I do suppose that all things considered, I've had only a very few problems with my knee since, mostly aches and pains that I'll eventually get anyway.

SO

I'd appreciate your prayers that this will go well (I'm not worried about the surgery, just the recovery and recurrance) and that I'll be safe from robot attacks until I'm able to defend myself adequately since they do tend to hunt down weaker people.

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Life (part deux) online?

2006-11-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

Okay, I didn't know about this, I guess I'm just not very tech savy or savy at all (although cannibals might think I was savory?) but I just learned about an online web world called SECOND LIFE.

I'm all for the SIM's, but this goes a bit farther than I imagined it would.

I learned about this world just yesterday when I received an e-mail from my Deparment Head who had received news that they were looking for French Teachers to teach at their virtual acadamy. It would consist of creating an Avatar, logging into the Virtual university, going up virtual stairs into a virtual classroom, and teaching the Virtual students who were attending said University. Apparently people are paying for that kind of thing, which used to be called Distance Learning, and used Real People with Webcams.

But why use real live images when you can teach people who are dressed as death angels, dogs, nude sunbathers, etc?

I guess I just don't get it.

The part that bothers me the most is that people are willing to purchase and continue paying for large islands of space (16 virtual acres) upon which they can do whatever they wish. The cost for an island? $1695. That's US dollars. Plus a monthly $250 upkeep fee. Huh? For a virtual island? For virtual rent?

That's what I want to do on the first of the month. Wake up and think, "Oh dang, I need to pay my virtual rent today or I'll get virtually evicted."

SIM's took it far enough when they invented the concept of having to go to work, WITHIN THE GAME. Only there was no real money involved. Here, people are spending upwards of $1 million a month in transactions and trades, and there's NOTHING THERE! It's PIXELS people!

I'm going to go calm down now... I need to chill out, because this place is just virtual anyway. I just can think of a few places (Asia's Hope) that could use money more than a virtual castle in the virtual Mediterranian Sea.

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Early Christmas Present!

2006-11-24T14:20:00.000-05:00

Okay... I've got a question for all of you. Ready? K!

What's small, squishy, and pokes out ever so invitingly from the abdominal wall?

Now get your minds out of the gutter. That wasn't the answer I was expecting, certainly not from YOU! Filthy, absolutely filthy!

The real answer is... well... we're not entirely sure yet, although it's 95 percent certain that I have developed a ventral/umbilical hernia! How fun and how timely is that? How would I not know if this is a hernia? Well, let me take you back to the doctor visit on Tuesday.

Me: So I, um, have this weird poppy thing on my stomach that moves when I cough, and not the way my stomach normally moves when I cough, because I wouldn't be here otherwise.

Doc: Hmm... (pokes about with his hands) Why don't you give me a cough.

Me: Cough

Doc: Mmm... interesting. Please lie down.

Interesting? That's what you really don't want to hear at the doctor's office. It's akin to hearing a dentist say "Wow" when he looks into your mouth. And the tone my doctor used when he was pronouncing his words of wisdom? Let's have a translation via Andy's Mind-O-Phone

Me: Cough

Doc: Wow, there's an alien coming out of your navel! I'll call the Weekly World News!

So... on a not entirely cynical and ironic note, this is in fact a timely diagnosis. I have Christmas Break coming up in two weeks, and then I won't have anything to do until the 2nd of January. Which means that if I do indeed need a surgical procedure, this would be the best possible time for me to have one, because I will miss neither work, nor class, and I will also have plenty of time to get reading done.

In other news, Thanksgiving was AMAZING. Amanda once again outdid herself, making EVERY DISH KNOWN TO EXIST in the span of three days. The relatives were duly impressed (not mine, although had they been here they would have been very impressed) and everyone was full and happy by the end of the evening, even the rabbit who got the veggie trimmings and leaves. Thanks was given, and will continue to be given as health is being enjoyed by all (even me, I'm not that uncomfortable and it could be something MUCH more serious than this little bump, I'm thankful I still have excellent heath) none of our family is starving or fighting, and Amanda and I have been married for over two years.

Life is still excellent!

A bientot

Andy

Stolen from Erica!

2006-11-01T12:08:00.000-05:00

I saw this and had to play along as well...

1. YOUR NAME: Andrew Woodruff Anderson
2. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & street you grew up on) Joyful West Main
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME:(first initial of first name, first three letters of your middle name) A-Woo (this friggin rocks!)
4. YOUR DETECTIVE CODE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Blue Platypus
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Woodruff Columbus
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters of last name, first 2 letters of first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name) Andansch
7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The", your favorite color, favorite drink) The Blue Dr Pepper
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first name of your grandfather) Arnold or Claire (yes, that was his name)
9.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name ) Jean Wallace (sounds French and Scottish, I like!)

A+

7 more days...

2006-09-13T13:20:00.000-04:00

until freedom escapes once again. I've enjoyed my time away from work, and I just got my work assignments for the coming quarter, the same old same old. Comforting in a way because I'll be back doing what I love to do. Not so great because I'm worried that my position in the II department has kept me from making the contacts I need to make. Not that this would be so difficult for me to do on my own (I do have legs and free will) but I need to be forced into those social situations. Well... I'll be going back to work on the 20th, 19th we have our first meeting of the quarter, 18th is our language festival. Okay... going back to freedom for a while now.

A+

Return of the Manda and further signs I am a geek

2006-08-10T10:41:00.000-04:00

Life is better. Manda is back. Life can resume its normal rhythm now.
I met her at the airport and gave her a stuffed sheep in a target bag. Both items were from our home. She seemed less than thrilled to receive the sheep in a bag (no clue why that would be... it just means that everything is absolutely normal). Lucky for her, I had a backup bouquet of roses and other green leafy things in the car.

She had a great time, but I'll let her update you, I wouldn't do it justice.

Presents were exchanged, and I received Howl and other poems by Allen Ginsburg, two short stories by Jack Kerouac, and "Return to the city of white donkeys" by James Tate. She got from my parents (who just returned from a trip to china) some silk placemats and chopsticks in silk holders, a name stamp, a silk scarf, a tea set, and our combined gift of a silk wine caddy.

Later on I was reading from the James Tate book, remarking how scary it was how much I've adopted his style (worrying about intellectual copyright and such ;) ) and then I read her one of my poems. After I ended abruptly since I hadn't yet put together a good ending, she looked at me surprised and remarked

"Oh, I thought you were still reading from the James Tate book."

I am such a nerd/geek because that comment made my afternoon.

Okay, back to work.

A+

Missing Manda

2006-08-03T09:27:00.000-04:00

Manda has up and gone off to some far away place (San Francisco) and the bed is just too big. Funny how we both wish we had a bigger bed when we're together, but then both feel like the one we're in is too big when we're apart.

Things I need to work on this week

-Remembering meals - Oh yeah, there's breakfast and dinner. I forgot at least one of those yesterday... maybe both ;)

-Setting up my tent in the living room so that the rest of the house remains clean. Strangely enough, Amanda suggested this to me. I love it when my crackpot ideas turn into sensible ideas. It's like bizzaro world breaking through to the real world :D

-Waking up before noon on my days off - depression makes me sleepy

-Remembering my medication - it's hard when you have to remember to take the medication you use to help you remember to take your medication. Did I this morning? I don't remember (don't panic, I am medicated today, any odd behavior you notice is strictly voluntary)

I had a great time at the poetry slam last night... it helped me to ease into my newfound 6 day bachelorhood. Scott Woods is a force of nature what with his new poems, and his heckling, and his willingness to trade art for art. I look forward to stories from the National Slam.

Okay... work keeps coming towards me, and I can no longer ignore it.

A bientot

A+

sorry to be a downer...

2006-07-13T15:57:00.000-04:00

But I'm in a rotten mood since following the news today about the continuing violence in the middle east...

I know... how deja vu is all of this and why comment on something that has been bouncing around forums all over the world for as long as there have been online forums...?

I don't know, but I suppose that I just get fed up with the fact that after having had a shaky but rather surprising bout of peace between Israel and Palestine, the whole place goes up in flames with another player, Lebannon, mounting attacks causing another retaliation, causing another retaliation. And never mind trying to figure out who started everything, it really amounts to a Chicken and an Egg scenario in the long run.

I say that the UN, the US, the whole world in fact should just forget about trying to help because obviously there is no real desire for peace in the Middle East no matter how much people say there is. If the people in the region wanted peace there would be an outcry in both countries NOT for the blood of one country or the other, but for an end to the violence in general instead of continued stone throwing.

"Ah, but if the peaceful members of each country simply cried out for an end to the violence they would all be killed by soldiers with guns and bombs."

And what about Ghandi? What about the Civil Rights Movement?
"And what about the Sudan, and Somalia, and Rwanda?"
...yeah, it's hopeless.

I'm ready for the rapture now.

A+

Sort of work...

2006-07-13T10:35:00.000-04:00

Although I've so wanted to write new poetry in the last few weeks, and believe me I've tried mightily, I've not been able to come up with anything of substance... so I've been in the process of recording what I already have.

This may sound like a simple process... just record using irecorderdoodad and export to imusicthingy or iplaylistdoohinky. But being the person I am, it is NOT that simple. I have to have a music track to go over top of the poem, something repetative and soothing, or energizing and exciting, or dark and brooding... in otherwords, I have to figure out whether to record something through a guitar or pick and modify loops. Loops are winning out so far because they modify better and cut easier, and fit more tightly with the poem.

That said, I have at the moment about 20 or so minutes of poetry, original music stuff, etc.

Poems I have recorded so far
maybe this time... (the day the robots came to get me)
reverse dexterity
on rumination and/or writing
gone home

Songs I have used so far
Cityscape
Dancing (both as poetry track and stand alone)
Suspended (longer version)
Gregorian Jazz
Undecided
Whatzit

New song I'm working on
The Day the Robots came to get me (oh yes... I'm getting a grammy for this one)

Poems I might be working on soon...
carpe diem
grocery store shopping sucks
all that matters... (the problem with having a sinkhole in the front yard...)
The 'reau
The Relatives

Hmm... perhaps I should be working on actual school stuff instead of this... but maybe not.

A+

Two in One?

2006-07-06T14:18:00.000-04:00

Alright... I'm tossing this out there but I'm thinking of adding to my lulu.com material. The addition would consist of a small quantity of free mp3 downloads of my poetry, perhaps with music, perhaps not, I'd just have to feel it out. Any opinion on it? I've been thinking of it recently because I really like Scott Woods' live poetry and would love to have sort of an archive of my poetry anyway.

let me know?

A+

where've I been...

2006-07-06T09:44:00.000-04:00

Where've... I like that. I might just have to use that in poetry in the near future. Hmm... yes indeed.

Anyway... I've been alternately busy and busier... despite the fact that I don't yet have much work to do at school aside from a brief presentation tomorrow in class. I don't know where it's coming from, but it's more of a help right now than a problem because when I've got lots to do I have a structured day and that means I don't just spend time trying to figure out what I need to do.

ADD anyone?

Amanda has been going to the gym faithfully for over three weeks now and is enjoying every minute of it. She's even got Triceps now. When I used to work out in High School for track season, all I ever got was diplodocus (ba dum ching). I'm glad she's found working out to be such fun, and I'm glad it's helping her further develop all of her relationships within the church. It's a blessing to see her working out both spiritually and physically.

I have been rather feebly trying to write poetry in an attempt to have some material for Writer's Block Poetry nights, but not having much success. I have however written my first song based on one of my poems. It's a take off on my "The Day the Robots came to get me..." poem and I think it's rather catchy. Nevertheless, it's only a first attempt and I don't think I'm going to quit the Ph.D. program to pursue my musical career quite yet.

Speaking of work, I probably should, so I will.

A+

Nonconformism or why I'm not switching to wordpress...yet

2006-06-26T10:42:00.000-04:00

Ah, it's fun to be a rebel!
Odd clothing
Mowhawks
Civil Disobedience
Staying with Blogspot

Yes... one of these things seems not like the other, but I'm fighting the battle against conformism and I will not yield! I have many reasons for not leaving the comforting confines of Blogspot.com, some rational, some irrational... okay, most are irrational but that really shouldn't matter.

Firstly the only rational reason I have for not leaving Blogger... I don't like the way the fonts show up on my screens at Wordpress. I actually have the same problem when I go to RFI.com to get my daily dose of Francais Facile. On my computers at work I can't actually read the fonts because they appear to be in something like 6pt font and I have no magnifying glass available to me. The text of the blog is fine, but the names of other blogs and other information that would appear to be somewhat necessary in order for a smooth navigation of the site are tiny.

And now the irrational reasons for not switching...

First, I feel pressured to join the Kool Kids (like Kool and the Gang, only actually cool), over at wordpress, but having always been an outsider, a dark horse, a superhero disguised as a petty clerk, I have decided that my self worth hinges on my ability to

do what I want to do and not what I see others doing
blog as little as I want dispite the masses crying for increased output
balance nickels on their sides and roll them from one side of my desk to the other without having them fall

Second, I hear tell that the communist party runs Wordpress, it's perhaps just a vicious rumor, but I'm buying into it.

Third, I don't really have a third reason but I felt that my argument would be weak if I didn't have three irrational reasons supporting it. SO my third reason is that I needed the third reason to cement my argument.

Alright... I'm now finished and will go back to my blogless existance for a while. Ta ta.

A+

Andy

Graduation... a reflection...and elipses...lots of elipses...

2006-06-13T21:52:00.000-04:00

I really need to stop with the elipses... there I go again... and... no... wait...

Okay, got away from them, once and for all perhaps.

Graduation was long, but fun in its own way. It was strange being only about 100 feet away from John McCain as the graduates were filing into the stadium. I was one of the first to get into the stadium and one of the first to be seated, and as I was looking around for my parents, my wife, my parents in law, my sister, and my sister in law, I noticed a balding man sitting below me in the first row of seats. Strange that it was actually John McCain and he was just chatting it up with the other profs. Odd, it really is, to be that close to someone really famous who isn't a musician or a movie star, but someone who actually does something internationally visible (sorry Bono).

Anyway. I graduated, got my diploma, went home and had a party, got up the next morning at 7am and went back to class. Nothing really changes that much, except that I feel strange having missed church. Well, there's always home group on Thursday night.

Boring entry I know, but it's been a long few days and I'm a little fried right now.
Gonna go play my bass when I get home from Brian and Erica's.
Thanks fam and friends for everything, you'll all be getting cards soon. I promise.

A+

THX: THE MOVIE EXPERIENCE

2006-05-30T14:48:00.000-04:00

Okay, here's a superior idea that will make all of my other ideas obsolete. What if Hollywood simply did a movie dedicated to the THX sound. You know the one I'm talking about... the one at the beginning of the movie that goes "beeeeeeeeooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh" I'm talking mega millions on this idea, because everyone gets all tingly anyway when they hear that sound, so why not cash in on the rush people would get when listening to a three hour epic adventure that goes through every arpeggiation of the THX sound, perhaps changes keys a few times, uses different beats. For example...

Samba THX "Be be ow ow be bebe ow ow be bebe ow ow be bebe ow ow be (whistles and horns)..."

Disco THX "Be de de Ow de de Be de de Ow de de Be de de Ow de de AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (dramatic drum chorus) Be de de ow de de be de de ow de de BABYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY be de de ow de de..."

Porn Soundtrack THX "BEEOOOOWWWW chacka chacka, ting ting, chacka chaka, BEWWOOOOW WOWW chacka chacka, ting ting chacka chacka

Industrial THX "actual THX sound is obliterated by the heavy drum beats and bass riffs"

Phillip Glass THX "As THX plays in the background, something by Allen Ginsberg is read backwards as the tone is changed repeatedly. End effect should lead the audience to realize that they are destroying the world with their negative energy i.e. Plutonium Ode."

I think this is a blockbuster idea here. I'm ready to cash in on the THX experience, are you?

A+

Various Thoughts...

2006-05-24T11:21:00.000-04:00

Recently, while watching the amount of schlock that both Hollywood and major networks are putting out, I've come to a rather unpleasant conclusion.

Bad is the new good.

I know that this is nothing new, but I really have to wonder what the motivation for putting out sequels to movies that no one watched in the first place, putting out tv miniseries that are absolutely certain to bomb because of their... badness...

Here's my theory.

Hollywood and networks are motivated by two things... viewership and money.
Anything that they produce has to do one of two things... cost so little to produce that it's guarenteed to make money or generate so much viewership that no matter how much it cost to make it will make money.
Given that the latest two Miniseries on network television are both so execrably bad (The next earthquake movie and the one about the bird flu killing everyone) that they couldn't possibly hope to generate positive feedback from anyone who isn't deaf and blind, they must either have cost nothing to produce or be banking on the Ed Wood factor.

Ed Wood seems to be the best possibility.

The miniseries are so bad that people must want to watch them simply to talk about how terrible they are. I didn't watch them, but having seen trailers and clips (thank you Youtube), I'm almost sorry I missed them. I suppose it's in this vein that I want to see the next Samuel L. Jackson movie "Snakes on a Plane." It can't be good. I just hope it's bad enough to entertain me.

I do believe that Networks and Hollywood have come up with the next golden formula.
"How bad does it have to be before it gains cult status."

Okay. Given this mantra for the 21st century, Here are a few ideas that I've come up with for new movies and or television miniseries.

"Tsunamicainadoquakeano" - Okay... the Earthquake causes a massive Tsunami which in turn crashes into the mainland with enough force to cause a SECOND earthquake which sets off a volcano and the resulting atmospheric disturbance causes a terrible hurricane which then causes Tornados to rip through the heartland. It's actually a love story between an Iraq War Veteran and a Landmine victim with no legs who has illegally immigrated to the US. Tearjerker, Political Reaction piece, Disaster Action Movie, Patriotic heartwarmer. It can't lose.

"Prarie Dogs: Underground Danger" - An underground nuclear test is being conducted in New Mexico, and irradiates a family of Prarie Dogs. Fast forward 15 years to a child playing innocently on a swingset when... shlooooooop... the swingset and the child are sucked underground by a massive herd of giant radioactive prarie dogs. Soon giant office buildings are being sucked underground by the force of the prarie dogs who... get this... crave electrical power... and blood (of course).

Okay... I must get back to work, but give me some feedback. Help me to make millions by creating the next sensation in Television/Movie history.

A+

The Master has landed...

2006-05-23T14:59:00.000-04:00

As of May 22 at 12:30pm I was officially recognized as worthy of the MA in French. So, this means that THE PARTY IS ON!!!

June 11th 5-9pm
214 Fallis Road

Bring anything you'd like to bring, but as of right now, I don't think there's much need for anything. I'm sure my wife will want to send out real invitations, but for now, this is what you get.

So it's all over but the rest of the quarter, papers, work, etc.

"Nothing changes on New Year's Day..." or on the day you get your MA.

Well... I'm happy nonetheless.

A+

odd... three posts in one week?

2006-05-17T10:52:00.000-04:00

Yeah, tell me about it... this is nuts...

Feeling the letdown after the stress of the last few days... the whole "olympic athelete" depression/confusion syndrome. So many months of prep, so that if I had a spare moment I at least had something to occupy my time, so much work done so I could do well, and then the realization that it's all done and now the waiting begins, the realization that I did fine (I hope) and that... well... it's not that big of a deal for most people. Not to get down on myself, I realize that getting a degree beyond the BA is an important step in my career, and that no one is really saying "Oh big deal, you got another two years of education" but still...

Sigh... the return to real life is kind of a bummer. I have normal homework and normal papers to write now.

And I don't want to...

BUT I FINISHED WELL! And I'm still excited to think that I'll get to defend my knowledge against leading experts(?) in their fields (as opposed to people with Mad Cow disease... call me whiskers ;) )

Okay, gotta go teach now... for 8 1/2 more hours... ummmmm... yeah...

A+

And exhale......................................

2006-05-16T14:26:00.000-04:00

9 hours (every bit of it too) and three tests later, I only have a one hour oral exam to go before I find out about my status as a Masters student.

Brief Rundown

Day one
9-12 19th century lit - 12 pages double spaced
1-4 Linguistics - 5 pages single spaced (+/- 10 double)

Day two
9-12 20th century lit - 13 pages double spaced.

I'd love to give you a breakdown of the topics I discussed, but I'm still trying to figure them out myself. In fact, I'm actually not supposed to discuss the exams anyway... but really... Oh what the hay... I'll try anyway.

In no particular order:
Discuss the idividual who has revolted against society.
Talk about absurdism, what is it? why does it exist?
Is the 20th century the century of the autobiography? What types of autobiography are there?
Is gender a "floating signifier" in literature?
Translate something (okay, it was a specific text, but I'm pressed for space and sworn to secrecy)
Talk about definite, indefinite, and the lack of the article in a text.

Ick... although I think I did fine. I'm still trying to figure out how I managed to get three single spaced pages out of that gender thing... go figure.

Well... that means that after my oral exam next monday I will know whether I'm destined to remain Andrew Anderson MA candidate (I'd probably change the title to something snazzy like ANDY ANDERSON BA+2) or whether i'm destined to become Andrew Anderson, Ph.D. candidate... it does have a nice ring to it.

Okay, A+

Maze indeed

2006-05-10T12:58:00.000-04:00

One week minus a few days until I potentially go from being M.A. Candidate to M.A. recipient. I know that it's been a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time since I last wrote anything, but the Individualized Instruction Center is pretty dead today and so I have lots of time on my hands and have gotten tired of reviewing books with Sparknotes, the Interactive Gutenberg Library Website, and any number of sites with books that I have yet to read in the MA context (or yet to read period). Thus, I am, for the moment, Here.

Here's a brief rundown of everything I've read in the last few days,

Endgame (fin de partie) by samuel beckett
Mme Bovary by Flaubert- read this a long time ago so refreshed with an in depth 30 page review
Ubu Roi by alfred Jarry
Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco
Les Chaises by Eugene Ionesco
Le Rouge et le Noir by Stendhal
In depth review of Pere Goriot by Balzac
three stories taken from The Wall by Jean Paul Sartre
A ton of articles about Absurdist Theatre, Romanticism, Existentialism, Feminism, Modernism, Naturalism (for those that remember old DOS coding i believe it boils down to *.ism this week).

Still on my list of review topics, Paris and Province (compare and contrast literature wise), the Nouveau Roman (new novel phase of the 1950's-present), and anything linguistics related.

A+ (probably much +er because I'll be busy until... then... whenever then is...)

Dear me...

2006-03-29T09:53:00.000-05:00

How does this always happen, I get going on a blog and then it all just falls apart when my life gets in the way. Too much going on I suppose.

Recent events - Started my last quarter of the M.A. Program. Soon I might be changing my user name to Andrew Anderson, Ph.D. candidate... what a thrill huh? Listening to The Who and Joni Mitchell recently, love the music of the 60s and 70's, must be something I got from my parents (and I thank them for it too!)

The new Paste DVD is great! I loved the Documentary on Hurra Torpedo. You'll love it too! Go Paste Team!

Loved the Sermon on Sunday. Way out of my comfort zone, but amazingly touched by the results. It really is true that as we become more like children, losing that ability to care so much about what others think, that we can approach God more boldly.

Okay, got a 10 hour day ahead of me, don't want to keep my students waiting!

A+

Andy

2006-02-24T14:41:00.000-05:00

Ah, nothing like a tag to give a blog new life!!

Thank you MG! You have ressucitated my Blog!

four jobs i've had in my life:
* Landscaping in Washington D.C. with my Grandfather
* summer camp naturalist and Director of Fun at Camp Wanake
* Foodservice at the Radio Cafe
* French Graduate Teaching Associate at the Ohio State University

four movies i can watch o'er and o'er:
* The Shawshank Redemption
* Pirates of the Carribean
* The Usual Suspects
* The Incredibles

four places i have lived:
* Cogswell, ND
* Malvern, OH
* Fougeres, France
* Strasbourg, France

four MORE places i have lived:
* Columbus, OH
* Luitre, France
* Lecousse, France
* Schiltigheim, France

and yet four MORE places i have lived: (jeez, I'm gonna have to put down avenues now)
* Capital University, Columbus OH
* Beach City, OH
* Philmont, NM (total of 26 days... ;) )
* Rockville, MD

four tv shows i love to watch:
* Monty Python's Flying Circus
* House
* The Simpsons
* Aqua Teen Hunger Force

four tops (song openings of all time)
* where the streets have no name, u2
* baba o'reily, the who
* Hope I didn't just give away the ending, New Radicals
* Run Like Hell, Pink Floyd

four places i have been on vacation:
* Ft. Meyers Beach, FL
* Vienna, Austria
* Castellemare di Stabia, Italy
* Quebec City, Canada

four of my favorite dishes:
* Chicken Saltimbocca
* Sauerkraut and Sausage
* Steak and Potatoes
* Anything Amanda Makes

four websites i visit daily:
* cnn.com
* osu.edu
* homestarrunner.com
* wikipedia.org

four places i would rather be:
* france
* italy
* montreal
* north dakota

four bloggers i tag:
* amanda anderson
* dan thress
* brian carlson
* andy taylor

One Deleted, One to go... perhaps

2006-02-10T11:08:00.000-05:00

I've terminated One of my three blogs, "MY OTHER BLOG" the one I wrote in least and the one I cared about less... it's like getting rid of puppies though... all so cute but they just poop so much.

Sigh.

RIP

Okay, I'm off to do more academic stuff...

Andy

My only sports related post to date...

2006-01-15T16:40:00.000-05:00

Here is a list of clothing items I will have to change following todays Steelers victory...

Pants
Underwear
Long Underwear
Undershirt that was tucked into pants
Socks
Shoes

One of the best games I have seen in a very very long while... By no means the best game the Steelers have played, but better than anyone had predicted. The spread (or so I hear) was fairly close as far as points between the winning and losing teams were concerned, and the officiating was rather shady at times (that could just be the influence of my father in law coming through though... he never tires of saying "X is in the Mafia's pocket!" after an odd or badly run play... who knows...) I just hope we really did win fair and square today.

Okay... I'm going to change now.
Go Steelers!

Warning, Political Discussion Ensues

2006-01-13T09:02:00.000-05:00

I hate to be a grumpy person who complains about the world... but I'm only human and I hope I will be forgiven for it.

So this whole bomb in a Starbucks thing... It now turns out that the "Bomb" was nothing but a flashlight. A flashlight.

Now, I'm the first to admit that people make mistakes. I make more than most people on an average day. I blame it on my ADD which has been omnipresent in my last few blog posts. This being said, I have no problem with the Police having made a mistake about the supposed "bomb".

But... (dang it, there's always a "but" isn't there) I've noticed a disturbing trend in the making of and the not correcting of mistakes.

Case in point: The police find what they believe to be a bomb in a Starbucks. Following procedure, they evacuate the people and call out the bomb squad. So far so good. THEN they report to the media that the "bomb" was powerful enough to have killed several people had it gone off. THEN they come out several days later and say that testing revealed the presence of ABSOLUTELY NO EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS. In fact, it was just an old flashlight with corroded batteries.

Hold on... I thought they said that the "bomb" was powerful enough to have killed several people had it gone off. If this is my bomb squad, and they not only cannot tell the difference between a bomb and a flashlight (okay, give them the benefit of the doubt, they were all out late the night before partying with the K9 division, it happens) BUT ALSO report to the entire world that the supposed bomb could have killed several people because it was so powerful... well... that leaves me questioning what these people are doing on a bomb squad.

Or perhaps MagLite is producing bomb shaped flashlights...
I smell a coverup...
that's got to be it...
MagLite is the real enemy here.

Okay... sorry for my grumpy and univited comments. Forgive me. And do have a good day. Read my other posts... they're much more light hearted.

A+

Recent movie ideas...

2006-01-12T16:26:00.000-05:00

Okay... so Amanda already has caught wind of this... but I've been in the process of doodling over the last few weeks and I have the basic characters for a new super awesome movie...

Night of the Living Hairpiece Man - the hero of our story. A disembodied Beatle-esque wig wearing platform shoes. Probably some sort of stick on eyes. Fights crime using (what else) Aquanet.

Mustachio - defined by websters as "a type of mustache, esp. one that is elegant". This is the vilain of the storym a large disembodied poofy mustache. He would wreak havoc on society at large... just how I'm not exactly sure yet... but it would be sheer mayhem!

Goatastrophe - A vengeful goat who also wreaks havoc on society, possibly through fleas or use of his "Beard of Terror"

MonoBrowsah - A large disembodied Monobrow. Sidekick to Night of the Living Hairpiece Man. Has a catchphrase "Yowsah! It's MonoBrowsah!" (lame I know... but you'd kind of expect that from a living Monobrow)

Pygtalion - The secretary... a large disembodied set of pigtails. Unofficial chief of the hero organization.

I guess the series would be called "The Adventures of Night of the Living Hairpiece Man" or possibly "Disembodied Heros and Vilains minus the Goat"

(Pauses)

Okay... so now I'm kinda upset... it really is just as dumb as Amanda said it was. You know... I really should listen to her more often...

Yowsah... I hope this screen fits in ya browsah!

A+

Flimbles?

2006-01-11T13:54:00.000-05:00

Gumption. That's what I have to say about all this. Gumption and flimbleton. So there.

In other news, I have decided to try to put some of my music online. I have written in pseudo techno, chill lounge, crazy music style for a while with a number of generators, taking care to not just use loops but to modify, cut, tonally change, and warp the sounds I'm using so I feel like it's still mine. In a certain way I suppose it always is mine since I'm the one figuring out how to arrange the loops in a certain way and whatnot.

This post has gone nowhere. I do that often don't I? Let's discuss that a bit.

Like I said in my last post I have thoughts that often act like a no outlet road. The go on and on and then end in someone's driveway. That in and of itself is fine. Thoughts must sometimes end. I mean, you can only discuss the merits of coffee and tea for so long before you run out of ideas. My problem is that when I reach the end of the road and run into someone's driveway, the following scenario plays out.

Andy: What a nice house, I think I'll knock on the door and see if anyone is home!
Person: Hello Andy, I am a magical squid! Come inside and have tea! Michael Flatly is doing a lively dance on the kitchen island!
A: Why how fun! But shouldn't I be getting back to reality? The thought ended at the driveway and I've already gone too far. By the way, you're leaking ink all over your floor.
P: No, don't go. I've been waiting for you. Bill O'Reily is in a maid's outfit and he cleans up after my leaking ink.
A: You know, they have medications that could stop that bothersome leakage... but then again, why waste the image of Bill O'Reily in a maid outfit.
P: That's what I'm talking about.

You see? This is the problem. I have way too much fun inside my own imagination to be able to fully enjoy the way life plays out sometimes. And that, my friends, is a scary thought.

Okay... back to work.

A+

A new perspective

2006-01-09T15:19:00.000-05:00

Dear me, how does this always seem to happen... one moment you've made up your mind to try and get back on the blog bandwagon, the next you're being trampled by oxen bearing US mail (not that they ever did this mind you, it just sounded more impressive to word it that way). The return to classes has been uneventful but nice. I have a schedule again, and that always helps with my ADD which is at its worst when I'm not on a... (voice trails off as I notice a really cool looking piece of paper across the room that might be a crossword puzzle or a doodle, or a random scrap of anything that might be interesting... I wander the room and decide to go have a drink in the cafe, check my mail in the French office, see a computer and realize that I've left this post open on the computer for like, half an hour and am heading back to the room... when I get distracted by an announcement for Serbian Writers week and begin to think about all the Serbian writers I know... and upon realizing that I know none, decide to go look up some on the computer, and finally realize that I've now left this post open for an additional ten minutes)

So where was I. Oh. Right. I was talking about blogging. I think I'll continue this post later, I forgot that I needed to get my Medication refilled so I won't do this again. Wish me luck... there are lots of distracting things on the way to the pharmacy. Paper bags, patterns in the brick sidewalks, manhole covers, car liscence plates, tree branches, seed pods on the ground, ginko trees, etc.

Sigh.

A+

Breaktime...

2005-12-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

This week has been nice, but odd. I've been getting used to not going to school every day, but realize just how hard it is to concentrate without the structure of classes to keep my mind in check. I've noticed that even when I do get up on time, to read, to clean my rabbit cage, to listen to my Neil Diamond classics albums, I have trouble formulating normal thoughts.

Okay, go ahead, say it...
I don't often have normal thoughts anyway. True. But still...

There are times when I seriously doubt my own sanity, but anymore, who does.

I've been reading a lot lately, and that's not exactly an understatement. Consider... In the past week, I've read the first four books of the Harry Potter series. In twenty four hours I read two of them. The other reads were spread out over the rest of the week when I had time. I'm now addicted to them.

I suppose that's what happens when you've been reading for "work" the entire year. It's nice to find something with very little meat on it that you can just read and enjoy. Not like Foucault (not a swear word, I promise), Barthes (not something you do when you're sick, I promise) or Camus (not the behumped creature that wanders in the desert, I promise). I won't at all go into the Christian/non-Christian discussions about the HP books because I don't really care either way now. Before I started them, I was rather anti-Potter because of the use of magic and charms and spirit stuff, but the books are well written and bully for JK Rowling for finding a niche (I've always wanted to use the word "bully" in a sentence).

Okay, I've got to go now, drinking coffee makes me have to pee.

And I'm drinking coffee.

And consequently I have to pee.

Which is why I made that first comment that included both coffee and having to pee. Because I am and I do.

A+

Welcome Back!

2005-12-08T14:06:00.000-05:00

"Oh hi... Um... I'm back."

"AFTER A TWO MONTH HIATUS?!"

"Well, yeah... I've been busy"

"DOING WHAT? WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR LIKE TWO MONTHS AND WE'VE REALLY HAD TO PEE BUT WE COULDN'T TEAR OURSELVES AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER BECAUSE WE JUST KEPT HITTING THE REFRESH BUTTON ON THE SCREEN HOPING BEYOND HOPE THAT YOU'D POST AGAIN SO WE COULD GO PEE!"

"Great, thanks, I really do appreciate your faith in my eventual return to the blog world, but I have one question."

"WHAT IS IT!"

"Um... why are you yelling so much?"

"BECAUSE I REALLY HAVE TO PEE AND WHEN I'VE BEEN HOLDING IT IN FOR TWO MONTHS I JUST START YELLING!"

"Oh. Well... that explains it then."

"YES IT DOES!"

"Hey... you know you can go pee now..."

"THANK YOU... I THINK I WILL!"

(sound of running and door slamming)

So if this represents you... and I sincerely hope it doesn't because that would be extremely disturbing... thank you for your patience, and expect multiple posts over the next few days as I not only try to post my thoughts on the last few months, update y'all on my progress as "Andrew Anderson, M.A. Candidate," and transcribe some of my latest poetry.

But while you're waiting... I really think you should go pee now. Your kidneys will thank you.

A+

Surprise

2005-10-07T17:23:00.000-04:00

I am a blessed individual. I even love the folks at the OSU pharmacy today for taking such good care of me over the last year or so. Where red tape has come up in other areas, they always do what pharmacists in the movies do... they help you get what you need to get done... well... done. And they smile a lot. Good. Very good.

My wife called me today and told me to look on Dan Thress' blog to see what other people had thought of the poetry slam. I was floored. I am so amazed that my poetry went over so well... even though I made it only to the second round I got some Huge props from people that I have trouble accepting (call it the "unable to accept praise thing") so I won't dispute it and I'll leave it at that.

Thank you all.

In other news, I still haven't gotten any of the books I ordered over 4 WEEKS AGO from a once reputable and well liked by me company. Now I'm just angry and I want my 150 dollars worth of books. Pronto. Tout de suite. SCHNELL!

Ah America, breeder of impatience, how have you gotten to me. I used to think I was innoculated against thee by my Europeen trips. But the vaccine seems to have weakened, and I fear I may need to henceforth and forthwith (tally ho?) proceed straight to a plane bound for Paris. Or Strasbourg. I liked Strasbourg better. It was smaller and had better Doner Kebab stations. And a nifty librarie.

Okay... off to do what I do best. Go meet Amanda at work.

Ta ta

A+

Back to the grind

2005-09-21T14:44:00.000-04:00

Grind... more like a slow rotation that scuffs the knees a bit. The beginning of this quarter has been less like a bang and more like a party popper. One class today that let out an hour early, and four hours of work at the Individualized Instruction office that have yet to produce any people who need the wisdom that I wish to impart to them.

On a positive note... I'm feeling great about my red hair. On a postitive note didn't seem like it fit there. Today has been positive. The whole week has been great. Amanda isn't feeling too great, she had the ickies in her stomach yesterday and spent the better part of twenty minutes trying to expel them. It seems to have worked for the most part but she isn't at work today.

My father is in South Africa on a Lutheran Preaching Tour and will spend some of his time there coordinating with the South African Rotary Club. They want to dig wells to provide fresh water for... well... everyone. He will have a great time. This is the first time he's been back in Africa since before I was born, and that was a LOOOOOONG time ago.

Okay... transmission over.

AND -> thanks to the people who have purchased books in the last week. Three sales = three dollars and thirty four cents for me. Not a lot but that wasn't the point in the first place.

A+

Additions to the mix

2005-09-12T12:36:00.000-04:00

Added 5 more files to the CD after going through the CD collection this weekend... some are Amanda's additions, some are mine.

BNL - When I fall
Ani DiFranco - Cradle and All
Khaled/Taha/Faudel - Abdel Khader
Pulp Empire - He to a She
Pulp Empire - Frames

In all this is shaping up to be an interesting mix of pop, world, ultra pop, techno, folk, jazz, rock and worship. There will be an info slip inside the package because I couldn't explain anything any other way.

Okay... all of your trade offers are noted so far... if you haven't yet asked for a mix, please do, we'll be happy to oblige!

A+

Amandi and Anda's Mabulous Fix DC

2005-09-08T14:23:00.000-04:00

Yes... we've done it... we've created a thing of beauty and stangeness.

As I said in another post, we didn't have enough selections to merit a mix CD for each one of us, so we combined our musical tastes into one fabulous mix. Here for your listening pleasure is

AMANDI AND ANDA'S MABULOUS FIX DC

Stereophonics - Nothing Precious At All
Barenaked Ladies - Light Up My Room
Norah Jones - Humble Me
Erin McKeown - How To Be A Better Wife
Sonicflood - Resonate
Twilight Singers - Teenage Wristband
Martin Sexton - In The Journey
Erin McKeown - Born To Hum
Jean Jacques Goldman - Bonne Idee
Martin Sexton - Black Sheep
Moby - Honey
Ani DiFranco - Little Plastic Castle

Enjoy... IF YOU DARE!!!

The Doldrums of... September?

2005-08-30T14:50:00.000-04:00

Yeah, this is weird... I've never actually felt like I missed summer before, but it appears that I did.

I remember there being something hot and sticky about the weather... but life inside of an office in the middle of summer is different from life outside. I'm sure everyone can relate because everyone has actually been going through this since their mid teens... I've just managed to avoid "real work" until this summer... and even my work wasn't real work, it was academia.

Anyway, back to the actual title of this blog post. Amanda is at work. I'm on vacation. It sucks.

Yeah, you heard me correctly. Vacation sucks. I don't get to spend vacation with my wonderful wife because she is taking care of the front office at CCT while her coworker is on vacation. Therefore, she will be working during almost all of my vacation, so I won't be able to do much with her during the day.

I suppose that is what life will be like for most of our married lives together, because we'll both be holding down jobs and such, but it will just take some getting used to. Just felt like complaining today. I'm really not that unhappy, because I get lots done while she's at work. Yesterday I cleaned out my car completely, getting rid of some trash that's been there for probably the last three years (and I've only owned the car for two). Friday I blitzed the house with efficient and ruthless elimination of trash and papers that I have a hard time getting rid of (because I'll want to know what my first semester of masters classes was like in say 50 years right?). I am more effective when Amanda isn't at home, not because she distracts me but because I want to interact with her every waking second of the day when we're together, but still... I miss my wife when she's at work and I'm not.

Okay, gotta go, I feel another cleaning spree coming on...

A+

Duh... I wasn't even thinking...

2005-08-23T14:53:00.000-04:00

My wife inadvertently gave me a great idea today when she mentioned that her boss had read the preview poetry online and found it amusing. Her remark was “you should give him your old book so he can see all of your old stuff and compare it…” and I said, “yeah that sounds good. I might just do that. Then…

DUH!

I have a whole bunch of my old stuff just sitting around from its previous publishing at Capital University. I should just give all of that stuff away first. I’m telling you… this is why I got married in the first place. I just don’t get these ideas on my own.

SO!

If you want one of my old books (sans prix/ gratis) just leave me a note here and I’ll bring one with me on Sunday or if you are in my home group on Wednesday. I warn you… the old stuff is sketchy in places, and I included some of it in the new feature (but only the stuff I really liked, some of the old stuff just frightens and embarrasses me)

I kind of went for a Dr. Seuss-y vibe along with the other Ogden Nash type stuff. It takes a lot of patience for some of the poetry, Amanda can attest to that, sometimes I didn’t know where to pull the plug, and some of the stuff I wrote is just weird.

The only real bonus of the old book is that it has Pictures. All mine. None are color except for the front cover. But they are all outline drawings, so they make great coloring books for kids. I included instructions on the inside that the book was not a museum piece or a coffee table book. It should be tested for flight, drawn on, taken on high seas adventures, used to level the microwave, etc…

Okay, that’s about it. Let me know.

Shameless self promotion #2 over.

A+ (although the old book gets a C+)

Big and Cool!

2005-08-19T10:08:00.000-04:00

Wow... lots is happening... can't get my thoughts together... busy weekend...

First things first... I discovered the greatest invention since the invention of inventions thanks to an inlaw. FREE SELF PUBLISHING!!! Go to Lulu.com to check it out... it's really everything it says it is, a way for starving artists to publish their work professionally at no cost. The company only makes a profit if you sell books/cds/photo collections... so for example, I set the cost of a book at $10.00 and they deduct printing costs and a small commission per book (20% sounds like a lot but remember they don't get anything until you do) and you get a royalty check if anyone purchases the book.

So...

I did it. I put together poetry that I've had for years (including some selections from a past book that my University published for me in 2001).

INTRODUCING: maybe this time...
What: A collection of poetry
how long: 56 pages
color cover: yeah
sweet back cover: oh yeah
sweet author photo: heck yeah
cost: $10 (i would make about $3.50 per book after printing costs and comission is deducted)
where: www.lulu.com

Download the preview by going to my storefront which you can find by typing in my name (Andrew Anderson)

So cool... so cool... I won't make anything off of this but I might just have to order one for myself so I can see what the whole thing looks like.

All y'alls should do this... John M. for the photos, Fred K. for his music compositions, Mike G. for his music (solo pop projects anyone?), Annie T. for her artwork, etc... we are a congregation of artists...

Okay gotta go... at work... no time... papers due...

A+

A

Thoughts on fatherhood

2005-08-10T17:48:00.000-04:00

Everyone seems to be talking about fatherhood, masculinity, etc. So I'll throw myself in here and say that I have no idea why, but I've really felt an intense need to be a father in recent months. I guess I tend to convey that through raising my pet, but a pet and a child are very different items.

Observe.

A rabbit is not a child.
A child is not a rabbit.
Ham is not kosher.

I don't know where that third observation came from, but I put it down anyway. I suppose it's just me coming out.

So back to this fatherhood thing... I don't know where it's come from. I definately know that Amanda and I are nowhere close to being ready to raise children, nor are we going to try anytime in the next four or five years (If I've understood Amanda correctly, please correct me if I'm wrong ;) ) but dang it... I want a child.

This is insane. I thought women were supposed to be the ones who felt the need for children (and no I don't mean that ALL women crave childbearing... it's just... um... something I heard once and that has been portrayed as true in the media... not that I go there for all my information... most of the time...) so why is it that I envy those people who have children.

Hypothesis one: We are in a young church in which there are many children.
Hypothesis two: Many of the people that we know well are currently with child or expecting children in the near future.
Hypothesis three: Someone is continuously slipping a womens supplement into my drinks and so I now have estrogen coursing through my vains at an alarming rate.

I have to go now. I'll be teaching my French students and thinking nurturing thoughts. Pleast notify me if you notice me growing breasts anytime soon. Thanks.

A+

My apologies

2005-07-25T10:01:00.000-04:00

Yes... I have not posted. It happens to be a routine glitch in my memory that I like to call "selective post syndrome..."

Aw, who am I kidding, I'm just a guy and I have a problem paying attention to anything that isn't moving, talking or that isn't pork and saeurkraut. My suggestion to this computer and this site if it wants me to post more often is to take up disguising itself as pork and saeurkraut, playing German Oompah band music, and/or running around the room while I chase it around. It would restore a bit of the challenge to blogging. I need activity/music/the aroma of beer bratwurst to keep my attention span to its maximum of 13.5 seconds.

Either that, or I need my wife. She helps me to stay organized. I realized this past week when Amanda was in North Carolina how much I need my wife in order to not revert to my bachelor days. I experienced a severe attack of Re-Bachelor-Syndrome or (r)BS or just BS if you want to call it that.

Symptoms include:
1. Setting up a tent in your living room, spinning it around until the window of said tent faces the television, watching movies and eating candy from the comfort of your tent.

2. Forgetting to eat (unless German food is involved).

3. Reverting to antisocial habits such as hiding inside your appartment and only leaving to go to work and class.

4. Actually remembering to take your cell phone with you so you won't miss calls from your wife.

5. Forgetting to eat (unless German food is involved).

6. Believing that your pets actually can talk to you and will empathize with your sudden Spousal lack.

7. Becoming excited about (and actually seeking out) things like buying products with an expiration date that falls on your birthday.

Amanda is back, and so I need to go now and look at her so that I can remember why I have agreed not to ever take my marriage to a wonderful person for granted.

A+

Andy

Ominous Thunder part deux

2005-06-30T14:39:00.000-04:00

So the campus is now under a thick layer of haze and water. Lovely. I won't complain though, because I know we not only need the water, but also the haze. Why the haze... because it brings us back to the premordial dawn of time when haze floated over the misty seas.

Okay, so I really don't dig the haze, but I can't make it go away. I'll deal.

Saw Batman Begins last night. Fantastic. No spoilers here, just know that it manhandles all other Batman films I've seen.

Nothing more to say, just a simple post to keep myself from going mad with boredom. I bought a course packet today and figured it would take three hours to read. It took one. Leaving two hours of looking at rain and haze and listening to thunder.

Okay. Going off to count pixels now.

A+

Andrew

Ominous Thunder

2005-06-28T13:00:00.000-04:00

Did I spell ominous correctly? I'm never sure. My English seems to be getting worse as does my French lately. I'm sure one or the other will soon turn around or maybe both if I'm lucky, but at the moment, I feel like a Man without a Language. It sounds like a movie title. Perhaps one day it will be.

So, updates... updates...

Oh yeah, the title of this blog post. Ominous (sp?) thunder has been... um... thundering outside of my office window for the last hour. At first I really thought the thunder was just the noise of construction equipment. For some reason, I don't recall hearing thunder like this before. Very mechanical sounding. Just another reason I sometimes believe that I live in The Truman Show. Fake sounding nature. So... what to say, what to say... nothing much to say actually. I'm just here at the office about two hours early because Amanda and I took my car in to have it fixed. The front passenger side tie-rod came off last week and we've just gotten around to having it repaired today. It won't be repaired today, of course, they said that it would probably be a week or so. Lucky for both of us that I have an extended warranty policy on my car so at least the parts will be covered. If the labor isn't covered, I'm hearing the cash registers ringing for about 400 dollars. I'll probably get new front tires and an alignment as well, because that's most likely what caused the problem in the first place. Ah, cars. What would my life be like without you.

Cheaper.
Easier.

Did I mention Cheaper?

Okay, gotta go waste time looking up ways to sell my body parts before the Estimate comes in.

A+

Andrew

Um... Yes... I have returned

2005-06-22T15:03:00.000-04:00

From where? I'm actually not too sure about where I'm coming back from... obscurity sounds like a reasonable excuse for not having written anything for well over two weeks... or just about two weeks... or something approximating two weeks...

I have started the second week of my summer class schedule, the first week being a sort of practice week during which I learned how to use Dreamweaver software and the accompanying Fireworks MX suite. It's been a lot of fun, and I didn't even have to learn HTML or XML or AFL or NFL or whatever that coding junk is called. I have a sweeeeeet webpage with lots of cool buttons and rollovers, all stuff I made myself. I am working with a two other French students and our website is devoted to French Media. I will at some point post one of our buttons on the site so that you can see exactly how it works, I have not the access to the code at the moment, but soon I will. Then you can read your funny text till the cows come home.

Okay, I realize that this post was short, and will remain obscure, but that's just fine. You've been kept at bay with a few short paragraphs. Enough already!

A+

Andrew

Breathing again...

2005-06-08T15:39:00.000-04:00

Finally a little time to post something.

I'm officially done with all the crap I had to do for my own classes.
12 page paper on Notre Dame de Paris, check
essay and translation exam, check
culture exam, check
exam for lit class, check

Giving my personal exam, check

grading my personal exam... well, I'm almost done. I guess that grading could be worse. I wrote a shorter exam for them than I had planned, and that does two things for me, makes my grading time a bit shorter, gives me more time to waste on the internet writing blogs.

Grading sequence commencing, sigh, I guess check.

A+ (but for my students probably somewhere in the area of C-)

Andrew

Concert Blues

2005-05-26T14:35:00.000-04:00

The concert last night at Little Brothers was amazing... except for one thing. It was way way WAY too loud. I have nothing against loud music, and as our good friend Brian says "If the music is too loud, it's just a sign that you're too young." I may be too young, but last night was a painful reminder of how damaging high treble levels can be. Give me thundering bass any day, just not the musical equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.

Augustana, the band that opened up the evening, was good, as far as I could tell over the screaming guitars, nonexistant bass, and the "Corgan on Crack" vocal stylings. I really wish I could tell you if the band was good or not, but I had an incredibly hard time understanding any of the words or hearing any coherant music at all. After a beer or two, it wasn't getting any better, and my head hurt even more.

Where's Karl when you need him?

The Stereophonics were absolutely stunning, if perhaps a little loud as well. They rocked out all night long, and their new drummer should become their permanent drummer in my opinion, because he was brilliant (and his shirt was off by the second song, so you could tell he was workin' it). My personnal favorites of the evening were "Dakota" the new single off of the "Sex, Language, Violence, Other" album, and their combination of "Mme Helga" and "Leaving LA". Kelly Jones is an amazing front man, and bassist Richard Jones (no relation) is an OX on stage stomping around in his boots, manhandling the bass like a real pro.

Wow. I have really got to see more live shows. I love music, and a non-smokey hall makes the evening even better.

Okay, I'm off.

A+

Andrew

Bass

2005-05-25T09:26:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I haven't yet written about my Bass playing experience on Sunday. It was an incredible time, and I really felt like I was able to serve the church in a whole new way. I enjoy children's ministry and very much enjoy working with the kids/babies but this is something that I thought I would never be able to do that I am actually doing.

Let me explain before this post descends into random rambling...

When I was younger, my mom told me that if I wanted to do something important that I should write it down on a list and whenever I had accomplished something big, I could cross it off the list, or put a check beside it or whatnot. She always said that this was one way for me to remember the things I really wanted to do and an encouragement to do those things. A sort of mental string around the finger.

Suffice it to say that I did this, and now I can cross one of these desires off of the list. God is good.

Thank you to everyone who encouraged me last weekend, and I hope that I will continue to be able to serve God and the church in this capacity.

A+

Andrew

(next goal on the list is to publish a poetry anthology without the aid of a university, or become well versed in another language, either spanish or german)

Wallaby

2005-05-24T11:28:00.000-04:00

At least that's his/her name for now. Amanda and I purchased a rabbit on Saturday, following the death of our last hamster, Ibis. Ibis died after a two month long separation from her cage sister, Alpaca. There was little love loss between the two, as Ibis tried to kill Alpaca on three separate occasions, at one point tearing her ear in two. Alpaca's death was probably due to repeated trauma due to attempted murder, and even after she was placed into a separate cage, she never really went back to her spunky hamster self. Ibis was a different case. Both Amanda and I believe that Ibis had a cancerous growth on her that eventually spread to every part of her tiny body. She began to swell up and on Friday night when I picked her up to let her run around on the floor (as she was wont to do, ain't old English cool?) she had already begun to get cold because of a general loss of circulation. It was somewhat upsetting because watching the death process has never been a favorite pastime, but Amanda and I put some warm things in the cage with which she could curl-up.

The following day we buried her in a trashcan (unfortunately the landlords didn't want her buried in a garden), helped Seth and Sandra move to their new home in Polaris, and purchased a mini-lop eared bunny. The animal technician said that he/she was too young to be able to determine if he/she was a he or a she, so we decided on once again naming him/her after an animal that neither of us would ever own. We thought about perhaps naming him/her platypus (veto by amanda), albatross (popular but eventually unseated) and then settled on Wallaby (or Wally for short). If I was more technologically advanced, I would indeed post pictures for all of you to see, but if you want to come and visit in person, just call ahead or show up and she/he'll be more than happy to see you.

Okay, I'm off.

A+

Andrew

I've changed...

2005-05-20T16:28:00.000-04:00

Technology can be good. For example, my blog style has changed.

Not by itself of course... I made it change. If my blog had simply changed templates randomly I'd be even more paranoid than I already am, hunting for cameras in the rooms that I write posts in, making sure I don't have any trojan viruses in my computer, etc. I don't do any of that at the moment (looks furtively around the room) because I am a sane (looks in his program files and activates virus scan) and very trusting person (checks phone for taps).

I changed my blog because I noticed that everyone else had links on their sites and became jealous of them. I suppose this would fall under the catagory of "coveting thy neighbor's blog" but I have since repented. Now I have links. Now I'm happy. I need nothing else in this world.

Hmm... some people know how to edit their "html". I don't really need to know how to do that (but if you happen to be an expert and are willing to help me make my blog cooler than everyone else's blog, you can contact me).

Okay. Off I go to edit my links (which will be done by the time you read this so it's more like "off I went to edit my links".) <--- is this allowed gramatically?

A+

Andy

Might I recommend...

2005-05-17T15:49:00.000-04:00

I decided that since other bloggers are writing lists on their blogs, I might as well place one or two on mine. I humbly submit for your approval (or lack thereof) my favorite song intros, from 10 to 1. 1 is of course my favorite, but if I put it first, there'd be no reason to read the rest of this post.

10. Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2, classic, leads into a killer song. Has just the right amount of anticipation, a good guitar groove, and the sound that we have come to know and love from the Irish Group.

9. Clocks - Coldplay, there is nothing like a good piano intro to make a song memorable. This song just has a good steady beat and fits the song perfectly.

8. Robot Walk - The Hives, I just like this song and I had my bass turned up especially loud the first time I heard this song, so the contrast between the deep bass and the screaming guitars just struck a chord (literally) and I've enjoyed this intro, short though it may be, ever since.

7. Just Can't get enough - The NEw Radicals, aside from the crude reference at the very beginning (which you won't even understand unless you have the volume turned up) this song is a really good song to wake up to in the morning because it makes you want to dance and sing along (and for someone who shouldn't sing along EVER, this is big)

6. In The Journey - Martin Sexton live version on LIVE WIDE OPEN, this song has a great set of lyrics, Martin has a gread set of pipes, the drummer does what he's supposed to do, you get the picture.

5. Over My Head - Martin Sexton, this is one of the best sounding guitar intros I've heard in a long time, and Martin's voice tops most people I've listened to before.

4. She Talks to Angels - The Black Crowes, this is just a great song. The intro is awesome especially with the harmonic chords and the musical depth. I suppose I extend the meaning of "Intro" to mean almost the entire first verse as well.

3. I Hope I Didn't just give away the ending - The New Radicals, this intro is layered muttering mixed with guitar, piano, and light drums, and I believe the intro clocks in at 1 minute 15 seconds. It culminates with a heavy piano chord and the lead singer saying "shut up!" in a slurred voice. I laugh every time. It's just great. Not musically great (although the song is really great as well) but just strange enough to merit being placed highly on this list.

2. Where the streets have no name - U2 again, another song that just has a great mix of synth and lead guitar, kicked into high gear by the drums. Listing to this intro has made me weep on numerous occasions (not that I would publicly admit this... oh wait, I just did), and when they went into this tune during the Superbowl Halftime Show (pre Janet) I almost peed myself. Okay enough embarassing stories.

1. Baba O' Reily - the Who, I just can't describe what this song did for me the first time I heard it. There is nothing that can top the synth-piano intro that is kicked into high gear by Keith Moon's insanity on the drums. All time favorite, this song has yet to be topped by anything I've heard.

Okay, I should really go and get some work done now. Feel free to comment on anything that you feel should have made this list. If the song is one I've forgotten I might even modify.

A+

Andrew

Downtime

2005-05-10T16:33:00.000-04:00

Yes, it has in fact been one week since I posted. I will try to blame it all on OSU and the OSU computer system. They haven't let me in for over a week. To the site I mean. And... um... I haven't been home at all. I got stuck inside the very building where I was prevented from accessing the site and had to live off of coffee creamer and paper. Let's just say I was very regular all week long, but was prevented from regularly posting. There we go.

I also recently paid attention to the heading on my site which states that I recently received my BA in French. That "recently" bit is now one year gone. I've been out of Capital University for one entire year. Nothing makes me realize that time is passing like realizing that I've been out of High School for 6 years and College for 1 year. I've also been living in this appartment for almost one entire year. It just seems like a year disappeared from time, and that I'm suddenly one year older, married, with bills and students. It's a nice change, but the sudden reality of it all is... sudden.

I'm going to take off for a while. I have some work to do.

A+

Andrew

Monday... oh wait, I missed Monday

2005-05-03T09:09:00.000-04:00

Ever wake up not too sure of what day it is, afraid to look at the clock because you just know that whatever time it is, you're late getting out of bed?

I feel like I have alarms going off inside my head all the time right now. It's probably just a return to some of the old anxiety that I'd become comfortable living without thanks to my perscription, but I'd still rather do without always worrying that I'm one step behind everyone else. Call it finals syndrome, I suppose.

Amanda and I made spring rolls last night. We bought rice paper wraps, lots of chicken, rice noodles, used a zester to peel thin carrot layers, and then used cilantro and lime to make our rice different. It was good, but I had the worst digestive problems this morning from the oil. Have to figure out how to make sure that doesn't happen again.

My exam went well. The majority of my students got A's and B's. Now if I could only figure out where I hid the original file on my computer... or is it on my jump drive? I guess I'll figure that out a bit later. I've got French Culture to think about at the moment. Dr. Fourny is one of the best professors I've had here at OSU because he makes sure that his class is relevent and interesting. Some profs just don't have that gift. I wonder sometimes when I'm staring out into a sea of blank faces during my own class whether I have that gift. It's something I can work on I'm sure.

Alright. I'm going away now to fight the good fight.

A+

Andrew

I think I like blogging again...

2005-04-29T11:21:00.000-04:00

Although when I used to do it it was called posting an entry. Just a thought. I guess I have lots of them.

Finished writing and proofing my midterm today, 8 pages of bliss for my 27 students. I'm sure they'll all love it. I really felt proud at the end of the whole experience, especially when I finally printed it off, double sided, saw how all of the Bold and Italics made it just super sweet. I guess I've rekindled my enjoyment of the teaching experience. At least until I have to grade all 27 midterms, an enjoyable use of 4 hours of my life this weekend. I have to get back on track with my grading or else I'm going to find myself in a BAD way at the end of the quarter. I have trouble prioritizing (sp?) my school work when the best thing in life (a.k.a. Amanda) is waiting for me at home (actually I'm waiting for her tonight, she's working until 8pm at least). Nevertheless, tonight will be a date night of sorts because we'll be going to see Brasilera, the Brasilian Dance band that played at our wedding, tonight at 10pm at Dick's Den on High Street. Although I call it a date night, if you happen to read this and realize that you have nothing to do tonight, you too can be a part of our date night.

The first student just finished my exam. She had to take the test early because she will be taking part in an "Athletic event" this afternoon during my regular class hours. I still don't understand why people prioritize atheletics over academics. Perhaps I was just never a part of the jock mentality, although I remember once getting out of class early to go run a track meet in high school. I also remember being rather worried about what my teachers would think of me leaving early. perhaps my being on the other side of the student/teacher coin has just made me more aware of what we as a society value in life, and it appears that I don't quite fit the mold.

It isn't academic ability.

It isn't having a simple, normal, non-high profile life.

It isn't being paid a regular wage.

Well, there go my chances of being a millionaire sports star with my own reality show. I'm weeping right now. Really. If I only had a web cam I could record it for you and play it on the internet.

Well, time to go and check in on the news for today.

A+

Andrew

PS. For those who wonder what A+ means, in French, a plus means "until later" and the techie abbreviation is A+. I'm a nerd, I know, but at least I'm a French nerd.

Okay, something less cantankerous

2005-04-28T12:24:00.000-04:00

I love that word, cantankerous... although I'm not positive I'm spelling it right. I'm currently sitting in my office in 308 Hagerty Hall waiting for students to trickle in to discuss tomorrow's midterm (which I wrote myself!). Today has been, and this week in general has been, good. That's all I can really say. I am happy about the way my life is going at the moment. I don't think I really saw myself in this building, with this job the way it is going at the moment, but I'll take it. I guess I don't really have a choice do I?
I'm learning to play the bass at the moment. Thank God I have a father in law who rules the bass like nobody else, and lots of friends who know the bass as well. I'll be playing like a minor league Seth Jewett in no time.
Well, students are trickling in and asking questions now, so I'll be off.

A+

Andrew

Just a thought

2005-04-22T17:17:00.000-04:00

I have these thoughts througout the day that just persist and persist. Most of them are of the "Where did I go wrong with Christian Literature?" It's not that I'm not interested in thinking about Christianity, because I do debate it and read blogs all the time trying to get a handle on the way people who are around me (at least around me blogwise) are thinking about the world. Plus, the passing of and re-election of a Pope has had me tied to news services for weeks now. So indeed, I am interested in Christianity, but somehow have yet to find a book about Christianity that really fascinates me.
I can think of only one, "A revolution in world missions" -- or something to that effect-- a book that was given to me by... either Casey B. or John C. (Seth, you know who I'm talking about). I loved and hated the book at the same time, because the man inside was so blatent in his criticism of the Church that has become stagnant and status-quo in the US, and has become so revolutionary internationally. Americans can simply say, "Yes I'm a Christian" and do nothing with that statement, and they fear nothing. When the citizens of other nations say, "Yes I'm a Christian" they had better believe it and act on it, because merely saying it is an invitation for persecution and government investigation. That's what it boils down to, the church in the United States has reached a point where being associated with it means less and less.
Understand me here, I'm not saying that I wish we lived in a country where our belief in Christ could get us imprisoned, but I wish we did live in a country where just saying that you are a Christian really means something. I don't mean to judge in any way, but I do mean to say that if being a Christian wasn't so associated with being "popular" or "deep" or "spiritual" but more associated with just being a Christian, believing in Christ and doing everything possible to live out a Jesus lifestyle, it would make me feel better about the church in America.

Wow... I must have eaten something disagreeable for breakfast. I don't usually rant like this. I did this on my last post too didn't I... just a sec, I'll go check...

(sound of typing and clicking, and mumbling)

yep, I seem to be rather cantankerous in my last post as well. I should watch what I eat from now on.

Well, it is getting late. I should go now. And get into a better mood.

A+

Andrew

People can't possibly...

2005-04-14T16:45:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that it's actually been over five months since my last post on this site. I feel strangely ashamed, as if I'm shirking a duty I agreed to several months ago that I have not fulfilled. In reference to the title, can anyone seriously still be interested in this blog anymore? My English skills continue to deteriorate, and yet... and yet...

So a brief overview of the last five months for those who care to know ;)

1. I finished the first quarter of Masters at OSU
2. I finished the second quarter of Masters at OSU
3. Christmas happened somewhere in there
4. I'm currently teaching a French culture class that has me reexamining my desire to teach this language because it becomes progressivly more difficult to accept the fact that I am teaching an advanced language course to students who have no desire and for the most part, no where close to the ability to actually communicate in an advanced manner.

Perhaps I should explain (since I haven't explained anything for the last several months)... I appreciate the reasons that OSU has for requiring language study but very much disagree with the methods used to teach it, and the requirements themselves for that matter.

Students could theoretically begin in the fall of their freshman year in French 101.01. This is a class for absolute and total beginners who have never tried to speak or perhaps have never understood the concept of the French langauge. Good for them. Bravo. Fast forward to the spring quarter of that same year. The same student who only five or six months ago spoke no French at all is now expected to read a 90 page book and make compelling statements about this particular book.

You do the math here. 4 hours a week for two quarters (perhaps 24 weeks total with a Xmas break in between) is a little less than 100 hours of French, in a classroom environment and no pressure or need (or ability I might add) to use the language outside of the classroom. So what someone might say? 100 hours is roughly equivalent to 4 days. And this isn't even as intensive as immersion training.

Perhaps I am being unfair to the academic abilities of my students, but I do believe that this type of academic environment does little to stimulate students to continue academic study in the language field (especially when very few of them were interested in the language in the first place).

Well, this is quite impressive for a first post after a long hiatus. Enjoy this and I will try to blog again before the end of 2005 ;)

A+

Andrew

Long time no post

2004-11-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

I still exist. This isn't just a passing phase, at least I don't think it is.
Amanda and I voted today. As far as I know we both voted for the same presidential candiate. The line was so long that I took us an hour and a half to get into the booths, even though we got to the polls just a few minutes after they opened. However, I must say that I am very happy to see people actually taking the time to vote this time around. I have never been in a voting booth before, as I voted by absentee ballot in 2000, and it was an interesting experience. I don't really trust the electronic voting booths all that much, I mean, how exactly do they recount. I guess they won't lie unless someone puts a virus in them, and I don't know how that would happen... listen to me! I'm starting to buy into all that "the world is trying to get you" crap that I swore I wouldn't ever buy. It's hard though, because when you are as exposed to the messages of terror and horror and difficulty that the media projects day in and day out, it becomes something you really begin to believe.
Enough of that now. I have to work on my classes now, I'm presenting in a few minutes, Un Coeur Simple by Flaubert, too many commas, they are, starting, to, en,cr,oa,,,,,,ch upon me,,,,,....!!!!!!!!! Hmm... this blog isn't all that different from my old blog. Go figure.
Off to class now.
We'll soon know who the next leader of the "free" world is.
A+

Voila

2004-10-12T17:00:00.000-04:00

As a distinguished professor, I must say that I am disappointed with the amount of French being used in my grad classes. Perhaps I don't really want to hear my head prof, WW, speak French with her accent vilain but I must say that I expected to be getting at least 6 hours of French conversation in per week. At this rate I'm getting in about two hours, plus what I am teaching. Oh well, life can't give you everything you want. However, if you have a powerbook G4 to spare, I wouldn't mind taking it off your hands for you.

A+

Andy

First Post, I have cracked under pressure

2004-10-05T17:30:00.000-04:00

I swore I would never actually start blogging, especially after seeing how much time I spent in my last blog site at opendiary.com, but I guess boredom and a desire to once more write freely has won me over. I will make this a short post as I sit in a T.A. office on the fourth floor of an OSU building and have class in a little over an hour. I have reading to do before class, and I am debating whether or not to do my reading for the day, as I have more important events coming up later in the week (a presentation on Proust and his use of jealousy) and as I am also not interested in Russian formalism and Bakhtine theory. Blah blah blah, the maze of academia is long and winding, and I'm really not sure how I feel about it at this point. Is this going to be my life for the rest of my working years; reading, publishing, attending conferences and classes that really don't interest me that much? I guess still have time to figure it out, but until then I can only pray that God will guide my steps. Okay, off to class.