tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53691742011-04-21T17:00:38.268-07:00Frogs and Ravens 1.0For the latest version of this blog, go to http://palimpsest.typepad.com/frogsandravensRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comBlogger3501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1073517234560538572004-01-07T15:13:00.000-08:002004-01-07T15:15:36.046-08:00MigrationEven though I haven't decided to commit fully to Typepad (there are some things that bug me, like it's clunky navigation menus) I'm going to give up on double-posting. It's just too slow and tedious over a dial-up connection.
So come on over to the new location, and watch the kinks get ironed out!
Frogs and RavensRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1073410754620514392004-01-06T09:39:00.000-08:002004-01-06T09:40:54.076-08:00ResolutionsNew Year's Resolutions are such tricky things. The beginning of another year does seem like an ideal moment to kickstart better behavior, but it's not like with the dropping of a ball you are transformed into someone able to make the changes any more easily. It is much easier to fall back into the rut than to climb out of it, let alone make a new one!
For myself, I'm hoping to eat better and Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1073348999871227892004-01-05T16:29:00.000-08:002004-01-05T16:31:38.496-08:00Back from the SnowsYep, snow. The ol' Pacific Northwest got a faceful over the last few days. And now I'm back in sunny California, and, ironically, I'm colder in my own apartment than I was the whole time there. (Gotta get around to calling the gas company about turning on the furnace one of these days...)
Posts are probably going to be brief over the next few days; I'm testing out Typepad this month and Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071955393571210722003-12-20T13:23:00.000-08:002003-12-20T13:24:31.170-08:00Away for a WhileI'm leaving to visit my parents for Christmas and New Years. See you when I get back!Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071783367743720492003-12-18T13:36:00.000-08:002003-12-18T13:37:22.436-08:00Everybody's Doing ItSo here's my result from the color quiz:
you are lightskyblue#87CEFAYour dominant hues are cyan and blue. You like people and enjoy making friends. You're conservative and like to make sure things make sense before you step into them, especially in relationships. You are curious but respected for your opinions by people who you sometimes wouldn't even suspect.Your saturation level is lower than Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071714348774968622003-12-17T18:25:00.000-08:002003-12-17T18:29:28.436-08:00Academia vs. SurvivorI'm not a long-term die-hard fan of Survivor but this season D. and I found ourselves caught up in the drama taking place in the Pearl Islands. At the end I was sufficiently curious to track down a description of the application process for would-be Survivors.
Ya know what? It doesn't look much worse than the academic job market! Doing a 3-minute video seems easy-peasy compared to a one-hour Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071698491668617042003-12-17T14:01:00.000-08:002003-12-17T14:04:14.590-08:00The Trouble with On-line PollsIs that it is virtually impossible to screen who answers them. It's also hard to tell who those responders are -- who knows if they're using their real names!
If you're feeling mischievous, you might want to pop on over to this poll (link courtesy of yami at green gabbro), especially since the American Family Association is only "pro-family" in the most limited sense. Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071626250309686102003-12-16T17:57:00.000-08:002003-12-16T17:58:43.123-08:00Little Bits of PaperI just received my brand-spanking-new membership card for the American Association of Museums.
Whee!Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071538292891890382003-12-15T17:31:00.000-08:002003-12-15T17:32:44.030-08:00Another Silly BlogI'm not quite how to describe Hitherby Dragons beyond "bizarre" and "highly amusing" and "unlike any of the other blogs in my list."
Enjoy, all you grading people and avoiders of work!Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071177632924457392003-12-11T13:20:00.000-08:002003-12-11T13:21:38.670-08:00Commenting UpdateObserve my updated FAQs about the enetation comment service. I still don't fully understand what is up with it these days, but the long and short of it is that there are often comments even when they are not listed at the end of the post and even sometimes when they don't show up in the comment window.
So... if you see a post you're interested in, check out the comments even if nothing seems toRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071169809056515162003-12-11T11:10:00.000-08:002003-12-11T11:16:55.590-08:00A QuestionThose of you who've switched from Blogger to TypePad, how did it go? Do you like the new service? Were there any glitches? What would you have done differently? Were you able to transfer your archives to the new server, and was it easy or hard?
(I'm thinking of asking for a TypePad subscription for Christmas, but since that raises the probability of my family wanting to actually _see_ what Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071169617345526082003-12-11T11:06:00.000-08:002003-12-11T11:14:13.263-08:00DilemmaIt is cold and blustery outside. The eucalyptus and pine and other trees I can see from my window are being blown and buffeted about by the wind. There may be rain, too; it's hard to see from here.
Unfortunately, I am out of milk.
Given that I can't eat breakfast without it nor indulge my tea-drinking habit in its most pleasurable form (hot tea, then sugar, then milk to cool), I need milk!
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071166818840376812003-12-11T10:20:00.000-08:002003-12-14T23:21:53.530-08:00A PhD Is Not A Form of Vocational TrainingI'm not sure who first wrote that phrase, but it is an interesting one. It comes from the comment thread for Invisible Adjunct's post "Life Outside the Academic History Box". I've been reading this discussion with interest, as I am currently in the process of re-tooling that Alexandra Lord and Julie Taddeo's site Beyond Academe (see sidebar) is meant to address (and, indeed, was one of the betaRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071163700252679612003-12-11T09:28:00.000-08:002003-12-11T09:29:25.700-08:00Really Good Grad School AdviceThe comments to "Jane Bast, Undeterred" over at Invisible Adjunct are really good and astoundingly thoughtful -- particularly after Jane herself shows up and begins to ask questions. If you've any interest in grad school (either going, currently attending, or having been) I do recommend you stop by. It's the most thoughtful discussion of the subject I think I've seen (and I've seen a lot).Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071071277586097952003-12-10T07:47:00.000-08:002003-12-10T07:50:35.903-08:00Ah, HellWriting boring posts is no fun. And I felt physically ill yesterday after trying not to think about things that worry me so I wouldn't be tempted to blog about them. (You know, I would not be all that surprised if I learned that Blogger and Typepad and all the rest have a satellite beaming "you must go blog now" rays at all of us.) Add in a visit to an online Tarot site (yeah, yeah -- but it'sRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071019087287743532003-12-09T17:18:00.000-08:002003-12-09T17:19:10.623-08:00BoredI hate the work I am currently doing now, namely scheduling students for classes. It is fussy and for each schedule that goes through smoothly there are five that do not. Only 43 more minutes to go...
Plus my upper back is tight and unhappy. I suspect I'm repressing stress and that's the only outlet it has at the moment.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1071002291937691382003-12-09T12:38:00.000-08:002003-12-09T12:39:14.826-08:00Market ResearchMarket research may be a good option for some post-academics.
According to the person I interviewed, it is a job that favors those able to collect, analyze and explain data. You need to be comfortable with people, whether potential consumers or clients. Being able to entertain both while collecting your data is useful.
Hours can be flexible, if you freelance, or you can opt for security, Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070841769162814182003-12-07T16:02:00.000-08:002003-12-07T17:36:13.716-08:00RethinkingWell, it seems an old friend has managed to piece together enough from my posts to figure out who I am (hi, J.R.). I haven't quite decided what effect this will have on this blog. On the one hand, what has made this blog worth writing is that the posts are real and, if not uncensored, at least an honest look into the ups and downs of my life. On the other, what makes it possible to do so is Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070658857389106252003-12-05T13:14:00.000-08:002003-12-05T13:15:15.250-08:00Random QuestionIf you are reading something while listening to the radio, which gets tuned out? For me, text takes priority; if I see something I have to read it (or, more accurately, I do read it, with no conscious volition), while I find it pretty easy to ignore aural input (indeed, I often have to close my eyes in order to pay attention to purely audio input). In the worst scenarios I literally hear Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070657698369049062003-12-05T12:54:00.000-08:002003-12-05T12:55:55.653-08:00More Fun with Referralscall tutor now from rana academy
things to do with RED FROGS lick
crochet stuffed frog pattern
geography phd job
I remain astounded by the number of people who search using one-word phrases like "frog" or "ravens." Dang, people, how time-consuming that must be!
Even more astonishing: my blog is on page 2 at google for the first, page 1 for the second. Who'da thunk it?Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070641315565817652003-12-05T08:21:00.000-08:002003-12-05T08:22:53.060-08:00One of Those MorningsA nice cup of tea
Goes a long way
When it is tipped
Off the edge of the table
Onto the floor
Where it bounces
When I am late for work.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070577877662554182003-12-04T14:44:00.000-08:002003-12-04T14:46:37.903-08:00Advice I Don't HeedDear Self,
No matter how much you think you deserve to read some fun fiction mid-week before bed, don't. Or at least restrict yourself to short stories.
Oh, my head.
What's particularly pathetic here is that I "only" stayed up until midnight. Unfortunately, by Wednesday creeping sleep debt begins to catch up with me, so I can't really spare time for not-sleeping after 10pm. And then there Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070500387182384632003-12-03T17:13:00.000-08:002003-12-03T17:14:02.653-08:00Where is everyone?No comments for a while -- is everyone busy, or just bored?Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070484570739035132003-12-03T12:49:00.000-08:002003-12-03T12:52:47.153-08:00Informational InterviewThis week I had the opportunity to participate in a focus group and had a blast. I also discovered that directing one seems a lot like leading a good student brainstorming session. So, in a spasm of networking, I asked the director if we could arrange an informational interview to learn more about this kind of work.
(I have no problems talking with or asking for advice from strangers in personRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070382628246896272003-12-02T08:30:00.000-08:002003-12-02T08:34:56.796-08:00Opossum!Last night D. came over for dinner. As I was messing around with the vegetables I heard a knock at the door and D.'s voice saying with some alarm that there was a possum on the porch and would I please let him in now?
There was indeed a possum on the porch -- a big one. The "porch" itself is quite small; it's a platform at the top of my stairs that barely admits one person when the door is Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070167934902030062003-11-29T20:52:00.000-08:002003-11-29T21:03:49.170-08:00Timeline of DoomChris over at Crooked Timber added to the conversation about the negative interaction between academic and familial responsibilities in "More on Tenure and Toddlers." Given that I have no toddlers, and have given up any attempt to find employment that may lead to tenure, I wasn't expecting to find too much of direct relevance, albeit of interest.
However, his post included what I am thinking ofRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1070150077130264332003-11-29T15:54:00.000-08:002003-11-29T15:57:30.653-08:00Soft AirIt was good to see my parents over the holiday, even though I worry about my mom's posture and my dad's driving and I live alone so much of the time that I felt overwhelmed by their attention. It is soothing to be around people who care for you, and to be surrounded by beings that are safe to touch and be touched by. You might assume, solitary as my life tends to be, that this is because I Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069707149665911452003-11-24T12:52:00.000-08:002003-11-24T18:13:37.856-08:00Thanksgiving HolidayI'm going away for the holidays -- will resume when I return.
Meanwhile, two haikus:
The neighbor's cat comes
Meows and purrs on my knee
Joy sans litterbox!
and
Life's rich scent is here
In the smell of a warm meal
Made for those we love
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069701883904877232003-11-24T11:24:00.001-08:002003-11-24T18:14:26.420-08:00And She Didn't Get Her Head Chopped Off!
Which of Henry VIII's wives are you?
this quiz was made by the lycanthropes at Spookbot
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069549740600642592003-11-22T17:09:00.000-08:002003-11-22T17:11:56.593-08:00UpdatingIf you take a look off to the right, you'll see that my blog roster has been -- at long, long last -- brought more or less up to date. Like sweeping the porch, it's a never-done job, but it's better than it was.
If you see an error in my link for your blog, please let me know, and I will do my best to correct it in a timely fashion.
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069438139489697102003-11-21T10:08:00.000-08:002003-11-21T10:09:37.810-08:00Home and the Nature of RealityI posted these comments over at Cassandra Pages but felt they were important enough to have here too. I recommend going to see the original post and follow-up comments that inspired this.
(Finding my way here via Field Notes)
Dang, I should have been talking with you folks while wrestling with my research on these topics!
This question of whether there is any "there" there when we talk about Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069396048495108562003-11-20T22:27:00.000-08:002003-11-20T22:28:05.903-08:00Latest Search Engine Queriesimages of flying ravens
Renaissance Ravens
what are ravens
follow your bliss academia
selecting a temp agencyRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069380933184158332003-11-20T18:15:00.000-08:002003-11-20T18:17:00.420-08:00Again, More LaterToo tired to post much (plus tonight is SnarkTV night, aka Survivor + CSI).
Just a quick meditation on how strange the movements of luck are. Since I quit, the number of possible job leads has jumped: first the temp job back at Adult College, then a couple of strong hints from them that they might be amenable to hiring me full time, then a good new contact on the writing front, and now a Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069343138279889932003-11-20T07:45:00.000-08:002003-11-20T07:46:14.623-08:00More to ComeAlthough I am obliged to sit in a chair in an office most of the day, my mind is not. Hopefully this will translate into a longer blog entry (or even several) in future; I have several vaguely related themes and am trying to think about how to bring them together in a coherent fashion. Keep your eyes open!Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069289195153625962003-11-19T16:46:00.000-08:002003-11-19T16:47:10.653-08:00LinkingNote: This post will go away after my blog's been registered.
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069273371554997392003-11-19T12:22:00.000-08:002003-11-19T12:23:27.153-08:00Some Blogs Worth VisitingCribbing off Dale's blog list, some nature/writing blogs:
Creek Running North
Field Notes
(I really need to set aside some time for updating my own links list...)
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069273128788400842003-11-19T12:18:00.000-08:002003-11-19T12:19:24.436-08:00Spit Takes and TulleWant some snark? Want to see really UG-lee dresses?
Go to Ugly Wedding Dress of the Day.
Astonishing stuff. Really. Go!Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1069188712489012702003-11-18T12:51:00.000-08:002003-11-18T12:52:27.200-08:00PrayerI tend not to pray -- my sense of God is not such that I think there is a sufficiently coherent "self" to address in a prayer, and even if I did, I doubt that such a being would have the time to pay attention to the worries of such a small organism who's better off than many other strugglers -- but Dale gives a good, different reason to consider including it in one's life.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068950426338508482003-11-15T18:40:00.000-08:002003-11-15T18:40:56.826-08:00Other ThingsSome small things that have made me happy:
A warm bowl of "Scottish" oatmeal this morning, with raisins and brown sugar and milk. I'd wanted steel cut "Irish" oats, but these were pretty good, nonetheless.
A walk with D. in the local neighborhood, looking at all sorts of lovely houses and petting an occasional cat along the way.
Combing llama wool in preparation for "worsted"-style spinning (Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068869248435690982003-11-14T20:07:00.000-08:002003-11-14T20:07:58.153-08:00So Nice to Be WantedWhile there are a few slightly irksome things about returning to the first place I began temping (such as discovering that some of the projects I worked on are still not done!) I am so much happier here than my last place at the Job From Hell.
For one thing, I was requested by name -- they even said that if I wasn't available, they weren't interested in hiring another temp.
For another, everyRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068739680601926572003-11-13T08:08:00.000-08:002003-11-13T08:08:28.356-08:00Back at It -- Sort ofI'm in a much better mood today, after a day spent recovering and working on internship applications, and a morning of yoga. (My GOD, I am stiff!)
Today I have a "new" job -- I'm to work a few days for the college where I filled in as registrar. I'm not sure if that's what I'll be doing, but I do know that it will be quiet, and clean, and involve no heavy lifting.
Amazing how my standards Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068656296770884642003-11-12T08:58:00.000-08:002003-11-12T08:59:27.686-08:00Plastic BagsAmanda has just posted a really good piece at Household Opera in which she begins with observations about grocery bagging and ends with a nice analogy to the current problems besetting academia. (I'm not doing it justice.)
Note to Amanda: I share your annoyance with the bagging situation. In fact, I am obsessive enough to arrange my stuff on the conveyor belt in an order that will hopefullyRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068602123351581652003-11-11T17:55:00.000-08:002003-11-11T18:00:54.700-08:00Breaking PointI quit.
The job was hard enough without adding in depression and lack of sleep. Even those could have been managed, at least for a while longer, if there had been any gratitude for my efforts, or even simple acknowledgement of the hard work I have put in. Instead, when I came in today, there was a note in my filing area. It told me to file the files from yesterday before sorting more.
On Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068531210533486242003-11-10T22:13:00.000-08:002003-11-10T22:13:55.060-08:00Vicious CycleWhen I don't get enough sleep, I find it very easy to slide into depression.
Unfortunately, when I'm depressed, it's often the case that trying to sleep means lying in the dark thinking about things that make me more depressed -- and the only solution, alas, is to stay up until I am so exhausted that I just collapse into unconsciousness when I finally go to bed.
Not good, not good at all.
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068512923131807582003-11-10T17:08:00.000-08:002003-11-10T17:09:07.450-08:00TransformationsThis weekend my friends had a sifting bee at the remains of their houses; the idea was to combine a barbecue lunch with digging around in the rubble in the hopes of finding something intact.
Surprisingly, we did indeed find a number of things that had survived the inferno. High-fire ceramics seemed to have fared the best, if they were not crushed by something else. Terra cotta also did well. Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068512269313857852003-11-10T16:57:00.000-08:002003-11-10T16:58:12.950-08:00The Non-Academic ClosetFriday I went to two gatherings of graduate students (D's colleagues and one or two of my own from when I went there). It was bittersweet; I enjoyed talking about things in a knowledgeable way and actually having people care what I thought, but a low level of annoyance with their blithe acceptance of academic posing kept me from fully enjoying myself.
There was also one somewhat funny (and Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068511968354392762003-11-10T16:52:00.000-08:002003-11-10T16:53:12.060-08:00Spiral DepressionWork was quiet today, which meant I had plenty of time for brooding. I'm not going to spell out what I was brooding about, as I don't want to sink deeper into my depression. Let's just say that work, and life more generally, and the future direction of both, were the themes.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068247661405711882003-11-07T15:27:00.000-08:002003-11-07T15:28:01.483-08:00Political CompassMy results from the Political Compass:
Economic Left/Right: -5.38
Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.79
Check out, too, this table of bloggers' political compasses (and add your own, if you like).
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068166310191880242003-11-06T16:51:00.000-08:002003-11-06T16:53:44.140-08:00Broken WindowsYesterday I read a post over at Ms. Frizzle about the "Broken Window Theory." (She was writing about it in relation to school.) In a nutshell, the theory explains that broken windows in a neighborhood are a sign of decline not because they are directly connected to crime but because they indicate that people living in the neighborhood have ceased to care.
This is a good way of describing my Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1068081267144644872003-11-05T17:14:00.000-08:002003-11-05T17:19:03.170-08:00Going FilingHmm. That doesn't have the impact I was hoping for -- something parallel to "going postal" was what I wanted. "Going clerical," perhaps?
Anyway, today was a long, slow simmer of resentment. Partly it was because I haven't had enough sleep and am suffering today with an earache. Largely it was because the filing system is getting to me. It is so awful, and yet people seem more willing to Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1067908994168910582003-11-03T17:23:00.000-08:002003-11-03T17:25:00.246-08:00Newsy Snippets and a Request for HelpI'm sorry I haven't been posting more often. Between being out of my apartment more often than not (my dad is in town to help out our friends and he's staying at my place, which is really too small for two) and fighting a losing battle with Netscape, I'm not online as much as I'd like to be.
Speaking of which, can anyone recommend a Mac-compatible browser (not Explorer!) that is (1) not a Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1067908014907132112003-11-03T17:06:00.000-08:002003-11-03T17:07:10.140-08:00The Shirt Off My BackWhat do you do when
You try to give a friend the shirt off your back
And it doesn't fit?
And what's needed is pants you don't have?
My friends now have a million socks;
They don't need any more.
Food, shelter, clothing -- all taken care of, by others.
So what does one do,
When all you can offer
Are things that are not needed?
You rejoice that someone donated a shirt that fits,
Are happy that Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1067476722357974402003-10-29T17:18:00.000-08:002003-10-29T17:18:48.966-08:00Flurry and HiatusThings are back to normal -- sort of -- for the time being. I have a strong feeling that the next days, weeks, months are going to go through multiple cycles of normality and fresh realization of what has happened. It's rather like the fires themselves; they flare up and move fast and scare you into shocked silence, then they die down, and you go back to what you were doing. Then the embers Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1067284253787604532003-10-27T11:50:00.000-08:002003-10-27T11:50:59.700-08:00State of EmergencyJust letting you know that I'm probably not going to be blogging for a while due to the
horrible fires in southern California; we're being told not to use the phones unless we have to,
and my connection is dial-up.
I also don't have the time or energy right now -- some very good friends of mine (virtually
family) barely escaped with their lives Saturday night. Their homes have been Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1067046971345517122003-10-24T18:56:00.000-07:002003-11-05T17:21:31.653-08:00Scattered ThoughtsI'm too tired and ear-achy to write something really coherent, so here's a few things I've noticed or wondered about during the last few days:
Should I be pleased or worried that I have now become so familiar with the filing system that I can, more often than not, locate the correct place for a file within one or two places on the first try? (To fully appreciate this, realize that the system isRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066870692311224862003-10-22T17:58:00.000-07:002003-10-22T17:59:15.930-07:00Entrepreneurial OpportunityIf I were sufficiently motivated to start my own business, here is one possibility: an efficiency consultant.
My thought, based on how my temp jobs have been going, is that a temp -- especially one with strong skills in analysis, observation, training and communication -- would be an ideal resource to consult if you were concerned about inefficiencies in your procedures, worker morale, etc. Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066781139433265432003-10-21T17:05:00.000-07:002003-10-21T17:07:26.593-07:00Ergonomic NightmareI started my new temp job today, and it is easy to see why one of the previous temps quit. It is very tiring on the lower back! (After I eat dinner I plan to lie on my back in Savasana for a while to uncrimp it.)
Beyond that, it is relatively low-key -- most of the employees wear jeans and t-shirts -- and not conceptually difficult. Basically, you sort files into different categories, Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066701488316383312003-10-20T18:58:00.000-07:002003-10-20T18:58:07.710-07:00Frog DayGaaaah. I hate, hate, hate trying to fill out health insurance application forms! It doesn't matter whether they're on paper or online; they are just horrible. I spent most of today wrestling with one on-line form only to be told at the end that some number field was wrong -- and when I checked it, there was nothing wrong with it, except that the computer thinks so. Feh!
Of course, the Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066436111408470772003-10-17T17:15:00.000-07:002003-10-17T17:18:58.473-07:00Why They Call It "Practice"Finally, after weeks of thinking I should but not acting, I practiced yoga this afternoon. It was not the best practice -- I was very stiff and the room was too warm (I'm not a Bikramite!) and my mat smelled stale -- but I did it, and that is the most important thing.
I did learn some interesting things about myself while practicing. One of my long-standing favorite poses is Vrksasana or Tree Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066407234397709302003-10-17T09:13:00.000-07:002003-10-17T09:13:54.420-07:00DreamsLast night I dreamed that I found a job much better than the ones my temp agency's been finding me -- though it was still clerical (I was to be one of several personal assistants for a wealthy guy adding to his private staff). My agent was even there in his glamorous fifties-luxe living room as his house manager made me an amazing offer the agency could never hope to top.
That, obviously, is a Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066322390064158492003-10-16T09:39:00.000-07:002003-10-16T09:39:49.860-07:00Thanks, Academy Girl!I've never had a blog entry dedicated to me before. It's rather nice!
In other news... I have told my advisor that the likelihood of my needing a reference letter for the academic job search is growing increasingly small. I just can't work up the enthusiasm needed to visit all the websites of the posting institutions, write tailored cover letters, etc.
Where did that enthusiasm go? Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066234526398039992003-10-15T09:15:00.000-07:002003-10-15T09:15:27.270-07:00Small PeevesWhy can airport bookstores only manage to sell sci-fi/fantasy books that are parts of series or trilogies? Why can't they sell all of the trilogy, instead of only book 2?
Why does U.S. Airways insist on having Fox News as its in-flight news service? Can't they find anything less obviously partisan?
Why does my neighbor's dog keep barking?
Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066234296238850202003-10-15T09:11:00.000-07:002003-10-15T09:11:37.396-07:00Translation GamesIt is cool to see one's blog translated into Italian! If nothing else, it shows me how idiomatic my writing is or is not.
I'll have to try it with some languages I know better!Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066191364928399952003-10-14T21:16:00.000-07:002003-10-14T21:16:04.876-07:00Temp WorkOne thing I'm discovering is how little people who've never temped know about the experience.
My friends and family are continually and repeatedly surprised when I tell them that, no, I'm no longer doing Job X. Job X only was for four days and ended several weeks ago. Moreover, I had a Job Y and a Job Z, and they're over too. And I don't know if there's another job on the horizon any time Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066191152113396842003-10-14T21:12:00.000-07:002003-10-14T21:12:32.113-07:00PruningI was looking over my resume, which was a somewhat cheering experience -- I forget often how spiffy my work skills really are.
Unfortunately, I think that the next time I send out a resume I'm going to severely prune it first. I'll probably leave off the doctorate, for one thing (maybe even the M.A.), and find some way to account for my time that is not lying but which doesn't scream "snotty Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1066153520711805202003-10-14T10:45:00.000-07:002003-10-14T10:45:20.213-07:00EnvyThe green-eyed worm
Coils around my core
Gives a little squeeze
A flare of pain,
Then the mist-grey pall
Of apathy.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1065771841285829292003-10-10T00:44:00.000-07:002003-10-10T00:44:00.886-07:00Away for a BitI'm going out of town for the next few days -- will resume posting when I get back.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1065660423711116042003-10-08T17:47:00.000-07:002003-10-08T17:50:25.386-07:00Perceptual EffectsOne thing about doing a task with great intensity over several hours and days is that it begins to affect the way you see the world -- or at least this happens to me. As I mentioned earlier, I've been busy doing accession descriptions and condition reports for the local historical society. As a result, my "eye" for scratches, dings, corrosion and the like has been considerably sharpened. This Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1065636306030817452003-10-08T11:05:00.000-07:002003-10-08T11:05:49.726-07:00Lucky Me Which Dr. Seuss character are you? brought to you by Quizilla
(This is not a bad match, but as a kid I tended to find Horton rather pathetic.)Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1065460648897669802003-10-06T10:17:00.000-07:002003-10-06T10:17:28.786-07:00AcornsI'm crunching sandal-clad through dry leaves, live oak leaves, their sharp spines prickly through my socks. Scattered on top of them are acorns. Some oaks in southern California produce acorns that are short and fat, with a little point on the end that makes them perfect for spinning as ersatz tops. These acorns are long and thin, most straight but a few curving like the talon of a bird. TheyRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1065145724391608112003-10-02T18:48:00.000-07:002003-10-02T18:48:43.913-07:00Museum GeekeryIt's been confirmed -- I'm even more of an archive rat than I'd thought. I've been spending part of my unemployed time volunteering at one of the local museums, partly to have something to fill my time, partly because I want to gain some experience in this area, and increasingly because it is just fun. (Yay. Or -- at last!)
Now, I should explain what I think is fun, because only then will theRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1065059936100928962003-10-01T18:58:00.000-07:002003-10-01T18:59:21.870-07:00CheerfulnessRecently, several people have privately expressed concern to me that they'd been "too cheerful" in their comments or email to me and that this was making me feel bad.
I want to reassure you all that this is not the case, or at least not in a way that means everyone should stop telling me things will get better.
When I'm in one of my black moods, I'll read everything through that murky Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1065029516643517992003-10-01T10:31:00.000-07:002003-10-01T10:31:56.316-07:00Poverty and the Root of All EvilThere have been many things contributing to my bleak, bitter outlook on life and blogging this week. My apartment is an utter chaotic mess and I can't find the energy (or space) to fix it. I was working that tedious, dull job and getting little to no sleep as a result of the early morning schedule. I wasn't even eating very well. I also received several emails from more together folks (none Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1065028467623176792003-10-01T10:14:00.000-07:002003-10-01T10:14:27.533-07:00Okay, Okay...I'm back. Thanks for the support, folks -- it's much appreciated, even though most of the time I read your descriptions of my site and have to wonder, "Who is this paragon?" I must do a better job faking it than I'd thought. But, anyway, I'm back, for now. The next post will help explain some of the cause of my black mood; my slide into bitter cynicism has only been arrested, not reversed, Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064806458959826732003-09-28T20:34:00.000-07:002003-09-28T20:36:14.133-07:00Pointless BlogAfter a weekend of not blogging, I'm not sure if I want to continue this blog any more. It takes up time I don't have and these days it's more depressing than comforting. I don't know what I should expect to get out of, say, telling the world that I just spent the equivalent of four week's tedious labor in the space of 20 minutes, between rent and loan and credit card bill and other random Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064625888799787752003-09-26T18:24:00.000-07:002003-09-26T18:24:48.650-07:00Weekend OffI don't know if I'm going to post much over the weekend -- I'm tired and I have a lot to catch up on. If I feel like I can spare the time, some possibilities might be the dangers of chameleon tendencies and my thoughts on re-entering the academic job search.
Otherwise I'll be busy with exciting things like laundry and catching up on a week's worth of newspapers. Until the next post...Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064536892282190652003-09-25T17:41:00.000-07:002003-09-25T17:45:43.053-07:00Small AmusementsEveryone was punchy at work today. I am not alone in wanting the weekend to come!
My co-workers in processing are a pretty nice bunch; they are hard-working and everyone in our section seems to have a sense of humor. It also doesn't hurt that we have a common adversary -- the sales agents responsible for creating the packets we put together and process. Nine times out of ten any problem we Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064450818777527792003-09-24T17:46:00.000-07:002003-09-25T06:49:12.483-07:00Another Exhausting DayThe good news is that I processed 7 more applications than I did yesterday. Unfortunately, that's also the bad news.
It's only day two and I'm already feeling tired by this job. Probably a large part of it is the result of being genuinely tired; I am wonderful at getting up at the crack of dawn if I have enough sleep, but getting up when it's dark -- fugeddabout it. Too, I find myself trying Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064449731088702062003-09-24T17:28:00.000-07:002003-09-24T17:28:50.880-07:00Funny Search PhrasesHere's a phrase that someone used to find my blog: "yellowing frogs." How bizarre.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064367291699077982003-09-23T18:34:00.000-07:002003-09-23T18:34:51.556-07:00Leaving AcademiaHere's a nice poem on the subject by Kevin. It says a lot in a small space.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064365480152811792003-09-23T18:04:00.000-07:002003-09-23T18:04:40.300-07:00Corporate DroningToday began at a ghastly hour -- dark and misty and far too early -- followed by an eye-opening commute through heavy traffic.
The rest of the day was not bad, though I would never say that it offered a desirable model for the rest of my life. I was paired with a trainer -- the first such any of my temp client companies has provided -- and we spent the day going through client applications Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064365041895747322003-09-23T17:57:00.000-07:002003-09-23T17:57:22.116-07:00Academy GirlIn the mood for some feisty academic snarkiness? Here you go.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064290866672680582003-09-22T21:21:00.000-07:002003-09-22T21:22:51.430-07:00Grump and You Shall Receive?Shortly after posting the previous bit, several things happened in quick succession: I got a call from the volunteer folks at the historical society; my agent called to offer me the insurance job on a temporary basis; my colleague rang me up to see if I wanted to come by to chat and see his new house. So things are a-poppin'!
In particular, the meeting with the archivists at the historical Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064248772167854582003-09-22T09:39:00.000-07:002003-09-22T09:44:20.486-07:00Is There Such a Thing as an Independent Scholar?One unfortunate side effect of my current employment situation is that it is hard to think about much beyond the need for money, or the desire for something more stable. Even simple hobbies like knitting or yoga have fallen by the wayside, as they either themselves require money or I feel too antsy just sitting about the house when there are Jobs to Be Found. I suspect that this is typical -- aRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064189863402233322003-09-21T17:17:00.000-07:002003-09-21T17:17:43.416-07:00Picky PickyI'm beginning to experience mild feelings of dread every time my temp agent contacts me about a new lead for a permanent job. So far the positions she's come up with are not at all appealing, though they certainly seem within my range of abilities -- such as fact-checker for a medical insurance company.
Why the dread? Well, none of these positions have been anything I'd want to do except on Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064189311666618862003-09-21T17:08:00.000-07:002003-09-21T17:08:31.766-07:00TelemarketersIf you haven't done so already, you might want to sign up for the no-call anti-telemarketing service by calling 1-888-382-1222 from your home phone, or by going to http://www.donotcall.gov. (Note: the site did not seem to work properly with Netscape 6, although Netscape 4.7 worked just fine. Go figure.) The block will take place 3 months after you register.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1064013542025340192003-09-19T16:19:00.000-07:002003-09-19T16:19:02.020-07:00Like Reality, But NotI think I've finally figured out the essence of Chronicle first person articles. To the casual observer, they look like representations of real life. For the person actually experiencing the sort of events narrated, they bear as much resemblance to true life as Disneyland's Main Street does to small town America.
This article today offers a case in point. In it, the author shares her thoughtsRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063934159163527022003-09-18T18:15:00.000-07:002003-09-18T18:33:30.896-07:00Filing ZenI had work today! Combined with another day of work tomorrow, I'll be able to pay for my groceries for this month -- a good thing.
It was soothing work, too. Mostly filing, plus some faxing and sorting and stapling and mailing. I spent the day in a quiet back room with one other person and nothing was difficult or frustrating. Yet I was not bored, just calm. I don't know that I'd want to doRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063817546840878852003-09-17T09:52:00.000-07:002003-09-17T09:52:26.300-07:00Rough Seas around the Ivory TowerThe image I've always had of the ivory tower has been a lighthouse -- a tall pinnacle made of ivory, fluted like a narwhal's horn, with ivy twining around its base. A poetic image, yes?
One aspect of the ivory tower as lighthouse is that it serves as a mediator between the learning (light) of those within and the needs of those trying to sail past the rough shoals and high waves of an often Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063755715623435662003-09-16T16:41:00.000-07:002003-09-16T16:45:06.890-07:00Lighter than a Feather, Weightier than GoldToday this site told me, "Your soul is worth �54814. For your peace of mind, 11% of people have a purer soul than you."*
Not bad. At least I can now count myself among the virtuous poor.
I wonder, though, if splurging money on a haircut today will reduce my asking price?
* That's US$87,024.80, according to this currency converter.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063667006643402432003-09-15T16:03:00.000-07:002003-09-15T16:11:19.396-07:00Personal LibrariesHere's an interesting approach to sorting one's books -- my topic/author/size/aesthetics approach seems woefully prosaic by comparison.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063666317291146882003-09-15T15:51:00.000-07:002003-09-15T15:59:49.310-07:00Job Search AbsurdityStarring Rana Unemployed, Job Seeker and Accidental Thespian.
Opening montage of Rana eating breakfast, cruising job sites on the web, writing and revising and editing again a cover letter, struggling to convince the computer to print, to send a fax, to check email.
Rana carefully dresses as if she is going to work. She puts on pantyhose, nice skirt, blouse and jacket. Discovers rip in skirt,Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063665518521142122003-09-15T15:38:00.000-07:002003-09-15T15:46:30.600-07:00Modes of TransportationDelivery trucks
Cars and vans
A big yellow schoolbus
Planes flying overhead
City buses
A bright red trolley
Bicycles flying by
People walking
All of them seen
Without turning my head
In three city blocks.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063585701565185202003-09-14T17:28:00.000-07:002003-09-14T17:28:21.556-07:00Lazy SundayMorning newspaper
Farmer's market and fresh milk
A walk in the park.Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063502047764363442003-09-13T18:14:00.000-07:002003-09-13T18:14:07.753-07:00VisitationChip! Chip! Omigod!
A bird flew into my home!
Go out the door, you!Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063501258102729282003-09-13T18:00:00.000-07:002003-09-13T18:00:58.106-07:00Counting ChickensIt is far too soon to get excited about this, but today I sent my resume and a cover letter to a local environmental consulting firm. They are looking for an entry-level editor/proofreader to process their reports. Given that the company has an excellent record of coming up with innovative regional designs for integrating development and environmental needs, I would really enjoy working for Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063494709957816522003-09-13T16:11:00.000-07:002003-09-13T16:12:20.600-07:00Linki LinkiIn the interest of good blog karma, here's a link to a blog that linked to me (or, more specifically, my yoga post I submitted to TruthLaidBear), Winds of Change. John's themes blend politics, religion and spirituality with observations about life. The blog is moving to a new location; be forewarned.
Of course, vanity is being indulged here at the same time; John wrote about me that I'm "not aRanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063386089255427242003-09-12T10:01:00.000-07:002003-09-12T10:07:20.480-07:00Musical Chairs"Between Two Stools" -- an interesting parallel to that of not quite fitting into the proper holes on the top of the box. Increasingly, that's how I've been feeling, with good reason:
First Set of Stools: Environment/History
This is an on-going situation and a good example of the hazards of following one's own research interests rather than those sought by hiring committees. Environmental Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063383878258759752003-09-12T09:24:00.000-07:002003-09-12T10:09:10.903-07:00Angst and FoodAmanda, at Household Opera, nails how I've been feeling this week with her post about academia seeming to be in a retrograde state these days.
I also agree with her observation that eating can often make one feel better. When I'm cranky or depressed, D. knows that he should feed me before attempting any efforts to cheer me up. I'm still trying to learn that lesson myself!Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5369174.post-1063210249266939772003-09-10T09:10:00.000-07:002003-09-10T09:23:21.620-07:00Now I'm WorriedI went to the Chronicle's jobs section this morning and, as usual, looked over at the list of recent articles to see if there were any that might be worth reading.
This was what I saw:
Ready to Start Over?
A Ph.D. who left the academy only to return offers a few questions that she's learned to ask herself in making career choices.
Down, but Not Out
Unsuccessful on the academic market, a Ranahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041247235612040796noreply@blogger.com