Category Archives: Uncategorized

Imagine that you’re part of a committee that’s making a decision about whether to award an assistant professor tenure. Suppose there are two qualifications that she needs to have: 1) she has to be a good teacher and 2) she … Continue reading →

Between yesterday and this morning I spent 8 solid hours in my office, having conferences with my students.  This on top of the fact that Mondays and Tuesdays are the days when my own classes are scheduled, so that means … Continue reading →

We had a pleasantly brisk walk to class this morning, with the windchill around -15°F. Alas, we don’t seem to be getting that really essential part of winter: snow. It looks like the 2-4 feet of lake-effect snow is sliding … Continue reading →

Once again I’m compelled to write because of something I read in The New York Times.  The Sunday Magazine has a long article about “designer dogs.”  This paragraph in particular caught my attention: “Over the last decade, the industry has … Continue reading →

“When I talk, it’s deliberate. When you talk, I wonder if it isn’t like birds, where they make sounds all day long in order to keep track of their group.  When you make sounds I generally think it’s good, you’re … Continue reading →

“When you’re frittering away time on the computer, is that a time when I can occasionally read a sentence aloud to you or ask you a question or something?” “My reluctance comes from . . . well, forget delicacy: you … Continue reading →

Check out the rotating snakes. (You might want to read the warning first.)

Walking down the hall just before teaching the other day I suddenly ended up on my knees on the floor, bag, scarf, and coat flying everywhere. Slippery floors and morning traffic tracking in snow meant that I wiped out in … Continue reading →

Alright, now that we’ve had a bit of winter, can we have spring? Actually, I’m quite happy with the snow and cold. What triggered the desire for springtime is receiving my seed catalogues and paging through them. I now have … Continue reading →

Many good things in life seem designed to make you sleepy. A good, full cup of tea that you can feel creeping down and warming your stomach. A cat who has finally settled in on your lap and warms away … Continue reading →