Monthly Archives: February 2008

Earlier this week I decided I needed a break from the libraries, so I walked around in Oxford’s botanic garden. Naturally, there would be more to see there later in the year, but there were some interesting things now as … Continue reading →

I was just getting ready to go to bed when the house started shaking and creaking. Not really seriously or anything but definitely quite noticeable. Word has it that other houses in town were also shaking. Earthquake? I wouldn’t have … Continue reading →

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/education/27history.html *Note: I’m not saying this from on-high.  I admit to not knowing who or what the German Kaiser was, and had to look it up.  I may, though, need to rethink the way I teach Southern literature if some … Continue reading →

Yup, that’s what I’ll be shoveling in tomorrow.  I walked to the general store in my snow boots today, enjoying the fact that I had a lot more traction than anything on the road except the snow plows.  It’s wonderful … Continue reading →

Over the past week or so I’ve developed a tricky throat.  It has been really dry and lately got a little sore, and then, by today, it just kind of quit.  Every other word was audible.  Now I know what … Continue reading →

Most cats I’ve known really hated being on moving objects and got off them as fast as possible. Most also really hated water. So how did this guy get a cat on his surfboard? (With apologies to Reuters, from whom … Continue reading →

Wow. This is pretty funny. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDxcyqeRc-4] I have no idea whether this is real or not — I’ve heard that it is, but it stretches the bounds of credulity. But it is in fact the case that the King James … Continue reading →

I had an appointment this morning to read an obscure 16th century theology text — obscure enough at least for the Bodleian not to have it — at Christ Church College’s library. When I got there, the librarian at the … Continue reading →

Two nights ago Christi knocked on my door around 10:30 and told me to go outside and check out the lunar eclipse.  So the two of us, bundled up in sweaters and coats, with necks cocked at awkward angles, stood … Continue reading →

When Mom was here last week I happened to pick up a lovely cake plate at TJ Maxx. You know the kind: white stoneware, elegant pedestal, round platter. When I told Sydney I bought a cake plate, he immediately asked, … Continue reading →