At Allison's Halloween Party
Our hostess helped us get in the spirit - I got horns and Anni got a witch hat (not shown).
(we'd both come from class so the dressing up with limited)
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Read This! Page
Dear Reader,
I hope you are enjoying reading my blog. I've recently added a new page that I hope you will find interesting. If you click over the the Read This! page you will find selected reading from my course that I've especially liked. These are mostly books I'd never read or heard of before coming to the UK so I hope that they are new and exciting to you as well. Please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts on the books once you've read them. I can't wait to hear your feedback on my recommendations!
I hope you are enjoying reading my blog. I've recently added a new page that I hope you will find interesting. If you click over the the Read This! page you will find selected reading from my course that I've especially liked. These are mostly books I'd never read or heard of before coming to the UK so I hope that they are new and exciting to you as well. Please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts on the books once you've read them. I can't wait to hear your feedback on my recommendations!
Pros and Cons
"You set your heart too much on things, Anne," said Marilla, with a sigh. "I'm afraid there'll be a great many disappointments in store for you through life."
"Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them, exclaimed Anne. "You mayn't get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them. Mrs. Lynde says 'Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.' But I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to be disappointed."
From Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
After three weeks of training and trials, the decision for who would make the Rowing team finally arrive and...(drum roll, please)...I didn't make it. I know, sad face.
However, I'm one who believes that every events has its good and bad aspects. To help me see the best in my sad situation I made a classic Pros/Cons list of not making the team:
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Picture of the Day
Enjoying some down time with Katherine & Shadia at Costa
(We claimed we were studying but who were we kidding!)
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
60 Seconds in Every Minute
"'Oh! do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch,' said Fanny."
From Mansfield Park By Jane Austen
Have you ever noticed that while every minute has sixty seconds, not every minute passes at the same rate? Day one of rowing trials felt like the clock couldn't decide on a consistent speed at which to travel.
After Research Methods I hung out with some of my Writing for Children cohorts at a coffee shop in an attempted to study. Each time I glanced at the clock I couldn't believe how rapidly the hands progressed. Giving myself plenty of time to get changed and settled, I left my friends to "study" for their Feminist Theory class later that evening (a class I am so glad I didn't sign up for), I tromped to the Sports Centre. After methodically preparing myself, I glanced up at the clock, shocked that only ten minutes had passed - I still had ten minutes until erg testing. I took my second dose of Rescue Remedy of the day (I found it in a regular pharmacy, Mom, aren't you jealous!), in an attempt to relieve some of my stress.
Book Review: The Bourgeois Gentleman
"M. Jordan: What a miserable song! It's sending me to sleep. Couldn't you liven it up a bit, here and there?
Music Master: Monsieur, the key and tempo must fit the sentiment expressed by the words.
M. Jordan: I learnt a good song once. Very jolly, it was. Let me see…how did it go?
Music Master: Good grief! How should I know?
M. Jordan: There was definitely a sheep in it.
Music Master: Sheep?"
From The Bourgeois Gentleman by Moliere
The Bourgeois Gentleman by Moliere
Course: Aesthetics and Modernity I: The Question Concerning Experience
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Picture of the Day
Only in England would they have fancy covered bike racks!
(Not that I've fact checked this statement)
Monday, October 22, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
First Rowing Outing
“When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.”
From Winnie-the-Pooh By A.A. Milne
This weekend the novice rowers received our first opportunity to get out on the water. Due to to large number of people trying out they divided us into six groups of eight that would go out over the course of Saturday and Sunday (even then they didn't get everyone out the first weekend!). I lucked out and got the first group on Saturday.
The boathouse is located on the River Avon near the M40 (that's a highway, or motorway). Because of the distance from campus we had a set time at which the shuttle would come to collect us for our outing.
Not wanting to be late I arrive at the rendezvous point ten minutes before the minibus was scheduled to arrive. Twenty minutes later, six guys and five girls began questioning if we had the right time, but we figured that either we had a group hallucination or the bus was running late, maybe the Lemington pick up was taking longer than expected. Thirty minutes after the scheduled pick up time I began creating scenarios in my head as to why the bus was so late:
The boathouse is located on the River Avon near the M40 (that's a highway, or motorway). Because of the distance from campus we had a set time at which the shuttle would come to collect us for our outing.
Not wanting to be late I arrive at the rendezvous point ten minutes before the minibus was scheduled to arrive. Twenty minutes later, six guys and five girls began questioning if we had the right time, but we figured that either we had a group hallucination or the bus was running late, maybe the Lemington pick up was taking longer than expected. Thirty minutes after the scheduled pick up time I began creating scenarios in my head as to why the bus was so late:
- Maybe they were testing our resolve to see who really wanted to join the team
- Maybe they had forgotten to fill the tank and the shuttle was sitting on the side of the road and they had no way of contacting us
- Maybe a river snake had eaten the team and there wasn't anyone left to come get us
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Picture of the Day
Curry Night at the local Pub with the girls
Anni accidentally had curry for lunch - don't ask :-) - so she got a burger
Thursday, October 18, 2012
20 Minute Log-in Computer
“When the light turns green, you go.
When the light turns red, you stop.
But what do you do when the light turns blue with orange and lavender spots?”
From A Light in the Attic By Shel Silverstein
One of the major differences I have encounter while pursuing my degree at Warwick is the extreme lack of paper information. They vaunt their implementation of technology. I have a paper copy of the reading list for one of my four courses (not a syllabus). Even then she seemed to apologize for printing something by only giving us a half sheet! This general lack of hard documentation has caused difficulty as I am forced to scavenge the internet for the information I need. I have nine different pages bookmarked on the university website to save time because they are buried so deep within the pages that I fear they will be lost if I attempt to search for the information again. This dichotomy of technology and laborious processes within the university culminated in a battle between myself and the library computers; who won? You decide.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Picture of the Day
I am now the proud owner of a Coventry Library Card!
I might be my only friend who has one :-)
Gotta love book nerds!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Bus Wisdom
“There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.”
From The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Ten things I've learned about riding the bus (in no particular order):
- If you are running late, the bus is running early
- If you are running early, the bus is running late
- There are always more buses going the opposite direction than the way you want to go - no matter which way you are going
- Somewhere before a bus reaches the University there is black hole that sucks certain buses in when the screen at the stop states that they are DUE
Monday, October 15, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Picture of the Day
Hearsall Common
Apparently this is where people like to run their dogs.
Translation: not a good place to go for a walk!
Friday, October 12, 2012
The Pool
“We lead our lives like water flowing down a hill, going more or less in one direction until we splash into something that forces us to find a new course.”
From Memoirs of a Geisha By Arthur Golden
When I was still a small child I found myself drawn to water. My mom had to watch me carefully because I would beeline to the water as soon as we got onto the pool deck. At that age I must have loved the excitement of it, the danger. To bribe me to swim my mother would tell me I could jump in after doing the skill she desired. At the age of nine I saw my first three-meter diving board and my mother promptly signed me up for diving lessons, fearing what I would do if not trained properly.
My love affair with water turned into a high school, then college, then post college job; Even when I quit full time I couldn't pull myself away completely. The longest I've gone without swimming on a regular basis was when I was studying in Scotland for three months during college - I nearly died.
So, what's a water rat like myself going to do with an entire year not working at a pool? Join the school gym and go swimming, of course (if you didn't guess that please smack your hand to your forehead and say "duh!" now...go on, I'll wait for you...).
My love affair with water turned into a high school, then college, then post college job; Even when I quit full time I couldn't pull myself away completely. The longest I've gone without swimming on a regular basis was when I was studying in Scotland for three months during college - I nearly died.
So, what's a water rat like myself going to do with an entire year not working at a pool? Join the school gym and go swimming, of course (if you didn't guess that please smack your hand to your forehead and say "duh!" now...go on, I'll wait for you...).
Picture of the Day
The Humanities Building:
i.e. the eyesore in which my department is located
Ah, the '60s, gotta love it
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Rowing?
“I ran three miles, staggered into the lobby, and took the elevator back to my apartment. No point to overdoing this exercise junk." (Stephanie Plum)
From Two for the Dough By Janet Evanovich
So as part of my England Engagement Plan I decided to join the rowing team. Not wanting to commit to a new sport with absolutely no experience I took a rowing class in Minnesota over the summer. I enjoyed it and I think I got rather good at it by the end of my 6 classes.
With this in my back pocket I confidently signed up for receiving information from the rowing team at the campus Sports Fair.
Soon I discovered that my little plan to "meet people and get some exercise" wasn't exactly what I had gotten myself into.
First off rowing is apparently much more popular in the UK than it is in the States (feel free to laugh at me, I should have guessed). So, instead of sliding onto the team and looking really smart for picking up the technique quickly, I actually have to catch on quickly and compete for the 24 spots on the novice team.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Picture of the Day
Facebook Castle Competition Winner!
So after 2 days of voting (with many refusing to pick one instead of the while album) here is the winning picture!
Hope you took part in the voting and enjoyed.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Picture of the Day
Math & Stats Building
(please note my building is not this pretty, but don't worry eventually I'll bring myself to publish a picture of the hideous Humanities building.)
School: Week 1
“I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever.”
From The Importance of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde
Being a student, what does that mean? On many levels I never stopped being a student in the intermittent years between my undergraduate studies and now. As a teacher and supervisor I felt everyday some new thought or idea came into my world. Yet here I am, again a formal “student,” and I find myself struggling not with the content but the form my education takes. My questions are unending.
For example, what is a “timetable” and why didn't I get it before the first day of class? Why aren't the professors giving me a syllabus that breaks down every detail of their expectations and my responsibilities for the term? There are only 10 weeks in the term? You would prefer that I read the text in its original French but if I can’t I should try to find a good translation?
I am at sea but slowly am finding my sea legs and discovering I’m not the only sailor on this ship struggling to stand upright (we will leave walking for a later week. That might be asking too much to task of us).
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Book Review: Feeling Sorry for Celia
“Dear Complete and Utter Stranger,
The first thing that I have to say is that I hate oatmeal. I really hate it. And you know what? If you like oatmeal at all? I mean even the tiniest bit? I mean, say you were lost in the Himalayas, right, and you hadn't eaten anything except a Mars Bar for about seven years, right, and you're really cold and your fingers are all dropping off, right, and you look behind this rock, and there's this bowl of oatmeal?
Say you would even think about eating the oatmeal?
Well, JUST DON'T BOTHER WRITING TO ME, OKAY?”
From Feeling Sorry for Celia By Jaclyn Moriarty
Feeling Sorry for Celia By Jaclyn Moriarty
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Moving Day
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
From The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
After three nights on temporary accommodations the day to move into my home for the next year was, almost, here. I had to move off campus into a hotel until I official moved into my house. After a brief breakfast I went with my recently made friends, Laura and Anni, to turn in our keys.
Somehow during my short stay in Rootes I had expanded my possessions without purchasing anything. Because of this growth I now needed three suitcases, two backpacks, and my purse. Thinking myself extremely clever I switched the heavy stuff from my carryon into the suitcase with four wheels and then I attached the two together. Great plan, except with two backpacks I still didn’t have enough hands.
Thankfully, as I stood outside my building waiting for Anni, Mo (the guy who helped me in the airport) happened to pass by. He looked at my pile of luggage and, even when I insisted I could move my possession on my own, hung around talking until I tried to transport my belongings; as I’m guessing he had already figured, I failed at my attempt to get everything together. Sweetly Mo took my two largest suitcases and dutifully followed me to the main reception building.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Picture of the Day
Home: 87 Hearsall Ln
Note to reader: I'm currently without internet at my house so my entries will be sporadic until it gets fixed!
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