So, the results are in for this contest. Notice the skanky before picture. Can't wait for the skanky after picture.

In case you wonder what I am writing about, see my post from October.

Well, not much that I want to say right now. As evidenced by my lack of posts. Blaming it on the virus that lasted more than 10 days. And winter. I love snow, I just want a little more frickin' light. And some warmth.

But I know that Josh is reading. So here's to you, Josh!

*****

Updated my vita again. Added in the stuff which will be in print in 2006. It felt good to do. Motivating, since I have some revisions to do. And a colleague that I really admire complimented my writing today. I also know that she would not just compliment me to make me feel better, so that makes it more meaningful.

I've been in a bit (a really big bit) of a writing slump. Not much confidence in what I am doing, particularly with the book. I can place some blame on the aforementioned illness, but really it is endemic and only made worse by incidentals such as colds.

*****

I love my laptop. Thank you Shea.

rice-a-roni and slim jims

Walked a 5K yesterday. Came in 2nd in my age group (0-35). Which surprised me as I was only trying to not be last. (And yes, there were more than 2 people in my age group.)

Running never seems natural to me. It is something that is done only under duress. Like when a bull is chasing me or a hail storm opens up above my head. Historically, I think, people ran for these reasons: fear and necessity. Running to capture food counts in the necessity category. Fear I think needs no explanation. Now we run for pleasure. But I walk. I'm not in that much of a hurry and nothing is chasing me.

I'm updating my dossier (and also the shorter versions of curriculum vitae and resume). It made be realize how much my worth is related to the length of these documents.

Here are the stats (expected) as of Dec 2005:
9 articles accepted or in print
2 creative works in print or publicly displayed
1 book review
1 manuscript (read: book)
19 professional presentations
countless committees locally and nationally (well, I didn't feel like counting them)
and one elected position in a national professional organization.

If I don't get tenure, they*can all kiss my ass. I'd say this if I had less publications as well. I personally think that I'm a librarian rockstar.

The angst is how much I really, really want to stay here and thus need tenure. This system sucks.

* "they" would be also known as "the man," "the establishment," or "the powers that be"

Last week I was on-campus late and stopped by Insomnia Cookies to buy a cookie. The real story here is what went on around me.

There were about 10 young women in the store each buying their own cookie. They were clearly friends; maybe sorority sisters, maybe not. The clerk mentions to them that the store will deliver cookies for any order over half a dozen and that they have brownies as well as cookies.

To which one of the young girls says "Oh good! Roofie-free brownies!"

Shea just explained to me what a "cheese sandwich post" is.

I think that I need to eat more cheese sandwiches.

I heard this on the radio. It is a real contest. It is all about making a shower in which you will want to entertain your lady friends. Some of the things that might be included in the shower are fold-down seats, handle bars, and mirrors. And non-skid strips, of course, for your safety.

It really makes my mind grind to a halt. I shouldn't listen to the radio.

So, my last two posts were riddled with typos. (I corrected them). I blame this on the drink that Shea made me.

Raspberry Equilibrium

1 part vodka
1 part lemoncello
1 part framboise (or chambord)
shake with ice and strain into martini glass, add
1 part Hpnotiq

A pretty maroon color.

OR Birthday Week - Chicago pt. 2

After Dragonfly, we went to Buzz. It was part of the package. There was an open bar from 10-11. Really crowded - but mostly due to poor traffic flow. Not much dance floor action. But we were there quite early. The music was not so much my thing although I could have probably danced to it if I'd gotten going.

We moved on to the Liar's Club. Smoky, divey, crowed. But mostly in a good way. Crowded, but I could ask to get by to the dance floor without any attitude given or received. Good mix of music. Lots of 80's and 90's - both dance and rock - but some contemporary house. What really got the dance floor going was the naked guy on the dance floor during "Hot in Herre." (yes, that really does have two r's). I guess that naked guy is a fixture and I hope that no one gets in trouble with this post, becuase he did really draw people to the floor. I got dancing even if I couldn't really look. Even when I used to streak, I had to keep my eyes above waist level.

Chicago. It's not really my kind of a town.
There is that city smell of sewer and exhaust and garbage.
The press of people on the train.
Taking an hour to get almost anywhere.
I wouldn't want to live there again. But I sure like to visit.

I've just returned from five days in Chicago. It was fully of city experiences. Including the city smell (mainly at Wellington and Halsted !?) and lots of great food and theatre. My friend Daryrn lives there which is the primary reason to visit. And he's a great companion for food and theatre.

We saw Merchant of Venice at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Really excellent acting. I also liked the costuming (modern, so it was surprising that I liked it, but it was really well done). The directing was rather heavy-handed.

Dining in Chicago notably included:
Rice Box on Braodway. Cheap ($6.50) lunch Korean and Japanese food with entree (I had the terikyaki tofu), miso soup, mashed potato salad, lettuce salad, rice, and really yummy cabbage with ginger dressing.

Mon Ami Gabi. This is always a favorite of mine. It was the first time Shea had been there and he liked it as much as I thought he would.

Cafe des Architects at the Soffitel. Hotel restaurants usually don't even make my list of places to eat unless I am trapped in a hotel but the two times that I've eaten here I've really liked it. We went here pre-theatre and dined from both the regular menu and the bar menu having basically tapas and salads. They brought a truly impressive (appearance and taste) plate of miniature desserts for Shea's birthday (don't even remember telling the waitstaff about this) and then two more little desserts when Darryn's birthday was mentioned. (Not fishing for desserts, just that it is so weird that Shea and Darryn have birthdays a day apart.)

So, it was the week of birthdays. Shea and Darryn. Yana. Steph. Justyna. All within a week. Why are so many of my friends Virgos?

Justyna's birthday reminds me that we went to Dragonfly. The food was very good. I don't know if I'd go there again just for dinner but I definitely would with a large group. We had 15 people and the upstairs party area was great. The food was plentiful, tasty (as mentioned) and the atmosphere was great. If I go again I will have the Heavenly Duck. Not my order - but I which it had been - wow. Dragonfly was BYOB but that frankly kept the bill down and made it easier to figure the bill. Definitely recommended for birthdays and other parties.