Nott What You'd Expected...

Everything Else is Secondary

As the clock winds down before my mom gets here, emotions are running high in the flat- Spring Break planning is putting everyone on edge, and nitpickiness, loss of sleep, and a random combination of events have left some people frazzled.

I'm ok still. Aside from Mark and Carol's attempt to ruin any hope of me retaining an interest in being an english major, classes have been going well.

Our BritNovel class is the perfect example of A) why kids hate english and b) why two english majors should never wed. The class is like a shouting match between the two- a collision of literary theories and bad jokes, mixed with some rather unneccessary cajoling for a 9am class, with a dash of random quizzes that leave us all asking 'are you serious?'...

Bottom line- I wonder if maybe this is the right path for me. Obviously I've resigned myself to being the teacher that kids enjoy, the one that teaches what's necessary, the one that fosters interest (and clearly M&C are not this kind), but the fact that I have to wade through muck like this to get there, and the fact that what they're saying is extremely legitimate (albeit a bit overblown) literary theory that i should know and should take interest in..... it's scary.

They make reading unfun. this is why kids grow up to be social studies teachers coaching JV football. Or worse, accountants.

Classes at the university are going in two very different directions. TV is done for me- essay over, presentation 100%- so now, it's talk like a jackass (while making good, legit points) in seminar and feel superior time. Contrast that with say, American Lit (Hemmingway, Faulkner), where the professor sounds like a preacher who took ambien, and it's a whole new ballgame.

I'll never get over the simple joys that come with being an American in American Studies classes- Aaron and Emily and I talked about it at the bus stop on my way to TV the other day, and it's the same across the board- Emily is asked about locations during her Painting the Americas class, Aaron is seen as the resident genius when discussing The New Deal in history. How is it that I became such an expert on Sports in Television- suddenly my OCD Sportscenter watching has turned into a great skill.

god i miss sportscenter.

Our bonfire on Friday was not without its faults. Mark apparently caught wind (or I blantantly bragged about it during dinner), and surveyed the damage to much chagrin. An angry email later, and I was wrist deep in wet, charred timbers and a rusty grill filled with old nails that had sunk to the bottom of the blaze. What always strikes me as funny about Mark's emails is his inability to translate poor wit in person into unoffensive wit in type. He has an inane ability to come off as an asshole in every email he sends.... i suppose if the older generation was aware of such classic AOL shortcuts as 'lol' , he'd be a pro.

The weather continues to inspire. Hilary plans on stealing a few (15 odd) daffodils from campus tomorrow. The song 'wondeful world' by Louis Armstrong came on my ipod while waiting for the bus, and I can't say I've ever remembered a time when the skies were so blue, grass so green, clouds so white, or daffodils so yellow. I can't even fathom the shitstorm that hit the states- It's been 50-60 F for days now, and I can only hope it stays this nice....

Today presented me with some challenging news, but it deserves its own post...

later days.

Some parting words from America's favorite minimalist, Apple Guru Steve Jobs:

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

posted by Kevin @ 3:37 PM