Semester’s End

November 30th, 2012 → 8:53 am

“I see, as in a map, the end of all.” – Richard III

Another semester at school is ending and, as always, it feels weird.  Weird that I won’t see the same student faces every Monday and Wednesday, bright and eager and ready with questions, weird that I won’t continue my lectures on these important topics…  The semester always ends too early, just as I’ve gotten to know my students and begun a friendly rapor with them, just as some of our knotty policy issues have begun to unravel.  It always feels so abrupt to me, that it just ends one day.  But, as in a map I suppose, roads eventually do.

Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life

Sexiest Man Alive

November 28th, 2012 → 8:50 am

    “O jest unseen, inscrutable, invisible,
    As a nose on a man’s face, or a weathercock on a steeple!” – Two Gentlemen of Verona

The Onion did a satire on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, calling him the Sexiest Man Alive for 2012.  But apparently, not everyone realized it was a joke!  China’s People’s Daily newspaper picked up the piece and went with it.  How funny!!

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

November 26th, 2012 → 5:52 am

“My nearest and dearest enemy.” – Henry IV, Part I

I chose this quote because it is actually spoken by the king to and of his son, the future Henry V.  Meaning, sometimes our closest friends, neighbors, and even relatives, can seem like our enemies - but they’re not.  The future Henry V redeemed himself (at least in Shakespeare’s plays) from a scapegrace to a decent king.  What seems like our enemy one day, may be our future the next.  Who knows what this latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict will bring, but I continue to hold out hope that something good can eventually be worked out…

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians

Thanksgiving

November 22nd, 2012 → 5:57 am

    “O lord, that lends me life,
    Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!” – King Henry VI, Part II

I really, really liked the op-ed this morning in The New York Times on not being dead.  It rang so heart-felt and true to me.  Here’s to not being dead.  One day, we all will be, and when our day comes it may even be a kind of relief.  But until then, give thanks and enjoy life, even the traffic lights.

Filed under: Blog & Other

William Shakespeare

November 19th, 2012 → 4:20 pm

“[This] island of England breeds very valiant creatures.” – Henry V

Today was my trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Shakespeare’s birthplace, burial place, and the house he lived in in-between.  Long exhausting day, but totally worth it.  Shakespeare is one-of-a-kind.  Whether he is valiant or not, I don’t know, but he is certainly worth celebrating.  Below is a picture, not of his house (because that’s plastered everywhere), but of the guildhall where he went to school as a young boy:

 

Thought for the day:

  • Why can’t you watch online episodes of The DailyShow or The Colbert Report from Europe?  It appears to be prohibited.  How annoying.

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life

England

November 17th, 2012 → 5:40 pm

“Is not their climate foggy, raw and dull?” – Henry V

Well, yes, but the people are nice!  I was in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, trying to take a picture of myself (because you aren’t allowed to take one in the Abbey itself – too bad as I couldn’t get Shakespeare’s monument in the Poet’s Corner either), when a really nice guy came up and offered to take my picture for me.  I think I must have looked rather pathetic with outstretched arms and pressed back face, trying to take my own silly picture.  Thank goodness Mr. Random Londoner came by and saved the day. 

 

Thoughts on London so far:

  • So much history!
  • GREAT architecture.
  • Why are the sidewalks bordering the River Thames so uneven?  I’ve almost tripped and fallen on my face like a million times already.
  • The European economy really is in trouble – my London cab driver lives in Spain most of the year to save money ?!?!
  • Why do the fares for the tube have to be SO confusing?
  • Does no one use artificial sweetner in this place?
  • I like how they’ve cleaned up Trafalgar Square.
  • Impressive that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was given his own monument in Westminster Abbey – impressive both that an American is in there at all, and that Britain bestowed such an honor on our former President.
  • The last time I was in London was with my mother; not long, really, before she died.  I really miss her…

Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life

Birthday Present

November 16th, 2012 → 6:15 am

“This is a way to kill a wife with kindness.” – Taming of the Shrew

So my birthday was in October, but my present from my husband was working things out so I could go to London for a long weekend in November and see the once-in-a-lifetime Shakespeare exhibit at the British Museum.  Can you believe it?  How spectacular.  I never imagined I’d be able to go!  Stay tuned because, if possible, my next post will be from Shakespeare’s own town…

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life

Guest Post – Peaches Petraeus

November 14th, 2012 → 6:33 am

“Reputation, reputation, reputation!”– Othello

I have to hand it over to Maureen Dowd today, who this morning titled her op-ed piece in The New York Times with the above Shakespeare quote (which continues: “Oh, I have lost my reputation!”).  I had no idea David Petraeus’ nickname was Peaches?!

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People

John Boehner & The Fiscal Cliff

November 12th, 2012 → 5:24 am

    “Now is this golden crown like a deep well
    That owes two buckets, filling one another,
    The emptier ever dancing in the air,
    The other down, unseen, and full of water.
    That bucket down and full of tears am I,
    Drinking my griefs…” – Richard II

John Boehner was very disappointing last year; completely unable to get his House Republicans under control.  He needs to do better this time around, in particluar with the fiscal cliff that’s coming up.  I know he has to balance a lot of buckets (and probably, a lot of tears), but here’s hoping he figures out how to be a leader before December 31, 2012.

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians

My Husband

November 10th, 2012 → 8:21 am

“My dearest partner of greatness.” – Macbeth

I’ve been travelling this week for work.  And next week I leave town again.  In between I’ve got a million errands and appointments.  Here’s a shout-out to my husband for helping make this crazy schedule possible!  For flexibly taking care of our son while I travel for work, and for being supportive all around.  Bottom line:  I truly don’t know how single mothers do it.

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life