What Did You Say?

August 29th, 2014 → 6:29 am

“How now my sweet creature of bombast?” – Henry IV, Part I

A mother at my child’s day care said some pretty stupid things the other day.  I wish I’d thought of this quote at the time, at least it would have made me smile while listening to her…

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

New Beginnings

August 26th, 2014 → 8:05 am

“O brave new world,
That has such people in ‘t!”  – The Tempest

The new term begins at the university this week.  And we have record enrollment this year.  Here’s to a new semester and great new students!

Filed under: Blog & Other

Tears

August 24th, 2014 → 6:17 am

“He has strangled
His language in his tears.”  – Henry VIII

All kids cry.  What differs, appears to be adults’ reaction to them.  When my son cries I want to know what happened, what is wrong, what he is feeling and why.  My husband wants him to just stop.  I no longer try to figure out which one of us parents better – we simply parent differently oftentimes – but it is interesting how people can respond to such commonalities so very disparately.

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life

Mo’ne Davis

August 21st, 2014 → 7:37 am

“A maid
That paragons description and wild fame;
One that excels the quirks of blazoning [fastballs].”  – Othello

A 13 year old girl on the cover of Sports Illustrated.  The first female to throw a shutout in a Little League World Series game. Only the 18th female to play in the Little League World Series in its 68 year history.  I love it!  You go girl.

Filed under: Blog & Other

Guest Post – Family Dollar

August 19th, 2014 → 6:00 am

Gonzalo:  “Comes to the entertainer–“

Sebastian:  “A dollar.”

Gonzalo:  “Dolour comes to him, indeed: you have spoken truer than you purposed.”  – The Tempest

Shakespeare loved to play on the double meaning of words/sounds – here it’s with “dollar” and “dolour.”  A radio announcer (I’m afraid I can’t recall which one) used this quote yesterday in relation to the Family Dollar bidding war.  You get a dollar, but really it leads to dolor.  Ain’t this true of so many mergers?  Ain’t this true of so much in life!

Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money

Continuing Unrest

August 17th, 2014 → 6:38 am

“Yield not thy neck
To Fortune’s yoke.”  – Henry VI, Part III

The demonstrations continue in Ferguson.  And I support them.  A few days ago a Facebook friend posted a wish for Governor Nixon to impose a curfew already.  I was surprised.  How was that going to solve the underlying problem?  Then another Facebook friend complained that his flight into St. Louis was delayed because of the protests and he wished they’d stop.  I’m not sure the airport is affected because of a few protests in Ferguson, but assuming it was, really?  Mass injustice should just go on so you don’t lose a few hours in an airport?  Are so many local St. Louisans really that ignorant and self-absorbed?  Don’t yield, peaceful Ferguson protestors, I wouldn’t.

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians

R.I.P. Robin Williams

August 14th, 2014 → 5:29 am

“I have of late, but
wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth,
forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed,
it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame,
the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory.”  – Hamlet

I’ve found the outpouring of grief over Robin Williams‘ suicide to be surprisingly high among my friends.  He was a great comedian, no doubt, but I think it must also have something to do with my age group.  Anyone in their late thirties/early forties grew up with Robin Williams; I remember watching Mork and Mindy when I came home from school in the afternoons, and of course I saw most of his major movies.  It’s hard to imagine comedy without him.  Rest in peace, Robin Williams, you have our sympathy, and our love.

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art

Farewell My Love(s)

August 11th, 2014 → 6:18 am

“Farewell, thou art too dear for my possessing,
And like enough thou knowest thy estimate.”  – Sonnet 87

My boys leave today for a trip to visit the in-laws.  I’m going to be rather lonely without them…

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life

Baby Tries to Enter the White House

August 8th, 2014 → 8:02 am

“My salad days,
When I was green in judgement.”  – Antony and Cleopatra

An escaped baby squeezed through the White House fences and breached security last night.  Secret Service had to hunt him down.  The police issued a statement that they want to question the child, but that they’ll have to wait until he learns how to talk.  🙂

Filed under: Blog & Other

My Brain Won’t Stop

August 6th, 2014 → 5:51 am

“My thoughts are whirled like a potter’s wheel.” – Henry VI, Part I

The above quote is one of my favorites (I made sure to use it in my novel, Shakespeare’s Sister).  And today, for me, it seems particularly apt  I’m in the middle of an exciting research project and can’t stop thinking about comments I’ve received on it, the semester begins again soon and I have to start preparing for classes, my son is transitioning to a new classroom and his new teacher is on my mind as well.  No wonder I keep waking up even earlier than usual in the mornings!

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life