Time

Today it struck me how much the world has changed. These days no one really knows how to live at a slower pace. We all think we have to do do do and go go go, but that isn't really the case.

I'm amazed at how time flies or drags. If I'm doing something I want to be doing, like reading a good book, an hour can go so fast. If I'm doing something I don't want to be doing, like grading papers, the hour might still go fast, but I am amazed the task took an entire hour.

But then, when I am waiting, hours are an eternity.

I'm doing all of my research on media and its influence on literature. I think it has influenced much more than that. I think it has altered our expectations of time.

When I was a kid, instant gratification meant being told right away I could have what I wanted even if I knew it would take some time to get it. Now, email isn't even fast enough for us-- no, we have to text message a person, and if s/he doesn't get back to us-- oh no--

Don't get me wrong-- I think media is useful and fun, but I wonder what our lives would be like if we had to read a few more books, play a few more games, and write a few more letters.

Need to Write

I need to write. I need to grade papers. I need to organize my house.

All of these things are keeping me from actually getting anything done. Instead I'm reading what other people have written on Facebook and blogspot. Not overly productive.

I am finally writing about Harry Potter-- something that years ago I was really looking forward to getting to, and now that I'm doing it I realize why the series has retained its popularity-- Rowling does a good job creating questions that she did not answer.

This week I find myself really bothered by What happened to George? George and Fred were such a team, they didn't do anything apart from one another, but Fred died-- What happened to George? I want to believe that he went on to run their business and live a happy, fulfilled, Voldermort free life, but I can't imagine that he successfully did.

Oh well, thinking about the well being of a fictional character is not writing my dissertation, grading my student's papers, or cleaning my house...

Nothing

I have gotten nothing done today. I know I will regret my motivational funk later, but right now I can't seem to do anything about it...

But, alas, I have an excuse...

Not only is the baby awake, so is the 2 year old.

potty training

Tomorrow is D-Day.

We are going to have a day dedicated to potty training. I have mixed feelings about this adventure. A part of me is all for it-- the part of me that is sickened by the cost of diapers. A part of me sees no reason to rush the process--the part of me that can't believe my little girl is growing up so fast. The part of me that is tired of changing poopy diapers knows that it's time to at least give it a try. I also know that it's time because my delightful daughter keeps taking off her diaper as soon as it gets a drop of pee in it, and I really don't want her peeing on my carpet.

Wish me luck!

The Shack

I just finished reading The Shack. It's a great book. I don't want to give away too much here, because I think people should read it for themselves, and I don't want to ruin the experience.

I think so many people feel the way the main character, Mack, does regarding God. There are so many forced views, where God seems a little bit angry. So, while I wouldn't say that this book addresses all of those concerns, it does do a good job at providing a different view of God. A view that lets us see a little bit fuller picture of who He is.

If nothing else, it's a pretty compelling story. I would recommend you give it a read-- but not if you're getting ready to take your daughters camping.

Online Teaching

I think I'm going to go the online teaching route. I've been in training for the last 4 weeks. I find out tomorrow if I've passed it all. I sure hope so, otherwise, this last month was crazy for nothing. It's weird though. I've been spending so much time getting ready for that, that now while I'm trying to catch up with stuff I am afraid I let some things go for too long. hope not...

LM Montgomery

LM Montgomery was my favorite author when I was a kid. I had, and still have, every book the woman wrote. My favorite was, and still is, The Blue Castle-- which now I know is considered her "adult" novel. This year is the 100 year anniversary of Anne of Green Gables, which was her first "big" hit.

Why do I bring up this childhood remembrance? Because I'm trying to write about Anne in my dissertation. I already wrote this section, but it vanished along with everything else on my hard drive, and so now, I'm hoping that if I ramble on about Anne that I will be able to have my memory refreshed and that I will finally feel more inspired to write.

The question I ask in my dissertation is, Why is Anne still popular after 100 years? Other books that were written in much of the same style at the same time have long since been discarded, but somehow, fans still hang out to Anne? What is her appeal?

I always liked Anne because she was kind of spunky. I think I always thought I was a little spunky, but I don't think that I was. I think that I was just a little bookworm, but I could read about these spunky characters and feel like I knew them enough that they were a little bit a part of me. i think characters like Anne gave me courage. You could know what you wanted and still be likable. You could be smart and popular. But was Anne popular-- not really, she just had her close friends. She just got along well enough with her friends that as a reader you felt like she must be popular. Don't get me wrong-- she wasn't the class reject or anything, but you didn't see others following her trends-- instead, she followed others-- think puffy sleeves and black tresses.

I think Anne still has some appeal because she's a generational character. I can't wait for my daughter to be old enough for me to share Anne with her. And obviously, I am not the only one who felt that way. I was turned onto Anne by a friend of my mother's, an older Canadian lady. Thinking about her now, I realize she was probably a child when Montgomery first wrote the text.

Why do certain books stand the test of time when others just fall by the wayside?