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...