lackluster
It's February already… It's way too early to be so burned out on things, but this is where I've found myself already.
A full load of coursework in grad school (9 hours/3 classes) is on my plate each week, which means at least 3 books per week… then add to that teaching. I have 2 classes that I teach two times per week. So, I'm in class roughly 10.5 hours per week, whether teaching or learning. Outside of class, I'm usually reading or prepping to teach. Or sleeping. However, the chances of the latter are usually growing more and more slim as the days go by.
I'm in a mad dash to the finish line of May. I graduate then. But sometime before then, I have to complete and pass my classes, take my comps and pass them (oh and don't forget, prepare for them!), and teach at the same time.
I also just got word that I was accepted for Graduate Research Day, which is a huge honor, and if I win my division, it means prize money and a big honorary notation on my CV (as so does participation). I know I'm in over my head already… but, I'm trimming down a previous paper for this project. See, this is what we do: we combine projects as much as possible… for example: most of my papers for all of my classes all have an urban history twist. Why? I can submit them at any time for an urban history topic if the time every presents itself and still be considered in the realm of an urban historian. Yeah, cheap trick. But, I learned from the masters: my professors.
So, in the mean time, while I'm getting burned out by school already in early February (and school started less than a month ago), chirping at my students (who some, by the way, are the whiniest I've ever seen), I'm sending out this call to remind me in May that all this pain and heartache, this absence from social life, the exhaustion, the burnout… remind me that it was all worth it when I'm graduating, OK?
lessons from life
"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." -Mark Twain
It's right at times when I think that I have gotten the hang of my day-to-day life when I get a shocking bit of news to absolutely bamboozle me once again.
Just as I turned 30, with a new lease on life, you might say, I jump to Chicago, and I found out that a few days prior, one of my former students had been brutally murdered. What an incredibly young precious life was taken long before her time. She had so much to offer, and could turn the world upside down with her smile and optimism.
Today, I'm about to embark on another trip, and I received a call that a friend, a colleague that helped lead several junior high weekends years ago at Camp Sumatanga and Camp Springville, died in a tragic accident. As I sit in the airport, I'm still in absolute shock. He would prank call me at work and lead me on and make me so frustrated, and then let out his boisterous laugh before his authentic pronoucement of my name that was completely his trademark. Yet again, another life gone long before his time, and someone who could change your life and make you think, make you smile, and make you want to prove to him that you could do better.
Of course, it's always selfish to think that people are taken before their time and to want them back to say everything you wanted, but we aren't allowed those moments all the time. But, it's in these glimpses of time when we do realize that we need to tell the people we love that we do love them… to embrace those who mean so much to us… We never know the next time we will see each person on our path.
Live your life to the fullest. Love those around you with all your heart. You never know when you won't have the chance to do so.
why it’s great to “rock the red”
[crossposted on pickmyNHLteam.com on December 31, 2009]
The Washington Capitals… up until a few years ago, locals and people across the country paid little attention to this talented team on the ice. Now, they’re the most discussed team in Washington, D.C., and they get mentions during NFL coverage of Washington Redskins games. Right now, the Caps are the hottest team in the city, and one of the hottest teams in the NHL. And there are a few reasons why this team deserves the love it gets… (in no specific order, mostly)
The Horn Guy: Consider him our personal cheerleader. Throughout the games, you hear “bwah bwah bwah” and it signals an immediate “LET’S GO CAPS!” from the entire crowd. Even if you are watching the game from home, you can hear Horn Guy on the broadcast, always cheering on the Caps at every home game, without disappointment.
The Franchise: The Washington Capitals have retired four numbers, to honor Rod Langway, Yvon Labre, Mike Gartner, and Dale Hunter. The Caps even have four Hall of Famers: Mike Gartner (2001), Rod Langway (2002), Larry Murphy (2004), and Scott Stevens (2007). While there may not be a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals name on it, the team has claimed an Eastern Conference Championship in 1997-98, and Division Championships in 1988-89, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2007-08, and 2008-09. The Washington Capitals organization also works with the AHL Hershey Bears (2008-09 Calder Cup Winners) and the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays (2008-09 Kelly Cup Winners). The depth of players in the organization is unreal, and the talent keeps getting stronger. About 1/3 of the current Caps roster played in Hershey before moving up to NHL play. We believe in our organization, and have faith in our rosters, and our fans support our franchise teams.
The Leadership: Under the leadership of owner Ted Leonsis, who blogs, tweets, and even offers his email to fans (and yes, answers them too), the Capitals have seen amazing success in the past few years. Combined with the General Manager George McPhee who has an eye for talent and making the budget and an often teddy-bearish and snarky Head Coach Bruce Boudreau (who was in Slapshot, just saying), the Caps have been able to continually climb in standings year after year and clinch the Southeast Division, and progress into the post-season. They’ve also increased the depth of talent in the farm teams by spotting great talent in the draft. The management and ownership is open and honest with the fans and makes themselves available to questioning. But, what is the best part of the leadership? It’s gotta be Boudreau’s one-liners in pressers and appearances on local commercials, where his comedic genius that he never got to show in Slapshot really shines.
The Fans: Fans show up and pack out the Verizon Center to “rock the red.” It’s a sight to be seen. Our fans are from all walks of life, from the city to the suburbs, from working on Capitol Hill to protesting Capitol Hill. And since it’s D.C., the best signs and t-shirts show up, showing that fans have truly made Washington, D.C. into a hockey town. Whether it’s a no-diving sign for the Pens game, a sign endorsing Bruce Boudreau for president, or even the terrible jersey fouls that PuckDaddy loves to point out, Caps fans get creative when it comes to games, especially the teams that fans love to hate: the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. And the fans only lead into the next best part of being a Caps fan…
The Phonebooth: The Verizon Center, built by the late great Abe Pollin, is the most electric building in all of the NHL, and I’ve been to a few arenas (and even heard the National Anthem at the United Center). None of them compare. The energy in the Phonebooth is contagious. You’ll find yourself standing half of the game, hoarse after the game is over, and high-fiving and hugging your seatmates. (But sometimes, chances are, though, you’re a season ticket holder and you knew their names and phone numbers and they have called you before to see where you were and why you sold your tickets to whomever was in your seat one night.) In fact, last year, during the playoffs, NHL employee Mike DiLorenzo commented on Twitter during the Caps-Pens series during Game 5 in DC: "The top may come off this rink if the #caps brek [sic] thru. This is insane right now. #pens" It gets so loud in fact, you might as well just hit ignore on your phone, even during intermission, because there’s no point, you can’t hear anything on the other line.
The Wes Johnson: If you have to Google this guy, go ahead, and it’s worth every penny. Our arena announcer, Wes Johnson makes the games so incredibly exciting, and he’s a character during and after the games. The tone of his voice tells you exactly what you should know even if you don’t know what he’s saying. Wes Johnson, is in fact, the best arena announcer in all of the NHL. There’s nothing quite like hearing him announce a goal, and crediting it to various players. The Capitals would not be as exciting and as fun-filled without the voice of Wes Johnson.
The Location: The Washington Capitals are located in one of the greatest cities in the U.S.: Washington, D.C.! Outside of the Phonebooth are the country’s best museums and travel spots. Plus, whether you’re visiting or if you live in D.C., there is always something to do. The cultural aspects of the city are vast. From a plethora of food to music to the arts, even to sports, if you’re not at a hockey game, you’ve got plenty of things that can fill your time in the city. And, if that doesn’t excite you enough, you can always be on the lookout for the next spot the President will turn up, because he loves to dart in and out of the city.
Alexander the Gr8: Last, but not least, the Caps wouldn’t be the Caps without Ovi. As a Capitals fan, I learned one thing
really fast, people love to hate the Washington Capitals, and specifically Alexander Ovechkin. Actually, they love to hate him because he’s so good. He’s the most talented player of the league, scoring like no other player, taking in NHL honors left and right, and one of the most physical players on the ice, and he’s a forward. He’s essentially the face of the NHL, whether Gary Bettman likes it or not, and people flock to see him play in other NHL towns. He’s a star, he’s passionate, and he’s an entertainer that brings fans to the game, regardless of Don Cherry’s distaste. Oh, and ESPN will actually give him coverage.
So, the fans of the Washington Capitals ROCK THE RED with pride, because we know, without a doubt, that our boys will consistently play great hockey and stick up for their team. But much more than that, the organization cares for the team and its fans enough to create an incredible hockey family.
And just for good cheer, enjoy the "Caps Rap."
*All photos used in this post are my own, and cannot be used without permission.
bowl frenzy
It's that time of year again… BOWL SEASON! It's a southerner's dream vacation time, if possible… sitting around watching football ALL. THE. TIME. And, if you're lucky like this year and you follow the Southeastern Conference, ten of twelve teams accepted bids to bowl games. Unlike most of the world, which I found out recently, SEC fans usually cheer on other SEC teams. We like to make sure that we're always on top of the list when it comes to college football. Of course, sometimes that means cheering for your arch rival (as I found myself doing last night, even though the Vols completely fluked in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl), just for the sake of the conference. In talking to others, not so many people do this in other conferences… and I'm boggled by this.
Anyway, in the craziness that was December, I TOTALLY forgot to make all of my college football bowl picks. So, instead, I'll just post all of them for the games from here on out. Of course, I don't claim to be a pro. I always like to make guesses with friends and family on who will win and why. Feel free to argue… I enjoy the rivalry and competition.
Picks (in bold) after the jump… Read more
oh the insanity
Of course with December comes the insanity of the holidays…
Except, this December, I celebrated my 30th birthday. It was great. I loved it. It didn't change much. I actually would always accidentally tell people I was already 30, and then have to correct myself. Maybe I was preparing for it before? Who knows…
But, with the insanity of December also came the end of the semester for teaching and for grad school, which I fortunately aced, but not without some bit of exhaustion. After I finished each of those, I felt I was due a vacation, so I headed off to Chicago. I am due for a recap of my trip to Chicago, and I hope to do that in a few days, and include some pictures.
Also, my resolution for 2010: be better at updating my blog… Ha! It actually does keep me on my toes about my writing.
So… a short update since my last blog was in November, but the #EpicDec Chicago update will be here soon!
minor setbacks
It's sad to think that simple things such as the flu that develop into severe things like bronchitis and pneumonia, that become critical enough to keep you down and sick for almost three weeks, including a hospital stay, can make you so far behind in academics, and life. It's amazing to see how such a nagging virus can take toll on your life and make you stressed to the core as you try to catch up… For me, it's not just catching up in grad school; it's also catching up students I'm teaching. Of course, this all occurred in October, just after I got back from New York, but one of the major consequences just hit home.
I've been going at the fastest pace that I can go, and there is no way that I can keep up, and last week, I waved the surrender flag for one of my graduate classes. I'll have to withdraw, which means that I'll either have to take an overload next semester if I teach, teach and take only 2 classes and take the final class in the summer (meaning no graduation ceremony; at my school, on May & December), or take my last three classes in the spring and don't teach. I feel like I'm stuck with a massive decision that I don't want to make. Either way, it's a pretty major consequence that doesn't give me much breathing room for error.
Hah. Breathing room… and that's where it all started… stupid pneumonia.
october epic
Yes, I know. This post is so far beyond delayed, it's not funny. My life is so far behind now, it's not funny. But, you know what? What'll you do? At least I'm posting it. Why? Well, for one. I want to remember this.
From the beginning, October Epic (or from what the Twitter hashtag became #OctoberEpic) started as a joke. I said that I wanted to visit New York to my friend Dani (@dani3boyz), and it just continued. I hadn't taken vacation in about 6 years. And I knew that I would've LOVED to see the new #1 draft pick John Tavares play with the Islanders, so I knew that a trip was in order. I also knew that I was going stir crazy, as I spent the entire summer at home searching for a job and having no success, which mean the inability to do anything, since I was saving my money.
So, I booked it. Original thoughts were to make the trip for the Caps/Isles game, but as a strong southern football fan, the weekend of that game is one of the most holiest of weekends for Alabama fans: the big rivalry game against Tennessee (and as it turns out, very thankful I didn't miss seeing that game, although it almost gave me a heart attack). I now owe Terrance Cody my gratitude for saving my life. Twice.
Anyway, I booked the trip, and decided to stay out on Long Island, since I was going to the Islanders game and seeing some friends. When we were planning the weekend, it coincided with another friend's plans, Kim from Ottawa (@sabotek). Combine two tweeps from out of town into a town of lots of Isles tweeps, and we knew we'd have a blast. Oh, and did I forget to mention the NHL Store was also said mecca closeby? I knew it would be a treat.
As planning got closer, I realized the Caps season opener in Boston was during that weekend, and started looking at logistics. Sure enough, I could pull it off. I bought my tickets, and I booked my bus from NYC to BOS, and hit up @cameronfrye to see if she wanted to go to the game, and sure enough because of her undying affection for Brooks Laich as a B's fan, she quickly said yes.
So I was set.
I literally left the house running the morning of October 1. Everything was going wrong, I lost contact numbers for when I arrived to LGA, and I only had 2 hours of sleep. But I made it in early, and my chariot awaited in the form of Mr. @dani3boyz with a sign that simply said: "@vulcansmuse." I died laughing. As we drove down the Long Island Expressway, I got to see Citi Field, the old Fairgrounds, and learn a ton about Long Island that I never would have gotten from a cab driver. It was brilliant. I got to the hotel, and they thankfully let me check in early, because I had to literally drop my bags, get my jersey, and go to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to catch the train to Penn Station to find my bus to ride to BOS. We're talking about a 10 minute window. Then when I get to Penn Station, I had a 15 minute window to catch my bus. I apparently thought I was superwoman in booking this… But, I made it. I caught the bus, and was off to Boston!
The bus got late into Boston, but @cameronfrye was waiting, with sign in hand with a gorilla (she had topped @dani3boyz!) greeting me there. We ran up to the food court, grabbed a fast dinner, and then hailed a cab and booked it to TD Banknorth Garden. We walk in literally as they drop the puck. WOW. I've never been in such an amazing arena, except for the Verizon Center of course. And, it also helps that the Caps put a REALLY quick quiet on the B's. However, I have a lot of respect for the Bruins… Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara are some of my favorites to watch in the league. As I walked through the concourse, we found fellow tweep Doug (@dwatson783), as I was harassed for my Caps jersey. I quickly found that I could fire back on the continual comment of "Red's not your color, honey!" with "At least it's not a Habs jersey." That got agreeances and many times high fives and laughs. Needless to say, my experience with the fans was top-notch. I was told I could come back anytime. And I even found a Caps fan on the lower level who was dating a B's fan from Alabama. Small world, eh?
I found my way back to NYC, SO LATE… I crashed on the bed and slept until Dani called. It was our NYC outing day with her and Kim, which meant a trip to the NHL Store… and a dent in my bank account. As we stood outside the store, I was about to take a picture, and suddenly, the Naked Cowboy walks by. It was brilliant timing since I had my iPhone out and ready to catch a photo. Then I turned back over and caught the Caps logo over the NHL Store. And boy did I make a dent in there… 3 vintage shirts, an Ovi road jersey and a Kariya third. And also when I met up with Dani, I picked up a Tavares Islanders third! So, I'm slowly working on my jersey collection. Feel free to donate to the fund. Ha!
Nick (@LetThereBeLH) and Carlos (@speakofthedevs) joined up with us, and we traipsed around the city, and, literally, since the address for the Rangers NHL Tweetup was wrong. But we finally found it, and met up with a few Rangers fans before we departed ways. Nick, Kim, and I headed to Sweet Revenge to get some AMAZING cupcakes, and then off to Ethiopian in Greenwich Village. I know, I know, but why not dessert before dinner?
Saturday was game day. I spent some time trying to catch a little bit of coverage on the Alabama/Kentucky game and seeing what else was on for football… and also trying to rest some, since I had been going ninety-to-nothing. For the afternoon, Dani picked me up and me and her 3 boys took a history outing over to Levittown, and I got to geek out over the country's first suburb and share a bit of my history knowledge with her sons, which they either really enjoyed or were really good at faking. After that, back to change into gameday gear, and it was off to the Islanders game.
If you've never been to an Islanders game, it's one to experience. The only thing I can relate it to is a Hershey Bears game, just because there is a parking lot there, and people tailgate. Same thing at Nassau. TONS of folks, and who knows how long they've been there. And jersey names from almost every player in the league. Because hey, "We're all Islanders!" The game was packed out, since it was the season opener. It was a girls-night-out, with me, Dani, and Kim. And I got to see a TON of folks (including @bgill89 who couldn't make it to the Tweetup!). I just wanted to see what the hype was about John Tavares, and he didn't prove me wrong. He got a goal, an assist and was a star of the game! And they pushed Pittsburgh to a shootout. It would've been nice to see them beat PIT, but still… it took PIT 65 minutes and a shootout to beat the Isles, and they're supposed to be the reigning Stanley Cup Champs. Not too shabby Isles. Post game, we had an epic meal… all breakfast. And these girls and I can eat. I'm proud to call them my friends.
On Sunday, I was glad to have a little bit of free time before the Tweetup. Dani came to pick me up and we enjoyed some sunshine as we watched her kiddos play flag football and I got to hear the ins-and-outs of the community life on Long Island. But then not so long into the day, it was time to change gears again and get ready for the Long Island "All Teams Edition" #NHLTweetup.
There were so many folks there! I met a such great folks! I don't know that I can name them all here, but I'll try!!! There was Peter (@peterg11742), Kathy (@kathygc) and her hubs, Katrina (@katrina_doelle), Mike (@islesblogger), Doug (@NYIsles10), and Michael (@tavarescountry). Others I knew that were in attendance: Dani (@dani3boyz), Carlos (@speakofthedevs), Nick (@LetThereBeLH), Kim (@sabotek), and Mr. @dani3boyz. There were a core of there for, I do not kid, 6+ hours. So much fun. So much laughter. It was the best ending to my trip.
On Monday, I had to pack it all up, and head on out to LGA, but not before some breakfast with Dani, in which she tweeted about my chocolate milk compared to her coffee. I told her chocolate milk was my comfort food, and I'd need it to cry into. After another long great conversation, I had to go. I got back to the hotel just in time to see my car ready to pick me up to take me to the airport.
My flight was delayed and the airport was insane. And when I got back to BHM, my flight had disappeared off the screens and was nowhere to be found. I was afraid my luggage had gone missing (OH NO THE JERSEYS! Sadly, that's really what I was worried about.). They finally showed, and I was off to the house. October Epic had come to a close… or so I thought.
Because then I came down with the flu. Then the flu turned into pneumonia and bronchitis. 2.5 weeks out sick. So if I wasn't cabin crazy before, now I really am as I am trying to catch up to everything that was going on before, even grad school and classes that I teach.
But now I have something new to look forward to… In December, I have a big b'day coming up… And I'm going to Chicago with a bunch of tweeps again to celebrate it and to see some hockey. So in the twitterverse, #EpicDec has already come to fruition, and it's just a little more than a month away.
Until then, check out the pics from #OctoberEpic:
halloweening in history
Yesterday in class, I gave an extra points opportunity, which I like to do from time-to-time to help those who really are trying in the class and just can't quite get over test humps, pop quizzes, etc. I know they are studying; their answers are reflected in essays. They know the material, but they get test anxiety. They are in essence, me as an undergrad.
For fun, I offered them the chance to dress up for Halloween. Now, it's a Tues/Thurs class, so Halloween didn't fall for a few more days, but still. It's a points-based class, so anything and everything helps, too! They received 5 bonus points for ANY Halloween costume, and 25 bonus points for a historical costume. Of course, the historical costume had to be relevant to the course (Western Civ I=premodern to c.1300, Western Civ II=c.1300 to present), and they had to be able to tell something about themselves. Boy did I have no idea what I was in for during class…
For Western Civ I, I got a ton of kids in togas, which I half expected. We study a lot about Rome and Greece, so there were the Marc Antonys, the Julius Caesars, the Aphrodites, a Demeter… We had Cleopatra, Muhammad, and Anubis, which was an amazing costume. Also appearing was Paul Blart: Mall Cop, a 50s poodle girl, an Eagle Scout and me, the rabid hockey fan (and I forgot to show off my Stanley Cup Finals ticket and hockey stick bottle opener on the lanyard). Below my jersey was my "Sidney Crosby Sucks" shirt, of course. Both Julius Caesars and Marc Antony gave hilarious diatribes about how they would be screwed over by the people of Rome, but you should give them their loyalty, because after all, they lead Rome, and they're awesome. I also had 2 students tell me they came as Adam & Eve, but they thought it was inappropriate to come to class naked. Nice try kids… But the best part? Telling the girls in togas that in Greece, women in togas were seen as ladies of the night. They about died. One girl aptly responded, "Well, all the pictures of Aphrodite had her in the nude, and there was NO WAY I was coming to class that way." Touche. Here's a look at the first class, which about 1/4 of the class opted to dress up.
Julius Caesar, Muhammad, Cleopatra. Floor: Anubis, Caps Hockey Fan (ME), Eagle Scout.
sudden outburst
What in the world is wrong with people? Our country? Our world?
First, Joe Wilson shouts back at President Obama during the Joint Congressional speech. Then, Kanye West takes the mic from Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech. And it seems like everywhere else, there are random complaints about how kids today don't know the proper way to socialize or conduct themselves in a classroom or in a group.
Folks, what we have here is a failure to communicate. Or even… to learn the basics of communication.
Here are a few handy, dandy ways to combat the breakdowns in communication that perhaps you might be facing*:
- Don't be a copycat.
Do not in whatsoever way, try to impersonate the British Parliament. Seriously, they're on Sunday night TV for a reason in the U.S.: it's entertainment for us. We can't do that here, so we get to watch it. They make themselves out to be downright crazed lunatics by talking to the Prime Minister in whatever form they like, and we address the President with utmost respect no matter how much we like or dislike him. Also, we don't have soldiers that can pull off the demeanor of those in England. Those are the rules. Obey them. This is the way it works. George Washington said so. - Get your facts straight.
George Bush doesn't hate black people. George Wallace did. Kanye got it completely wrong. He's blaming the wrong George. In fact, I'm pretty sure if he had blamed the correct George in the first place, this whole ordeal wouldn't have taken place, and poor Taylor Swift wouldn't have been shaking in her boots. And quite possibly, Lady Gaga wouldn't have terrified every living soul on the planet with "art." - Don't be "that guy."
You know "that guy." He's the "guy" that eternally lives on in the butt of all jokes. For example, who will ever forget Poland now? Or, who can ever mention the planet Uranus now that some person made a dirty out of it? Or, remember "that guy" who yelled out during the President's speech in 2009? Or even "that guy" who yanked the mic out of Taylor Swift's hand to declare that someone else should've received the award? See… you know exactly who I'm talking about. "That guy." - Lose the cameras and TV.
Remember when people actually read the news? And then formed their own opinion? And then remember when they stopped and all of a sudden people simply regurgitated ideas from talking heads like cows chewing on cud in the field? Yeah, me too. It's like we're living in Idiocracy, and I'm looking at the sharp decline of society.
Just a few ideas of ways that we can get back to basic forms of communication. Heck, if you'd actually make a phonecall or visit someone, it might build that communication instead of just sending a chat message, a tweet, or a Facebook message. But, of course, the Wall Street Journal is print, and print can be wrong, right? Perhaps it might not be in some cases. But still, I'm banking on print, because right now, the voices coming from the television are absolutely crazy.
Joe? Kanye?
That's what I thought.
*This is totally meant to be satire, folks… I LOVE watching the British parliament on TV, and totally respect them, and history still is unsure that George Wallace was or was not a racist in his later life. And who knows, maybe Lady Gaga's performance actually was "art."
just sayin’.
