I saw them as soon as I pulled into the Walmart parking lot. The couple in the faded red sedan, about three spots over. She was stroking his face, pulling him in for a deep kiss. Their bodies pressed against the middle console. I walked past, crabby toddler in tow, and headed for the Lawn and Garden entrance. … [Read more…]
Tim hung by the door as I walked up, a few minutes late to class. His pink hair, black eye liner, and neon tank presented a contrast to the individual I’d met the previous semester. Then, he’d worn his Appleby’s uniform as often as his beloved purple hoodie. Often unkempt, his blond shaggy bangs obscured his eyes as … [Read more…]
I don’t like not knowing how to do things. You could say I’m a control freak, especially when it comes to creative endeavors. So, after saying good riddance to my dissertation in May – becoming a bonafide PhD – I switched gears completely and threw myself into learning HTML/CSS and the basics of CMSs. Some backstory: … [Read more…]
Came across this today while reading. It reminds me of why I read, why I’ve devoted my life to literature in one way or another. Enjoy! There is no single way to read well, though there is a prime reason why we should read. Information is endlessly available to us; where shall wisdom be found? … [Read more…]
I profiled my Grandpa K in an earlier post, and I’m sad to say he finally lost his battle with lung cancer two nights ago. He’d lived longer with it than anyone expected, only succumbing after nixing more rounds of chemo. Tomorrow, my family and I make the long drive from east Tennessee to central … [Read more…]
When Hubs and I moved to Jackson, MS, in 2006, all I could think about was getting back to Knoxville. I missed the mountains and the good beer. I missed my family and friends. I wasn’t prepared for the deep-south, Southern Baptist conservatism of Jackson, and I was terribly lonely. I’m not much of a … [Read more…]
My ex-brother-in-law is a poisonous person. He’s an E.N.T. and plastic surgeon. Think of every surgeon stereotype… That’s right, he’s all of them. Cheated on ex-wife (my sister) with a nurse. Check. Treats supposed underlings with utter disrespect. Check. Obsessed with amassing material wealth. Check. Has a complete disregard for anything or anyone involved in supposedly non-prestigious pursuits. … [Read more…]
Just because…
I’ve been in college now for fourteen years. FOURTEEN YEARS! This life phase has fully entered its teens, all sass and rebellion. I’ve been actively writing my dissertation for over three years, in the meantime spawning a tiny human, moving states, and teaching part time. I have to make some minor dissertation revisions, but otherwise my time as … [Read more…]
My soundtrack for grading final exams this semester has been Elephant Revival’s These Changing Skies. The band’s music, with “elements of gypsy, rock, Celtic, alt-country and folk,” reminds me a lot of Andrew Bird, with a dash of Nickel Creek thrown in. Even better, the band promotes various social and environmental causes – good work to accompany amazing music! … [Read more…]