Pet peeve - when people use "myself" incorrectly. This problem is especially common among beauty pageant contestants, and it must be stopped! Here's a short lesson on how to use the word correctly.
Example: Dave and myself won the race. NOOOOO! The correct word to use in this instance is "I." Dave and I won the race.
Here's another example: The race was rigged against Dave and myself. NOOOOO! The correct word to use here is "me." The race was rigged against Dave and me.
But, Laura, when CAN you use "myself"? Answer: When the subject of your sentence is "I." For example, I rigged the race against myself. or I won the race myself.
You can also use it for emphasis: I myself also believe the race was rigged. Although this use is redundant, it is not incorrect.
There. Anyone who reads this blog should expect ridicule (and judgment) from me if they use this word wrong.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
A Bad Day
I am feeling so overwhelmed by everything right now. I've felt sick all week. I am in the middle of my PhD applications which is completely intimidating. Last year's fiasco has me very scared, and despite all of the precautions I'm taking, I just know something is going to get screwed up. My thesis isn't done, and as my husband reminded me, I was supposed to have it written by Thanksgiving. The new goal is Christmas, and I'm starting to doubt that will even happen. I am feeling very down on myself and my ability to accomplish the goals I have set for myself. I am feeling very alone. I am feeling like a failure, although I haven't technically failed at anything yet. I have disappointed myself this year by my lack of accomplishment. And, I guess, in turn, I feel like I've disappointed others. Ugh. It's a bad day today.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
I'm in Love with Norris Lacy
He's a French professor at Penn State. I want to study with him. I wrote him an e-mail this week:
Hi, Dr. Lacy,
My name is Laura Clark, and I am currently studying Malory with Dr. Bonnie Wheeler at Southern Methodist University in Texas. I expect to receive my Master’s degree in May of 2008, and I am considering applying to Penn State for the PhD program in English. I am an admirer of your work on the French Arthurian legends, and while I am most interested in the British versions of Arthurian texts, I would love the opportunity to study with you at PSU. Are there any interdepartmental or interdisciplinary options that would allow me to benefit from your expertise, yet maintain my focus on the British Arthurian texts?
Thanks, Laura Clark
He actually replied at length and was really helpful:
Hello, and thank you for writing. I'm happy to know of your Arthurian interest. My answer to your question is however a bit complicated. There are no "official" programmatic options that would permit you to do what you mention. However, the medievalists in English and Comparative Literature--primarily Caroline Eckhardt, whose work on Arthurian texts you no doubt know, and Robert Edwards (who is mainly a Chaucerian)--routinely advise their students to take one or more courses in French. And if/when I have students from English and Comp Lit whose oral French is not up to discussions in that language, I conduct the courses in English--but with most readings done in Modern French. (This semester, I'm accommodating an English graduate student whose reading knowledge of French is improving rapidly but was somewhat deficient at first: she began by working with English translations alongside the French texts and has now "graduated" to reading in Modern French with relative ease. We also spend a short time looking at Old French texts, but I rarely have the luxury of adopting textbooks entirely in Old French.)
There is another part of the answer to your question. I am relatively close to retirement, and although I have no solid plans yet, I suspect that I will teach for only two more years after the current year. If you entered the doctoral program here next fall, you'd certainly have time to take one or perhaps even two courses with me, but I'd probably not be around to serve on your dissertation committee (which I have regularly done for many students in English). I don't see the committee problem as serious, and I'd happily teach Arthurian literature during the semester(s) you were able to take my courses.I hope that explanation is clear and helpful. If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to write.
Best wishes, Norris Lacy
I think he loves me back.
Hi, Dr. Lacy,
My name is Laura Clark, and I am currently studying Malory with Dr. Bonnie Wheeler at Southern Methodist University in Texas. I expect to receive my Master’s degree in May of 2008, and I am considering applying to Penn State for the PhD program in English. I am an admirer of your work on the French Arthurian legends, and while I am most interested in the British versions of Arthurian texts, I would love the opportunity to study with you at PSU. Are there any interdepartmental or interdisciplinary options that would allow me to benefit from your expertise, yet maintain my focus on the British Arthurian texts?
Thanks, Laura Clark
He actually replied at length and was really helpful:
Hello, and thank you for writing. I'm happy to know of your Arthurian interest. My answer to your question is however a bit complicated. There are no "official" programmatic options that would permit you to do what you mention. However, the medievalists in English and Comparative Literature--primarily Caroline Eckhardt, whose work on Arthurian texts you no doubt know, and Robert Edwards (who is mainly a Chaucerian)--routinely advise their students to take one or more courses in French. And if/when I have students from English and Comp Lit whose oral French is not up to discussions in that language, I conduct the courses in English--but with most readings done in Modern French. (This semester, I'm accommodating an English graduate student whose reading knowledge of French is improving rapidly but was somewhat deficient at first: she began by working with English translations alongside the French texts and has now "graduated" to reading in Modern French with relative ease. We also spend a short time looking at Old French texts, but I rarely have the luxury of adopting textbooks entirely in Old French.)
There is another part of the answer to your question. I am relatively close to retirement, and although I have no solid plans yet, I suspect that I will teach for only two more years after the current year. If you entered the doctoral program here next fall, you'd certainly have time to take one or perhaps even two courses with me, but I'd probably not be around to serve on your dissertation committee (which I have regularly done for many students in English). I don't see the committee problem as serious, and I'd happily teach Arthurian literature during the semester(s) you were able to take my courses.I hope that explanation is clear and helpful. If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to write.
Best wishes, Norris Lacy
I think he loves me back.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Christmas Is Coming
We put up our Christmas tree yesterday. I love it. We always just do a 3/4 tree and push it up against the wall because it's too big for our apartment.
I think it goes well with the French whore poster on the wall.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Another Antarctic Cruise
This one is shorter than the other one, and it's only $300 dollars less which makes me think the other one is a better deal. But, whatever, I'm totally going to Antarctica someday. At prices like these, I can't afford NOT to go!
South America & Antarctica
Travel dates: Dec. 28
Book an 8-night cruise of South America and Antarctica over New Year's Eve for just $1499 per person, including all taxes and government fees. Other cruises that include Antarctica are currently a whopping $5000 and up (per person), making this deal a slam dunk!
When you depart on Dec. 28, it will be summer below the Equator, making it an ideal time to visit. You'll ring in the New Year from Orient Lines' intimate, 800-passenger Marco Polo.
The ship sails roundtrip from Ushuaia, Argentina to:
Drake Passage
Deception & Cuverville Islands
Lemaire Channel/Port Lockroy, Antarctica (Jougla Point)
Paradise Harbor, Antarctica
Half Moon Island, Antarctica
Cape Horn
If you can't make it over New Year's, sail on other dates in January for just $300 more per person. When you are ready to book, call CruiseDeals.com at 1-800-668-6414 and mention Travelzoo. You must book by Nov. 26.
South America & Antarctica
Travel dates: Dec. 28
Book an 8-night cruise of South America and Antarctica over New Year's Eve for just $1499 per person, including all taxes and government fees. Other cruises that include Antarctica are currently a whopping $5000 and up (per person), making this deal a slam dunk!
When you depart on Dec. 28, it will be summer below the Equator, making it an ideal time to visit. You'll ring in the New Year from Orient Lines' intimate, 800-passenger Marco Polo.
The ship sails roundtrip from Ushuaia, Argentina to:
Drake Passage
Deception & Cuverville Islands
Lemaire Channel/Port Lockroy, Antarctica (Jougla Point)
Paradise Harbor, Antarctica
Half Moon Island, Antarctica
Cape Horn
If you can't make it over New Year's, sail on other dates in January for just $300 more per person. When you are ready to book, call CruiseDeals.com at 1-800-668-6414 and mention Travelzoo. You must book by Nov. 26.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Purgatory
As a Protestant, I've always rejected the idea of Purgatory. The Bible does not explicitly mention it, and I didn't even believe that it implied it until I ran across this today:
Some might say that when persons die they go either straight to hell or straight to heaven, because there is no such thing as purgatory. Do you remember that Jesus raised from the dead a 12-year old girl, his own friend Lazarus, and the son of a widow? If those three persons were already in the eternal glory of heaven, why would God bring them back to earth to suffer more and die again? On the other hand, if they were already in hell, Jesus consistently taught that being in hell is everlasting. Those three persons whom Jesus raised from the dead were neither in eternal damnation nor in eternal glory.
This homily, written in 2006 by a Benedictine monk for mass on All Souls' Day, brings up an interesting point. I have simply never thought of this argument. He has an extremely Catholic (or at least Augustinian) tendency to rely on logic to "prove" extra-biblical concepts. I don't really think he is proving anything definitively, but he's asking a fascinating question. Why WOULD Jesus recall souls from heaven?
The Sunday school answer to this is "To glorify himself." Yeah, yeah, right. However, in this case, I don't know if there is another answer. I know this thoughtful monk rejects the idea that God would be so cruel as to rip these souls from eternal bliss in order to serve his own selfish motivations, but I have to say I believe he is. After all, weren't we created for the ultimate purpose of glorifying God? Isn't that the root of our very existence? That's what I've been taught, anyway. I guess my counter-question is why WOULDN'T God use these souls to that purpose as well? It's not as if when we reach heaven our purpose is fulfilled. Why would we continue to exist purposeless? If God could grant himself more glory by bringing these souls back to earth than he could by leaving them in heaven, then he would. And I guess I believe he did. And if those souls were truly in heaven, in the presence of God, then perhaps their suffering on earth was lessened by the knowledge that God was using them for his ultimate glory. Or maybe not. Maybe God was merciful enough to erase all memories of heaven from their consciousness (unlike poor Buffy).
In any case, it's refreshing to this jaded old Christian to be challenged by new ideas. I ran across this piece while looking for passages in the Benedictine Rule on prayers for the dead, and I got completely distracted. Thanks, brother monk, for the food for thought.
Some might say that when persons die they go either straight to hell or straight to heaven, because there is no such thing as purgatory. Do you remember that Jesus raised from the dead a 12-year old girl, his own friend Lazarus, and the son of a widow? If those three persons were already in the eternal glory of heaven, why would God bring them back to earth to suffer more and die again? On the other hand, if they were already in hell, Jesus consistently taught that being in hell is everlasting. Those three persons whom Jesus raised from the dead were neither in eternal damnation nor in eternal glory.
This homily, written in 2006 by a Benedictine monk for mass on All Souls' Day, brings up an interesting point. I have simply never thought of this argument. He has an extremely Catholic (or at least Augustinian) tendency to rely on logic to "prove" extra-biblical concepts. I don't really think he is proving anything definitively, but he's asking a fascinating question. Why WOULD Jesus recall souls from heaven?
The Sunday school answer to this is "To glorify himself." Yeah, yeah, right. However, in this case, I don't know if there is another answer. I know this thoughtful monk rejects the idea that God would be so cruel as to rip these souls from eternal bliss in order to serve his own selfish motivations, but I have to say I believe he is. After all, weren't we created for the ultimate purpose of glorifying God? Isn't that the root of our very existence? That's what I've been taught, anyway. I guess my counter-question is why WOULDN'T God use these souls to that purpose as well? It's not as if when we reach heaven our purpose is fulfilled. Why would we continue to exist purposeless? If God could grant himself more glory by bringing these souls back to earth than he could by leaving them in heaven, then he would. And I guess I believe he did. And if those souls were truly in heaven, in the presence of God, then perhaps their suffering on earth was lessened by the knowledge that God was using them for his ultimate glory. Or maybe not. Maybe God was merciful enough to erase all memories of heaven from their consciousness (unlike poor Buffy).
In any case, it's refreshing to this jaded old Christian to be challenged by new ideas. I ran across this piece while looking for passages in the Benedictine Rule on prayers for the dead, and I got completely distracted. Thanks, brother monk, for the food for thought.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Career
I've had a hard time in my life following a traditional career path. I like things in phases, and I find it extremely hard to commit myself to doing one thing for 40-50 years of my life. Here's a list of jobs I used to want:
1) Veterinarian - I wanted this until I found out you have to put animals to sleep. Not for me.
2) Professional Dancer - not THAT kind of dancer. I took dance lessons for years, but we kept moving, so my training was not very consistent. My heart still aches a little every time I see a show with a dancing chorus. I never wanted to be the lead, I just wanted to participate.
3) Astronomer - I really wanted to do this until I took physics. That cured me. My heart beats faster though every time I read a news story about some satellite that has reached Neptune or wherever and starts sending back pictures. I watched that "Nova" about the robots they sent to Mars, and I actually cried like it was a cheesy Hallmark movie.
4) English professor - because I like literature. I stopped wanting this because I don't really like teaching, yet I'm right on track to fulfill this dream.
5) Wedding Planner - I still want to do this, too. I actually started to help a girl I knew who was starting her own wedding business, and I realized how much marketing goes into this. Ugh. I just want to make the schedule and tell other people how to spend their time. I would be EXCELLENT at that. Plus, you have to work weekends in this job. Boo.
6) Writer - this dream is still alive. I have a few writing projects in the works. But first, I want to get my Master's degree.
7) Editor - I got a publishing job when I got back from France, and I loved it. It just wasn't in the right field. I just started working at the SMU journal, and I loooooooove it. Yesterday, the editor plunked down the final draft of the latest issue in front of me and said, "You know what to do" (seriously - this is all the training I got), and luckily for all parties, I DID know what to do. That junk is all marked up. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one, so I can mark it up, too, and I can't WAIT to do actual copyediting. I am really good at this, and I really like to do it. Too bad I'm not getting paid.
1) Veterinarian - I wanted this until I found out you have to put animals to sleep. Not for me.
2) Professional Dancer - not THAT kind of dancer. I took dance lessons for years, but we kept moving, so my training was not very consistent. My heart still aches a little every time I see a show with a dancing chorus. I never wanted to be the lead, I just wanted to participate.
3) Astronomer - I really wanted to do this until I took physics. That cured me. My heart beats faster though every time I read a news story about some satellite that has reached Neptune or wherever and starts sending back pictures. I watched that "Nova" about the robots they sent to Mars, and I actually cried like it was a cheesy Hallmark movie.
4) English professor - because I like literature. I stopped wanting this because I don't really like teaching, yet I'm right on track to fulfill this dream.
5) Wedding Planner - I still want to do this, too. I actually started to help a girl I knew who was starting her own wedding business, and I realized how much marketing goes into this. Ugh. I just want to make the schedule and tell other people how to spend their time. I would be EXCELLENT at that. Plus, you have to work weekends in this job. Boo.
6) Writer - this dream is still alive. I have a few writing projects in the works. But first, I want to get my Master's degree.
7) Editor - I got a publishing job when I got back from France, and I loved it. It just wasn't in the right field. I just started working at the SMU journal, and I loooooooove it. Yesterday, the editor plunked down the final draft of the latest issue in front of me and said, "You know what to do" (seriously - this is all the training I got), and luckily for all parties, I DID know what to do. That junk is all marked up. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one, so I can mark it up, too, and I can't WAIT to do actual copyediting. I am really good at this, and I really like to do it. Too bad I'm not getting paid.
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