Professor J's Place

I was feeling blue after meeting with a student this morning. "Sally* dear, when there are no words in the essay written by you, it is called plagiarism." But then this got sent around. I want to take this class. I would especially enjoy week one, "Reading is Stoopid," because reading essays is stoopid. But it beats digging ditches for a living (as my friend Pat likes to say).

If you're expecting insightful posts, you're out of luck!

Tanith, Susan, and I went for a walk today. I took seventy-one pictures, but I'm only going to share a few--for now. The smell of cedar was overpowering. Not only were there many cedar trees in the park, but the park workers were spreading fresh cedar mulch over all of the paths. The moth on these flowers would not open her wings--no matter how much I begged. More sweet little flowers. And here's a little guy who is fertilizing all those sweet little flowers.

Bess has been having the time of her life lately. Tanith and Wren have been visiting, and, while she loves them both, Tanith is Bess' BFF. Indeed, I am going to have to double check to make sure Bess is in the yard when Tanith drives off for Big Bend and points beyond. I wouldn't put it past either one of them to pull a fast one on me.

My mother died in February of 2004. I got a full time job at my alma mater shortly after that, and I know how much she would have enjoyed being a part of that transition. One day, I was walking on campus and I came across a beautiful sight at one of the streams. I thought, "Oh, Mom would love this. I have to come back with my camera and take a picture so she can see it." I knew right away how crazy that sounded. Indeed, I refrained from going back with a camera (something I'll always regret). But that was the beginning of a thought pattern that has become familiar to me. And shortly after that, I began to take pictures for Mamma. This is actually a picture I took for her while she was alive. She loved West Texas and Big Bend national park in particular, and I knew this scene would thrill her. I guess I've been doing this all of my life--taking pictures of things that make me think of her--documenting my journeys for her. Mamma always wanted to travel in the Southwest-...

I heart Vermont . And this time it WASN'T "activist judges;" it was the legislature! Yea Vermont!

Okay. I love the photo I have for my new header--it's a statue on the grounds of the McNay Art Institute. Unfortunately, it's a lie. I am not feeling at all spiritual and centered these days. Let's just think of it as a positive affirmation, shall we? I am calm. I am centered. I am in touch with my divine nature. Please send chocolate.

Today was Family Day at my favorite museum! Believe me, there was a great deal of beautiful art. We didn't see it all, but we left with our minds and our hearts full. But I'm not going to post any art because. . . In addition to the art, there was fun! And there was the making of art! And then, of course, there was the obligatory posing. And then we were off to Susan's reception. But I'll have to post about that another time; it's late, and I have to be at work early. Night, night!

I took this photo last Saturday at Enchanted Rock, but it fits my mood today. This Christmas I bought a nice camera for myself--I decided I really wanted to explore the artistic side of my nature, and I thought a camera was a good place to start. I've really enjoyed playing with it.

I heart Iowa .

Years ago, when I worked at a long term care facility for the mentally ill, I had a patient who had severe bipolar disorder. Lorraine was sometimes severely depressed--sitting in a dark room peeling the paint off the wall--sometimes violently paranoid--restrained in a chair or a bed with locked leather restraints--and sometimes thoroughly delightful. I loved Lorraine. There was a time in Lorraine's cycle when she was just entering mania, when she was funny and sweet and sharp. I would get off the elevator at 11pm, and Lorraine would be sitting in the nurses station with her nightgown hitched up like a short skirt, her long legs crossed at the knee, and a cigarette dangling from her fingers like a wild, liquored up Lauren Bacall. "There she is!" She'd shout, "My little girl! My little darling!" And then an aside in a lower voice, "She's queer for dogs, you know." I am, you know. I know it seems silly to non-dog lovers, but dogs fill a primal ...

The topic for the month is growth. I think it's an appropriate one for me, so I think I'm going to try NaBloPoMo this month. My friends Tanith and Wren are visiting. It has been lots of fun--we've been eating a great deal and doing all of the fun tourist activities. Our visit to the missions and the riverwalk are in the slide viewer on your left (should you want to see our lovely missions). Sunday, Tanith and I went to Enchanted Rock state natural area. If you enlarge this photo you will see some dots on the top of the rock. That's people. Anyway, Sunday was absolutely gorgeous. Tanith went on ahead because my knees were sore and I didn't feel up to climbing the rock. So I stayed on the lower trails and took lots of photos. It was really good for me to be outside and in the fresh air. I am most whole when I am walking in the woods or by a river or on a big rock. The only thing that would have made the day better is my binoculars. I find that the camera does not ...