Take Two

I've moved to blogspot because apparently, you can't comment on myspace unless you're a member and the whole point is to have a conversation with people, so open commenting is a must. I'll keep the myspace, but it won't be updated as often as this one.

Brian doesn't understand the title of the blog. I think it's self-evident - given who 's writing it- but I had to explain the red diaper baby bit. I guess mine was really more of pink, but my kids' definitely had redder ones. There are worse things to be than a bleeding heart liberal, I suppose.

Yesterday was the regional History Day fair and I am still exhausted. It was held at the Redbirds' stadium, which is a phenomenal facility. The Redbirds operate as a non-profit and are incredibly generous with the time of their staff and their resources. The arbitrary renumbering of all the entires without notifying us and the subsequent hour and a half delay in judging is really a small price to pay for such a cool venue and support. We even made the paper, which is great. Now, if we can get some funding . . .

My brother Joshua took two of his four written PhD comps this week. His loverly wife, Teresa, also took her master's comps. They are better students than me. Taking comps with a 3 month old? YIKES! Oh - look at this photo. Teresa took it. I think it is incredibly beautiful. I'm going to get it professionally printed and framed. Maybe give copies to my parents as well.

So - I have about 6 weeks until comps. I'm guessing I'll scrape by in American, but crash and burn in Latin American. I do get to retake Lat Am after I fail, but it's going to be humiliating to face everyone. If they only wouldn't focus on historiography so heavily - being able to regurgitate lists of books, IMHO, is not as important as UNDERSTANDING what the books are saying. But, the hoops are set and I must jump. Sick thing is - I did this to myself. I swear - that Catholic upbringing really left a masochistic streak in me.

Oh - I actually read a book for fun Tuesday night, Falling Angel by Greg Iles. I liked it - he had some excellent social commentary about not just Natchez, but so many Southern communities. Not quite as good as Quiet Game, but worth the time, I think. I'm sure I have friends that think it's too pedestrian, too bourgeoise, but sometimes I think those friends are pretentious [insert a five letter word beginning with p that also means "to pierce slightly with a sharp point"]s sometimes. You will know who you are when you read this - don't get all righteously indignant. No harm meant. Tough love, baby, tough love.

I wish Memphis had a decent radio station. (told you this was random firings) I'm listening to XM radio on DirecTV - there's a station called Fred that's really cool. In the last little bit, they've played Stone Roses, The Pixies, the Boomtown Rats, and this sounds like maybe non-icky Joe Jackson. Yep. It is. There is WEVL, but it is so eclectic that you can't just turn it on and KNOW you'll hear something you'll like.

OK - enough blather. I need to edumacate myself about the Early Republic.