PEEYAY

Hello from Pennsylvania --> P.A. --> Peeyay.

We're spending Christmas with the fam, which means I have two words for you: (1) sweat (2) pants.

We were up before 4:00 a.m. to catch one of the earliest flights out of Denver. Dozing with my contacts in - the first day I've worn contacts since, like, November - was perhaps not the best idea, but whatever.

Home made bread sticks (served with home made pasta) for dinner.

Who needs mints on your pillow? Holiday chex mix is way better.

I plan to spend hours sitting in this room with coffee and a book.

 

Just as soon as I test out the latest batch of cookies.

Like I said: sweatpants.

Nothing Says Happy Holidays Like a Good Spy Story

This past semester, I crossed the threshold into "officially too busy." I have a list of changes I'm making in the future but even with substantial changes, it's kind of a given that I won't be able to read for fun - other than once a month for Lit Society - during the semester. Between teaching and being a student and working full time, it's just not possible.

Which is why I chain-read during breaks. It may seem like work, going through this many books...? But, to me, it's relaxing. And it makes me feel somewhat connected to the modern book world (rather than the pre-Civil-War American book world or the 1920's British book world).

If you're looking for a true spy story, read this:

A Secret Life by Benjamin Weiser

The full title is, A Secret Life: The Polish Officer, His Covert Mission, and the Price He Paid to Save His Country. It's the true story of a Polish officer named alskdjfoeiurowueir (all the Polish words look like that to me, sorry) who contacted the American Embassy in Poland during the Cold War and asked them to help his country. For the next 10 years he risked his life to turn over massive amounts of classified information pertaining to the Warsaw Pact, Russia's military capability and plans at the time, and the Solidarity mission in Poland.

I know this looks like a G book (not a B book) but it's really good! It's driving me bonkers because I have no recollection of how I came across it, why I even have it. This is not the type of book I would just pick up, which means that it was recommended to me by someone I really trust...and I can't remember a thing. Was it from a former job? Did The Russkie recommend it? Did I pick it up on our travels somewhere? No idea.

But! There are some classic trade craft lessons in the book. It is fascinating to see how the (semi-new) CIA operated in the late 1970's and 1980's. For example, during one of their drops with Colonel Psduadklajglkdjflaksjd the agents turned the corner and saw him, in full military uniform, standing next to the road and waving at them! Haaaaaaa! The book talks about how American agents learned to operate their missions under complete surveillance from the enemy, and goes into some detail about how advanced our miniature electronics were, even that long ago. I'm sure we secretly run the world now, if we were that advanced back then. They can probably read our minds.

It's very easy - and perhaps justifiable - to get cynical about secret ops these days. The most impressive thing about this book is how very personal and friendly and kind the CIA's relationship was with the Colonel. Yes, he was giving them vital info. But he approached them. He pushed a relationship with them - not for money or fame or personal safety, but in an effort to save his homeland. Over the course of many years, the CIA pleaded with him to take 6 months off, to walk away for a while, for his psychological health and for his personal well-being.

His handler in the U.S., Daniel, wrote him personal letters. They wrote back and forth about their families and memories and ideological beliefs. They were pen pals, for lack of a better word! Just as much attention was given to the personal side of things as the professional side. I wonder if the covert world is still like that today? When we hear on the news about hundreds of Afghans who risked their lives to help the American military - with the promise that we would take them in - and they are still, a decade later, in hiding, waiting on bureaucratic red tape in Washington...? On the other hand, I'm listening to the latest Serial podcasts about how, when Bo Bergdahl went "missing," soldiers from all branches of the military spent months trying to track him down. Missions were cancelled. We pulled out all the stops. For one guy.

One question that was continually raised throughout the book was, What is Poland? In the face of a nuclear war, and Soviet invasion, and civil unrest, what is a country, really? Likewise, we could ask What is America? This book is a shining light of our very best qualities, the stuff that makes people flock to our borders.

It's a slow read, but a good one, and a true one! I recommend it.

Merry Christmas to Meeeeeeee

G and I opened our presents a bit early because we have crazy family time and weird schedules coming up.

All I'm saying is: Merry Christmas to meeeeeeeeee, people!

I stayed up crazy late last night (like, midnight! This is unheard of for me.) trying to make a dent in my current book but it's slow-going. Very, very good. Just slow-going.

What's that? I have nothing to do today except eat The Precious and read? Sounds like a plan. If you need me, I'll be camped out in front of the Christmas tree with my coffee.

If It Happens Before 9:00 A.M. Forget It

Remember how I said it takes me a good week or so to "calm down" and settle into vacation mode?

Consider me settled.

All I do is read, lay around, snark at Lucy, read some more, and nap. There have been errands and a bit of Christmas wrapping-up (pun!), but really? I'm on the bullet train to Lazy Town.

I met Nat King Cole yesterday to get some of The Precious (pecan shortbread cookies that are just beyond). Because she had like, work meetings and crap, she wanted to meet at 8:45. I was like, ummmm, technically I'm still in bed at that time but I'll do whatever I need to do because we wants the precious.

The Precious

I've moved beyond the mystery novels to books that take me longer to read, so no book reviews for a bit.

In case you're wondering, I've heard more about the new Star Wars movie than I care to hear about. I've gotten it from all sides. G went to see it on opening night - the first showing, actually - and so did The Russkie, and my bro/sis.

I'm surrounded by nerds. Please help me. You're my only hope. (<--get it?)

We share DNA? Really?

In other news, some bunny isn't so bah humbug these days. She occasionally lets us love on her! We even kiss her on the nose!

I know it looks like he's holding her down. He's not. She would never go for that. He's just loving the back of her ears.

 

Look at her fur on that pillow. We vacuum a lot.

That's all I got. I go no where. I do nothing. And it's wonderful.

Pretty Pictures for a Frantic Mind

I finished posting the last of my grades this morning.

I'm officially done for the semester.

I know this, intellectually, but it hasn't caught up with me emotionally yet. I have stress dreams. I wake up for hours in the middle of the night. There's no work to do (yay) but my mind doesn't know how to calm down yet (no yay), so I'm in this weird middle space. It is a space of fidgeting around, binge watching TV, and chain reading mystery novels. It is a space of trying not to eat (and subsequently undo 16 pounds of weight loss) just to be doing something.

I was going to finish up (read: start) my Christmas shopping today but the roads are still too bad, surprisingly. I was stuck in traffic for two hours just trying to get to a quick appointment, and that did me in for the day.

So, to counter the Type A Frantic-ness and general Bah Humbug spirit, here are some holiday photos of late. I heart this season.

Plans for tonight: Finishing yet another book and watching re-runs of Homeland in the hope of calming down enough and accepting the break for what it is. A BREAK.

Tis the Season (for highs and lows) + Books

The last few days of the semester are a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Many things escalate (writing papers!) then suddenly drop off over the horizon altogether (finishing papers! Not teaching classes! Not working!). I always think it will take me a day or two to adjust, then I remember it actually takes me closer to a week.

I have a very hard time switching gears from frantically busy to reasonably un-busy. So, I chain read in between grading; remind myself how to clean the house; binge watch TV shows and the Bravo channel, etc.

I finished all my side job grading for the semester, and have posted grades for one of my classes. My goal for today is to finish grading my other class. I'll post their grades tomorrow and then I'll really be done. I'll give myself a good 48 hours before I start revamping the syllabus for next semester. **sigh**

I had some work peeps over to the house Sunday night and it was super festive and relaxing. I've been getting some end-of-the-semester emails and thank-you's from students, saying how much they enjoyed the class, and my teaching, and my enthusiasm. I was floating on Cloud 9 yesterday when I got my VW final paper score back, and let's just say it was crushingly disappointing. It was an A, but it was a much-lower-than-I-expected A and I was clawing the ceiling for a while in anguish and despair.

It totally cancelled out all those kudos from students.

But I'm over it now. I have the independent study to look forward to...

Lucy hates festivity. So much.

I have, though, been reading like it's my job. I love, love, love being able to get lost in a book and not have to, like, remember things or write about themes or use a pen while reading.

Two book recommendations:

So, as I said, I'm on a mystery kick right now because reading fast-paced books helps me transition from crazy-busy to holiday-break-leisurely pace.

I highly recommend this one:

Kingdom of Strangers by Zoe Ferraris

This was my first book by Ferraris, but I will read her other ones (I believe she's published at least two more). Kingdom of Strangers is a (fictitious) mystery about a serial killer in modern day Saudi Arabia. Not only is the plot engaging and multi-faceted, but Ferraris includes a lot of cultural issues such as religion interfering with forensics work, gender separation and prejudice, etc. She's a good story teller, a good writer, and a good cultural informant, so to speak.

Caught by Harlan Coben

And I'm on a roll with Harlan Coben, or as I now refer to him in texts to The Russkie, "HC," pronounced, H-Seeeeeeee. Caught starts with an upstanding social worker who gets exposed as a pedophile. Of course he denies it, and as the story unfolds, a deep and wide conspiracy seems to be at play. Dun Dun DUNNNNNNNNN. I have to say, Coben keeps you guessing until THE END, people. I'm starting one of his other books today.

Here's hoping I do better on my American Lit paper. If you don't hear from me for a few days, someone come get me down from the ceiling.

Let the Fun (Reading) Begin

While it is true (oh, so true) that I spend hours a day grading, this new schedule feels downright leisurely. I run errands. I take breaks. I take naps. I turn up the Christmas music in the living room and dance around while Lucy scowls. I prepared our Christmas cards. I made chicken chili. I've watched a couple of movies and read a couple of books (more on that in a minute).

It's lovely.

Yesterday I took a break and bonded with The Russkie and my nephews (her adorbs cats). I bought her a souvenir from the MinuteMan Missile Silo in South Dakota and couldn't wait to give it to her. She loves being called out on the Cold War. It's super fun for her.

Anyhoo we had a fun (foodie) time:

Caesar Salad with seared ahi? Um, YES.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cream ice cream? YES.

Other than our food excursions we hung out at her place and caught up and then exchanged piles of books. We are on this continual cycle of borrowing/returning/borrowing and it is marvelous.

Plus, I got to cuddle with this baby! GAWWWWWW look at these pics! If Lucyfer cuddled with me like this, I would never leave the house! I would eat bon bons on the couch all day and watch the Bravo channel and just love away.

Then I went home to this.

But! I've been able to read some books for fun!

The first was for our latest Lit Society a couple of weeks ago and this is legit literature and it's lyrical and beautiful and it's definitely worth the read:

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

The Hours was Virginia Woolf's original title for her novel, Mrs. Dalloway. I'm not sure why she decided to change it. Anyway, this book is a modern slash post-modern retelling of Mrs. Dalloway in the lives of three separate women: Virginia Woolf herself in the 1940's; a 1950's American housewife in Los Angeles; and a modern-day lesbian New York socialite with famous friends.

It is clear that Cunningham studied many of Woolf's works - not just Mrs. Dalloway - in addition to her essays and her biographies. His descriptions and wording and phrases and insight are spectacular, and, as we discussed, rather ballsy. :) But if you're in the mood for literature, pick this! Full disclosure: it will make more sense if you have read VW's Mrs. Dalloway.

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

Switching to books that are not literature but are highly entertaining and well-done: Harlan Coben's Hold Tight. I've been in the mood for mysteries: stories that, you know, have a plot. Oh, how I've missed the plot! And this book does the trick. It's about traditional, middle-class New Jersey parents who decide, due to a recent teenager's unexpected suicide, to put spyware on their son's computer. Things spin out of control and about 75 different story lines culminate in the end. So good!

This was a recommendation from The Russkie, and I borrowed two more of his books from her yesterday. His books would be great for plane rides/beach/vacay.

Aaaaaaaand. Back to grading. These pesky students with their pesky college goals.