Swinging from the chandelier; it seemed like such fun when I was a kid. I’d watch it in swashbuckling and swordfighting scenes–Gene Kelly’s performance in Singin’ in the Rain or in The Three Musketeers. Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, or Captain Blood. Any number of films. What those films don’t show is how easy it is to…… Continue reading Chandelier
Photo filters that say any of the following: “Vote Trump don’t be a chump.” “Voting republican.” Praising Jesus. Swipe. Left. Providing no bio info, thinking that your nice abs Will suffice. This says something about the type of woman you want; I can assure you that I am not she. Opening with “no,…… Continue reading “Things that make me swipe left”
I’ve started going to an open mic night, here in the city. A friend of mine encouraged me to go, so I did. The open mic takes place at a quirky little pizza place/bar that serves stellar pizza and boasts a decent beer list. So I went, to hear my friend read. She wanted me…… Continue reading Bad Poetry Ahead
A student came to me yesterday, to ask for feedback on her essay before submitting it. She told me she never realized how important her literacy was for her, in coping with her life, until she wrote about it. And she got tears in her eyes. This is why personal narratives are important for our…… Continue reading Holistic Writing
I’m revisiting Jodi Byrd’s book The Transit of Empire right now, as I work on revising my dissertation. There’s some disagreement between my advisor and myself about my use of her theories, in part because I didn’t incorporate her as effectively or as precisely as I like, and in part because he finds my harsh criticisms…… Continue reading Racialization and Indigeneity
I finally completed a rough, rough draft of my dissertation. I wanted to feel more excited about this, more elated, more relieved. Instead, I just feel disappointed by just how incomplete, how rough this draft is. It could be so much more than it is. I could have worked on it so much more. I…… Continue reading post-dissertation-draft blues
Today, everything about my life seems trivial. You would think that, with all the acts of mass violence that take place daily in the United States and around the world that I could be numb to it by now, but I’m not. I went out with friends last night, and woke this morning to news…… Continue reading Orlando
I have so much in my mind right now, I’m having difficulty pinpointing it and deciding what to write here, for this blog. The semester is over, and has been for a while. I’m working on my dissertation. I just had my first experience at the Rhetoric Society of America Biennial conference, this year hosted…… Continue reading ruminating
“Excuse me, ma’am…” His words drift softly to me. I just dropped my backpack in my passenger seat and now a man is approaching me. “I’m not going to hurt you” he says, as if he could sense my urge to be on the driver’s side, so I could put the car door between me and…… Continue reading “Don’t be mad”
From the privileged, uttered to the suffering: a favorite phrase.
