Keep sweeping,
Martha
5.21.2015
summer sickness
I've been struggling with a virus this week and ended up at the Minute Clinic getting treated for pink eye. Yuck. So here's something to make me smile, courtesy of Cherry Bombe.
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Keep sweeping,
Martha
5.03.2015
a grain of sand
We got a sandbox this weekend, and it is already changing my life. Boy Beeton played happily while I read Roiphe. Today, he and our neighborhood friend S played while S's mom and I enjoyed a glass of wine. Cheers to a summer of this!
Keep sweeping,
Martha
4.29.2015
a wonderfully messy life
I've been reading Katie Roiphe's book In Praise of Messy Lives. I know I'm not supposed to "like" Roiphe, but I love the title of her book. And, since my own life - of late - has felt incredibly messy, I thought it might be comforting to read the words of someone who not only has a messy life but goes so far as to praise it.
The book, which is a collection of previously titled essays, was inspired by an article that Roiphe wrote for The New York Times on Mad Men. It's an interesting read about the phenomenon that is the AMC series, about Roiphe's mother, and about the pursuit of happiness. In reading it, I was struck by the closing passage:
In the 17th century, the metaphysical poet Andrew Marvell wrote, "But at my back I always hear/ Time's winged chariot hurrying near." He also wrote: "The grave's a fine and private place,/ But none, I think, do there embrace." Mad Men seems to be telling us the same thing, in its own stylish, made-for-television way: we are bequeathed on earth one very short life, and it might be good, one of these days, to make sure that we are living it.
Could we use, in other words, in these fine healthy times, just a little of the madness?
My grandmother died this past week. She was 94 years old, and this summer would have been her 71st wedding anniversary to my grandfather. The next day I had to go to New York City for a conference. Before we left, my colleagues/friends and I stopped to take a picture of ourselves at the Don Draper bench near the Time Life building. When I got home, I walked up the stairs, past this fabulous photo of my grandparents, read this chapter in Roiphe's book, and went to sleep.
To me, that's more than a little madness.
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Finished reading Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill.
The book, which is a collection of previously titled essays, was inspired by an article that Roiphe wrote for The New York Times on Mad Men. It's an interesting read about the phenomenon that is the AMC series, about Roiphe's mother, and about the pursuit of happiness. In reading it, I was struck by the closing passage:
In the 17th century, the metaphysical poet Andrew Marvell wrote, "But at my back I always hear/ Time's winged chariot hurrying near." He also wrote: "The grave's a fine and private place,/ But none, I think, do there embrace." Mad Men seems to be telling us the same thing, in its own stylish, made-for-television way: we are bequeathed on earth one very short life, and it might be good, one of these days, to make sure that we are living it.
Could we use, in other words, in these fine healthy times, just a little of the madness?
My grandmother died this past week. She was 94 years old, and this summer would have been her 71st wedding anniversary to my grandfather. The next day I had to go to New York City for a conference. Before we left, my colleagues/friends and I stopped to take a picture of ourselves at the Don Draper bench near the Time Life building. When I got home, I walked up the stairs, past this fabulous photo of my grandparents, read this chapter in Roiphe's book, and went to sleep.
To me, that's more than a little madness.
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Finished reading Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill.
4.19.2015
five minutes more
Five more minutes of fame...
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Finished reading The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters and watched Obvious Child.
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Finished reading The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters and watched Obvious Child.
3.29.2015
my five minutes
A student of mine made this little video for a class that she is taking on digital media. I thought I'd share it in case anyone is interested in learning more about my scholarship (or seeing my office).
Keep sweeping, Martha
3.28.2015
warm woolen mittens
March has never been the easiest month around here. And this winter has been particularly hard. We've been slogging through, overwhelmed by ridiculous administrative work, preschool decisions, job interviews, and defense scheduling.
It's times like these that you need to focus on the simple things and breathe.
It's times like these that you need to focus on the simple things and breathe.
Sewing draft blockers
Roasting vegetables
Eating lots of "jolly soup" (i.e. homemade vegetable soup)
Newspaper wrapping
Coloring
Heavy whipping cream in coffee (accidentally)
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Watching The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
2.08.2015
longest/shortest
I don't want this video to be a metaphor for parenting, but I think it might be.
Today was almost spring-like. We spent it baking Valentine cookies and practicing riding our tricycle.
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Read Superfudge by Judy Blume and The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer. Watched Disney's Peter Pan and Lost In Translation (again).
Today was almost spring-like. We spent it baking Valentine cookies and practicing riding our tricycle.
Keep sweeping,
Martha
Read Superfudge by Judy Blume and The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer. Watched Disney's Peter Pan and Lost In Translation (again).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
