I start teaching tomorrow. It's only the initial round of introductions and making sure everyone's got their text books and will be all ready to discuss what literature is next week, but -- and this is a bit of a biggun -- I've got 51 students for this one class. Granted they're divided into two seminar groups, but sweet crikey, that's a lot of students looking at me to occupy the Big Brainy Seat of Authority.
The latest issue of the London Review of Books contains a heavy dose of Jonathan Raban's thoughts on Sarah Palin. Any concerns I had over Palin's appointment as running mate or how frighteningly accurate SNL has pegged her grasp on foreign policy, current financial realities or the prevalence of environmental issues seemed to magnify within the first three paragraphs.
I'd begun to habour vague hopes that McCain's strategy in bringing Palin on-board was because he secretly wants Obama to win and that allying himself with someone who is so clearly out of her depth was his way of saying to voters, 'Seriously, if you vote us in again, I'm dumping you with this and it'll be your own stupid fault.' I really wanted to be right about that.
Lastly, sorry I was such a mopey Mildred in the last post. There was a Lit Dept function the night before and they always leave me convinced I've made a total arse of myself, which sort of unnecessarily infects everything else I touch for the next day or so. As no one is less interested in pandering to my neuroses than I am, I've already given myself a stern talking to over that one. So, expect more of the cheery prose and pretty pictures to decorate these pages henceforth.
Hope it all goes well; I'm sure you'll be fab!
Posted by: Laura | October 03, 2008 at 08:30 AM