Chocolate Cloud Groove

Another week under our belts. We just got assigned some more classes (ugh, night classes!) and were observed on Monday. I made a mean potato soup and Emily got all her hair chopped off. Emily has started to try to play guitar and is doing very well. She already knows 7 or 8 chords and can play through "Ripple" by Grateful Dead. It gives both of us something to do. I have been really slack lately, kind of in a rut. I am ready to come home and it just seems hard to invest in too much here. I plan on getting a little more motivated, maybe practicing guitar more and doing some exercises. Most of the time when I am not teaching or getting food, I just chill on the computer listening to music and reading comics or veg out with the kindle and my headphones. Lately I've read some pretty great books. I found a cool list of Nebula award winners and have been working my way haphazardly through it. Some I have read before or heard of but some are complete unknowns. I really enjoyed _The Speed of Dark_ by Elizabeth Moon and had only read some of her short stories in Asimov's or F&SF. I've done so much reading that I have been feeling a little inspired to try writing some, but we'll see how that goes. That's it for now!

Drag

VPN hasn't been working much so I have been incommunicado from here and facebook for a while. I can't honestly say I missed facebook that much, but I did miss adding to my book list on here. Classes are continuing to toodle along. Emily and I were both assigned an extra class this week, hopefully that will be all we have for the semester. It is a class with only 2 students, which is a far cry from the normal 40-45 we usually have in a class. We are just trying to keep busy and warm. Our hearts go out to everyone in Japan right now.

Cool

The first week of classes have ended and it all seems to be going pretty well. I am trying to be much better organized this semester, which is hard for me (as anyone who knows me will understand). I was really worried about my movie class but the kids seemed into it. Although I was worried I didn't have enough material in my first day notes, I only managed to get through half of them.

Here is a cool link for a parody of Goodnight Moon, based on Dune that is really awesome.
I sent it to Mitch and I think he may be the only person who knows me who would enjoy it. Also check out this cool article, that helps to give me some nice thoughts about raising children of my own.

Emily and I are planning on having some Indian food tomorrow and working on writing out teaching plans. Not much else going on!
J