Half of the Brain :
the place all those random thoughts that flit through my head each day go to die

Waffles Waffles everywhere--
A few weeks back I saw the LadyKillers. Worth the seven bucks simply for the diner scene. If I was the type who tagged all her emails with a pithy or thoughtful or simply odd quote, then I'd end them with this sage advice:

"We must all have waffles forthwith.... and think"


I would not, however, link said quote to either John Kerry's or GW's web page.
Someone else obviously did, though

too many coincidences.....
I mentioned recently reading Jasper Fforde's second novel Lost in a Good Book...
One way Fforde's main character, Thursday Next, keeps track of the world's well being is by gauging coincidences. In the world of Thursday Next, too many coincidences = a glitch in the matrix and signals to Next that it's time to get out before the entrances disappear and the walls morph leaving her stranded miles from the nearest landline.

Here's the thing...my professional life lately has been full of fortuitous coincidences and conventional wisdom holds it just ain't supposed to happen this way.

I've had two really wonderful job interviews in the last week-- interviews that came about as a result of me "cold calling". I sent letters hoping to pick up a section or two of adjuncting in the fall and then got phone calls inviting me to apply for full- time positions, that I didn't even know were available.

Don't know if I'll get offered either of the full time positions, but at the very least I guess I have my section or two of adjuncting.
The interview today was encouraging, even if in the end they offer the job to someone else. It was obvious that I had something new to bring to this institution and the interviewers were excited about that (rather than guarded or cynical), so even if they decide someone else is a better fit the interview process itself was a positive experience.

I tend to browse several broad categories of blogs, including blogs by unemployed PhD types. As folks go "onthemarket" they often add the following sorts of counters to their blogs

Job Applications: 897
Campus Interviews: 4
Offers: 0

Here's my counter
Job Applications: 0
Campus Interviews: 2
Offers: ???????

I can't shake the felling I'm about to be stampeded by migrating wooly mammoths or cornered by agents.

knit one, purl two
I'm teaching myself how to knit. I must have some sort of residual knitting memory as I have vague notions of grammy handing me an awful olive color ball of yarn 25 or so years ago and trying to teach me. Best as I recall, her assessment was that my southpawedness prevented me from manipulating the yarn the way it needed to be manipulated to make the requisite stitches. This time around, figuring out the stitches hasn't been all that hard. I've knit and purld my little brain out. Sometimes, especially if it's been several days between sessions, I forget how to get started and have to dig out those knitting books I've had checked out of the library for the past 4-5 months.

I've mastered enough of the basics that I splurged and bought myself this cool little box set. It's been tough to move to the round needles-- my stitches tend to get stuck where the needle joins the monofilament type substance. Maybe I'll figure out a better technique or maybe I just need better needles, but this is a great kit for a new knitter... and a bunch of fun.

WEEKEND UPDATE
It's not live from New York, but it is live:

Books I've read this week:
Work Stuff
Printing and Society in Early America ed. by Joyce et al :collection of essays addressing early printing and book trade as a method of cultural transmission
These Fiery Frenchified Dames by Branson: Women in revolutionary-era Philadelphia
The Life and Times of Martha Ramsay ed. by Gillespie: Ramsay's spiritual journal and a few letters.

NYU In the news
I might be coming late to this party but just finished reading homeless at NYU --the blog of the young man whose been living in the library most of the academic year .

NYU has also been in the news lately as apparently both of the Olsen twins are members of next year's freshman class.

interesting juxtaposition, no?

Not to rain on Bobst boy's parade and be contrary just for the sake of being contrary-- but for the thousands and thousands of other students like him that find themselves without the money to finance their own education.... why choose a university whose tuition is essentially $1000/semester hour in one of THE most expensive places to live on the planet when there are so many good schools out there (in both urban and small town settings) that simply cost less? Compare the costs for CUNY and NYU, for example-- a full-time instate student can pay for all 4 years of study at CUNY for just about half of one year's tuition at NYU. And an out of state student pays just $340/per credit hour. I know there are a multitude of variables to consider when choosing a school, other than the bottom line. Admittedly, I know zilch about either NYU or CUNY, but I do have first-hand knowledge of a number of different college settings (a small, selective liberal arts college, a community college, and a large "research-1" institution). Give me a soapbox and I'd advise potential college students everywhere to resist the trappings and look through the marketing efforts: the best education doesn't necessarily cost the most and just because a school costs alot and has a snazzy reputation doesn't mean it's the best place for you.