Conference in NOLA

Isn't great when the big professional association has meetings in fun places?  2 weeks ago our national conference was in NOLA.  TM and I went and spent most of our time in the quarter (away from the meetings).  It was a fabulous break.

Our hotel

My presentation was on Thursday morning.  It went well, despite a somewhat snarky comment about whether I had IRB approval to do my project, which I did. (Ha, take that aging hippie anthropologist- now go cut your hair and buy a good bra!)  It was nice to get the presentation out of the way because it left time for fun.

Thursday night I met up with a few current friends in the hotel bar for overpriced drinks! Even had drinks with Mr. Modernity himself (AA) who was in the sauce for sure.  Then it was off the length of French Market to find one of two vegetarian restaurants in NOLA with RT and family.  It was great to see them and catch up on the gossip, but visiting had to be cut short since my feet were hurting, from the shoes I had just gotten.  

My new "walking" shoes- very practical

We spent Friday with a dear family friend visiting museums and chatting.  Then Friday night we met up with my uncle for Tapas and Sangria.

Saturday I had to work all morning, but not without getting chicory coffee first.  I worked the school's booth at the grad student fair.  It was pretty much a bust, but I did get to engage in a great conversation with a local gal who told me she was looking into getting a PhD because she didn't want to have to hide her tattoos at work.    

At the fair I also ran into two friends from my undergrad days- my old advisor and another student.  It was great to catch up with them.

That afternoon TM and I circled the quarter.  We swung by Jackson Square, where I overheard a conversation that was SO New Orleans.  It was between two fine young gentlemen partaking in "the marijuana."  One asked the other if he had been by to see so-n-so.  The young man's response was "Hell, no.  Wednesday I was smoking crack!"  It was one of those moments where you think, "God I love this city."

After that TM and I went to Napoleon house for a muff and a pimm's cup.  We even got one for the road.  It made listening to that panel on development in Latin America much better!

Saturday evening the midwest state university contingent went and had drinks at the bar in the Roosevelt hotel. Then we all walked ACROSS NOLA to a reception for DML.  At the reception the very famous anthro's wife asked me who I was and who had invited me.  It was not awkward at all.

By the time TM and I made it back to our hotel we were starving, but nothing was open so we finished the night off with coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde.

It was really the perfect long weekend!

Update

The myth that I would have more time to do my own work because I wasn't teaching this year has been officially shattered.  I have not actually had more free time, now I just get everything done instead of half-assing most of my work.  It is the ongoing mystery of graduate school: how do you have time to do research when being a graduate student keeps getting in the way.  That said I have been relatively productive- for instance today I read a book on coffee and land policy in colonial Guatemala.

Here is what has been happing (a photo montage): 

Halloween, maybe not the best representation of our department, or really of Jersey...

DJ Pauly D (me), la diabla, and Snookie

At da club
Yes- that is my advisor dressed as a church lady
and TM dressed as Guy F from the Food Channel

As you can imagine this required some recovery time... and a lot of scrubbing to get all the bronzer off.  But we were perhaps the best costumes in town.

 I needed to make up for lost time spent getting my Gym, Tan, Laundry on in preparation for Halloween.

Quiet Saturday Study Time in the PhD office

Denying the onset of winter with a decidedly summer dinner of crudités and mint yogurt dip

Meme

From A.E.
1. What is your favorite word? melocotón (Spanish for peach or apricot, depending on the country)
2. What is your least favorite word? "My bad" just say "I'm sorry" 
3. What turns you on? great books (academic or otherwise)
4. What turns you off? Habitual moochers 
5. What is your favorite curse word? F*ck(ing)
6. What sound or noise do you love? thunderstorms
7. What sound or noise do you hate? alarm clock, not because I don't like to get up, I just HATE the sound.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Medical Doctor, Diplomat
9. What profession would you not like to try? Real Estate, I do not have the patience of my mother
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? The gang's all here.

Field School

Will be the TA for an exploratory field school on development in H*nduras.  Don't know if I'm really excited about it or not.  Not sure that my advisor has thought through all the student safety issues... ah the dreaded case of advisor and advisee not seeing everything through the same lens.  (Don't think he has spent much time thinking about the issues associated with traveling with 18 year old sorority girls- there are many!)  But hey, that's why I'm here.  TM is pretty sure he doesn't want to deal with said girls so he'll stay with the cat!

More here

NOLA

The Wedding was a success!  Fun was had by all.  We sported fascinators, but were outdone by Bobbiesox- a woman who wore white athletic socks with her dress I assume to cover her tattoos.

Back to School Blues

Well it is week 3- the flower is off the bloom.  All the excitement of summer travel is over and now it is back to the daily grind.  There are BIG decisions to be made this semester: doctoral committee, narrowing down of dissertation topic, funding, when I'll go to the field, etc.  It is more than my little head can manage.


On an upside Fall is starting to be in air!  I can't wait for sweater weather!

Every Day in September

I will write a 750 words for something... notes for field statements, grant proposals, etc.
My weekend trip to NOLA could be a problem. But I can probably write 750 words on the joys of Pat O'Briens and Cafe du Monde.

Grad Student Pact

I have nominally made a pact with a fellow grad student to write at least 500 words everyday.  Today is the day we begin.  It was suggested that we write 800 words a day, but 500 seemed more realistic.  So far I've written 58.

Starting Week 2

Tomorrow is the first full week of classes, and I'm already sick.  Probably picked up something on the plane back from Guate.  But the semester is looking good...no teaching, just being a student.  It's really quite civilized. 

To Do This Year:

• Field Statements (at least 2)
• Committee formation (By Oct/Nov)
• Read, Read, Read
• Hammer out the dissertation topic- truly flesh out what I want to (and can) do

Good Bye Summer

School starts tomorrow...summer I will miss you.
...but...
 I LOVE seeing the new students in Targ*t with their parents.  The girls are busy matching spatchulas to their bed spread while the boys just shrug and pick out anything that is school colors or has a mascot on it.  There was a kid who asked his mom why there were so many different kinds of hangers. 

FLAS

Foreign Language Area Studies fellowship provides for graduate students to study underrepresented foreign languages.  Yep I got me one!  And the bonus:

"The estimated subsistence allowance for an academic year 2010-2011 fellowship is $15,000 for a graduate student"


So I will make more money and have more time for my own studies!!!!

Surprise!

TM and I flew to the motherland last weekend to surprise my mom on her birthday.  It was great fun!

Only one week left in the summer class- it's killing me! But it enables a nice little trip to Guatemala before school starts!  If they let me in the country- I look like a voodoo priestess in my passport photo.

How class may end up...

Class starts after the holiday weekend and based on my current level of prep I fear class discussion may go something like this:

Student 1: What are the site formation processes again?

Me: Well, in this episode of Law and Order CI Goren solves a prison psych ward murder, but in turn every one thinks he is crazy.

Student 2:  Who are the australopithicines? 

Me: On the season finale of the Real Housewives of New Jersey Danielle is paranoid.  I think she might have connections to the mob.

Getting Ready

Gearing up for:

• Teaching in July- a general anthropology class: 20 students I get to spend 3 hours a day with! (brushing up on physical anthropology- Olduvai gorge here I come)
• Summer trip to Guatemala with the family!
• Next academic year: committee formation, field statements, comps, etc. (I really hope that my DoE money comes through so I won't have to teach!!!!)
• More World Cup Action (this seems to be the only thing I am really getting accomplished)

More Spring

The irises are in bloom and the peonies are just about to burst onto the scene.  I don't think I have ever appreciated the beauty of spring as much as I have this year.

It is also snake breeding season... we had a visitor in our garage today.  Here he is climbing our neighbor's house.

Seduction

Trying to get papers written and students guided, but I have been seduced by thoughts of gardening and home improvements.  If only I had the time and the money.
BUT
We have begun a collection of mint, tomatoes, peppers, thyme, and basil.  Plus I'm thinking of adding squash, strawberries, and some mini sunflowers.

Spring has Sprung

Oldies but Goodies

Researching development and indigeneity (going to be able to use the research for two papers this semester!) and rereading some oldies...

Decol*nizing Methodologies (I think this is round 3)
The Anti-P*litics Machine
The S*cial Production of Indifference

Adding to it a new one that I am really excited about:
Cultural Expression and Grassr**ts Development

So many great lines...

Working on the MASSIVE amounts of work that accompany the last 20 days of the semester and watching Lonesome Dove.  It has been my favorite book/movie since I was little.  There are so many great lines in the story.  The best from this segment:
"My wife is in hell where I sent her.  She could make good biscuits but her behavior was terrible." -Po Campo
"Well it ain't much of a crime whacking a surly bartender" -Agustus McCrae

To Spring Break

...on the week anniversary of your death.

 

The drive back started out good with boiled peanuts and narrowly escaping a speeding ticket in Mississippi.  But we were had to slow down due to a snow storm in big square Midwest state.  We drove the last 200 miles at 40 mph only to be pulled over at 1:45 am in sleepy college town for changing lanes without signaling.  Thankfully no ticket (or field sobriety test) was issued.

Now I am back to the daily grind and lamenting the loss of my dear friend relaxation.

Poor Choices

1. Going to bed at 10:45 last night.
2. Waking up at 4:34 this morning.
3. Finally getting out of bed at 5:12 to play on the internet instead of working.
4. Being ready for a nap at 6:14.

Really...

You went to complain about all the GTAs because we covered themes and terms in discussion and review sections that were not ultimately on the test.  And because you did we had to have individual meetings about it with our boss--who thankfully realized it was just a case of sour grapes.

And I've figured out that you are one of my students... AWESOME!

I can't wait for another 30 years of whining because YOU couldn't be bothered to study for the test because you were too busy playing beer pong.  Is this really what I have to look forward to?

¡Xokoq'a k'a!

...that's Kaqchikel for Good Night!  Our first test is tomorrow. So tonight I am switching between studying for it and reading Bourdieu and Tedlock.  It's been a nice balance between my old life and my new one. Thanks to West Coast folks for prepping me so well for PhDlandia. 

Also, had an interesting exchange with a MA student I teach with:
She was complaining about Foucault and she summed it up like this: "Everything is muddled.  Ohh power and knowledge.  Whatever, he died of AIDS..."
Simply Stunning! (She doesn't think she'll go on for the PhD!)

More Kaqchikel

Does it get easier?

I know that they don't just give PhDs to anybody, but a little breathing time would be nice!

Back to School

Demanding, though slightly less demanding schedule this semester. But I'll have to fill the extra time with making a committee and deciding what that dang dissertation will really be about.

But I'll worry about that tomorrow. Today I'll focus on whether CL is plotting against me...

CoCo

Snug as a bug

Our first Midwest winter has been extreme-and it's hardly January. Yesterday we got another 4-6 inches of snow. Today and tomorrow will be filled with blowing snow and bitterly cold temps. (REALLY COLD!!! Friday's high is -3 real temp with -20 wind chill).

But I'm staying warm in my sock monkey footie pajamas straight from LHF. They are great and more flattering than you might imagine.


Off to clean and read... that's all there is to do given that it is cold enough to freeze the gas line in your car.