The View From Kalamazoo

Academia + idiocy = … more in the way of embarrassment for WMU. Some days I just don’t know about this place, really — and this is my dear Alma Mater on top of owner of my soul (Congress just sublets the soul, technically speaking). What the hell are people thinking around here?!? We’re up to our danglybits in budget crisis, the state will shut down completely in a week if the legislators don’t correct their cephalo-anal conjucture issues, and the resulting cutoff of funds to higher education will spiral our sorry arses right down the drainpipe to Hell. *headdesk*

Actually, I’ve been near-insane for the last two years, sans details and whining and ranting as I’m not Dooce-ing this, a OMFG stressful time for me in ways that beg manic laughter, hair pulling, and hide-the-weapon. Let’s just say, between you and I (and yes, I realize you is a bigger word than three letters in this case) it’s a damn good thing there has been a hiring freeze here at the Uni., as I’ve been watching the listings that do manage to get through…and the only reason I’ve not run away screaming is the lack in those listings. No, really. I guess the bright thing is I am as close to optimism (as I can manage) re: the new leadership, however. Trying to be happy happy…not quite to joy joy, but I’m making a valiant effort.

So I offer this information, noting that this is in addition to Stress, The Home Edition, to explain that a rather Known job + crap morale = no blogging. I continue to read those I have always followed, but I don’t respond…I figure that living in a perpetual state of well and truly pissed-off does not lend itself to the ability to comment and post anything of relative worth, so I do not. This is the point at which I note the awkwardness of blogging under my own name – I know I’ll see most of y’all in May, after all.

Perhaps after the grand move to WordPress (in progress) I’ll make more of an effort. I’ve been poked to make explanation, so here I am. (Now the poking will cease, yes?) No, haven’t given up on blogging completely, I swear.

I want to go see OOTP. Now.
As in, taking the afternoon off work sounds like a fine idea. *grumblesnarl*

Helped loan kiln last night. Nothing of mine in, tho, as I still need to dremel the last two pieces, since they (like nearly everything in the last load) suffered when so much of the wadding exploded and they have chunks stuck in the glaze. Bring the temp up slowly kiddies, candle that sucker for a while and don’t be impatient.
gah.
I have 6 mugs and a couple of porcelain pieces to glaze. And Thursday is the last day for fresh clay, so I should, really, spend my lunch tomorrow at a wheel.

And clearly I’m not blogging much. I’ve been reading others and thinking about a lot of things, but I’ve really not moved to jump into the discussions. Yet. Or not.

Endlessly behind. On keeping up with my favorite bloggers, on the 1,000,001 things I have to do, and, of course, on blogging (yeah, you haven’t noticed, admit it.) I think I need to read Seven ways to find the time to blog
and get a grip.
Of course, I also need to work out, eat right, parent my children with less volume, and give my house a thorough cleaning. And there’s the Congress paper that’s not currently writing itself. argh and ugh.

I hope their amps go to 11: Spinal Tap to reunite at Live Earth concert
We’ve got Armadillos in our trousers. It’s really quite frightening.

Archaeology world tour:
Bulgaria: Marble Phrygian Goddess Statue Discovered in Bulgaria
Hungary: Neolithic burial site yields unique archaeological find
Greece: 2 000-year-old tombs unearthed
Iran: Iran opens dam that archaeologists fear will harm famed Persepolis and other ancient sites