Okay, today I can finally say why I was ecstatic back on April 1. Because, see, even though almost no one I know IRL reads my blog, and that's pretty much the way I want it, I still felt honor-bound to keep confidential the news leaked to me that day that my nominee had been selected as Teacher of the Year at the college where I teach. I realize that none of you could possibly have leaked back to the Dean that I knew this fact almost six weeks in advance of its scheduled public announcement, but I still didn't feel right spilling. Somehow, it seemed to violate the spirit of the confidence (which I received from the award's then recipient-to-be) to talk about it, however obliquely, on the internet. So I didn't. ( more )

Well, I'm committed... or I should be.

I phoned the tea lady (see this post, if you've just joined me), hoping the whole time that she had changed her mind about waiting till the eleventh hour to finalize the program, and mentally rehearsing my good-natured "Of course I'm not offended that you made other arrangements" speech. And I didn't even call her last night, as I was supposed to; I waited till this morning to do it, thus increasing the likelihood that a pinch-hitter would already have been summoned from the bench.

But, noooooo. It's me (as in, "It's me, it's me, O Lord, standin' in the need of prayer..."). And wait-- I haven't even gotten to the best part. Because this is a garden party, I was informed, we'll have a floral theme going ("God blooms in our lives"... "Jesus will 'forget me not'"... etc.). Though I'm not obliged to stick to the bloomin' theme ("say whatever God plants in your head," my cheerful contact reiterated), I am welcome to do so.

So, have I ever mentioned to y'all that my affinity for growing things is on a par with my general proficiency in the domestic arts? No, let me be honest: it's worse. Nevertheless, I already have an idea of what to talk about, and kinda-sorta of how to tie it in. My piece won't be stunningly original, but I shall endeavor to compensate by saying it as well as possible. Meanwhile, if you have any floral-spiritual puns I can interject for comic relief, just, er, plant 'em in the comments. I will, of course, take full credit for anything I use.

Yes, I am finally doing what all the other cool kids did last year: tagging my posts. The most recent entries are done, as are the very oldest ones. I'm now slogging through the middle section of my archive. And I've only deleted two posts since I've been at it!

Anything to avoid paper grading?

P.S. Do you taggers tag every post? I mean, take this one: not only is it not easily categorized, it's also dull and unlikely to edify upon later retrieval. So, no tag, right?

* just wants to be cool correct *

I tag a post "spiritual things," and the next thing I know, there are religion ads on my page. Oh, they're not selling indulgences or anything; but I'm still not sure I want this kind of trade located here with what appears to be my tacet endorsement. How do I know the Bible study materials being pushed in the "Find Eternal Joy With Jesus' Word" ad are sound?

I'd better go back to pagan topics. Hmmm.... what's the last Eddie Albert movie I watched? concert I sang in? miserable student paper I graded?

I did read a book last night, but it was nothing special-- just the latest Hamish Macbeth, by M.C. Beaton. These formulaic mysteries are like literary M&Ms: I'm kind of hooked on them and vaguely wish I weren't, not because they're wicked bad, but because they offer no real nourishment for the effort one puts into consuming them. Still, I don't see me giving them up soon.

There, that ought to change the ads.

Home stretch
Well, I never quite believe at the beginning of the semester that this moment will ever come (nor at the beginning of the academic year in September that May will ever come), but here I am, giving final exams... Spring final exams. If I can just get through this week, I can start my summer vacation (before you get all jealous, however, remember that "vacation" here is a euphemism; in plain terms, I will be unemployed for the next three months).

This week promises to be harrowing, though: about 75 finals and papers to grade (i.e., roughly 150 pieces of work in all), plus a concert on Friday night (I'm singing) and a State Solo & Ensemble Festival on Saturday morning (I'm playing for Number One Son; Mendelssohn concerto again). Oh, and the church ladies want me to give a little talk on Saturday afternoon at their annual Mother's Day tea, and I have no idea what to say on account of (1) never having attended the event (it's always been on the same day as Festival), so not knowing what sort of thing is expected ("whatever the Lord leads you to say," I was told, helpfully), and (2) not feeling especially qualified to give talks to church groups. ( This would be the quandary. Click for more... )

I'm behind on preparing the Guareschi stuff I wanted to share-- concerts this past Sunday, Wednesday, & Friday, and this coming Sunday (er, today!), dontcha know-- but I do have this movie review that's been sitting around on my desktop in draft form for a while. It is, of course, another entry in what's become my "What hath Roman Holiday wrought" series... but it's better than no post at all, right? :-) ( Click to see what Eddie Albert was up to in 1948 )

Happy Giovannino Guareschi's Birthday!!

"In university, I had a Shakespeare professor who was the world's leading expert in Romeo and Juliet, and who used to say he would give anything for the ability to read the play again for the first time.

When I meet someone who has never seen The Third Man or Singin' in the Rain, I envy them the experience they are about to have."

-- Roger Ebert

Right now I'm listening to excerpts from the score to To Kill a Mockingbird. My goodness, Elmer Bernstein was brilliant.

Okay, I admit that I don't know what kind of brilliance it takes to score a film. And this particular score is so Copland-esque in spots that you probably have to dock him a few originality points.

But even realizing that fact doesn't prevent one from appreciating EB's main genius, which in a soundtrack composer is first and foremost about suiting his music to the story. Writing stuff that's also listenable when the movie's not playing (true of so much of EB's work) is gravy.

I'm not a film score geek or anything, but as a musician and a movie-lover, I do always notice the score, and I certainly have my favorite composers for the cinema. And Elmer Bernstein has been at the top of my list for as long as I can remember.

Number Three Son was awarded the game ball at his Tee-ball game yesterday! I should add that they don't play real games-- no outs, no score, everyone runs the bases no matter how his or her hit was fielded-- so I suppose the prize must be given for effort (indeed, the coach told my boy that he was impressed with how far he'd come since the first practice, making this a "most improved" award). The boy was thrilled, and he immediately commandeered my baseball displayer thingy (yes, there's one that's sat on my desk for at least five years, with a cricket ball in it) to show off his trophy (inscribed by the coach and everything!).