disappearings and findings

and the semester ain't done yet!

I have admittedly disappeared for the past month - such will happen when you are reading as much as I am.  Well, let me amend that statement: such will happen when you are as overly obsessive about the work you are doing while concurrently doing all the reading I am doing.  I  feel the need to own my agency in this cycle of disappearance and (re)emergence, as there are certainly people who seem to do a better job of staying surfaced throughout this thing called school.


Now, I know what you are thinking: boo-freakin'-hoo.  You made the choice to go back to school so build a bridge and get over it.  


I would not challenge that in the least and, luckily for you, this is not some sad story about how much work I have to do or how I am drowning in everything, blah blah blah.  This is certainly good news for you, as it means you can keep reading and not be subjected to another such narrative.  Nope - not here.  Just trying to provide some context for me disappearance (and seemingly lack of ability to figure out how to maintain some semblance of balance with this blog).  


The good news is that while I have been away, I have been invested in some really fascinating things...here are some highlighted favorites:

(1) I made me some homemade mustard!
You read that right: homemade mustard, friends.  From real mustard seed, local apple cider vinegar and a smidge of local honey to pull it all together.  The small taste I had was spicy goodness, but the real test will take place in the coming days, as the friends I gifted this treat to will let me know their thoughts.  Let's hope it scores as highly as the applesauce I gave them, which they loved!  If this canning stuff is something I continue to do, I may just need to invest in some labels and ribbon - I see future gifts for friends and family.  So far the applesauce and pickled carrots I have made this year are a hit, so if the mustard scores equally high I will have to give this some hard thought.  Or, really, I will just have to give in to my temptation to make locally sourced tasty treats that can be stored for a significant time.  Wow - when I word it like that it sounds so freakin' awesome - I really do a bad job of making my life sound exciting, but truly, I am jazzy-cool-fresh-fun.  I promise.  


(2) Books continue to be bought (and read)
Now that I seem to have come to some understanding about the population I want to focus on for my dissertation (not my actual topic, but the population), I have begun to search for some books that will help me in the long run.  My latest dynamite purchases, which I found at a used bookstore, were a Critical Race Theory reader and a book on LGBT policy implementation for school administrators.  Oh, and I got a fascinating book called Myths of Gender by Anne Fausto-Sterling.  That one should help me out, methinks.  Once again, probably not doing my life much justice, but remember this is the reason I came to this charming little blip on the map.  


(3) New music!!!!
New F+TM, new (to me) Fleet Foxes and Bright Eyes discography have been procured.  Suddenly, everything seems wonderful.  As if it wasn't before - but you get the idea of what I am saying.  New music always energizes me, and I have had to hold myself back from dancing on my way to campus, thereby looking (even more) like the local crazy.  I must say, this is still an area in which I am externally defined - and I am more than okay with that.  I like to say I know my limitations, and dancing is certainly one of those limitations.  Needless to say, good music is playing on the iPod as I walk, so I got that goin' for me...

a little blurry, but this lass is always on the move!

(4) Grrtrude gots herself a visit to the salon!
While she won't sit still enough to have her nails painted (before PETA supporters turn me in, please know I have NEVER, nor ever would, attempt to do this), she did get her nails trimmed along with all the hairs on her head and shaggy-arse body.  It was a long time coming (like, months upon months), but after the rough go of it she had awhile back with her paw, she deserves to get treating like the little princess she is.  

cutest. beard. ever!

Update: here are some photos of her grooming visit - a success, I would say!  She looks cute and is wiped out from the time spent there, which is a bonus.  This means I will get to leave for lunch with a friend sans guilt in a couple minutes!  Thanks, Grr - much appreciated!


As you can see, I still exist and will pop up from time to time.  Although I may want this to happen, I can't spend ALL my time reading, writing, and thinking about amazing things like Queer Theory.  Just silly amounts of time.