You Know There's Nothing/More Than This

Current Music: Roxy Music: Avalon An apt lyric, I suppose, having just come to terminal from the screen, which was airing the latest "hot" video by a band called Switchfoot. They look interchangeable, somewhat like the folks ambling about campus, but less, you know, authentic. The song was pitiful . . . and television and cable networks belt this out like so much shit, peppered every now and again with a golden nugget of Korn . . . no, I mean real gold, like Coheed and Cambria.

Well, it's been a while. I completed intersession, which was exhausting. I have no idea how the students do two of those courses back to back. Teaching two is more than I can take; I've promised myself I won't do it again. I mean, the students are great and all (much more tolerant than regular semester), but we're both just so tired.

Now I'm in the middle of book revisions; it's not going too bad, although I'm starting to feel the pressure of the deadline (July 2). Today I worked through chapter three (of eight). Chapter five and six need some work, and the conclusion needs an overhaul. I think I can get it done on time, but all this formatting stuff is taking more time than I supposed. I may post a link to a chapter or two if I can get over my coding laziness.

Tomorrow the committee from the Craft come to discuss my petition. We shall see. If there is no more than one black square, I should become first degree in a couple of weeks.

Aside from joining secret societies, I've been thinking about buying a house. I probably will start seriously pursuing that after Christmas (the idea is to get credit cards paid down as much as possible). I am set on an older home, arts and crafts/craftsman style. Those are not as plentiful as I had hoped. And most are out of my price range for where I would like to be (downtown or the Garden District).

Then: I've been listening to a lot of Bob Dylan lately. They've re-mastered a number of albums in SACD. Awesome. Also old Yes albums have been on heavy rotation (good for vacuuming, since huffing Scotchguard fumes is no longer a pastime, you see).

And, um (dare I admit it?), um, I've been jamming to Hall and Oates. Yes. That's right. They've re-mastered the Hall and Oates catalog, and I couldn't resist. Maneater--along with Chicago IV and A Flock of Seagulls--were among my first musical purchases ever . . . well, my first cassette purchases ever. "Maneater" is a classic, as is "Family Man" (birth of the adult contemporary "sample"!). I remember Disco Mickey Mouse, Pac Man Fever, and some 45's by Survivor and Juice Newton before my cassette obsession.

And I just ordered the new Culture Club box set for half price. It's absolutely for the DJ business, of course.