tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post1300920443696308555..comments2023-10-06T08:10:05.853-04:00Comments on Necromancy Never Pays: The Market EconomyJeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-68211274925313685252011-02-17T12:50:41.524-05:002011-02-17T12:50:41.524-05:00One final note on seeing Franzen:
Today he had a ...One final note on seeing Franzen:<br /><br />Today he had a question and answer session about writing fiction and said "If there's no humor in fiction, it's a real uphill battle for it to be really good." <br /><br />Okay, I'm totally won over!Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-28872172127804563992011-02-17T08:09:50.455-05:002011-02-17T08:09:50.455-05:00Marie, I enjoyed it way more than I expected to.
...Marie, I enjoyed it way more than I expected to.<br /><br />First of all, he was funnier than I expected. He uses pauses quite effectively to characterize himself as fumbling and awkward, which may lead me to read his fiction in a new way.<br /><br />Second, the students who asked questions were less polite than usual; they really put him on the spot. He would take a few minutes, and then give a really good answer. <br /><br />Good writers are rare, but people who can think on their feet are even more rare, in my experience.<br /><br />I enjoyed it so much I'm going to go to a smaller discussion with him today.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-55535698748848405982011-02-16T20:38:14.081-05:002011-02-16T20:38:14.081-05:00Good luck with the talk! I hope you enjoy(ed) it! ...Good luck with the talk! I hope you enjoy(ed) it! :-)Marie Cloutierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14938166831865436287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-66072056569066094922011-02-16T19:22:27.377-05:002011-02-16T19:22:27.377-05:00Jenny, thanks for the crossing of fingers. I'l...Jenny, thanks for the crossing of fingers. I'll no doubt have something to say about the talk later this week.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-5127036769553514372011-02-16T19:08:06.551-05:002011-02-16T19:08:06.551-05:00Have fun at the talk! I am keeping my fingers cros...Have fun at the talk! I am keeping my fingers crossed for the right thing to happen for you.Jennyhttp://jennysbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-63005954147444473462011-02-16T16:58:01.955-05:002011-02-16T16:58:01.955-05:00Teena, yes; teaching anything can be surprisingly ...Teena, yes; teaching anything can be surprisingly complicated. Of course, part of the fun of it is learning from your students...and former students.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-31785415492070296922011-02-16T15:16:47.237-05:002011-02-16T15:16:47.237-05:00Lucy keeps asking me, when the snow melts, is that...Lucy keeps asking me, when the snow melts, is that when its Spring? The answer to that question is surprisingly complicated. As is the question of what comes next, and when does that start?Teenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12988901078656648613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-40772086000019081992011-02-16T14:31:57.372-05:002011-02-16T14:31:57.372-05:00ReadersGuide, exactly. Six years until we get them...ReadersGuide, exactly. Six years until we get them both through college, assuming it takes Walker four years and that he picks a GLCA school where the tuition remission applies.<br /><br />Teaching is definitely where my heart is. I remember coming home during my first semester as a TA and exclaiming to Ron "and they PAY me for this!"Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-14493950380479383312011-02-16T12:29:15.506-05:002011-02-16T12:29:15.506-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-39882182456252698892011-02-16T12:28:31.428-05:002011-02-16T12:28:31.428-05:00Okay -- 85% of college being paid is huge. You hav...Okay -- 85% of college being paid is huge. You have to stay there through the end of Walker's college, which is in 6 years, right?<br /><br />I have found that just having the kids off on their own makes my own life seem much more possible. I think taking care of them, while intensely rewarding, take a lot more of your attention than you realize. Once they're gone, I think you'll find more time and energy available to make your own working life more interesting. Commuting may once again be possible, once you're no longer driving people to chess matches. Or something else -- who knows? <br /><br />Ohio has so many colleges . . . and I think teaching is where your heart is . . . I think something will definitely eventually work out.readersguidehttp://readersguide.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-21975990612379519602011-02-16T11:28:14.578-05:002011-02-16T11:28:14.578-05:00Ahem. Number reversal. The college pays 85%. We on...Ahem. Number reversal. The college pays 85%. We only have to pay 15% of tuition.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-59077401318420488942011-02-16T11:27:21.693-05:002011-02-16T11:27:21.693-05:00Elizabeth, in this case changing the status quo me...Elizabeth, in this case changing the status quo means a risk of getting noticed, which could end up with the loss of the 1/6 time job and starting all over at something else in the same small town. <br /><br />One of the benefits of one of us working full time at the college is that we only have to pay 85% of college tuition costs at the place Eleanor has chosen (room and board not included).<br /><br />It goes to show that mood is not dependent on place if you can wake up gloomy in Hawaii!Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-89267314561278393322011-02-16T11:12:06.980-05:002011-02-16T11:12:06.980-05:00This: Suppose you get what you want--you get paid ...This: <i>Suppose you get what you want--you get paid for working full time--and then you have to do this work for the rest of your life?</i> nails it for me.<br /><br />Also sometimes even when I think/hope/devote all my efforts into changing the status quo, it doesn't change. I feel then as I did when I had to undergo some particularly nasty medical tests that NO NO NO I do not WANT this. It didn't matter what I wanted, it was happening anyway.<br /><br />Geeze I woke up in a gloomy jet-lagged mood.edj3https://www.blogger.com/profile/11137939126171451654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-32085021339217793042011-02-16T11:11:55.588-05:002011-02-16T11:11:55.588-05:00FreshHell, exactly. I could have the most fascinat...FreshHell, exactly. I could have the most fascinating job in the world, but I'd still get enjoyment from other pursuits. Because I'm a Renaissance Woman!Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-83432137149038148322011-02-16T10:47:08.984-05:002011-02-16T10:47:08.984-05:00I like where I live. The problem is that what I do...I like where I live. The problem is that what I do for a living is a small niche so jobs are few and far between. Most days, things are fine. Other days, I wonder what else I could do. Esp with the same benefits which are absolutely crucial. My kids need healthcare. As do I. I've been on the other side before and it was ugly. There are things I'm not willing to give up. At least not now. So, I find my enjoyment in other pursuits.FreshHellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13051170717740487431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-5571552960528409702011-02-16T10:32:32.456-05:002011-02-16T10:32:32.456-05:00FreshHell, Sometimes moving really is out of the q...FreshHell, Sometimes moving really is out of the question. I think of my parents' bemusement at where they ended up and hope that some day I will be able to escape the north.<br /><br />Lass, it's complicated. My relationship is not, but my career path is.<br /><br />Perks like hearing Franzen tonight and getting to play for Bernstein's Wonderful Town tomorrow night make up for a lot of drawbacks.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01374498643286099244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-16137557440234726702011-02-16T09:55:51.580-05:002011-02-16T09:55:51.580-05:00My probably over-simplified view is that as far as...My probably over-simplified view is that as far as any of us know, we only get one shot at this and to spend it doing something you hate seems, well, a waste. We are never really stuck anywhere, except in our heads. Also, I am jealous that you're going to hear Franzen speak. Smart and dreamy. Sigh...Lassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000858382516594426.post-3242837648335340912011-02-16T09:31:45.205-05:002011-02-16T09:31:45.205-05:00Enjoy that talk! I know how you're feeling. Fo...Enjoy that talk! I know how you're feeling. For me, it's the realization that I'm kinda stuck. Sure, the job's full-time with benefits and keeps things churning along but I'm bored. Massively bored. There are no challenges and I can feel my once-sharp edges frighteningly dulled. And yet, where else would I work? Moving is out of the question. So, I try to make the best of it. Hope your new proposal bears fruit.FreshHellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13051170717740487431noreply@blogger.com