Talkin' 'Bout Reconstruction

As I prepare to jump into this new semester with both feet, I put together this little song about today's classes:

Talkin' 'Bout Reconstruction
(sung to the tune of "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution," by Tracy Chapman)

Don't you know, I'm talkin' 'bout Reconstruction
Sounds like a snoozefest
Don't you know-oh-oh, I'm talkin' 'bout Reconstruction
Sounds like a snoozefest

While I'm talking about radical republicans
Cutting the South into 5 military districts
Students stare, deep blank stares,
Saying prayers, that I won't ask about the reading

Don't you know, talkin' 'bout Reconstruction
Sounds like a snoozefest
Don't you know-oh-oh, talkin' 'bout Reconstruction
Sounds like a snoozefest
Bored students gonna rise up, and drop this class
Bored students gonna rise up, and take some math

Don't you know they're gonna run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
Don't you know they're gonna run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run

Yes, finally enrollment is starting to drop,
Talkin' 'bout Reconstruction
Yes, finally enrollment is starting to drop,
Talkin' 'bout Reconstruction, oh-oh, oh-no

(My apologies to Tracy Chapman.)

New Year, Fresh Start

Yes, I know, it's been a while since I wrote anything. And yes, I know, I've probably lost all of my followers (all one of them). And finally, yes, I know that this is probably not the best use of my time. Now that I've acknowledged all of this, can I continue?

I really don't have a good excuse for the long break. Between the house purchase, move, and speeding snowball of work craziness, I just didn't have time to keep up with my writing. OK, the truth is that I didn't have the mental energy. I lost my sense of humor sometime in early November and I figured that no one wanted to read about how badly I was dog-paddling in the deep end. Day after day of "students irritated me again," or "I'm still really tired," or "delivered yet another soul-crushing lecture" - who wants to read that? (If you do, just know that you make me very sad.)

But, it's a new year - a new decade even - and that seems like a perfect time for a fresh start. OK, in the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit that I watched "Julie and Julia" this weekend. If that movie doesn't inspire you to blog or cook, or both, then you've completely missed the point. I did not miss the point and in the past 24 hours, I have both blogged and cooked. I even tried a new recipe - braised short ribs. Slow cooked ribs in a rich tomato sauce, a baked sweet potato, and buttered asparagus sounded perfect for a cold, cold, cold winter night. In the end, I have to say that the ribs let me down. Lot of fat and not as tender as I'd hoped. I'd make a joke here, but the only ones that come to mind are really not nice. I know, that's never stopped me before. Well, new year, fresh start.

So, the cooking didn't turn out so well, but hope springs eternal. I'll also share that I had an epiphany during "Julie & Julia" - I decided that there must be two kinds of people in the world: those who have a crush on Stanley Tucci, and those who will have a crush on Stanley Tucci. I'll close with this promise: Until Stanley Tucci arrives on my doorstep, I'll try to write more regularly.