May 13 was the first commencement ceremony I attended as a faculty member. It was so different from the feeling of walking into that arena ...

 If you get a chance, go hear Orff's Carmina Burana in person. More importantly, if you have the chance, SING in this. Even if you are n...

 Singing in a huge chorus with symphony for a performance of Carmina Burana. I can't wait. I've heard it in person twice, but didn...

 It's difficult to believe that Dad died four years ago. This week marked that most terrible anniversary.  The week of March 22 in 2019 ...

 How'd that happen? This is week 6 of the semester, and I've learned that I'll be employed by my school for another year. HUZZAH...

Things have been intense, but good, at school. Moments of happiness have snuck up and startled me as I walk across campus to a lecture or ha...

     Four people I know or knew died in the last two weeks. Three were elderly, but one was younger than me, a wonderful person in great hea...

 Hard to believe, but here is 2023. May it be a better year for good people than was 2022. School begins two weeks from Tuesday. A fair bit ...

 It's incredible that 2022 is nearly done, isn't it? I am pleased that I posted more on my blog this year than I did on the previous...

  I work to teach my writing students to not make sweeping statements. I'm baffled by the sheer dreck churned out here by one Erika Sale...

 To be called the superlative version of anything is a mighty feat. I just have a problem with people saying crappy things about a bunch of ...

  Fuel to Fire by the exquisite Agnes Obel

I'm super-busy. I've said that many times before, and it's always been true, but never to this degree. Each day is consumed with...

  I don't mean to put words in Johnny Rotten's mouth, but I never believed that his classic punk anthem "God Save the Queen...