kingbugs

I'm trying to hammer out my morning routine before the crazy semester starts: so far, it entails me sipping coffee, listening to music, and staring out my large kitchen windows at the assorted wildlife that Kent, Ohio has to offer. I suppose this would be called "me time." Usually the romping black squirrels are enough to cheer me up, but this week I've seen a huge owl -- which was very impressive -- and just now there was a young hawk sitting in the tree right outside my window. Kingbugs: budding ornathologist.

Current rotation in the cd player: Sea and Cake, Mogwai, Bix Beiderbeck, Will Oldham.

Just finished a good "alcoholic" novel: Hangover Square, by Patrick Hamilton. Very English, very much reflects the years before the second world war. Reminds me of Patricia Highsmith. But I now have to start preparing for my classes. The survey class I'm teaching starts with romanticism (the usual poets and Frankenstein), moves through Wilde and Decadence, but most of it will be modern stuff. I'm ending with one of my all time favorite novels: THe Day of the Locust. I taught it last semester, and it went over well. I recommend it to any and every body. Very Dark, Very Funny, very twisted, and ultimately a very bleak portrait of America. I'll also be teaching a class on "gender construction and tough guy fiction," which is actually just a way for me to try and make a comp class interesting...

okay, the shower and morning abulations beckon...