Due to several unexpected circumstantial changes, the next four months will be nowhere near what I'd anticipated.
First, for those of you who read my recent (now absent) post about the upcoming novel, there's been a delay in its publication. I don't know how long this delay will last, but if you're interested in the book's progress, keep an eye on the blog. While I'm disapointed that I won't get to see the story in print this summer, I'm grateful for the extra time I have to go back to the drawing board and touch up aspects of the story that felt rushed.
I've also had a second deadline more or less suspended. Rather than feature my work in a small show in April, the curator of the 930 gallery has requested I submit five paintings for a second Cultivating Beauty exhibition (at which he first saw my work a year ago). Because of the vast array of ecclectic art,the opening will most likely draw a more solid audience than a show of a little-known. I'm under less pressure to produce a large body of work and I also have the relief of knowning the responsibility of drawing in a crowd does not rest primarily on my paintings.
Last and least in the list of unexpected course changes (no pun intended), I was informed over Christmas break that my ENG 102 class had been given to a tenure professor and that I was to return to ENG 101 to teach students who need to retake the introdoctory course. Again, a seeming setback, unless you take into account the fact that instead of designing my 102 course I'd spent the majority of Christmas break systematically working my way through 40 plus hours of Lost. By trading my class away, the department unwittingly rewarded my procrastination. After two and half years of teaching intro composition, I can grade 101 papers in my sleep. And in 101 there are far less papers than in 102. So once again, Bethany scores.
The end result of these changes? Instead of running around like a madwoman, stomach cramped with anxiety and brain laced with caffeine, I'm at my leisure to paint my few paintings for the Cultivating Beauty exhibition and to plan my upcoming wedding, an event that has sadly taken backseat to all the professional deadlines. I now have high hopes that this wedding may actually go off without catasrophe--at least none that could be directly linked to me.
Moral 1: There is a silver lining in every gray cloud. Moral 2: Procrastination is the right way to go :)
I finally got caught up on Lost, and am looking forward to the season five premiere in 8 days! It's a great show, assuming they can tie up enough of the loose ends.
Have fun with those freshman - maybe teach them the proper usage of the words "less" and "fewer"? *wink*
Love ya!
Posted by: David Pierce | January 13, 2009 at 06:35 AM
Hey Sissy,
When you encounter a problem along the way....change your direction but not your destination!
Remember you heard it here first. hahahaha
Grandpa Pierce
Posted by: Walt Pierce | January 17, 2009 at 04:39 PM