The triumphant return of Blogathon (and…me?)

It seems like this happens every year… semi-regular posting, followed by a lull… and then frantic gearing up for Blogathon.

The event this year will be on July 28th this year; for the first time in four years, though, I’ll be starting at six a.m. Also different from the past four years - the past six years, really - for the first time ever I won’t be blogging at my own blog, but at an uber-fantastic group blog, location T.B.A. We’re still in the planning phases, but I can tentatively say that this group effort (on behalf of a well-known literacy organization) will probably be one of the most enjoyable blogging experiences I’ve ever had - no doubt in part, at least, to the fact that I’ll be freer to devote more time to ‘thon coordination and happenings at the main site during the event. Although I can’t reveal the art yet, I can say that this year Blogathon has some gorgeous stuff for the website courtesy the very talented Ryan Estrada. While it’s still a couple of months away and registrations probably won’t open for over a month, I’m already hyped about all the great things going on this year.

This summer isn’t just exciting because of Blogathon, of course. I got in a rough draft of my thesis proposal just before summer started, so I’ll be devoting the next couple weeks to revising that and getting it finalized, and then delving into the research. Since my thesis is on fat women in U.S. television, the research won’t be exactly, ah, painful… and it doesn’t hurt that I can use “it’s for research” as an excuse to buy as many seasons of Gilmore Girls as I can afford.

And speaking of work and pop culture… This past April I applied and interviewed for a position as a teaching associate for the coming year, and much to my surprise - the other grad students applying were all pretty much stellar - I was one of five chosen to teach my own course. So, this summer I’ll be spending time developing a syllabus for Women’s Studies 102: Women: Images and Ideas, a course looking at (surprise!) “cultural representations of women” (as the course schedule says).

My thesis advisor, Susan Cayleff, came into the grad office before the semester ended and talked to all of us about taking it easy and making time to unwind; I’m actually having a much easier time with the unwinding thing than I’d thought I would. Take today, for example: I could have really thrown myself into week one of my syllabus, but instead I attempted my first-ever batch of hummus, of the sweet potato variety. I don’t really eat hummus - it’s more a treat for C - so I can’t officially say it’s “good,” but at least it looks… rustic?

Oh, and also, we got a kitten with a lazy-eye. His first name is Albus. I’m sure you can guess the rest.