Moving soon — up late (up early), not sleeping.

Now I must move [from the Midwest back to New York City]. Went to bed early because the anti-histamines were making me groggy. Now it is 5:30am and I am up, thinking about packing and making out my syllabi. I tried reading about Locke to put myself to sleep but couldn't stop thinking. So now I'm adding a new entry, since I'm up anyway. I have so many ideas for things to write -- my only problem is getting myself to work on them instead of avoiding them -- and then, of course, you can add the new problem, namely, that I'll be teaching (and preparing for teaching, and grading) so that much time will be taken away.

What I should remember, though, is to apply the new way of teaching which lowers the over-working of the professor and the over-working of the students: do not write up complicated or detailed notes. Know the ONE THING you want to get across, and let everything else come from the discussion.

Re-posted: DINER FOUND in the midwest

[RETRO-blog] Saturday, 9 August 2003

DINER FOUND -- Manna, Ambrosia, Elixir of the Gods

I was amazed, having arrived here in this Midwestern college town, that there were no diners. I had left New York, not looking forward to leaving behind my beloved Brooklyn, but knowing that, no matter what problems I might have with many aspects of American culture, there was one thing I could depend upon, wherever I went in the USA: my love of diners. But, once I got here, I couldn't find any! Everyone told me they'd been replaced by chain restaurants: TGIFriday's, Appleby's, etc. etc. ad nauseam. Standard issue America isn't even any good at being standard issue America any more -- even that's been ruined. What's the point, I ask you?

But two nights ago, I visited friends of the family and asked them, desperate, hopeless, mostly complaining, whether there were any diners around here. They gave me directions to one place. I found it -- I found it! It exists! I couldn't believe it.

And it worked. I finally got some work done. Away from the television, the internet, my books, my magazines, my this, my that: I edited a paper and checked a translation for four hours. This was what I'd been looking for all this time! I am saved, saved!