Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Blogoversary bullets.

[Blogaversary? Blogiversary? Whatever.]

What's happened in one year? What have I done, during the many, many hours that I seem to have so much to do (--too much, it seems, to blog with any degree of responsibility/ regularity)?

* Guided Thing 1 successfully through first grade and into second; supported Thing 2 through the successive traumas of peeing AND pooping in the toilet.

* Reclaimed house of my own, painted many walls in orange, blue, melon.

* Reclaimed neglected garden, ripped out grass, prepared former lawny backyard nook for Sunset-magazinesque entertainment palazzo makeover.

* Wrote a fantastic and--I have faith!--persuasive scholarly book proposal, only half of which is speculation about a book not yet written.

* Saw the publication of festschrift I co-edited with two superstars, and had the opportunity to present it to the honoree at a surprise event with all sorts of Renaissancey bigshot scholars in attendance, and goofball me.

* Published a very orange book of poetry.

* Completed about half of next poetry book [qualifier: 26 pages of it is one very long poem, so I haven't actually written that many poems].

* Placed and contracted and proofed a translation of something very old, and secured the same press's interest in my translation-in-progress of something very much older.

* Completed at least a quarter of my quixotic project of uploading all CDs onto a hard drive, for use with iTunes.

* Filed tenure bullshit.

* Attended something like 12 conferences of one kind or another, either to do readings or present papers.

* Staged bloodless coup on Regional Scholarly Organization, of which I am now president and of which my brilliant mentee is now secretary.

* Filed divorce, only 2.5 years after separating.

* Flirted with Facebook, found it too intrusive and self-revelatory, remade Facebook page into a sort of professional self-promotion site instead, and beat a retreat.

* Got custom running shoes, whose backsides are embroidered in bright yellow, "CATCH THIS."

* Figured out a way to go running when I have Thing 1 and Thing 2 with me (one option involves two bikes and a high school track; the other involves a lot of pushing uphill--of stroller and weary bike--but is nevertheless or even therefore a great workout).

* Grew sensual Brandywine tomatoes in obscene volumes; bottled lots of homemade marinara.

* Found myself happy, if overwhelmed, with my life. Some days the emphasis is on the overwhelm. Some days it's on the happy. Discovered that the two are not mutually exclusive.

* Was repeatedly grateful for my blog-buddies, who continue to inspire me, and who've given me the camaraderie I hoped to find when I started this thing.

8 comments:

Blue Cheese said...

I commend you on your excellent year. You're the inspiration. You bring feeling to my life. You're the inspiration. Wanna have you near me . . .

Anonymous said...

* Found myself happy, if overwhelmed, with my life. Some days the emphasis is on the overwhelm. Some days it's on the happy. The two are not mutually exclusive.

... Word. Is there any other kind of happiness in this profession? (And I don't even have kids -- but I am preparing for, um, a kitten? So that counts?)

That is one damn impressive list of accomplishments, made more impressive by the above-quoted statement. Rock on.

Lisa B. said...

What a great list. And how great to hear the above quoted happiness--I feel blessed and happy by proxy. So blog on, when you can, because it's great to hear from you!

squadratomagico said...

Pretty damn impressive! Congratulations on your blogiversary! Here's to another overwhelming year!

Flavia said...

Happy blogiverary, RG! I'm so glad to have made your acquaintance, both virtually & actually.

Keep on keepin' on.

Pamphilia said...

Happy Blogiversaire! It was lovely finally meeting you this past weekend- even though I didn't figure out who you were at dinner, nor during the reading. I think maybe I had an inkling though, which is why I said I was a Donne scholar (hey, I'm cool with him dating other women).

Renaissance Girl said...

Thanks, everyone! And Pamp: had no idea we were in the same orbit: three cheers for your for figuring it out! Will look forward to the next time!

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