Gillian Polack's Blog, page 250
May 10, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-05-11T00:36:00
Tonight was kind of a mess. So many things happened that my progress on the things I need to do has been abysmal and my mood is just a little grumpy. We're still trouble-shooting email, though some is getting through. We know what the problem is now (thanks to Tamara) but not why on earth it should have happened.
I still have one rather urgent thing to do before I can sleep, and then I teach tomorrow. Twice, in fact. Suddenly the rest of this week has become a bit too busy for comfort. Losing three hours to technical problems was not a good thing at all.
I think I've caught up on the worst of the urgent stuff that didn't get delivered due to the hiccup in my email. My email chose a bad, bad day to throw its hissy fit, however - there was a lot of emails that needed instant action contained therein.
One book to read. Five articles to write. Two interviews to complete. These have to happen by Sunday afternoon regardless of what else gets thrown at me. So let me just finish one of the things thrown and then maybe I can sleep.
I still have one rather urgent thing to do before I can sleep, and then I teach tomorrow. Twice, in fact. Suddenly the rest of this week has become a bit too busy for comfort. Losing three hours to technical problems was not a good thing at all.
I think I've caught up on the worst of the urgent stuff that didn't get delivered due to the hiccup in my email. My email chose a bad, bad day to throw its hissy fit, however - there was a lot of emails that needed instant action contained therein.
One book to read. Five articles to write. Two interviews to complete. These have to happen by Sunday afternoon regardless of what else gets thrown at me. So let me just finish one of the things thrown and then maybe I can sleep.
gillpolack @ 2011-05-10T21:28:00
Most of my email isn't reaching me today, for some reason. If you have anything urgent, either ring me, or try emailing via one of my alternate addresses (try philologa(at)gmail(dot)com, for instance). I found out about the problem when poor Sharyn was trying to do a bunch of urgent stuff and I was not answering. She so didn't need that!
I'm checking Facebook for messages and also here.
I'm checking Facebook for messages and also here.
gillpolack @ 2011-05-10T20:07:00
This afternoon we had our last meeting for the camp. Next week I'm off to Tuross Head for a couple of days, to teach writing by the sea. We shall eat, and walk on the beach, and Tim-the-artist will teach in the dining room and I teach in the lounge room and we all get the Great Outdoors. The days will only be marginally warmer than here, but the nights will be about ten degrees warmer. I'm looking forward to that! This is why I need to get so much done this week. The camp makes the perfect break between my articles/reviews and the work for Europe.
I forgot one article I owe when I made my previous lists for myself, so I have two pieces to do in later May, and both require considerable thought, but there will be only two. I've read all but two books for the other articles. And I may only need to read one, after all - I miscounted how many articles I need to give.
I can write more, or I can stop at the six I absolutely need. It all depends on how frantic I want to get. Right now, I want to cuddle up in a doona and watch silly movies, so I may stop at six. Two interviews and four essays. One essay on Jewish calendars, one on magic in Renaissance Florence, one on a rather odd approach to science education, one on Latin poetry and one on a set of fantasy novels.
That's five, isn't it? OK, so I'm writing five sesays and two interviews. I don't want to drop any of them, and so they must all be written. Still, only one book to read for any of them. And one to read for the other article I promised. I wonder if I can do all that before Monday morning, or if there will be carry-over? Watch this space...
I forgot one article I owe when I made my previous lists for myself, so I have two pieces to do in later May, and both require considerable thought, but there will be only two. I've read all but two books for the other articles. And I may only need to read one, after all - I miscounted how many articles I need to give.
I can write more, or I can stop at the six I absolutely need. It all depends on how frantic I want to get. Right now, I want to cuddle up in a doona and watch silly movies, so I may stop at six. Two interviews and four essays. One essay on Jewish calendars, one on magic in Renaissance Florence, one on a rather odd approach to science education, one on Latin poetry and one on a set of fantasy novels.
That's five, isn't it? OK, so I'm writing five sesays and two interviews. I don't want to drop any of them, and so they must all be written. Still, only one book to read for any of them. And one to read for the other article I promised. I wonder if I can do all that before Monday morning, or if there will be carry-over? Watch this space...
May 9, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-05-09T20:44:00
I have wireless at home*. And a bunch of things that didn't work tech-ishly now operate beautifully. I am a happy bunny and one of my friends is full of chocolate.
*This will make the friends staying with me for Conflux very happy, I suspect.
*This will make the friends staying with me for Conflux very happy, I suspect.
gillpolack @ 2011-05-09T11:32:00
It must be Monday in the US, for my new BiblioBuffet piece is up. In it I wax enthusiastic about Shaun Tan (which is really not hard to do).
gillpolack @ 2011-05-09T10:20:00
This morning's reading is Wolfsangel, by MD Lachlan. I'm thinking of taking a trio of books and writing something about them. I have the trio of books and am partway through, but keep changing my mind about what I'll write. They are all speculative fiction and they all rest on history in one way or another. I was going to let the inner historian get up to great mischief and say impolite things about Dumas, initially. Now, I don't know what I'm doing, but an approach will appear - they always do.
What's diverted me and muddied my approach is this novel. It's very, very good. I keep reading it and forgetting I'm supposed to be analysing. Almost always, I can read and analyse and enjoy all at once, but Wolfsangel won't let me do that. Lachlan is more language sensitive than most. Or maybe he's simply language sensitive in a way I appreciate - viz: http://www.mdlachlan.com/?p=182 Either way, this is an exceptionally enjoyable book.
And now I'm contemplating an interview of writers who are united in their hatred of twisery twasery. It would be a fun interview. Except that I'm full up with interviews until I get back from Europe (I can set up more, but I won't have time to actually do the work). I'm almost finished one with Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Kay Penman and I'm still in the process of one with Justina Robson and Marianne de Pierres (which has some fine surprises).
Later today my new BiblioBuffet piece will be up. If I remember, I'll link to it here.
And yes, today is all about BiblioBuffet. This is because (due to a sad series of events in which reviews I promised are no longer needed) I only have eight BB articles to write, plus one 5000 word essay-thing, plus my conference paper, plus my Masterclass reading (plus the PhD work, which is there automatically) and I'm ready for the UK. I've given myself this week minus one hour to do the BB articles, with the exception of the Robson/de Pierres interview, which has its own schedule. Next week I am on camp. After that, I can tackle everything else.
It's still a lot of work, but I'm pretty sure I can do it all. Losing five book reviews (while the circumstances of that loss are a great shame) actually makes the rest of it a lot easier. Also the fact that I've read 40% of the books I'm writing about for BB. I intend to make it 60% by the end of today, and two articles written.
I need to change my middle name from "Sarah" to "Ambition." We might have to change my great-grandmother's first name (since I was named after her - she died just before I was born) just to keep everything consistent.
What's diverted me and muddied my approach is this novel. It's very, very good. I keep reading it and forgetting I'm supposed to be analysing. Almost always, I can read and analyse and enjoy all at once, but Wolfsangel won't let me do that. Lachlan is more language sensitive than most. Or maybe he's simply language sensitive in a way I appreciate - viz: http://www.mdlachlan.com/?p=182 Either way, this is an exceptionally enjoyable book.
And now I'm contemplating an interview of writers who are united in their hatred of twisery twasery. It would be a fun interview. Except that I'm full up with interviews until I get back from Europe (I can set up more, but I won't have time to actually do the work). I'm almost finished one with Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Kay Penman and I'm still in the process of one with Justina Robson and Marianne de Pierres (which has some fine surprises).
Later today my new BiblioBuffet piece will be up. If I remember, I'll link to it here.
And yes, today is all about BiblioBuffet. This is because (due to a sad series of events in which reviews I promised are no longer needed) I only have eight BB articles to write, plus one 5000 word essay-thing, plus my conference paper, plus my Masterclass reading (plus the PhD work, which is there automatically) and I'm ready for the UK. I've given myself this week minus one hour to do the BB articles, with the exception of the Robson/de Pierres interview, which has its own schedule. Next week I am on camp. After that, I can tackle everything else.
It's still a lot of work, but I'm pretty sure I can do it all. Losing five book reviews (while the circumstances of that loss are a great shame) actually makes the rest of it a lot easier. Also the fact that I've read 40% of the books I'm writing about for BB. I intend to make it 60% by the end of today, and two articles written.
I need to change my middle name from "Sarah" to "Ambition." We might have to change my great-grandmother's first name (since I was named after her - she died just before I was born) just to keep everything consistent.
May 8, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-05-08T21:14:00
Mother's Day has prompted a series of cousins and uncles to ring me to wish me happy birthday (belatedly). I'm catching up on all the news and giving many virtual hugs. And, of course, I get to find out that I may be far away, but I am not at all forgotten. This matters.
This birthday refuses to go away. I don't think I shall complain about that.
This birthday refuses to go away. I don't think I shall complain about that.
gillpolack @ 2011-05-08T19:25:00
One not-so-good thing. If you are local (within about 500 miles) and didn't hear about the party, it is quite likely that your email was eaten en route and that the email asking if you got the email was also eaten en route. It's not that I don't love you! (It has just emerged that some emails definitely didn't arrive. I don't think I can use this as an excuse for a second gathering, alas.)
May 7, 2011
gillpolack @ 2011-05-08T09:51:00
I keep forgetting things I wanted to say about yesterday. Things like a Tardis arriving (out of nowhere, of course) and Mike R apologising for parking on the verandah, there being no space indoors or where the cars were.
gillpolack @ 2011-05-07T22:16:00
Today was even more astonishing than last night. I have some totally amazing people in my life. I'm rather teary about it all, but who wouldn't be when a group of friends combine to pay for part of my Europe trip, and another two friends have paid for another part, and other friends combined to get me the dream netbook so that I can go equipped and my mother gave me the camera I needed (not just the camera - *the* camera - it's a very nice little piece of equipment). I am the proud owner of one of Kathleen Jennings' pictures for Masques thanks to Elizabeth's kindness, and I have my own sonic screwdriver and K9, a ration coupon from the 1940s, and books, and chocolate and other delights.
Mostly, I have friends. Tessa surprised me by appearing from Melbourne, and Mum and my sister also came from Melbourne. Laura and Alan drove in from the coast, and Llyn and Iain from Sydney. Other friends couldn't get there, so I shall catch up at a later date. I missed them.
What I can't get over is just how awesome my friends are. And here I'm not just talking about their wonderful generosity, but about them, themselves. I can't even begin to explain. Maybe I should just tell you about the cake-cutting and let it stand as an explanation. I'm afraid I skipped speeches and waiting for 'Happy Birthday' (which got sung after, anyhow) because I had two little girls, both named Mia, both daughters of dear friends, and they were my assistants in blowing out the candles. They chose and ate their favourite pieces of cake, then they had to go. One Mia turned to me and said "I don't want to go yet - this is a good party." When a six year old can tell a 50 year old single that she's having a fine time at her birthday, then you *know* the people are amazing. (And the party itself was a birthday present from a family of friends.)
Speaking of the cake - it was also astonishing. It was a cartoon Tardis, with four daleks. It was (is, but there's not much left) a totally superb chocolate cake, just the right balance of richness and texture.
There's so much more, but sleep beckons and I'm very happy inside myself.
Mostly, I have friends. Tessa surprised me by appearing from Melbourne, and Mum and my sister also came from Melbourne. Laura and Alan drove in from the coast, and Llyn and Iain from Sydney. Other friends couldn't get there, so I shall catch up at a later date. I missed them.
What I can't get over is just how awesome my friends are. And here I'm not just talking about their wonderful generosity, but about them, themselves. I can't even begin to explain. Maybe I should just tell you about the cake-cutting and let it stand as an explanation. I'm afraid I skipped speeches and waiting for 'Happy Birthday' (which got sung after, anyhow) because I had two little girls, both named Mia, both daughters of dear friends, and they were my assistants in blowing out the candles. They chose and ate their favourite pieces of cake, then they had to go. One Mia turned to me and said "I don't want to go yet - this is a good party." When a six year old can tell a 50 year old single that she's having a fine time at her birthday, then you *know* the people are amazing. (And the party itself was a birthday present from a family of friends.)
Speaking of the cake - it was also astonishing. It was a cartoon Tardis, with four daleks. It was (is, but there's not much left) a totally superb chocolate cake, just the right balance of richness and texture.
There's so much more, but sleep beckons and I'm very happy inside myself.
