cornerofmadness

Today was only a half day. We used to do two full days of workshop but not only was it a lot so many faculty had to leave half way through the last day to return to work (and some are still taking their suitcases with them on the bus today) so a few years ago we went to this.

Workshop #1 was definitely one I wanted to go to but I'm not sure if my students would go for. It's about scrapbooking your successes in class and/or using it to outline a tricky problem you think you've conquered (also I loved the study tip of quiz yourself, highlight what you know, look over the unhighlighted stuff and self quiz again). I could at least give it a shot (for credits)

Workshop #2 was all about gaming and not only that unlike all the other gaming ones he put links in to make your own game resources AND other games for sale. I'm really gonna need to check that out.

Workshop #3 canceled. AGAIN. I went to my second choice which was to build a brachial plexus from pool noodle vertebra and pipe cleaners. It was fun but I don't go into that level of detail.

It was only 1 when I got back to the hotel. I went to the American Jazz Museum . Didn't think I'd get there because the road to it was closed but I got there. And I got lucky. I'm not sure if they do this all the time or if it's all the time but they had high school bands playing the whole time I was there. Yay! The museum chose depth over breadth. It's 90% about Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Ella Fitzgerald. They have it done up well, lots of interactive reading things, plenty of ads and other stuff on display. I knew that KC was big in Jazz but I didn't realize it was more important (or at least AS important) as NYC and Chicago. They had a mocked up Blue Room (that does concerts almost nightly). I didn't know much about Soundies, basically music videos that you could find in the 30s=40s in nicklelodians and things that like and there was a Columbus OH lawyer John H. Baker who gave his collection to this museum. they have literal miles of footage this guy preserved and tons of archives (and i suspect no space to expand the collection)

When I left it was after 3 and since most things close up at 5 I decided now would be the time to go to Elm Wood Cemetery Neat, rather small cemetery with cool stuff. I missed Leannah Loveall's grave (a famous madam) and my phone is crap so I couldn't use find a grave or download the map. (turns out she's not on find a grave but now I've seen the map. I can always go back)

Came back saw one of my compatriots and she told me there's a freaking Hallmark museum at the end of the block. I could have come and did that. Ah well (might still try to go)

Also thought about what someone told me about the roof pool here. From my room I could see no steps, just ladders but she had mentioned a tunnel. I couldn't see a tunnel so I trundle over and there it is a little room with the towels and a tunnel and there are steps doing to the tunnel (I can't do the ladder) I run back, get my suit and put in about 40 minutes of water aerobics. I'm the only one there.

Indulged in Jack Stack BBQ again, turkey and lamb ribs this time. They were amazing. packed everything up. Tomorrow I go to the casino (because the price of this place is going to shoot way up).


What I Just Finished Reading:
The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder - this was pretty good

What I am Currently Reading:

The Faraway Inn - a cozy fantasy (portal) set in Vermont. I'm enjoying it.

Our Sisters Keeper - a very weird own voices black magic setting in the 1920s, has some serious creepy vibes


The Gay Disaster Detective Agency - one of my arcs. I usually like Lev AC Rosen but this isn't working for me.

The Death Card - currently struggling to get into it


The Kindness of Strangers - another arc and I'm not sure this is going to work for me


What I Plan to Read Next: some of my looming arcs

Nor did the clothes get watched but I have another trip in like 10 days and so much is still up in the air. Once I get that done I can relax.

I did get the summer dress clothes out. Now to get the casual clothes changed out too and who knows with this weather. TOmorrow is cold for this time of year and by the weekend it's going to be 90. Do not want.

I had something to say but now I can't remember what it is. Ah, aging.

What I Just Finished Reading:

Dungeons and Danger - a paranormal mystery It was pretty good

Hooked on Murder - boring mystery


What I am Currently Reading:

That Which Feeds Us - Hawai'ian Gothic, very creepy, low gore horror, one of the best things I've read this year so far

The Death Card - currently struggling to get into it




What I Plan to Read Next: We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune


April's slim reads


The Barn Identity mystery

Stay for a Spell cozy fantasy

Edinburgh Twilight historical mystery

Tale of the Hidden Village: World of Heavenfall Fantasy

Deathly Fates Fantasy

What Feasts at Night folk horror

I know I'm not. But with every passing year it's getting harder and harder to teach these kids anything. I never used to give words banks for the organ test because I figured you fucking had to know how to spell lung, heart, liver etc. They don't. Not any more.

( discussion of my dissecting lab test )


Watching S6 of Inspector Gently. Mom too. She called me to tell me unfortunately John lived. You know you could almost be sympathetic to him if they didn't write him like they do. Instead, you want to slap him.


What I Just Finished Reading:

Deadly Fates - Chinese mythology inspired, I really liked it


What I am Currently Reading:

Keeper of Lonely spirits - LGBT paranormal with older mains. It was slow starting but I like it.

Dungeons and Danger - a paranormal mystery arc


What I Plan to Read Next:

Hooked on Murder - lousy so far

Death al Dente - so far terrible

The Death Card

My one class begged me to move the test from today to monday. I did.

The other class should have begged me. Holy shit. I do not what to say. Based on their spelling I would swear they're fifth graders. They aren't borderline illiterate. We're over the border. I do know that when I took this job they asked me could I teach illiterate students and those ones were head and shoulders over this. They literally frighten me to let them loose in a hospital.

I saw my doctor. I love her. So. Much. She listens to me. Anything I want I get. She thinks my cardiologist needs to be doing more than writing pills but agreed with me that the echo looked good (i fucking forgot to bring my lab reports with me). She is as worried as me because I've gained 20 pounds in 9 months. This is in spite of me actively cutting down on calories and exercising more. I'm worried. I'm concerned. Why in the last nine months is my blood pressure skyrocketing along with my weight? She thinks the insulin I think it's that plus the stress. I have no other explanations but it has made me very sad.

The doc said 'the nurse said you're having knee pain which on....oh never mind.' Yeah because the right one was such a balloon of swelling you could see the difference thru my jeans.

Speaking of sad I hope to hell my poker face was working today. One of my students, a nice young person I've had two semesters now. They wanted my advice because they have two pick between two surgeries...for pancreatic cancer. They're worried about falling behind in their course work and the big life changes they have planned for the summer and as I'm helping them navigate medical holds on the classes thinking you'll be lucky to be alive on graduation day next year. It has a terrible survival rate and I know this. I couldn't help them other than to arrange for them to talk to my work friend DM who is a 5 year pancreatic cancer survivor(the one I mentioned on monday whose cancer is back and spreading)

I don't like this day much.

And during the test I was rereading a chapter trying to find the steam for the one I'm writing and whining about. And realized I had FORGOTTEN a major detail. It would make things much more interesting even without me changing anything. Ezio is swearing Phoenix didn't have a lover but I forgot the coroner found out she's pregnant. It's gonna hit Ezio hard.


What I Just Finished Reading:

Stay for a Spell - cozy fantasy, loved this

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - ouch


What I am Currently Reading:

Deadly Fates

What Feasts in the Night

Keeper of Lonely spirits (or something like that)

Hazelthorn - ya horror, really good so far


What I Plan to Read Next: Hooked on Murder - lousy so far


The Death Card (an arc I just got in the mail)

So I called Boston Scientific about my strips and the lady stops me and says 'let me guess they told you to remove it if it says 'poor skin contact.' Yes. 'Unless it's falling off leave it on. It's fine. It's transmitting.' 'It woke me up at night with this.' 'put it on do not disturb and get your rest, honey.'

I want to believe her. She admitted it's not in their booklet either. They're sending more since I do have only one left for a month.

I skipped yoga. I wanted to get some stuff done at home. Too many days a week I'm getting home barely in time to do dinner and shower before I have like 3 hours before bed and I'm exhausted. Glad I did because my sugar crashed out.

And minor miracle happened in holy week. I called the clinic and said I'm sorry I forgot I don't work friday and do you have anything in Jackson (closer to where I live) instead of Gallipolis (closer to where I work). And they DID!!! Yay. So I can go to Jackson do that AND do some of the Easter festival fun stuff I wanted to do.

Books!!!! It's time for the March wrap up. You know the drill, if anything strikes your fancy let's talk. And OMG the new bookstore is doing a book trade in 2 weeks (after I gave away a bunch of books at work, but that's fine too. I'm glad my friends wanted them).



What I Just Finished Reading:

Violet Thistlewaite is not a villain any more This was a sweet cozy fantasy/romantasy

Zombie Day Care - don't bother



What I am Currently Reading:

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek - I really wanted to read this BUT so far within 50ish pages there's been forced marriage, domestic violence, martial rape, attempted sexual assault (by brother in law), racism, animal abuse. And it's bleak AF. Not sure I'll finish this book club book.

Edinburgh Twilight - historic mystery, chonkier than I like mysteries to be but I'm enjoying it

The Tale of the Hidden Village - some cozy fantasy/mystery indie I got a couple years back already.


What I Plan to Read Next: The Death Card (an arc I just got in the mail)


March's reads. It was a great month for reading.


The Final Problem historical mystery

I Want to be a Wall, Vol. 1 LGBT contemporary manga

Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones. LGBT hockey graphic novel

At Death's Dough cozy mystery


Prodigal Tiger Malaysian folklore fantasy YA


I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream SF short story


The Yellow Wall-Paper horror short


With Friends Like These Thriller


The Snow Child fairytale retelling


Zombie Day Care horror


Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore cozy fantasy/romantasy

I was going to but I started to feel very nauseated and cold. Came home sat down to play a game, woke up an hour later. I'm feeling a little better but not great. Not going was the right call.

Got the midterm grades in. Can't wait for the crying tomorrow.

I looked up the Ohioana book festival because I know it's up and coming but there was a library staff change and the festival was canceled. I'm bummed and angry. I didn't make it last year for reasons and now I don't know if it'll ever be back.

What I Just Finished Reading:

The Snow Child - depressing

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison. Would have been better without the misogyny and sexual abuse (but would it be Ellison without the misogyny?)


What I am Currently Reading:


Violet Thistlewaite is not a villain any more so far, I really like this one

With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee


What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia, and Luna Park history

So the police and fire dept show up IN my office today. Where's the gas leak?

Me....it was someone with gasoline on their shoes.

Cop/FD - you are KIDDING?

Me - don't I wish.

What happened someone showed up to class reeking so the prof moved them to my lab because it was empty and had windows (class rooms do not) some student apparently texted a parent who heard gas leak and phoned it in to the fire department...

Cop leaves muttering and now I have to write this up...


meanwhile a coworker's wife's h.s. was put on lockdown and then evacutated. he's not sure why. And yesterday they played bomb threats on the radio hoping someone knows the voice as someone keeps calling them in to a local high school.

I did go to get my EKG done. I wasn't sure. They said you could just walk in no schedulling required and damned if i didn't. nothing in the portal yet

Went to yoga but I really hurt now. I can half ass the seated/standing stuff but the stuff on my knees beyond cat or cow is killing me. My knee made such a lough cracking sound everyone looked. I'm like nope not doing that one. I may give it up entirely if water aerobic goes off. we went from 14 to 5 sign ups and we're not even started. sigh


FINALLY got my hotel (again) for the Loveland Frogman Festival on Saturday. I'm so busy I feel guilty for going but I plan to have fun, buy shit I don't need and see friends



What I Just Finished Reading:

Check Please sticks and scones - It wasn't as good as book one, tried to cover too much with no depth (like Jack goes from joining the team to winning the cup without much in between) and the fact that Jack is drawn like he's 40 (he's 22-24 I think) and Bittle is drawn looking 14 instead of 21 made it...uncomfortable

gave back the Y man without reading

Between the Shades of Grey - way too dark to be enjoyable for me


What I am Currently Reading:

Got these on interlibrary loan - With Friends Like These, The Snow Child, At Death's Dough and Violet Thistlewaite is not a villain any more so I'm trying to bull thru all four at once (because that makes sense)

The Final Problem - mystery set in the 60s welcome to the name dropping hour


What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia, and Luna Park history

Did have to give up on doing a lot of the ones with me on my knees and I have made good on my committment to not talk bad about myself during it. I just sat down and did other things or simply waited. Not great but I can only do what I can do.

Also I am not good at this but I try

I met with the football coaches who promised to make the new football team take our classes seriously or else. After the last (which was the first) semester these brand new coaches have their work cut out for them because it was brutal and in 20 years here I've never seen so much entitlement (and see one team make an entire college hate them so fast)



What I Just Finished Reading:

Dark Life - YA book set under the ocean. the world building needed beefed up but over all enjoyable


Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - Not what I was expecting. I don't think it deserves the hype but I didn't think it was awful

This Is How You Lose the Time War - All of SF authors wrote glowing reviews. I thought it was weird for the sake of being weird but I did get into it a little


What I am Currently Reading:

Zombie Day Care - getting painful but at least it's short


The Final Problem - mystery set in the 60s (no progress because I couldn't get the netgalley app to download. FINALLY did and so far it's not freezing up_


Between the Shades of Grey - not sure I'll make it thru this. NOT the right time mentally to read about a government hauling off families for talking bad about the government and slamming them in prison.

Check Please sticks and scones - had to find one for my favorite winter olympic sport. Okay that is NOT hockey but that's what the library had and the first book was cute.

Y the Last man omnibus - not as good as I remember it

What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia, and Luna Park history

So I managed to score an emergency visit to my eye doctor. He doesn't think my left eye is infected. However, it has inflitrative corneal-conjunctivitis. Whee. Basically my eyeball decided it didn't want a contact in it and threw a tantrum. (I've had this once before in college a billion years ago) The cornea isn't damaged but the inflammatory response is SO severe right now that my eyeball is so swollen I can barely open the lid and there is so much fluid IN the cornea (plus white blood cells) that I'm unable to see through it. He made me read the letters on the eyechart. Right eye, 20/40 (that's as good as my vision gets), left eye, are there even lines of letters? I can barely see a smear of something that might be black so even 20/200 is beyond my eyes ability right now. I have a second steroid eyedrop that is also antibiotic as well (just in case) Not allowed to wear a contact for pretty much a month. In the meantime the eye is just over there weeping all day, the color of a tomato and scared students.

I did have to go to give that exam, the easiest I will give. 2 got 100%, 1 passed, 3 failed. Guess we're going to have a talk about time management, sports vs academia, come talk to me PLEASE come talk to me and that yes Cs get degrees but they DO NOT get you into grad school usually. (this is my I wanna go to grad school class).



The good news today was it was 10 degrees hotter than expected and yes most of the ice is gone off the parking lot so that's good.

I need to get my story out so I'm preserving what's left of my vision for that. No fun fannish 50 stuff but here's the reading at least.

What I Just Finished Reading:

When the Moon Hits Your Eye - meh

Parable of the Sower graphic novel adaptation of the Octavia Butler classic. I forgot how dystopic this was, not to mention the cringeworthy age gap between the MC (18) and her lover (57).


What I am Currently Reading:


The Final Problem - mystery set in the 60s (for some reason ALL my netgalley arcs are freezing up my kindle app. I'm going to have to try and redownload a lot of these using the netgalley app which annoys me


Dark Life - YA book (so far so good)



Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - okay I'm at the point of thinking Maxim isn't much better than Heathcliff, NOT a good place to be


Heavy Vinyl - graphic novel for the sapphic comic prompt on popsugar


What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia Zombie Day Care and This Is How You Lose the Time Lord

Luna Park history - it was an amusement park in Pittsburgh around 1910.

So I did try to get out of here. My hill is an ice floe but I got up there and the main highway is fine. BUT both counties are still on level 2 snow emergencies. Students are whining about it. I point to Canvas where I left them a message saying if you don't feel safe don't come. I'll put up a recording and you go suffer through that.

Rocket is being the best boy, finally using the damn litter box. Guess it got too cold to go pee outside. (He has only used that box a handful of times in 4 years. Today he walked in and did his business while I'm there like a good boy. He still wants out mind you but then he gets over it.

Another day of failing to clean (I have no energy today) but I made an eye appt, paid my membership dues for my pro organization, bought the work con and the hotel, contacted the steampunk con about their teacher discount, got the hotel for the loveland frogman festival in march (watch me get snowed into Loveland)

I did a bad thing. I took an Amazon prime trial membership because I HAD to spend the gift cards I got last work con and the items I wanted were over 50$ cheaper when I did that. Now to remember to cancel it in march.


What I Just Finished Reading:

A Curious Kind of Magic - I enjoyed this cozy mystery/fantasy thought the flawed main character did get on my nerves some times

Sugar and Vice - it was fairly fun

Sally Ride - I thought this was a YA book it was barely middle grade, more like 5-6th grade (I hate that my library system uses some reading level thing that means nothing to people who aren't parents. It's from the line that Chelsea Clinton started after the whole and yet she persisted dust up and it was nice for what it was.


What I am Currently Reading:

Zombie Day Care and something by Alison Bechdel about being superhuman. Oh joy an exercise memoir. Nearly done.

Luna Park history - it was an amusement park in Pittsburgh around 1910. Mostly interested because it feels like a place to set a story. I mean a lion escaped from it and ate a woman.

What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia and some fantasy sapphic comic where chefs fight monsters...with giant forks. I know I know, the prompt is sapphic comic and this is the only one I haven't read yet at my library (I didn't like their other offerings enough to reread)