Frogs and Ravens

The Curse of Scattershot Election Schedules

I have lived in seven different states over the course of my lifetime, in most major regions of the country.

You would think that once, just once, I'd get to vote in a primary before the Powers That Be have decided who the front runner is going to be. 

You'd think that just once I'd have the chance to vote for my preferred candidate before the media blitz encourages him to withdraw early.

You'd think, in a year that has broken many of the usual media platitudes about election strategy and forecasting, in a year that has seen a massive compression of the primary schedule, in a year where I am in one of the states that votes earlier rather than later, I'd be able to vote for "my" candidate.

I was very excited about the chance to do this for the first time in my voting life.

DEE-nied!

Again.

Damn you, American primary system!  Damn you!   *shakes fist*

Teaching Has Eaten My Head

I apologize for the even more sporadic than usual posting.  This semester I'm teaching two new preps, one of which has two sections (for a total of almost 80 students) and lots of lectures.  Plus, for some bizarre reason, I thought having them write lots of little papers would be a good idea.  I haven't really had any free time during the day except for maybe a couple of hours a week for pottery; at night I'm brain dead and watch too much tv (I am now addicted to Cash Cab). 

I saw a hawk in a tree on campus a few days ago, the robins are out, and I heard a woodpecker this morning.  So that's something...

Happy New Year!

I spent my New Year surrounded by friends and visiting one of my favorite cities; not a bad way to begin 2008.