Mrs. Foxside got me a "Ghost of Christmas Present" robe, and I've never felt more like I've achieved my final form.

@aufsmaulsuppe I agree... in my experience, the chronological approach allows us to see how one text influences another while showing students the way authors are responding to their time and place. It's easier for teachers because it gives us a simple structure.

But many students don't want "simple structure." They want to be challenged, and they want their teachers to treat them with respect. Many of my students THRIVE when I challenge them.

@danielthedaring I have become deeply attached to the squirrels who feed upon the various bits and bobs they can find in my yard, so I'm glad your squirrels are thriving. (Unless, of course, your squirrels are an irritation to you, in which case... please pretend that I said nothing.)

Then, of course, the mechanic who came out saw a middle-aged, middle-class white dude, and so he assumed I had all kinds of Knowledge and Expertise I Do Not Have.

"Well, THERE'S yer problem. Ya got a bad #hickendorffer #solenoidal relay to yer pickle-dipple feed enforcer. Unless ya got a #merble fleegle flange reducer, yer #mingtinglingle ain't gonna spark up yer #Torque twaddler."

Sir, I am a tweedy academic, despite how I look. All I know is "car no go vroom vroom."

Trying to get a vehicle in for service...

Aaaand the other vehicle is stuck in neutral, the car won't turn over, and the shift release won't... you know... release the shifter.

I mean, total #FirstWorldProblems, and I'm pretty freaking blessed that this amounts to a frustrating night of inconvenience, rather than a catastrophic job-loss or life-threatening situation.

I'm sitting in the nonfunctional car, tooting my frustration while my spouse calls AAA and I do #breathwork to regulate.

@Lironah wait... that's NOT where it goes? So THAT'S what I've been doing wrong!

@nightdream thanks! It's the class that has kept me in education. Every time I start getting into a doom-and-gloom mood about education in the US, the students in this class remind me why I do what I do.

Ooh, and thanks @nightdream ,too! My list of friends is pretty small, and I love getting to meet new people!

@Stege : Danke fur den boost! (Entschuldigung, mein Deutsch ist sehr schlecht.)

@nightdream @nathanlovestrees I came here to say the same thing.

Since I was away from socials at this time last year, I didn't get to a yearly post. I will rectify that now.

It is the time of year when my playlist is dominated by Jethro Tull, I dress entirely in browns and greens, and the majority of my personality revolves around making #soup and #bread.

I think what I will do is frontload the big concepts (The #Sublime, The #Uncanny, and The #Weird), and let those three concepts guide our work. Also, I know that Coleridge isn't "Gothic" (nor are Byron and Goethe), but all three are important for the way we read _Frankenstein_.

I'm planning my #GothicLiterature class for next semester, and I'm tired of the (generally) chronological structure. So, here is my current #MindMap of the semester.

To clarify... I actually like it here. As @Lironah pointed out, it's easier to curate a space that doesn't induce rage.

My social media toe-dip has reminded me of two things:

1. Most people are addicted to drama.
2. Big, faceless corporations suck.

Anyway, here's a #hibiscus to remind me (and anyone who sees it) that some things are still #beautiful.

Hmm. This experiment seems to be giving me interesting results.

I've been back on the socials for less than 24 hours. I'm already feeling anxious, angry, and addicted to rage-scrolling. Correlation isn't causation, but it sure feels like I have solid results.

So... if I blip out again, you can probably guess why.

I've been away for a LONG time, but I'm dipping my toes back into the waters of the socials.

I hope i haven't made a grave mistake.

To the folks who know me:

I've been off social media for over a month, and everything in my life has improved. So... I'm out.

If you want to keep in touch, you can. Let me know, and I'll share my email. Otherwise, thanks for the interaction, and I wish you all the best.

@doubtshrine awesome choice, I hope you enjoy it!

But my brain is not braining and my eyes are not eyeing yet, so I read this as "started rocking the bread gnome," and I was confused and intrigued.

... the student suggested, "What if, instead of Big Stick Bash, our early person said, 'When I hit the Bison Skin with Stick, not much happens. But when I hit Bison Skin with Stick WHILE IT'S ON ROCK, I can make covering I call Blanket.'"

And honestly, my mind was blown. I assumed Rock was just an extension of Stick because I was locked in a weapon/tool paradigm for it.

By the way, you could really hear the capital letters when this student gave her reason.