Monday, September 24, 2007
A matter of tats
I would like to share something with you, dear readers, and I invite your comments on the matter, should you care to share them.
I am seriously considering getting a tattoo. Now this may be a mild mid-life crisis, but it is something I've been thinking about for a number of years. My friend Lydia has just come back into my life as she does once a year for a few glorious weeks. Lydia is, as the song would have it, a "tattooed lady". She has tats on her legs and back and she sports "sleeves", whole-arm tattoos on both arms. When I see her we talk tats, because they are one of the things she's into, and I'm interested in her and I really like her tats. They are a part of her.
Despite having been a hardcore punk for many years of my life I never wanted to get a tattoo in my teens, twenties or thirties. I was never the type to feel peer pressure, so while I was surrounded by tattoos and piercings I remained clear-skinned (well, except for acne) and un-pierced (except for the standard ear-piercings, but even those I only got when I was like, eighteen).
I want a tattoo now because I think I know who I am now. Also I feel quite certain that my future is not going to bring me into a conservative, conventional job or circle of friends where my tattoo might be a source of embarrassment -- a youthful indiscretion that needs covering up or removal.
It's not going to be very discreet. It will be fairly big and it will be on my shoulder and upper arm. It will symbolize my 3 children.
What do you think? Will I regret it?
I would like to share something with you, dear readers, and I invite your comments on the matter, should you care to share them.
I am seriously considering getting a tattoo. Now this may be a mild mid-life crisis, but it is something I've been thinking about for a number of years. My friend Lydia has just come back into my life as she does once a year for a few glorious weeks. Lydia is, as the song would have it, a "tattooed lady". She has tats on her legs and back and she sports "sleeves", whole-arm tattoos on both arms. When I see her we talk tats, because they are one of the things she's into, and I'm interested in her and I really like her tats. They are a part of her.
Despite having been a hardcore punk for many years of my life I never wanted to get a tattoo in my teens, twenties or thirties. I was never the type to feel peer pressure, so while I was surrounded by tattoos and piercings I remained clear-skinned (well, except for acne) and un-pierced (except for the standard ear-piercings, but even those I only got when I was like, eighteen).
I want a tattoo now because I think I know who I am now. Also I feel quite certain that my future is not going to bring me into a conservative, conventional job or circle of friends where my tattoo might be a source of embarrassment -- a youthful indiscretion that needs covering up or removal.
It's not going to be very discreet. It will be fairly big and it will be on my shoulder and upper arm. It will symbolize my 3 children.
What do you think? Will I regret it?
Friday, September 21, 2007
Not drowning, waving.
Well I've managed to keep my head above water and I actually feel like my courses are going well, considering the fact that I've never done this before and I'm flying by the seat of my pants. It's a hell of a lot of work, but I think I'm finally coming out of the feeling of disconnection, the uncomfortable feeling of living in a life that is not my own. I'm starting to assimilate this new fact in my life, and I'm beginning to get a little, tiny tickle that tells me I might end up liking it. Maybe a lot.
Oh, and -- I gave my first quiz last night, and looking at the results so far it looks like my students may have actually paid attention and LEARNED something in class so far. I can't tell you how amazed I am at this.
Well I've managed to keep my head above water and I actually feel like my courses are going well, considering the fact that I've never done this before and I'm flying by the seat of my pants. It's a hell of a lot of work, but I think I'm finally coming out of the feeling of disconnection, the uncomfortable feeling of living in a life that is not my own. I'm starting to assimilate this new fact in my life, and I'm beginning to get a little, tiny tickle that tells me I might end up liking it. Maybe a lot.
Oh, and -- I gave my first quiz last night, and looking at the results so far it looks like my students may have actually paid attention and LEARNED something in class so far. I can't tell you how amazed I am at this.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
The nadir (I hope)
I haven't died. Yet.
I am just in way over my head and feeling like I'm drowning most of the time. Insomnia is not helping matters much. I like teaching, as in the classroom experience, but the prep and the stress are killing me.
I haven't died. Yet.
I am just in way over my head and feeling like I'm drowning most of the time. Insomnia is not helping matters much. I like teaching, as in the classroom experience, but the prep and the stress are killing me.
