America’s Most Widely Misread Literary Work by The Atlantic ‘Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” is often interpreted as an anthem of individualism and nonconformity, seemingly encouraging readers to take the road less traveled… But as Frost liked to warn his listeners, “You have to be careful of that one; it’s a tricky poem—very tricky.” …
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Losing an icon: Chadwick Boseman
I’m still getting to grips with my shock and my news over his death. When I first saw the news, I thought it was a hoax. How can it be that an artist who burns so brightly and with such energy can be taken by by this devastating, wasting disease? And how on earth did …
Do you find it painful to keep to a schedule?
Do you find it painful to keep to a schedule? I do. At least, as a general rule. I feel like I have so many plans or schemes I have set up and abandoned. Whenever I try to set things up, there is a feeling of rebellion, an urge to paint outside the lines, and …
Continue reading “Do you find it painful to keep to a schedule?”
Odds and ends 4
2020 Commencement Address by Marlon James (for Macalester U) “So if it’s not about talent and it’s not about effort, what is it about? It’s hunger. How badly do you want it? It’s stakes. How high are yours? If your stakes aren’t high enough, fake it. It’s how hard are you prepared to work? That’s …
Odds and ends 3
Höchste Lust: music as the opposite of social distancing by Katharine Dain “At some point I noticed a shift in the quality of attention between us—a marked preference for each other’s company, surreptitious glances of appraisal—but I didn’t worry about what felt like a little gig crush… But it was more, and I knew it. …
Odds and Ends 2
Guess who finally subscribed to The Atlantic? 🙂 Dear Therapist: The Pandemic Has Changed My Relationship With My Therapist by Lori Gottlieb (from The Atlantic) “In other words, you say you’re trying to protect your therapist, but I have a feeling that the person you’re trying to protect is yourself. If you stop having sessions, …
When the light at the end of the tunnel comes sooner than you expect
I almost didn’t write this post. The information hasn’t really sunk in yet. Today in my treatment session, I got an amazing surprise. I was due to finish in mid-June, and had two more appointments booked. But the wonderful nurse who was looking after me checked their system. They had counted wrong. The next time …
Continue reading “When the light at the end of the tunnel comes sooner than you expect”
Riding the wave of the ups and downs
When undergoing any intensive experience (like cancer treatment) there’s a decision to be made: are you going to fight the tides, or ride them? I was reminded of this today. It was a treatment day. They have to give me a whole lot of premeds when I have Herceptin, because I had a reaction during …
Odds and Ends 1
How to Salvage a Disastrous Day in Your Covid-19 House Arrest by Aisha S. Ahmad (from chroniclevitae.com) “You are in “remedial” life class. For scholars and other high-achieving professionals, performance is an important part of our identities. We are used to tackling hard challenges, and we thrive on achievement and excellence. But that approach will not …
Some thoughts on interviewing in the arts
Yesterday I had a great interview for a wonderful opportunity. It surprised me that I was able to think this. Because the ultimate deciding factor is whether you get selected. Right? Well, I’m not necessarily sure this is true in the arts. It made me think a bit about this experience, and what I’ve learned …
Continue reading “Some thoughts on interviewing in the arts”