On blogging and other Misc.-ish type thoughts

It seems that this semester my blogging has dropped dramatically from last semester. Most likely, it's because I no longer have a stretch of FOUR HOURS in a row for office hours. I miss blogging and I think I am going to make a commitment to becoming more active once again. I keep checking my widgit and site meter stats, but how can I expect people to surf if I don't provide fresh content with any sort of regularity.

But, such is my boring life.

When I was an undergraduate, my friends called me "Apocalyptic Laura" because EVERYTHING was a crisis. I was constantly in crisis mode and my life was filled with drama. I don't know if it's age, drugs, or Steve's influence, but my life is calm and steady now. I suspect it's all three, actually. But a steady, drama-free life doesn't leave me much to blog about.

I finally finished reading _Breach of Faith_ (by Jed Horne) for the One Book One Community dialogues that are going on. The man is an amazing writer. His ability to evoke images is impressive. One of the librarians here said in regard to the BRCC book club discussion of the book that most people found the first part of the book compelling but they didn't like the second part. The second part is where he gets political. Not in a ranting sort of way, but in a narrative style that shows how Kathleen Blanco was set up by the Bush administration again and again. And he's pretty even-handed in depicting the various political fiascos that were responsible for the Katrina fiasco.

I was supposed to facilitate a community dialogue about the book last night at the Intercultural Center at LSU, but hardly anyone showed up. I expect that the dialogues on Katrina and race will be standing room only, though. (The discussion questions can be downloaded from here.) I'm looking forward to the discussion in Baker in a couple of weeks.

Anyway, class is calling, so I'm off.

But first, three gratitudes:

1. I am grateful for the great staff at BRCC. The library staff gave a wonderful presentation for my class and the library scavenger hunt that Patsy Kay Turner (my office mate) and I wrote. Also a staffer from facility services was helpful above and beyond the call of duty today regarding my office key. People are so nice here.
2. I am grateful that I have a better teaching schedule this semester and I hope I'm as lucky next semester.
3. I am grateful that people still come by my blog even though I'm not really blogging.