Done

My conference paper is finished. I'm sure it can support another read through and edit but that's what long plane trips are for. I can't believe I did it--a week ago, this was a pile of microfilm scans, a few notes, a proposal and an idea. My bags are packed, the sun shone today and now I have to charge my camera batteries and pack a few things and I'm ready to go.

Yesterday

Despite being crazed with work (I'm finishing my conference paper today, leaving for LA tomorrow and have to prep Tuesday's classes before I leave), yesterday was a good day. I received copies of a journal featuring my most recent article (a short essay on Britney Spears and celebrity), got an email with good news about work, and decided to buy the Surface to Air shoes I've been coveting for the last few weeks. I just hope they fit.

Today is sunny and bright. I was just interviewed for the New York Daily News for an article on child stardom and the Runaways (it will be out on Sunday as I return). Now I have to pack, get down to work and then go to acupuncture and Whole Foods later. No food on the airline so I'm bringing enough organic fruit, nuts and food to last me over a transcontinental flight--with healthy snacks and organic green tea to spare for my hotel room. I'll get to see lots of old friends and hope to meet with Marti on Saturday night--we both have to be in LA for work this week.

Never-ending work

Most days this week, I've put in 13-14 hour work days. It's leaving me irritable and a feeling a little overwhelmed. I am falling behind on minor tasks as I try to juggle the big ones (book, conference paper, then course prep). I don't really have the time to sneak down to Film Forum for Mantrap--it's a good job I got my ticket last week as I'd otherwise spend the day working. I am going to enjoy the film but wish I could just take a proper day or two off to tend to myself--my free time seems to be spent either cleaning house or running errands. Once this book and conference paper are finished, I'm going to have a weekend to myself.

Mantrap

Over the last month, I've been reading a biography of Clara Bow. It's pretty good and I'd have powered through it if I'd got any free time (I'm writing this in my office hours) but as it is I'm savoring it little by little which is also nice.

So I was very pleased to see that Film Forum were playing her 1926 film, Mantrap, on Saturday. I hope the book will be done by then, but even if it isn't, I managed to get a ticket and will be heading down to the West Village to watch it with piano accompaniment. I'm inspired by my grad students in my Hollywood Before 1960 class who manage to balance schedules with finding the gems of repertory cinema in NYC.

End of Another Month

So February will be over in just over 40 minutes. I've finally stopped work for the day and am relaxng with an old episode of Beverly Hills 90210.

I've done pretty well with this month's resolutions. First, spending/clothes: I started weak with the Lyell sample sale but since then, I've been good. I waited on a couple of items, only to decide I didn't really need them anyway. Although the snow and slush makes me want to escape to beautiful clothes, the reality of this month is snow boots, thick sweaters and cardigans. Not so glamorous.

I did get something yesterday at the Barney's warehouse sale but I spent less than $100. I bought the Jeffrey Monteiro red slouch dress--for $75. It's missing a button but otherwise perfect. Evan thought it looked great on--I tried it when we got home with a pair of purple tights and my Lola clogs. Evan's mother bought us some things too (or paid for them)--more in my next post--with photos no less!

I figure it wasn't a bad thing to booked the month with two good sales deals--both classics I'lll wear for years. I have a few covets for the spring, but they are limited--some fantasy items, some more sensible and everyday. But I am trying to "shop my closet" and wait to splurge on things I really can't live without.

As for work, I've really worked hard--to the expense of any leisure. I still have to reread two and half chapters of my book (I have seven chapters and an intro--just under 460 pages including endnotes). I've proof read and copy edited the book twice and hope this is the last pass--I even typed in all the corrections on all but the last three chapters. If I can get it in the mail this week, I can celebrate by writing my conference paper--the one I have to present in two weeks in L.A...

A Week of Work

I've been so quiet recently because I am on the verge of finishing my book. Besides writing/editing/typing in corrections in my free time, I've started doing it in those snippets of time I use to blog (like office hours when nobody is coming in to see me). I'm hoping the book will be finished within the next week. Then I will photograph some clothes and throw myself back into this venture.

With February nearly over, I have done quite well with restricting my impulse to buy clothes. I have bought nothing since I got the Lyell jacket, which is my only February purchase along with the Rachel Comey worker pants--which are lovely.

Right now it's snowing and sleeting outside. So I'll be back in snow boots until the beginning of next week. This weather doesn't really allow you to be stylish.

Busy, busy

I may have a camera now (yay!) but I've been so busy this week I haven't used it yet. I'm hoping this is the last week I spend finishing up the book (before the inevitable round of more revisions). So I've been mired in pages of text, editing down chapters, cutting, pasting, correcting. One more proof read and (hopefully) minor edits. I want to send this baby out in the post on Tuesday--if all goes to plan, I'll be printing it up and packing it up on Tuesday in office hours.

Then I can get going on my conference paper, sample chapter for the second book proposal and all those other things that are not part of my career but actually part of my life! This is why I am still in pajamas at 3.05 p.m...