Conferences are exhausting! But so worthwhile. I will post more later--still so much to do that I left partially undone--but it is nice to be back home, even though the adrenaline and motivation to work hard is something I'm going to try and hold onto.
Besides presenting the paper, I also spoke with three publishers who are interested in various projects I'm working on, was asked to write two papers, spoke to friends about doing a panel for next year's conference and got to spend some quality time with dear friends like Lisa who I see way too infrequently. I also met some great new scholars and reconnected with many friends and colleagues. Overall, this one was a success even with the sleep deprivation and surfeit of very unhealthy foods.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Done
That is to say I have something that seems to be lucid and just about short enough to fill the 20 minutes. I usually find it difficult to cut a paper much below 11 pages, double spaced (in 12-point Times, just to be picky). This means I am always on the cusp of going over time, something that is not good. This year was no different. But I know how to talk my way through elements of a paper so I should be OK.
I just called the cab (5.15 am to JFK--something that makes me cringe). Thank you conference organizers for booking a conference in New Orleans starting the day after Mardi Gras so that all the flights are expensive and were almost fully booked--even in December. I should arrive about an hour or two before I can check into my room and as I present the same day, I'm sure I'll look as delightful as I will feel.
I think I have packed everything. I've selected my flight/possible conference paper outfit--Rag & Bone Victorian plaid shirt, charcoal Rag & Bone skinny pants, fuchsia suede Chie Mihara heels, black cashmere round neck Inhabit sweater and Lyell little girl black swing peacoat, with my indigo Billie bag.
My ipods are charged, as is my phone. Chargers are in my bag. I burned several films from the dvr to dvd (it's Jean Harlow month on TCM and there are lots of fab pre-codes to boot--including Bed of Roses with Constance Bennett so the dvr will be working overtime). Now all I have to do is shower, clean the cat boxes and then leave the house and cats in Evan's capable hands for the next few days.
I just called the cab (5.15 am to JFK--something that makes me cringe). Thank you conference organizers for booking a conference in New Orleans starting the day after Mardi Gras so that all the flights are expensive and were almost fully booked--even in December. I should arrive about an hour or two before I can check into my room and as I present the same day, I'm sure I'll look as delightful as I will feel.
I think I have packed everything. I've selected my flight/possible conference paper outfit--Rag & Bone Victorian plaid shirt, charcoal Rag & Bone skinny pants, fuchsia suede Chie Mihara heels, black cashmere round neck Inhabit sweater and Lyell little girl black swing peacoat, with my indigo Billie bag.
My ipods are charged, as is my phone. Chargers are in my bag. I burned several films from the dvr to dvd (it's Jean Harlow month on TCM and there are lots of fab pre-codes to boot--including Bed of Roses with Constance Bennett so the dvr will be working overtime). Now all I have to do is shower, clean the cat boxes and then leave the house and cats in Evan's capable hands for the next few days.
One Victory
No, I haven't finished editing down my conference paper. I've reached that stage where every sentence either appears to be fundamentally dislocated from the last or reiterating the same point--which tells me I am just too close to the paper for it to make sense. Alas, I don't have the time to wait and reread as I will have presented the paper by tomorrow.
My victory may be my Achilles' heel. As I was checking the J.Crew 30% off sale items I found one of the Lulu Frost bracelets I liked on markdown, with 30% off and free shipping. I got one. There were two I liked and there is a third in the store (which never appeared online and may not be reduced--if it is, I won't have a chance to look for some time). So I got it. I know it is bad but given that we're now 9 days into the month, I lasted a little longer than most months. And it is an accessory. And I have run out of excuses at this point.
Back to work.
My victory may be my Achilles' heel. As I was checking the J.Crew 30% off sale items I found one of the Lulu Frost bracelets I liked on markdown, with 30% off and free shipping. I got one. There were two I liked and there is a third in the store (which never appeared online and may not be reduced--if it is, I won't have a chance to look for some time). So I got it. I know it is bad but given that we're now 9 days into the month, I lasted a little longer than most months. And it is an accessory. And I have run out of excuses at this point.
Back to work.
Damn
Today I finally decided I had to have that Isabel Marant Solal top. Alas, someone else had the same idea and it has now sold out. I suppose it's not a disaster but still. I had worked out that it would add wardrobe value, I'd been patient, I had even compared the costs to other designers (like Rachel Comey) and this one came out ahead in terms of work, value and prettiness. I guess I will just have to wait and see if it appears on ebay or on some other obscure website. But given IM's craziness about ecommerce, this is probably it.
I know there will always be something else to covet but this one really does hurt a bit. I guess the pain will fade pretty quickly, however.
I know there will always be something else to covet but this one really does hurt a bit. I guess the pain will fade pretty quickly, however.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Barney's Warehouse Sale
After class on Friday, I met Evan at the Barney's Warehouse sale. Final markdowns were in place by that point--and for several seasons now I've found something that was a steal. Last year it was Philip Lim and Jeffrey Monteiro dresses for a total of $150. In the summer I got an Acne plaid shirt that I love for $22. This time round, I went in with an open mind and came out empty handed. Other than a few pairs of nice but really high Lanvin heels (around $150 each), the garments looked like rags. It didn't take me long to realize that I wasn't going to find anything. As I wandered around with the pretty but too high Lanvin heels in my hands, I thought about the Rachel Comey boots and the Marant blouse--and realized that I probably would like them more. Even the Lanvin shoe boxes are delicious--like powder blue cake boxes with navy tissue paper. But I have a closet full of bargains that I can't wear so passing made me feel quite good.
Evan only did marginally better, getting a cheap shirt and t-shirt. Evidently the men's stock was equally limited and shopworn.
I'm proud that I resisted "bargains." I've got the money still and didn't end up with more clutter that seemed like it was an irresistible deal at the time.
Evan only did marginally better, getting a cheap shirt and t-shirt. Evidently the men's stock was equally limited and shopworn.
I'm proud that I resisted "bargains." I've got the money still and didn't end up with more clutter that seemed like it was an irresistible deal at the time.
That Isabel Marant Blouse
I was chatting to my Mum today about how I'm trying to reign in my spending. Mum is very sensible with money and certainly would be horrified if she saw all my clothing, but she told me that I could have the occasional treats. I know she means this differently from me--in all likelihood, she was thinking about the odd movie or lunch with friends, not a designer blouse.
But despite being good, the Isabel Marant blouse and those Rachel Comey boots still haunt me. I wish I could try both on--there is a chance neither will fit comfortably. But I like both of them and still think about them. I first posted about the boots months ago and still like them. That said, I've realized that long days in class on my feet, subway steps and Manhattan streets often don't mesh well with heels.
I will be away for the latter part of next week so maybe I'll rethink the matter on Wednesday--if, that is, I get my conference paper down to a manageable length. It's now down to a shade over 15 pages from 26, but I've cut all the obvious parts and have to reduce it by around another 6 pages--something that will take more than sentence level edits/condensation. I know it has to be shorter or else my panel chair will be irate with me for taking more than my share of time. And as that panel chair is me, I better behave. After all, there may be a blouse--or boots--at stake. Or, if nothing else, a treat of some kind--be it a good, service or comestible.
But despite being good, the Isabel Marant blouse and those Rachel Comey boots still haunt me. I wish I could try both on--there is a chance neither will fit comfortably. But I like both of them and still think about them. I first posted about the boots months ago and still like them. That said, I've realized that long days in class on my feet, subway steps and Manhattan streets often don't mesh well with heels.
I will be away for the latter part of next week so maybe I'll rethink the matter on Wednesday--if, that is, I get my conference paper down to a manageable length. It's now down to a shade over 15 pages from 26, but I've cut all the obvious parts and have to reduce it by around another 6 pages--something that will take more than sentence level edits/condensation. I know it has to be shorter or else my panel chair will be irate with me for taking more than my share of time. And as that panel chair is me, I better behave. After all, there may be a blouse--or boots--at stake. Or, if nothing else, a treat of some kind--be it a good, service or comestible.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Work/Distractions
I'm currently mired in trying to finish a conference paper. Usually, I cut down a longer work (or start from scratch) knowing that if I get the argument, analysis and supporting materials together, I can always expand from there later on. Normally the plan is to publish but somewhere teaching, grading and the book writing mean that this expansion to article length escapes me. Where I have expanded papers, it has been because I've been asked to submit them for some anthology or other, or have decided that it's finally time to do something with a piece of work that I left for later. The turnaround time for the first is usually minimal, the latter has taken me as long as seven years...
So, my vow this time was to do things differently. Take that chunk of a chapter that I cut out, edit it to article length (around 25 pages) then cut down to conference paper length (9 pages or so). Of course, this means I'm sitting here on Saturday with a 27 page paper covered in editing marks that I need to cut to 9 by tomorrow (presenting on Thursday in New Orleans and as I teach this week and have grading, I can't really expand any longer).
Not only are there distractions from work but from the interwebs. It emerges that Charlie Sheen is going to do another one of his online things tonight--can I spare the time? Can I not spare the time, especially as I will at some point write that celebrity book and this media craziness will be part of a chapter someday.
So, my vow this time was to do things differently. Take that chunk of a chapter that I cut out, edit it to article length (around 25 pages) then cut down to conference paper length (9 pages or so). Of course, this means I'm sitting here on Saturday with a 27 page paper covered in editing marks that I need to cut to 9 by tomorrow (presenting on Thursday in New Orleans and as I teach this week and have grading, I can't really expand any longer).
Not only are there distractions from work but from the interwebs. It emerges that Charlie Sheen is going to do another one of his online things tonight--can I spare the time? Can I not spare the time, especially as I will at some point write that celebrity book and this media craziness will be part of a chapter someday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
