tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76979102007-10-22T15:15:56.850-04:00Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1158268519406826622006-09-14T17:11:00.000-04:002006-09-14T17:15:19.430-04:00

School started and things went ka-plooey. And by that I mean, all my "free time" recently has been dedicated to my classes. I'm spending lots of hours researching for my Latin American culture class, which I'm enjoying. But it is also taking up my entire life right now. Jason and I are shopping for a dining table, but we're frustrated because we can't find anything we like. It's all too showy,

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1156366498380827522006-08-23T16:41:00.000-04:002006-08-23T16:54:58.393-04:00

Our freshman book this year is Mountains beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder, the incredible story of Dr. Paul Farmer, the mastermind behind Partners in Health. If you haven't read it and/or haven't heard of Farmer, check it out. It is at once inspiring (yes, we can change the world!) and awe-inspiring (he's amazing!). In our discussion yesterday, my students and I talked about that tension between

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1156197381908036812006-08-21T17:52:00.000-04:002006-08-21T17:56:21.920-04:00

It's my first semester as a freshman advisor, and it is exhausting work. I'm enjoying it, but I also have a new-found respect for advising as one of the many things we "do" in academia. If done well, it is such an important job. And because it is so important, I am working hard at it. I don't believe in hand-holding, but I do want to be active in their decisions. It brings out the mothering

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1155234763670633552006-08-10T14:29:00.000-04:002006-08-10T14:32:43.683-04:00

You know that scene from Psycho, the one that everyone knows even if you've never seen the movie? The shower scene? I saw it again today, in a film seminar I'm taking, and it freaked me out, even though I knew what was going to happen. That scene is pure genius. The exaggerated noises punctuated by deafening silence...the loud pull of the shower curtain, the unnecessarily noisy opening of the

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1155159974572054572006-08-09T17:42:00.000-04:002006-08-09T17:52:08.123-04:00

So, on my 9th birthday I received my first journal, a beautiful book with a silky blue cover and Chinese design, its own bookmark ribbon, and wonderfuly crinkly pages. I still have it and read it from time to time just to remind myself what it was like to be 9. My niece Kelsi (left) got Bratz dolls, which I detest. Huge heads, huge lips, teeny tiny bodies, and clothes no nine-year-old should

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1155042336000696102006-08-08T09:00:00.000-04:002006-08-08T09:05:36.003-04:00

Yes, he's "full of himself," as my friend Michael complained. But I LOVE Anthony Bourdain, particularly his show "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. If you haven't seen it yet and you're even remotely interested in travel or food (who isn't??), check it out. Last night he went to Puerto Rico, where he gobbled up all the pork fat he could lay his hands on. My kind of guy. One question, though

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1154061662636717392006-07-28T00:22:00.000-04:002006-07-28T00:41:02.873-04:00

I didn't think this would ever happen, but I was so tired today I passed up the chance to eat ice cream with some friends. ????? While I couldn't be bothered to get off the couch, I did watch one of the DVD's I checked out of the Sewanee library with my friend Troy, an Argentine flick from 2000 called Nueve reinas. It was really entertaining and not as violent, sexual, or generally graphic as

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1153765144772558802006-07-24T14:11:00.000-04:002006-07-24T14:19:04.810-04:00

Back from a weekend in Georgia, first research with Jen then a night with Bridgette. Got to spend some time with her little 10-month-old son, Peyton, so sweet! Research was productive. It was so great to be in a big library, where I could just pull things off the shelf and look at them, rather than getting everything from interlibrary loan. It was also fun to be in a town with restaurants, people

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1153258090220333242006-07-18T17:21:00.000-04:002006-07-18T17:28:10.233-04:00

I've been thinking about encyclopedias, since I'm writing an entry for one. It's on the Puerto Rican author about whom I did my dissertation (sort of), Julia de Burgos. The language for encyclopedias has to be clear, easy to read, free of jargon. The bibliography has to be well-chosen sources that are easily accessible (and in English, given the audience for this particular encyclopedia). This

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1153141697078514712006-07-17T08:58:00.000-04:002006-07-17T09:14:29.990-04:00

Lest ye think I disappeared, here I am again. Summer 2006 is turning out to be hectic, just like I knew it would. It has included: trip to Chapel Hill for the wedding of two long-time friendstrip to Costa Rica to take a poetry class with UGA studentstrip to Rollins College in Florida to work at a teaching workshop (think: Professor Camp)fourth of July visitors, a Chattanooga Lookouts game, and

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1146232301663460542006-04-28T09:46:00.000-04:002006-04-28T09:51:41.676-04:00

What I've been up to: my Writing through Hispanic Literature class presented original fables to 3rd graders at Sewanee Elementary School and it was a smashing successSpanish Club hosted three movies and had decent attendance: Solas (Spain, 1999); La virgen de los Sicarios (Colombia, 2000); Plata quemada (Argentina, 2000)been purchasing items for my upcoming trip to Costa Rica!!finished a book

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1145133455951735782006-04-15T16:34:00.000-04:002006-04-15T16:37:35.966-04:00

Just a quick post to let everyone know I'm alive and well. Just crazy with the semester winding down and so much to grade, so little time. Did take some time out to do some planting today, an experimental mix of a few vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Nothing big, since both Jason and I have had really bad luck with plants. Animals we seem to be able to keep alive. Plants, not so much. I have a

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1144191913253077842006-04-04T18:59:00.000-04:002006-04-04T19:05:13.263-04:00

Lately when I'm not working on papers, finding textbooks for next semester, or grading something, I'm trying to hike with Indy. My goal is to walk or hike at least 30 minutes a day every day between now and May 17th, when I go to Costa Rica. I've been disappointed in myself so far...I'm not good going uphill. I'm getting better every day, but the steeper the climb, the harder it is on my old,

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1143494202767085752006-03-27T16:08:00.000-05:002006-03-27T16:16:42.776-05:00

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, from travel to having a house full of guests. Classes started again today, so hopefully my life will become more routine and I'll be able to post more. It's 65 degrees today, gorgeous. I took Indy on a little hike. I just found out I get to go to Costa Rica this summer, so I'm in the market for hiking gear. Any advice or suggestions, let me know. I've already

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1143049331380556342006-03-22T12:36:00.000-05:002006-03-22T12:42:11.390-05:00

Now I know what's it like to have three girls. It means: a lot of water used for baths, showers, and washing clothes; a lot of towels used; a lot of Doritos, ice cream, and Eggo waffles consumed; lots of giggling and screaming (for no apparent reason); constant (often competitive) storytelling. Gossip is the favorite, of course, but there are also scary stories, the "a friend of a friend"

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1142001009351390712006-03-10T09:20:00.000-05:002006-03-10T09:34:09.803-05:00

Next week Spring Break begins, and everyone is nearly at wit's end. The students are mentally checked out already, so it's tough to get anything accomplished. They're also burned out from midterm exams and studying for comps (yes, majors here take comps kind of like in grad school). As for me, I'll be heading to Ohio to see old friends and remember the good ol' days of grad school in Athens.

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1141562974210818022006-03-05T07:43:00.000-05:002006-03-05T07:49:34.220-05:00

One detail I forgot to mention: it's also Bike Week here in the Daytona area. Everywhere you turn, there are motorcycles, mainly of the Harley Davidson variety, of course. I've never seen so many in one place at one time. We headed to New Smyrna beach yesterday, just so poor ol' land-locked me could see the ocean. Well, I saw it, but it was so windy and chilly we couldn't stay long. We did,

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1141389111573019642006-03-03T07:25:00.000-05:002006-03-04T08:22:18.880-05:00

I'm sitting in the DeLand, Florida, Holiday Inn waiting on my breakfast to arrive. It's sunny with a high of 78 today. Gorgeous! Jen and I are here for the Southeast Conference on Foreign Languages and Literatures at Stetson University. Send good vibes, please...I'm not feeling too confident about this paper. It's definitely a work in progress. I'll write more when it's over. UPDATE: Not only

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1140394320263794042006-02-19T19:08:00.000-05:002006-02-19T19:12:00.276-05:00

My weekend has been hectic thanks to all the interviews I've done to determine who gets merit-based scholarships. They've all won something just by being invited to this weekend, but they are now competing for which level of scholarship they will get. A new feature this year, in addition to one-on-one interviews, is round table discussions. One of our topics for today was: Should ACT/SAT scores

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1139953011154618332006-02-14T16:22:00.000-05:002006-02-14T16:36:51.243-05:00

I like Valentine's Day in Mexico, where it is Dia del Amor y la Amistad (love and friendship day). When I was there, I bought a cake for my host family from a nearby bakery, and that simple gesture received such a wonderful, warm response. I still remember the surprise on their faces. J and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day, although that fact seems to appall most people. We decided that we

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1139590725344198622006-02-10T11:35:00.000-05:002006-02-10T11:58:45.396-05:00

Will someone please help me get to New York City? I badly want to go to the MoMA. They're having an exhibit called On Site: New Architecture in Spain. Funds are tight, but man, am I itching to go. That's compounded by the fact that I've never been to the MoMA period, even though I LOVE art and especially modern art. It's a shame, isn't it?? It's also compounded by the equally shameful fact that

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1139411039927537722006-02-08T09:54:00.000-05:002006-02-08T10:03:59.946-05:00

I have students who have lived more life than I have, and I'm almost 15 years older than a lot of them. I have students who: own their own plane (and can fly it)have lived in Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, Spain, Dominican Republic (one who has been to all those countries!)speak three or four languagesgive countless hours to charity and outreach workwin fellowships, grants, and other awards for

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1138989272980168822006-02-03T12:38:00.000-05:002006-02-03T12:54:33.040-05:00

I'm always looking for anything I can use in my teaching. I'm beginning to use Flickr more and more, because there are some wonderful photos there. Yesterday, I pulled up several of New York City to illustrate some of the same type of imagery as that used in Federico Garcia Lorca's famous poem "La aurora" ("The Dawn"), from Poeta en Nueva York, written while he studied at Columbia University (

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1138665254930210202006-01-30T18:42:00.000-05:002006-01-30T18:54:14.943-05:00

I love that line, borrowed from one of my favorite poets, Rane Arroyo. I had a weekend with ghosts but also with people who were very much alive. We celebrated the elopement of Jason's cousin and spent time with all the folks who live in tiny Olive Hill, Kentucky. We saw grandparents and aunts and cousins and parents. Even the drive was nice. We enjoyed the iPod, we caught up with each other,

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7697910.post-1138288380953847092006-01-26T10:11:00.000-05:002006-01-26T10:13:00.966-05:00

What is creativity? Can you "teach" someone to be creative? Can we practice creativity, become better at it? Does creativity make "better" students? These are some of the questions I'm grappling with in my most recent pedagogical research. I have my own theories on this, but I'm always interested in hearing other opinions. Any thoughts?

Sandlinnoreply@blogger.com