the big time

Our trip around France was cut short due to snow, but we had a really good time while we were away. We stayed in two great hotels: one in Strasbourg and once in Metz. Sarah and my room in Metz was this really cool attic room with exposed beams and an amazing view of a neighboring cathedral. It also had a (very) leaky jaccuzi tub. I think we may have been one bath away from one of those scenes from TV where we went crashing down in the room below us.

We went to the local Christmas markets and ate lots of great food at some local restaurants. One specialty we tried is called tartiflette. It's scalloped potatoes with a special cheese (reblochon) and onions and smoked ham. It's my new favorite. One day, Sarah and I even got interviewed by one of the French national news stations! (Maybe the equivalent of being on NBC nightly news--maybe less fancy than that though). We don't know if they ever actually aired our clip, but it was still exciting. We were just walking around a market minding our own business when I guy stopped me and asked (in French) if I would be willing to answer a few questions. I, of course, said that I would but that I was just a stupid American who didn't speak any French so my wife would have to do all the talking. He and the camera lady thought that was funny, and so they asked us a few questions and then had us say we were from Texas (the last part in English). We were all hopped up on our excitement all day after that.

Pictures forthcoming on Sarah's blog or mine, depending on who is less lazy in the next few days...

ATTENTION

Jet lag got to me tonight. I woke up around 1 AM when Sarah got up to blow her nose or her butt or something, and suddenly I was wide awake. I tossed and turned for an hour and a half, but I knew from the beginning I wasn't going to get back to sleep. Now it's 4 AM, and the cat and I are the only people awake. I wish I had a bullhorn.

ATTENTION. I AM BORED. THAT IS ALL.

In a few hours, we're going to leave for a brief road trip. Our initial plan was to spend a few days driving around Italy. We were going to see Rome, Venice, and Pompeii. A while back, we amended that plan and decided to see the south of France instead. Then we were hit by the great European 'blizzard' of 2010.

ATTENTION. THERE ARE EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW IN SOME PLACES--BUT NOT HERE--EVERYONE PANIC. I REPEAT, EVERYONE PANIC. FRANCE IS NOW CLOSED. KTHNKSBYE.

Now we're going to stay in the Alsace-Lorraine region. We'll hit Strasbourg first. It's pretty close by, and it's a pretty interesting city. It's the seat of the European Parliament; the former home of the German poet and philosopher Goethe; and the place where Gutenberg perfected and unveiled the printing press. The two days after that we'll be in Metz and Nancy, two cities that are known for things.

ATTENTION. SOMEONE WAKE UP AND MAKE ME BREAKFAST. ATTENTION.

liar liar

Have you ever heard the expression, "Liar, liar, pants on fire"? Of course you have. Have you also heard the next line, "Hanging on a telephone wire" (or some other similar variation)? Maybe. But have you ever read the poem the saying was derived from? It was written in 1810 by William Blake, an English poet. It's hilarious.

Deceiver, dissembler

Your trousers are alight

From what pole or gallows

Shall they dangle in the night?

When I asked of your career

Why did you have to kick my rear

With that stinking lie of thine

Proclaiming that you owned a mine?

When you asked to borrow my stallion

To visit a nearby moored galleon

How could I ever know that you

Intended to turn him into glue?

What red devil of mendacity

Grips your soul with such tenacity?

Will one you cruelly shower with lies

Put a pistol ball between your eyes?

What internal serpent

Has lent you his forked tongue?

From what pit of foul deceit

Are all these whoppers sprung?

Deceiver, dissembler

Your trousers are alight

From what pole or gallows

Do they dangle in the night?

we arrived

We arrived in France after a major delay in the Madrid airport. We had a five hour layover to begin with, but it actually turned into 10. It was pretty excruciating because they kept telling us that it was just going to be a few more minutes. Just a few more minutes. Just a few more minutes. It's like someone holding candy just out of your reach for five hours.

We were pretty ticked, but then we learned about Matt and Rebekah. Two of their flights got canceled, and they're still stuck at home. So sorry guys. We're praying for your quick (and safe arrival). Hopefully you'll take off soon!

More to come.

Mmm. Mmmhmmm. Mmhm. Hmmm? Mmhmm.

Today the professor I TA'd for this semester took me out to lunch as a thank you for the work I did this semester. We went to the local campus hangout where all the cool kids eat. I had a greasy (and huge) burger with blue cheese, bacon, and chipotle mayonnaise. It was fantastic. And, I'll never need to eat again!

Later, I finished up the last of my grading for the semester, and I'm pretty much finished with all my work until after the new year. I have a meeting on Wendesday and an exam to proctor on Thursday, but nothing school-related other than that. I guess I'll have to wait until I do those last two things before I'll be officially done. But I'm really not going to work any more. I'll just sit here at my desk and pretend to type. Maybe I'll make some intelligent sounding grunts every once in a while to make sure people don't know I'm phoning it in.

the last one

Yesterday marked the last class period of my last required course in the history of my education (barring any unforeseen problems). That's not to say I don't still have courses to take. I'm supposed to take a few electives every semester, and I don't get to choose those electives because our department is too small to offer a wide selection of courses, but I don't technically have any more required courses or sequences. Technically. After three years of undergrad and four years of graduate school, I'm technically happy about it.

granted v.2

Good news. I was notified yesterday that I ended up getting the other grant I applied for a while back. This one was for $500, but I'm going to split it with another researcher because I applied for it on behalf of both of us. I'm not going to use the money for anything fancy. It's just going into the bank to help cover some of the costs of the conference I went to this summer and the one that I'll be going to in January in San Antonio.

I think I must have been emboldened by the success. Not long after I got the notification, I applied to attend a special summer program that's sponsored by the National Science Foundation. It would really look great on my resume/CV. Even better, this year it's being held in Matt and Rebekah's stomping grounds. I don't know what my chances are to get in (and if history serves as a guide, I won't), but if things work out, Sarah and I will be coming to visit for two weeks in late July/early August. Hopefully you'll be home. If not, I have to stay in a dorm, and Sarah has to stay home. Or, alternatively, we have to break into your house.

have you tried... actually studying?

I got an email from a student yesterday. She said she wasn't doing well in one of her psychology classes and was "desperate" to do well on her upcoming final. She was hoping to set up a "tutoring" appointment with me for the night before the exam. She said she would be wiling to pay me $20 "or more" per hour for a maximum of 2 hours. Aside from the fact that it would be a sticky ethical situation for me to take money from a student, the crux of this story is that the final isn't for two more weeks. Here's what I wanted to say:

Dear Student,

Here's a study tip. You know that time between the exam and right now? How about you use that to... LEARN THE MATERIAL YOURSELF. k thnks bye.

Sincerely,

The Study Police