It took me 5 hours and 20 minutes to get home. It would have taken less time but someone (me) missed the exit for 15 (the Wilbur Cross Pkwy). So I had to detour through New Haven to get to 15 before 91 merged with 95. I did not want to get on 95; that would have been a disastrous. I hate 95.
But I'm home now; sitting on the couch, being lazy. I should be:
1) doing laundry
2) making dinner
3) making lunch for tomorrow
4) grading papers
5) finishing unpacking
but I'm not. I'll save some of that for this weekend.
Can't wait to get back to work tomorrow!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Test Day
Dear Kids,
I will be thinking about you all morning as you take the ELA test. I know you are well prepared and I know you will do your best. Remember to pay attention to what the question is asking and always look back in the passage for details. I have faith that you will succeed!
Ms. Pignataro
I will be thinking about you all morning as you take the ELA test. I know you are well prepared and I know you will do your best. Remember to pay attention to what the question is asking and always look back in the passage for details. I have faith that you will succeed!
Ms. Pignataro
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tomorrow...
Tomorrow is the last day of the residency. I'm actually super excited to get the semester going! I had my meeting with my advisor, Margaret, this morning and I think this semester is going to be the most productive for me in terms of finishing the novel for one main reason -- No CRITICAL ESSAYS at all!!!
Last semester, when I worked on my critical thesis with the amazing Leda Schubert, I struggled. I didn't finish it until packet 4, so I only had 2 packets of creative work to submit. Leda gave me abundant feedback, which, along with my workshop critique, gives me enough to work on revisions of what exists of the novel before I hand my first packet in to Margaret. I want it to be good. I feel so lucky to be working with Margaret that I want to take advantage of it as best as possible.
I also went back and looked at the short story that I want to include in my creative thesis, "The Signs," and revised it a bit. I'm curious to see what Margaret has to say about it.
I'm tired this evening. I think it has to do with the inauguration hype that's going around. I cleaned off the car this morning (a huge task in itself, but it was good to be doing some physical labor) and went to Morse Farms and downtown for a while. I bought some awesome wool socks! I also got some treats for my coworkers.
Graduation should be nice tomorrow. It's the last one before mine!
Last semester, when I worked on my critical thesis with the amazing Leda Schubert, I struggled. I didn't finish it until packet 4, so I only had 2 packets of creative work to submit. Leda gave me abundant feedback, which, along with my workshop critique, gives me enough to work on revisions of what exists of the novel before I hand my first packet in to Margaret. I want it to be good. I feel so lucky to be working with Margaret that I want to take advantage of it as best as possible.
I also went back and looked at the short story that I want to include in my creative thesis, "The Signs," and revised it a bit. I'm curious to see what Margaret has to say about it.
I'm tired this evening. I think it has to do with the inauguration hype that's going around. I cleaned off the car this morning (a huge task in itself, but it was good to be doing some physical labor) and went to Morse Farms and downtown for a while. I bought some awesome wool socks! I also got some treats for my coworkers.
Graduation should be nice tomorrow. It's the last one before mine!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Why My Class Is Awesome...
As fourth semester students, there are a lot of things that need to be decided before the graduating residency. These things include, but are not limited to, graduation logistics (speakers, presenters, music, receptions, etc.), gifts, and other things I shall not name, for fear of giving away too much.
Our class of 12 met twice this residency to make these important decisions. These are some reasons why my class is awesome:
1. We had a meeting like real grown-ups, with a moderator and system of voting that seemed to please everyone.
2. We did not yell, fight, or insult each other if we had a disagreement.
3. Each person's feelings were taken into account when decisions were made. Alternative options were presented if someone wasn't comfortable with something.
4. We were never mean. Even on laundry day.
5. We always have chocolate.
These are just a few reasons why we are awesome.
The residency is almost over, and I am glad to be going home soon since I am not feeling too well and am missing everyone. I actually look forward to going back to work. That isn't to say that I won't miss being here. I wish I could have both. I miss my family, my apartment, my bed, my dog, my kitties, and my job.
At the same time, I'm super psyched to begin my semester, finish my novel, and graduate this summer.
Any questions?
Our class of 12 met twice this residency to make these important decisions. These are some reasons why my class is awesome:
1. We had a meeting like real grown-ups, with a moderator and system of voting that seemed to please everyone.
2. We did not yell, fight, or insult each other if we had a disagreement.
3. Each person's feelings were taken into account when decisions were made. Alternative options were presented if someone wasn't comfortable with something.
4. We were never mean. Even on laundry day.
5. We always have chocolate.
These are just a few reasons why we are awesome.
The residency is almost over, and I am glad to be going home soon since I am not feeling too well and am missing everyone. I actually look forward to going back to work. That isn't to say that I won't miss being here. I wish I could have both. I miss my family, my apartment, my bed, my dog, my kitties, and my job.
At the same time, I'm super psyched to begin my semester, finish my novel, and graduate this summer.
Any questions?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Awards, Parties, and Broken Heating
Yesterday, after receiving the VCFA Alumni Gift Award (for dedication and personal and critical growth), I returned to my room to find it approximately 92 degrees even though the thermostat said 68. Turns out there was some boiler problem and the entire dorm was like this.
No sweat. I just opened the window, and the storm window, and left to go set up for the party. Our class put together a CLUE themed party for the graduating class, the Revisionistas. Not to brag or anything, but it was awesome. Everyone there seemed to be having a great time, and when the music went off at midnight, there was much disappointment on the dance floor.
About 4.5 hour after I left my room, I returned, and the temperature had gone down. By 6 degrees. I dug out the fan left in my closet and got it down to about 80 before going to bed.
And the boiler must have died last night because I woke up freezing at 6:45 this morning.
But yesterday, my friends, was so worth the sweating and freezing.
No sweat. I just opened the window, and the storm window, and left to go set up for the party. Our class put together a CLUE themed party for the graduating class, the Revisionistas. Not to brag or anything, but it was awesome. Everyone there seemed to be having a great time, and when the music went off at midnight, there was much disappointment on the dance floor.
About 4.5 hour after I left my room, I returned, and the temperature had gone down. By 6 degrees. I dug out the fan left in my closet and got it down to about 80 before going to bed.
And the boiler must have died last night because I woke up freezing at 6:45 this morning.
But yesterday, my friends, was so worth the sweating and freezing.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Advisor Night
Dear Students,
I have some great news.
Each semester, we each work with an advisor. An advisor is a teacher who helps us to improve our writing -- and I'm not talking about speling, grammer, or punctuasion. The advisor gives us constructive comments and suggestions on how to improve the craft of our writing.
Remember when I told you that revision and editing are two different things? Well, the advisor reads work that we have and helps us to revise it -- re-visit it, or re-vision it. A piece of writing may start off one way, and then through the revision process it may change completely. The point of view may change, the tense may change (past or present?), entire sentences, paragraphs, or chapters might be added or deleted. Students in my creative writing workshop have heard the two different beginning to my novel. They are very, very different. In my case, went from a very distant point of view to a very close third person. I went from starting out with description to beginning in the middle of action. Revision is a scary thing, and I know that's why so many of you out-right ignore any comments or conversations about how to make your writing better. It takes a lot of work, but I promise, in the end, it will be worth it.
And now, for my advisor announcement. Thus far, I have worked with Sarah Ellis, Sharron Darrow, and Leda Schubert. This semester -- my last semester -- I will have the pleasure of working with Margaret Bechard! This is exciting to me for a number of reasons, but I think that this is probably exciting to a number of you because Hanging On To Max is really popular in the classroom this year. In fact, many of you spoke about it at Book Bistro.
I can't wait to get home now and start my semester.
I miss you!
I have some great news.
Each semester, we each work with an advisor. An advisor is a teacher who helps us to improve our writing -- and I'm not talking about speling, grammer, or punctuasion. The advisor gives us constructive comments and suggestions on how to improve the craft of our writing.
Remember when I told you that revision and editing are two different things? Well, the advisor reads work that we have and helps us to revise it -- re-visit it, or re-vision it. A piece of writing may start off one way, and then through the revision process it may change completely. The point of view may change, the tense may change (past or present?), entire sentences, paragraphs, or chapters might be added or deleted. Students in my creative writing workshop have heard the two different beginning to my novel. They are very, very different. In my case, went from a very distant point of view to a very close third person. I went from starting out with description to beginning in the middle of action. Revision is a scary thing, and I know that's why so many of you out-right ignore any comments or conversations about how to make your writing better. It takes a lot of work, but I promise, in the end, it will be worth it.
And now, for my advisor announcement. Thus far, I have worked with Sarah Ellis, Sharron Darrow, and Leda Schubert. This semester -- my last semester -- I will have the pleasure of working with Margaret Bechard! This is exciting to me for a number of reasons, but I think that this is probably exciting to a number of you because Hanging On To Max is really popular in the classroom this year. In fact, many of you spoke about it at Book Bistro.
I can't wait to get home now and start my semester.
I miss you!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Some Pictures
Here are some pictures:
College Hall, the haunted building on campus, during snowfall, at night.
The top of the organ in the chapel in College Hall.
Myself, with Carolyn Coman. She's awesome!
College Hall, the haunted building on campus, during snowfall, at night.
The top of the organ in the chapel in College Hall.
Myself, with Carolyn Coman. She's awesome!
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