(no subject)

My article is the right length. Now all I have to do is leave it until Friday (why I wanted to do all the big edits by tonight) and then make last adjustments and send it off for its first rejection. This isn't one of my commissioned pieces, you see. It's an academic thingie. I know that this thought of a regular job doing things I love is ambitious and dangerous, but I'm doing it anyway. Well, trying. And in the process, I'm very trying to be around. I really do not like getting rejections. I don't know anyone who does. The academic who is also a fiction writer gets them more than most, though, and I've got to accustom myself to the charm of it all.

My writing over the next three days is the regular sort. I have a conclusion to write, and I have two articles to write (and those articles already have homes, which is so much easier on the bruised soul). I've done the research for one and a half of them. I also have Beast-work to undertake and three classes to teach and at least two meetings.

I am looking threateningly at this virus I have and telling it to remain in abeyance, for I don't think the next few days will work with me in apparent hibernation.

more Middle Ages!

I've done all my prep for today's class. It was easy, because today's class is the Medieval Women course, and we're talking about writing and manuscripts. I have some of my favourite books with pictures and I shall use them to illustrate illuminations and writing styles and page set-up. I have de Hamel's book on scribes, so that I can show just how work was accomplished. All the rest is literature, and I really ought to know enough about Medieval literature to teach an introduction to it by now.

The student presentation tonight is Marie de France, which is why I chose the subjects I chose. It's easy from Marie to lead into werewolves or King Arthur or transmission of tales or the role of the court in creating literature.

All the teaching material has to be carted around a lot, and I have my new Medievalish review book with me to work on in the two hour gap (since my second meeting today hasn't eventuated, which is probably a very Good Thing), which adds to the weight. It does mean, however, that I can show my class the book and we can look at things like gravegoods and life expectations as a kind of aside. You know, if we get bored.

Since today's outlook is obviously Medieval, I shall work on a chapter of the Beast before I leave. Unfortunately for me, it's our most recalcitrant chapter. Right now it's too long and just not working. It's the economics/money chapter and is obviously reflecting recent history: it's messy; it's big; it's not very healthy at all.

Our biggest problem with it is communicating the actual situation and how much we know to people who may not understand how their own economies work. Do we assume that people will understand that some kinds of money are for accounting purposes only? Right now, I suspect we're assuming both too much and too little. And I'm the lucky soul who has to drag this bit of the Beast to the next draft.

Since I'm being Medieval today, I shall sing the only song I actually know from Le Jeu de Robin et Marion while I find my various beastthings. Then I shall have a nap, for this virus is still never-ending.

(no subject)

I have had a lucky half day. The Beast is almost behaving, and I found a book I had somehow missed in my research. I was about to panic and order it from overseas (for it's not available in local bookshops) but I slowed down and thought, "What would Gillian do if she weren't panicking about nearing the end of the idiot doctorate?" What Gillian would do is obviously to check the catalogues of local libraries. Not only does the Chifley Library have the book, but it's on the shelf and I was going there this afternoon anyway. This demonstrates the value of panic. It's not a high value.

What prompted the discovery of this book was thinking about fridge magnets. I've decided to make fridge magnets containing Middle French proverbs to celebrate submission, in a mere.... er... not very long at all. I was going to go to Sydney, but the friends I wanted to see in Sydney are not available so, really, it's better to see them another time. I have found another means of celebration.

All those of you who have held my hand or cheered or teased me or nagged me into doing the thing are entitled to fridge magnets if you so desire. Those who are proofreading may have a whole set. I'll ask for addresses when it's all happened. I still have nearly two months of panic before then, so you have heaps of time to decide if your life needs a Middle French proverb or word (some magnets will be smaller than others, I suspect, since some will be calligraphied because the paper says "Do not use in printer.")