Thursday, February 21, 2008

This n that

Today is a full day. Yesterday is a full day. Every day is full. Work is cramping out play, and sick is horning in on energy, and all of them are conspiring to drown me. That's just a little desperation talking. Being sick on the weekend was like work shifts sans the productivity. And my brain feels sapped. Do you ever feel like you're swimming through your day? Not like "swimmingly" but more like you're trapped underwater? Yesterday, I taught a whole class before I realized I was doing the wrong chapter at the wrong time. Skipped a whole chunk of the book. The students just followed along and didn't mention a thing figuring I knew what I was doing. Truth is, at this point, I could probably teach every bit of grammar blindfolded. I've got a good schtick, and I've done it long enough that I just look at what the schedule says and then teach it. It helps of course if you are looking at the correct schedule. The simple mistakes always create the most havok.

Today I teach and then a dear friend and her daughter are coming to spend the night. She's an artist and I'm going to help translate her cover letter to English. I've already done the resume, but her "bio" if you will, is very poetic and I need to catch the image she is trying to create for the reader. I have to find the worm. The worm is the thread that connects all these poetic ideas together. Once I get a sense of it, I can write it for her and not just translate. When things get poetic, translation is a minefield. Her daughter is a treasure and I can't wait to take another video of her. She's a STAR! Of course everybody thinks that about some kids. I don't think I'll have permission to post it here, but I'm excited nonetheless.

Oh I forgot to mention. Serge got sick too. Tuesday he complained of a sore throat, came home early from work and I told him, "You won't be working tomorrow." He said, "No! I have to work tomorrow. We have a deadline." I chuckled and informed him that if he caught what I got, he would not be working. So yesterday morning he gets up just before I'm heading out in the morning. "How do you feel?" I asked. "Better than yesterday," he replied. I chuckled again and said, "Wow, your body is stronger than mine." Then I left and two hours later I get a text message. "I ma at home." (sic) And there it was. The third chuckle. (I'm allowed to chuckle because he insinuated that I was faking on the weekend to get out of painting the bedroom.) I think he'll stay home today too, but he thinks he's going to work. We shall see.

15 comments:

CoffeeDog said...

I like your description of translating. If I ever got fluent in french I think I'd like translating. I think french has amny more ways of saying things that we do, but I've got limited knowledge. Then, some things we say in english, even things that are not catch phrases, do not translate to french. Like shit head. Why don't they use the word shithead? It's so appropriate. Simple, shit, and head. Tete de merde.

bardelf said...

The joys of relationships are many. Sharing colds, however, is not one of them. Give Serge some soup! You fellas take care.

Anonymous said...

Poor Serge, he's feel victim to your virus. Being you instigated the household infection, tis only fair that you play nurse maid for him the remainder of the week. Go Serge!

Snooze said...

It's unreal how bad a cold can make you feel.

Lemuel said...

Marriage is sharing the good and the bad, but I'm sure you wish you hadn't shared the cold. I hope you are both feeling much better very shortly.

ChickenStrip said...

Has February seemed crappy to you? It has for me.

I love reading your blog - missed it while I was absent from the blogosphere. "When things get poetic, translation is a minefield" - this line is exactly what I mean. I wish I could write the way you do!

dantallion said...

These "colds" seem to pack a bigger wallop with each passing year. Hope you both feel better, and soon!

GayProf said...

Sorry to hear that Serge is also ill. That's a drag.


I hear you about the teaching. There are some classes where I barely need to look at my notes as I have given the lectures so often that they are ingrained in my brain.

Anonymous said...

I'll bet Serge still looks great even while he's sick. I have a bit of Fever and cold myself. I'm not saying my fever is high but when I touched my hand to my forehead I got 2nd degree burns. Even my hair hurts. Make it stop Torn. It is little comfort to know that this years Flu shot missed the target. Ed

Cooper said...

Sorry to hear that you have passed the virus to Serge. It's one of those things you just can't will away no matter how hard you try.

So true that once you clasp the thread, it all flows together into a whole tapestry of understanding. Beautiful description of that, by the way.

I ma home, too ... for another hour.

Anonymous said...

Keyron has been sick for weeks. It's the flu bug of course. The odd thing is I don't have any memory of getting the flu. Oh no, I get sinus infections, inner ear problems, etc. Nothing so mundane as the flu.

Rox said...

You can tell you teach adults because teenagers would have called you on it because "they know everything."

Hope you and Serge are both feeling better soon!

Susan as Herself said...

Almost everyone I know is sick or feels like thay are getting sick. This winter has sure been long and hard. And the super-bugs are celebrating.

Mark in DE said...

Sorry you two are both sick. Try to get lots and lots of rest, its the best thing for you.

Mark :-)

David said...

I laugh to think that Serge thought he could not or would not catch your cold.

Cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war.

Good motto to say when Klingons are attacking, but can also be used to giggle at Serge.

Hope both of you get better soon.