Look with your eyes, not with your hands.


Such a minute fraction of this life do we live: so much is sleep, tooth-brushing, waiting for mail, for metamorphosis, for those sudden moments of incandescence: unexpected, but once one knows them, one can live life in the light of their past and the hope of their future.



A grad student muses on her life, film, friends, politics, reality televizzle, and music.

 
Who could ask for anything more?

Despite the pervasive dismal and self-depreciating moods of my friends, things have been nothing but blue skies and roses for me lately. It all started at the tail end of spring break when the Guggenheim offered me a job in their film / media department, working with best mentor ever, Mr. John G. Hanhardt. (he's better than Marylee Bandy, folks!) I quickly accepted the position and have been ready to ditch my thesis and watch avant-garde videos all day.
Today, a great day. Yes, I curse �daylight saving� when it costs me an hour of sleep, but the extended daylight (and getting out of three-hours of architecture to meet sunshine) it�s well worth the stolen hour on Saturday.
I went to David�s office this morning bright and early, he�s the kooky-scatterbrained anthropologist I work for. I spent a while in the office sifting through the correspondence that has arrived since the last time I was in the office, which I think was before break. I am helping him negotiate (or more accurately organize) the photo rights for his upcoming publication, The Age of Immunology. After some time sorting out faxes and emails, I got to drive over to Helen Reiff�s house in David�s giant aqua van. Okay, it�s weird to drive a professor�s car. Thankfully, I didn�t hit anything.
So I get to Helen�s. Helen is what my mother would call a �hot ticket.� Her husband taught art history at Midd for years and after his death, at the sprighty age of 65, Helen decided to go from being an interesting, well-traveled, and artsy lady to a law student, and now an attorney. She handles most of the correspondence for David�s book project and I am basically the go-between. Well, she�s 70 now, sharp as a tack, hates computers, swears like a sailor, tells great stories, and my favorite part, wears silver shoes. Oh yes, in addition to a number of other great paintings, she has a fabulous Warhol in her foyer. We had a nice visit and managed to get our work done. She also gave me some helpful life advice � put the date on everything. Whenever you just scribble down a note to self or buy a new hot water heater, keep track of the date. Will do. April 8.
Architecture was a little sleepy but, my presentation went well. After class, I got a letter from John in Paris. Much like Nathan�s email, John�s letter was a little gloomy but included an optimistic post-script. I got a prompt reply from Mr. Robert Morris, the subject of my thesis. He answered the questions I faxed him last week - I am grateful for his contribution and I feel like a more accomplished scholar already. Now we only hope that Rosalind Krauss and my Guggenheim connection are as forthcoming and cooperative.
Jack�s dealing with the repercussions of his Saturday night behavior � a little public embarrassment is a good thing, I think, but only in hindsight.
Had a nice dinner with O�Shea conspiring about the promise of debate next fall. I think the leadership changes in the team will bring inspiring results and well, let�s just say that Midd debate is back - in full effect...
Oh, I got Guster tickets, and had to buy them for my advisor as well (for her teenage daughters, her and the BOYFRIEND).

posted by lmjasinski at 7:31 PM