Krampus Redux

It's that time of the year again!

Until this week, the most popular posts on my blog(s) were found by googling the terms "Louisiana gecko" "forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit" and "In Cold Blood vocabulary." But as of today, the search term "Krampus" has found my blog 111 times in the past week and I'm at a loss to understand why! My blog pops up immediately on an image search for the other terms.  But how do people find my blog when it doesn't appear in the first ten pages of an "Everything" search and this picture only shows up on page 6 of an "Image" search?

Here's a lovely video (not mine) of the sights and sounds of Krampus:

On this, St. Nicholas Day, I confess that I miss Krampus night. I miss the brioche Krampusse with their red ribbon tongues and the gingerbread Krampusse from Cafe Mitter.  

Brioche Krampusse - Thanks, Ingrid!

Gingerbread Krampus - Thanks, Caitlin!

And I miss the real Krampusse with their bells and masks and switches! 

Dueling Krampusse

I especially miss the Goaß! 

My happy place

I know I've mentioned Strands Cafe before but this semester it has taken on new meaning. Last fall my H & R Block Tax Course met on Saturday mornings so I never got to enjoy Strands. Last spring I was so busy working two jobs that I didn't have time or energy to spend at Strands on Saturday mornings. This summer I was too broke to afford the luxury that is Strands, and earlier this fall I was trying to stay away from fat on the advice of my doctor. But with 74 student research papers staring me in the face before the end of the semester and a cholecystectomy scheduled for December, I have decided I need a happy place.  That happy place is Strands.

Strands has a European ambience - the first thing that caught my eye were the large framed photographs of castles from Germany and Austria hanging on the rough brick walls. The owner is a former pilot and his favorite destinations were in central Europe. The high tin ceiling, wood floors, and cafe furniture give one the feeling that "I'm not in Baton Rouge anymore."  The menu consists of coffees, teas, baked goods, hand crafted chocolates and recently they've added lunch selections. 

Coffee service, croissant with butter and raspberry jam

They regularly have scones (sweet and savory) and the best cinnamon rolls I've every had (big enough to share in popover form), along with plain, chocolate, and almond croissants. They also have sipping chocolate, a double-shot of rich chocolate spiced with cinnamon and hot chili  (cue Chocolat):

 They also have Wi-Fi which means I can sit at the corner table next to the big grandfather clock and work. Or, if I'm feeling indulgent I can sit and draw. And it's a real meeting place where I have sat for hours on end with former students or friends or colleagues just catching up and escaping from the rigors of academic life. So far I've submitted my article for the colloquium in Croatia, and I've almost successfully negotiated an entire semester as professional-in-residence in Greek and Roman art history.  I've built up some valuable knowledge about the Near East and Egypt, and about the advantages and disadvantages of assigning undergraduate research papers. All of this will be helpful next semester when I teach an introductory survey course (275 students!), Later Greek Art and a graduate research seminar on Rome through the Ages. And on my four-day weekends, you'll probably find me de-stressing at Strands!

Urban Oasis

Fall Break 2011

It's been quite a week - there's nothing quite like Fall Break to help put things in perspective. On the one hand, we're half way through the semester, which helps me figure out where I need to be in all of my classes (it also reminds me how close we are to the beginning of the spring semester - yikes!). I also cleaned the house, did laundry, prepared food for the coming week, met with a good friend who was visiting from Missouri, and caught up a little on sleep.

But four days off also gave me enough free time to complete page 5000(!) of the journal I started when I was sixteen. And as I do with many journal entries, I reassessed where I am and where I want to be in the future. It's just like having a long, introspective conversation with myself.

Just a few of the volumes I've written in since I was 16!

Many of you know that I am was hopelessly addicted to the Internet. A week ago I deactivated my Facebook account, and part of my reassessment included how important news and entertainment headlines, LOLcats, the Deathlist, etc. are for me. Answer: they're not. Like television, the Internet is a vast wasteland that can suck you in and reluctantly spits you out again. I got rid of my television years ago. And while I can't get rid of the Internet, which truly is a helpful tool for research and communication with students, I can limit myself to what's really important.

I also managed to set priorities and identify my big rocks: My long term goal is to get a semi-permanent teaching job, preferably in Austria (hoping I haven't jinxed myself by putting that in writing!). My immediate goal is to finish an article for the Proceedings of the Colloquium on Roman Provincial Art I attended last May. I also have to see my students through their next set of exams, and get them started on their term papers. And I've got some medical testing ahead of me, just to keep things interesting!

All in all, I am in a much better position, physically and emotionally, than I was a year ago at this time.  The Foreign Language Fourteen still meet once a month, but most of us have landed on our feet and are looking forward to what the future brings.

Greek Theatre

I have a Photostream!

Last week I became an official member of Urban Sketchers!  To celebrate I set up a Photostream on Flickr, so that all my sketches are in one place.  To view them, click here!

Simmering Goddess 2010

On a roll!

Gordon & Sandifer Auto Service