1) Don't forget that we're starting our reading of The Joy Luck Club for Cool Bloggers Book Club (CBBC) on Monday! For the full schedule, check out this post.
2) Has anyone else found themselves befuddled by the recent changes to Libby? Basically, you can no longer defer your loan if it becomes available when you won't be able to read it. You have to suspend the hold until you're ready to read the book. You don't lose your place in line or anything, but you have to remember to reactivate the loan when you're ready. I am endlessly frustrated by the fact that I forget to do this. I mean, we had a system that automatically did it - why is it now a manual process?!
3) My sister has done something terrible again. I won't go into details, but rest assured that I have only one more thing to do with her at the end of October/beginning of November and then I'll never have to deal with her again.
4) At the beginning of the semester, I was excited because it seemed like blue jeans were making a comeback and that horrible athleisure trend was behind us. But then I realized that 2025 fashion on my campus is TRAGIC. Girls wearing crop tops with baggy pants, all the boys wearing baseball caps and khaki pants/shorts. Why can people not dress in a manner that is flattering?! I mean, one half of me is relieved that the athleisure phase is over - this seems like a sign that the COVID hangover is lessening - but the other half of me just wishes we could, as a species, realize that there are certain silhouettes that are flattering on some shapes and use this knowledge to our advantage.
#getoffmylawn #kidsthesedays
5) There's a thing happening here in Wisconsin. It's terrible. It's government dictating curriculum at the state universities. It should be illegal. Alas, it is not. Alas, it's going to be bad things for me and I'm over here dusting off my resume just in case. What this means is that liberal arts is being gutted in Wisconsin.
I'm not here to preach, but this whole post is preachy, so why am I going to stop myself on this bullet point? Liberal arts provide the foundation of critical thinking, communication, and problem solving that are crucial to everyone on this planet. We're not training our students for a particular job path or career. We're training them to be able to do ANY job. They learn how to go quickly from task to task, doing different things on a regular basis. We teach them how to work with people from diverse backgrounds - not just ethnically or racially diverse, but SES, disability, and sexual orientation. We teach people the soft skills employers say they want.
And they're just over here gutting general education like it's not the future of our students at stake. (And the jobs of many people in our college, if not the entire university.)
I probably shouldn't really talk about my work like this, but here we are. I feel like what I'm talking about is public knowledge and I'm not calling anyone out by name, but if you live in this state and don't know who is behind this, you're not paying attention.
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6) I can't leave it all with doom and gloom. Last weekend we went to a tourist place in Wisconsin with my sister-in-law (of podcast fame) and her family. We went to a waterpark and did an escape room - we finished with 20 minutes left! TWENTY MINUTES. We felt like geniuses.
And then my niece and I got matching permanent jewelry. BECAUSE I AM THE COOL AUNT.
(I also managed to get a serious burn on both my elbows thanks to the most terrifying water slide I've ever been on. When a small child says, "don't worry, Aunt NGS, it's fine," DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. Also, they think I am brave and cool. Maybe?)
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Who else is frustrated by the new Libby process? Do you think fashion is tragic right now? Have you even been to a waterpark?
Kids fashion depresses me - why do you need to wear crop tops to school? Let alone the ripped Jean trend lives on. I'll take shorts and hairy legs over bare midriff and body parts that are not supposed to be seen in public. And those tiny shorts- they are sitting on chairs that other people have sweated on- Yuck!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are the cool and brave aunt- you're doing it right!
I don't use Libby so at least this issue is one thing I don't have to worry about. Yes, fashion is tragic and it's extra-fun having a teenage girl! As for the state of education... I have an elderly client who summed up his college experience perfectly: "College didn't teach me a career. College made me into the person I am." I feel really bad for kids now- they're pressured to go choose a college major based on the earning potential, and then a lot of them still can't find jobs, or are losing their jobs to AI. And what will our country be like when no one values art, literature or music? I'm sorry to hear this is impacting your job- I hope you don't have to look elsewhere because you seem happy there.
ReplyDeleteI've been to many, many waterparks... and some of those slides are seriously scary!!!
If people cover up their butt cracks, belly buttons, and don't show too much clevage, I'm good. I don't want to see any of that stuff! That really stinks about your university. I think liberal arts are the most wonderful things to learn, and they taught me how to be a decent, open-minded human with a life-long love of learning. You ARE the cool aunt! I went to several water parks when I was in my 20s and 30s, and then was done with them. I got a bloody nose on one, and got bruised and cut up on another. Ouch!
ReplyDeleteI live in Ohio (sometimes I think that says enough, but allow me to elaborate), and what the legislature here has done--and is doing--to education at every level is a travesty. It is Puritanical and archaic. Wisconsin looks liberal and practically Californian compared to Ohio. I can't even.
ReplyDeleteRe: "fashion"--I don't even notice what people are wearing anymore, mainly because I'm usually in places where younger people are not, like the grocery store. I do miss being around teenagers quite a bit. I did see an article in the NYT this morning that "Smutty Dressing Is Back." Oh good.
I'm sorry about your water park injury. That sort of place has never been my thing. Would I consider it now if my grandson really wanted to go? Sigh...probably. How do they get us to do such things?
I don’t know what Libby is although I know I could find out easily. I just don’t wanna. 😀
ReplyDeleteI just wear what I like, which is I guess a joy of old age.