Keeping Burnout at Bay, One Holiday Tree at a Time
“Is that a Christmas tree?” the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters asked me during a Zoom call. “Absolutely not,” …
The Great Halloween Tree of 2021
It’s spooky season, ya’ll. FINALLY. Bring on the pumpkin everything and the spooky decor and soon, the candy hunting munchkins. I can’t …
Happy National Donut Day!
During the early getting-to-know-you days of a semester, my students quickly learn a few vital things about me. Chief among them? My …
A little customer service gratitude this holiday season
Yesterday was A. Day. The kind where the drive home was a rumination of all the things I should’ve said, plus regret …
My 2017 top five
I usually spend January 1 wrapped up in reviewing last year’s accomplishments and plotting for the future. This involves generating upwards of 60-80 …
And sometimes you knock over your own Christmas tree
I call it my three-movie tree. This year, it took Love Actually, Labyrinth, and Little Women to get the sucker properly decorated. …
The Cubs won! And other things on my mind.
“How many innings are in baseball?” “Why does baseball take so long?” “A RAIN DELAY?” “Will this thing ever end?” Mr. T: …
A Goliath-sized hole in my heart
As it turns out, I’m an excellent dog trainer*. When Mr. T and I first started dating, I was charmed at how …
The Great Halloween Tree, a recipe
Behold: Nine feet of fabulous Halloween glory. Now you might be saying to yourself, “Wow that Shawna has really gone off the …
Happy Halloween, mateys!
I feel like both Goliath and Mr. T want you to know they do not sanctionthis dog costume nonsense. Halloween is normally …