on being hectic

[baleanoptera]

I want my life back. I really do.

I’m giving a lecture on the visual culture in 19th Century Germany for the Nordik-conference this coming Friday. The paper for this lecture has to be finished today, so that the person sitting chair for my lecture can work out the questions that will follow my lecture, and make for “an interesting discussion”. A discussion leading scholars in the field will participate in. I’m terrified.

I also need to finish an abstract for my proposed lecture to a conference in Stockholm in April. And revise an article about the use of myth in visual, political rhetoric, and find the pictures for said article and send it to peer-review. Between all this I also have to show up to work at the museum, and prepare a meeting with a professor about my trip to Rome in November.

And all this I have to do by Sunday. I think the only thing at this point driving me forward is coffee and large amounts of high strung nerves.

Ooh – and I’m reading Sarah Monette’s Melusine. It’s so good I can’t stop reading it, even if I really don’t have the time.

Comments

[jorun.livejournal.com]

well, well, well, what can one say? Only this- even though one knows one is to give a lecture, as much as two years ahead of the actual event (personal experience this), one still waits until the very last moment to actually write it.. One of life big mysteries, wrapped in one of those enigmas? But you go girl! (Ohhh, I've waited so long to use that phrase)

Melusine, love, love, borrow after you're done with it?

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

But of course! Actually I don't think you can avoid it, as I will probably pester you until you read it. *g*

[applegnat.livejournal.com]

Melusine sounds intriguing - I hope you'll post on it after you're through! :)

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

I will, I will. It's been a long time since I've liked a fantasy book this much so I'll probably go on and on about it. I have a slight tendency to do that with books I love. I might seem obsessive, but I call it the all natural book crush.;-)

The intriguing thing about Melusine is that it goes places, dark and sometimes very slashy places, that I've so far only seen in fan fiction. I like that aspect very much. And it also manages to step out of the shadow of Tolkien, and do its own thing. Also commendable.

Far to many fantasy books copy Tolkien, and really if I want to read about elves and evil overlords I grab LOTR or Silmarillion. Because - Fëanorians? Nirnaeth? It's a little hard to top. *g*

Though I must admit I like George R. R. Martin's A song of Ice an Fire series, but then again he drops the elves and does his own thing. Are you familiar with them?

[applegnat.livejournal.com]

Aha, I trip on GRR Martin - mostly because there is so darn much to read! I'm a huge fan of the Lannisters. Evil sexy bastards to a dude. :)

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

*grin* so very true.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

You must have accomplished your goal already and I am too late - but these lectures sounds very interesting!! I am sure you will do great!

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Most of the work has been done, and all I have to worry about now is not being to nervous. But then again speaking in public always makes me nervous so I suppose there is no helping it.

BTW - have you read the two ASOIAF short stories that Martin wrote for the Legends books? They are set a hundred years before the main books, but I like them. It gives a few hints about Rheagar and Summerhall etc.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I hate presentations too! I ususally just prtend I am somebody else:).

BTW - have you read the two ASOIAF short stories that Martin wrote for the Legends books?

This is interesting! I have heard of "Hedge Knight" - is this the one you mean?

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

I hate presentations too! I ususally just prtend I am somebody else:).

See - this might work. For heaven knows the advise about picturing the people naked isn't very helpful. As if giving a presentation isn't nerve-wracking enough - but now there is an audience of naked people!? Old, naked professors? Gyah....

This is interesting! I have heard of "Hedge Knight" - is this the one you mean?

That is the first one, and it's followed by The Sworn Sword. They are both on anthologies titled Legends 1 & 2 respectively. They are set in the glory days of the Targaryen kings - so they really give you an impression of the Targaryen family. Apparently it's a Targaryen trait to have prophetic dreams *coughJoncough*