Debate update -- now and spring 06

Am working on the spring schedule... looks like we'll be in Cali for New Years (barely, arrive at 10:45 PM) with D1/D2. Tickets were expensive and they are the only competitive team. Most of Janurary - mid-March will be spent other places... I'm glad we have some time off before then --

The dumb-ass administrator who was giving D1a hard time was put in his place by D1 --at the meeting he slammed down a sample card and dumb-ass had to admit that he wasn't printing his own books on their lousy laser printer. D1 got exactly what he wanted, dumb-administrator tells me that they are working on getting us a printer for the road... YEA!

I'm kind of frustrated wth Rex, as he doesn't seem to get any better. Are we not communicating with him what he needs to do, or isn't he internalizing it? He seems to want to do it, but I'm kind of unsure at this point.

Moonshadow decided to go to New York instead of to the Marquette tournament (which was canceled anyway... boo). Tells me where her priorities are. She's acutally improving her debating, it would be nice if she'd actually travel.

Debater X is back and forth, as are WK and JC. Herbie seems to be getting in gear, but right now he and Rex are pretty well-matched partners... which is ok. Herbie is a really bright kid, and will be a fun debater once he gets the hang of it.

Pam

A week... four years ago -- was the last week of your life.

Thank God you always lived as if it was the last week...

I could learn something, if I weren't so damm pissed off.

I hate that you died now -- why not some other time, like when you were 110, not 30.

Also, the timing in the year fucking sucked. A few days after my wedding anniversary, the day after Thanksgiving, a week before Shirly's birthday and two weeks before mine. I try not to let it cloud the season, but it is hard to be happy when the season itself reminds me you are gone.

Also -- if you talk to Mark, tell him I want your portion of Grandma Glad's china.

P

No Words

There are no words for someone who has lost a sibling..

There are widows and widowers
There are orphans
but
no words for
"I had a sister, she died"

No words for,
"I had two daughters, one died"

maybe if there were words
it would be easier

but, I think not

Jar Head

We went to see the movie "Jar Head" tonight. I know... big shock that Jason and I actually did something that normal couples do-- namely, a movie and dinner out on a weekend.

The movie itself was good -- pretty much the story of one enlisted Marine in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Since Jason was in the military at that time, and we got married during Desert Shield -- it was pretty interesting to see what it was like there.

I'll probably have more thoughts on it later --

Waltzer, part 2

Michael Waltzer, amazing...

On November 2, 2005 I was lucky enough to have had lunch with Waltzer.

For those of you who don't recognize the name, he is the formost living author concerned with the ethics of warfare. Everyone else must justify deviations from his theory.

Personally
He is a very kind and gentle man. Small, Jewish and brilliant -- someone who listens to what you have to say, considers it and he either agrees or respectfully disagrees -- and justifies his disagreements... I found it amazing to be telling him about my teaching, coaching and my experience with the military.

Professionally
Amazing, he gave me excellent ideas about where to go with my dissertation, including suggestions as to what to add to just war theory... the ethics of pre-war actions (I think he developed this on the fly at lunch, but I'm not sure..) and the ethics of post-war actions. Both of which have some basic things in common -- namely they concern nearly traditional war-like actions taken for coercive reasons. Police-like actions and blockaids are the bookends of war, and especially with the way modern wars are fought, are most of the actual time and effort expended.

Yea, it was a good dissertation week. I can't wait to find the sources Waltzer suggested...

Waltzer, part 1 & Omaha

Took a trip to Omaha --- got to stay with my good friend Peg... great therapy for the both of us... We spent the day bumming around and talking -- a lot like Pam and I used to. I've missed that. I'll have to visit again without hubby, so we can chat and keep caught up.

Peg is an amazing person -- she's got strong values and a vision for what life should be like and she goes after it. She's very loyal and very perceptive about people, although she sometimes can't help but get involved with some wierdos -- I know how she feels. She used to travel a lot for work, but now she's starting her own salon -- those of you in Omaha let me know if you need a great haircut!!!

The purpose of the trip was to see Michael Waltzer speak, which was very interesting -- although not much on Just War Theory tonight.

Tomorrow I get to meet with him nearly one-on-one, which is very cool. I can't wait and am nervous about it, I don't want to blow my chance to pick his brain about just war. I'm sure there will be more later.

I go home tomorrow --- Omaha is nice, but home is also nice. Another weekend off -- goodness knows what kind of trouble I'll get in... of course, there is a philosophy conference this weekend at the U. I really should go to parts of it, as it is free and in town... and good for me, as the focus is on Kant.

A week from tomorrow we go to Marquette -- will I get the tatoo???

Debate --Good day/Bad day/evil student complaint

I had three phases today

Phase 1:
So -- today I chat with my administrator... He is really cool, gets debate and decides to fund D1/D2 at NPTE and D1 and others at NFA... good start.

Phase 2 (e-mail recieved while at a rest-area in Iowa... aargh...)
I then find out that dork-boy CJ is forwarding his complaint to the cool administrator. He complained to my dean that I didn't teach the class... the dean was satisfied with my explaination that he refused to debate in said class... and got hostile when I told him that he'd have to actually debate in debate class... hmmm. I know this isn't going anyplace, and both dean and cool administrator thinks I'm good etc -- but it is still stupid shit I shouldn't have to deal with.

Phase 3 (via phone call from hubby)
THEN -- I find out that D1 (who, by the way WON a policy tournament this weekend.. his first tournament ever..) -- is being harassed by dumb-ass administrators about the amount of stuff he's printing. They don't come to me, they summon him to a meeting. Cripes.. I'm in Nebraska, get a panicked phone call from hubby abou this "emergency" -- and have to fire off some midnight e-mails -- one to dumb-ass administrator #1, with CC's to my cool administrator and my cool dean. Cool administrator replies almost instantly -- and tells me that if dumb-ass administrator gives me shit, I should send her to him.

I love cool administrator... almost as much as I loved the guy from Festival foods who delivered all the food for NPTE.

I should go to bed. Now.


didn't do it... but will soon...