All for the Gators, Stand Up and Hope Saying So on the Internet Isn't a Mistake

Academia: Hey, y'all. It's been a while, hasn't it? Everything is fine here; this week just got busy and the blog got away from me a bit. But here I am now! I promise to do better with blogging regularly in the future. I have more energy now than I did a few weeks ago, so I think I can do it. I think I can, I think I can!

Sartorial: We're still having a ridiculously warm winter down here in the Deep South, but there was a coolish snap earlier this week, so I pulled out all the winter clothes that are languishing in my closet for this outfit. My poor tights, cardigans, and boots have been feeling neglected, I'm sure, so I was happy to take them for a spin. I liked all the bright colors together too; they felt very appropriate for a semi-tropical winter.

Also, check out my cute necklace! Cary got it for me for Christmas in honor of our alma mater, which I guess means the poorly-kept secret of where I work is now a not-at-all-kept secret. Oh well. If y'all promise not to e-stalk me, I'll send you a crate of oranges or an alligator burger or something. You know, because that's what everyone eats in Florida.

Anyway, if you like Florida (especially the University of), Daisygator Designs is the Etsy shop for you. I just got my soon-to-be-born nephew the onesie version of this t-shirt and OMG, it is so cute. Speaking of cute things, if you click on the link, there's a picture of Tim Tebow holding a baby. You're welcome. There is jewelry for a lot of other universities as well, even Florida State, which is quite the olive branch coming from a jewelry designer who named her shop after UF's mascot.

Okay, it's time to sign off, because now all my tired brain can think of is UF-FSU rivalry jokes. So I think I'll spare you that and go to bed. And maybe watch other people make UF-FSU rivalry jokes on YouTube. I mean, it's still funny.

Early Thanksgiving

Brian's Etsy Shop 

Academia: One of the very best parts of my job is the opportunity to introduce our students to American holidays. I love wearing green on St. Patrick's Day, putting on a pirate hat for Halloween, and handing out candy on Valentine's Day, but my very favorite holiday tradition at work is our annual Thanksgiving potluck, which was held on Friday evening.

Here are the reasons I love the Thanksgiving potluck:

1. Sooooo much good food. One of our teachers takes the afternoon off to cook the turkeys for us, which are always delicious, and our students all bring food from their countries. And since our students all have different cultural norms when it comes to punctuality, we get new dishes continually for the first two hours of the dinner.
2. It's like eating with a really, really big extended family. Our students are all far from home, and they turn to each other to provide the sense of family they miss from the very beginning of the semester. By the time we get to the Thanksgiving dinner, students from different countries are taking pictures with their arms around each other, trying food from each other's countries, and learning words in each other's languages. Being around that kind of camaraderie would make anyone feel good. The food is really just a bonus.

Sartorial: We had a short-lived cool spell on Friday and Saturday (by which I mean it wasn't 80 degrees), which was perfect for an early Thanksgiving. This shirt over a bulky skirt probably wasn't the best choice for disguising the food baby I left the potluck with, but I was warm and I had a belly full of turkey, so honestly I don't think there was much to complain about.

Last Day of School

Shoes

Today was the last day of class for this semester, and the day when all my grades were due for my ESL classes. And since it's the end of the semester, this week has also been the week for people with problems who want my help solving them RIGHT NOW. Everyone with a toothache, cancelled flight, petty disagreement with their roommate, or weird rash has been in my office from the time I arrive until the time I see a chance to escape and flee to my car all week, leaving me no time to grade anything. I had to go in at 8:00 this morning and lock myself in my office to get it all done. Add in the fact that I had a job interview on Monday, and I'm surprised I'm not passed out at my desk right now, with a group of students throwing a battering ram at my office door.

So for today, I wanted an outfit with minimal thinking required. Yay for dresses, the insta-outfit. This dress is pretty warm, so I think this will be its last outing until late fall. I'm glad I got one more wear in today. I also stuck my toe into the pool of color blocking - you see how my shoes are yellow, my bracelet is orange, and my necklace is coral? I think that counts as very subtle color blocking, don't you? Maybe someday I will progress to actual articles of clothing being color blocked, not just accessories. But that is for a day with better functioning neurons, and that day was just not today.