If this is the life that I have to look forward to as a math professor, then I certainly could have chosen a worse profession. My one class of the summer ended over a month ago, and since then I've had little to do other than take care of daily affairs and study. Not even marriage has changed the ease of the summer to which I have become accustomed over the last twenty years.
I feel sometimes like I should find more constructive uses of my time, at least while I have so much time to spare. And I don't mean to say that I've been doing nothing but playing video games and relaxing (although there has been plenty of both). I did help mow the lawn of a member of our church recently, and I'm making a dessert for someone else today. And, of course, there have been the dishes, the bed-making, the cleaning of the apartment, and the taking care of bills and other duties.
And it's not like I haven't tried to find work, but unfortunately, no one seems to want a tutor this summer. Maybe I'm finally starting to see the effects of the weak economy myself. Too bad, too. We could have used the extra money.
So, I'm not feeling really guilty, or anything, but I don't want to spend all my time enjoying myself without doing anything constructive. Maybe I can look for a few more opportunities to do something now, while I have time. Because sure enough I'll be busy once the fall semester starts.
Only one more year until my PhD (I hope)!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Rereading The Lord of the Rings
You know what's really great is when you've said to yourself, over and over, for years, that "one of these days" you're going to do something, and then you finally do it. "One of these days I'm going to Alaska," or "I'm going to learn French," or "I'm going to start a popular website."
The Lord of the Rings is my favorite book ever. By far. No contest. I got a paperback copy for Christmas about twelve years ago and read it three times in fairly quick succession, and I haven't read it since. I even bought an $80 hardbound set with illustrations by Alan Lee (at a fair discount) back in 2002 with the intention of reading that set one time and keeping it on the shelf thereafter to avoid spoiling its pristine condition, but I never did. I've meant to reread it for years now, always reminiscing about my favorite literary world and intending to revisit it. And then I realized that "one of these days" would remain just that until I finally made the decision today.
So a few days ago I decided that, instead of playing more video games or starting another book or whatever else I might do, I was going to reread The Lord of the Rings. You know, I said before that it's a really great feeling when you finally do something you've intended to do for a long time, but another great feeling is when you revisit something that has become a nostalgic topic for you but that you haven't actually experienced in a long time and find it to be every bit as good as you remembered. Such is the case with The Lord of the Rings.
In fact, it may even be better than I'd remembered. Tolkien is long-winded and breaks a few of the cardinal rules of literature, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's a genuinely great author. The Lord of the Rings perhaps lacks the profundity that other great works of literature possess, but its themes are those which are most fundamental: nobility, perseverance in weakness, the lust for power. In addition, Tolkien set his story in what I believe is the most genuine fantasy world to have ever been created.
I've skimmed ahead through the book, and thought with excitement about the parts I haven't yet reached: the trek through Moria, the Battle of Helm's Deep, the sacking of Isengard. I can't wait to relive each one. Here's looking forward to several more days of excellent reading!
The Lord of the Rings is my favorite book ever. By far. No contest. I got a paperback copy for Christmas about twelve years ago and read it three times in fairly quick succession, and I haven't read it since. I even bought an $80 hardbound set with illustrations by Alan Lee (at a fair discount) back in 2002 with the intention of reading that set one time and keeping it on the shelf thereafter to avoid spoiling its pristine condition, but I never did. I've meant to reread it for years now, always reminiscing about my favorite literary world and intending to revisit it. And then I realized that "one of these days" would remain just that until I finally made the decision today.
So a few days ago I decided that, instead of playing more video games or starting another book or whatever else I might do, I was going to reread The Lord of the Rings. You know, I said before that it's a really great feeling when you finally do something you've intended to do for a long time, but another great feeling is when you revisit something that has become a nostalgic topic for you but that you haven't actually experienced in a long time and find it to be every bit as good as you remembered. Such is the case with The Lord of the Rings.
In fact, it may even be better than I'd remembered. Tolkien is long-winded and breaks a few of the cardinal rules of literature, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's a genuinely great author. The Lord of the Rings perhaps lacks the profundity that other great works of literature possess, but its themes are those which are most fundamental: nobility, perseverance in weakness, the lust for power. In addition, Tolkien set his story in what I believe is the most genuine fantasy world to have ever been created.
I've skimmed ahead through the book, and thought with excitement about the parts I haven't yet reached: the trek through Moria, the Battle of Helm's Deep, the sacking of Isengard. I can't wait to relive each one. Here's looking forward to several more days of excellent reading!
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