tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post995185372947002270..comments2024-02-12T17:59:33.534-06:00Comments on RAZORED ZEN: What I Do For a LivingCharles Gramlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-20514434599875893002009-04-30T10:23:00.000-05:002009-04-30T10:23:00.000-05:00Ralph Ivy, thanks for visiting. Great bio there. ...Ralph Ivy, thanks for visiting. Great bio there. Good question about the creative writing MFAs. Do they have to draw what they write? I never would have thoguht of that. <br /><br />david mcmahon, thanks David, and thanks for recognizing me in your Post of the day! I appreciate that.<br /><br />Sniffles and Smiles, thanks. And thanks for visiting.<br /><br />Cath, All in all, I like my job very much and although I someitmes complain I probably shouldn't. <br /><br />Cheffie-Mom, thanks very much and I appreciate you visiting.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-83901854248962372872009-04-29T15:38:00.000-05:002009-04-29T15:38:00.000-05:00Great! Congratulations on the Post of the Day Awar...Great! Congratulations on the Post of the Day Award from authorblog!Cheffie-Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16568520021347503121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-24159772466827555932009-04-29T15:21:00.000-05:002009-04-29T15:21:00.000-05:00Not sure how I missed this first time round but go...Not sure how I missed this first time round but got here via David and your visit in the end! (Thnx for visiting). <br />It's great to get a rundown of what you do. Especially since I am not familiar with the American education system so a lot of the terminology is a bit alien to me. It sounds exhausting in the "feast" times. Glad you get some famine too!<br /><br />See you on the flip side of this one.Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01247084030899971480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-30292363470078611092009-04-29T10:28:00.000-05:002009-04-29T10:28:00.000-05:00excellent! Congrats on your POTD!excellent! Congrats on your POTD!Sniffles and Smileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10073156486641622612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-60477525747970861062009-04-28T04:55:00.000-05:002009-04-28T04:55:00.000-05:00Hats off to you, Charles. I am deeply indebted to ...Hats off to you, Charles. I am deeply indebted to many amazing people who taught me - some of them are mentioned by name on the acknowledgement page of my first novel.david mcmahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009095220051075552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-79315028292110740622009-04-26T21:40:00.000-05:002009-04-26T21:40:00.000-05:00Razored Zen? I'm signing in. Grin. I like your sub...Razored Zen? I'm signing in. Grin. I like your subject here. Triggered my own view of academia. From age 21 to 33 I was a regular attendee. First and only one in my family to move beyond high school. An art addict. I'd joined the army at age 17, and when I was discarged 3 years later my family had moved to Pasadena California, and the junior college there was cheap. And I enrolled. Wow!<br />Art. On to Chicago. American Academy of Art. Back to California. Long Beach State. Back to Chicago. Art Institute. Doing whatever part-time work to pay the way. Then the G.I.('cause of Vietnam) kicked back in and was made retroactive for ex-GI's like me - Bingo! I had four more years I could attends school. And even pay my rent. Finally got a BFA. and then an assistant-ship toward an MFA. (Which I actually did not receive. I had done all the class work, artwork, final art show, etc. but...being an iconoclast as heart - I refused to write a thesis. I'm into drawing more than writing I said, jokingly asking "Why do I have to write about why I draw? Do you require MFA students in creative writing to draw why they write?"<br /><br />Got a blank look. I laughed. And left. Still like colleges. Retired at age 70 I still live near a college campus. (UofA - Fayetteville). Still draw. A lot. Ironically enough. I also write. A lot. Enjoying all. <br /><br />I like the world you are a part of. I also like living a little off the mark. Thanks.Ralph Ivyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07937135000344065468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-59941591393978184032009-04-25T11:25:00.001-05:002009-04-25T11:25:00.001-05:00Merisi, thank you. That's very nice of you to say...Merisi, thank you. That's very nice of you to say.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-12072167075825400202009-04-25T11:25:00.000-05:002009-04-25T11:25:00.000-05:00laughingwolf, Geeze, that’s screwed up. Hope you...laughingwolf, Geeze, that’s screwed up. Hope you get that straightened.<br /><br /> Sidney, It doesn’t seem like much.<br /><br /> ANNA-LYS, Sometimes I don’t get much fiction written either.<br /><br /> Steve Malley, fortunately, my current department doesn’t go in for that sort of thing. But I’ve been there, done that and it really sucks.<br /><br /> Travis Erwin, grind is the word at the moment<br /><br /> Randy Johnson, see you then.<br /><br /> ivan, my wife helps me with the scantrons but is not really ready to grade the essays and papers. I found out “after” grad school about some budding romances between faculty and students. Didn’t hear much about it at the time.<br /><br /> Travis, yes, summer is only a couple weeks away. Looking forward to it.<br /><br /> Avery DeBow, I helped a guy clean out a chicken house one time after nearly 5,000 birds had died in it when the AC cut off in the middle of the summer. That was truly pleasant. Not!<br /><br /> Cloudia, yes, it was “take your blog friends to work day”<br /><br /> Lana Gramlich, yesssssssssssss.<br /><br /><br /> Ello, your name is more apt.<br /><br /> Erik Donald France, it definitely beats breaking rocks and digging ditches at my age, although when I was young and in shape not so much<br /><br /> Christina, I don’t have much patience and I still teach. So you too can do it.<br /><br />the walking man, Mark, I’ve been teaching at Xavier since 1986, and taught in grad school a couple of years before that. I always say that I love everything I do. I just sometimes wish there wasn’t so much to love. Glad you got the copy of “Cold in the Light.” Hope you enjoy.<br /><br /> Mary Witzl, yes, I’ve had lots of folks tell me how envious they are of me having an easy job. I don’t even argue any more. Some folks you just can’t Teach!<br /><br /> BernardL, I’ve definitely experienced some burnout over the years, which is why it’s so important to me to take off during the summer and do something completely different.<br /><br /> L.A. Mitchell, some fo those students would disagree with you.<br /><br /> Lauren, I’ll have to do a post about that one day. I’ve been doing a fair amount of work for scientific reference books lately. I’ll put some of this stuff up one of these days.<br /><br /> pattinase (abbott), Typical classroom hours at Xavier would be 12 hours in the classroom per week. I teach 9 because of the release time. Our requirements for tenure aren’t as high as Wayne State in publication, but are pretty high in teaching, with the need for doing some kinds of pedagogical improvement or curriculum development. Most universities evaluate the same things, just in somewhat different concentrations.<br /><br /> ARCHAVIST, I don’t wear the coat and hat and guns. But I typically do wear jeans and often a t-shirt.<br /><br /> JR's Thumbprints, Yes, I bow to you. That would kick my ass!<br /><br /> Wil, Lol, thanks dude.<br /><br /> Middle Ditch, I used to be better. I’m a bit burned out these days.<br /><br /> Heff, during the lean times at school there’s more time for blogging.<br /><br /> Greg Schwartz, it certainly is right now.<br /><br /> Leigh Russell, I will do so.<br /><br /> David Cranmer, thanks, but the weight of it varies from week to week so sometimes it’s not so bad.<br /><br /> jodi, I almost always defer to my wife!<br /><br /> SzélsőFa, yes, the administrative stuff is the worst. It’s soooo boring and so often a waste of time. Our work load increased after Hurricane Katrina when Xavier fired so many faculty.<br /><br /> SQT, I’m sure you’re right there.<br /><br /> Miladysa, I always figure most jobs are probably more complicated than they appear from the outside. So tell me about your working days!<br /><br /> Danette Haworth, Me too.<br /><br /> Rachel, keeps me out of trouble.<br /><br /> Shauna Roberts, good point. My schedule is relatively flexible, but that usually means a lot of work outside the school setting.<br /><br /> Chris Eldin, the publishing is really stressful at the beginning, or it was for me. It was stressful enough that it actually probably decreased my productivity because I spent so much time worrying about it.<br /><br /> Merelyme, I do generally enjoy the actual teaching aspects, seeing the students pick up information, getting good questions, seeing the “light” come on.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-17056337991230529592009-04-25T11:23:00.000-05:002009-04-25T11:23:00.000-05:00Your workday reads more or less what I imagined it...Your workday reads more or less what I imagined it to be. Ever since I started reading your blog have I been fascinated by the sheer energy and enthusiasm that shows through in your postings. You are an incredibly positive human being. I am sure there are many fine young people out there whose life is the better for having had you as a teacher. I wish you and your loved ones the best that life can give!Merisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16781937797213521146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-7903512144194392672009-04-25T09:28:00.000-05:002009-04-25T09:28:00.000-05:00It is a lot of work to be in academics. My sister...It is a lot of work to be in academics. My sister got out of it to do consulting and run her own business. I think she misses the interactions with her students most but does not miss the behind the scenes politics.<br /><br />I had not known that you write about psychology. Very cool.<br /><br />Maybe I should interview you sometime for the depression site I am managing for Health Central. <br /><br />http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/profile<br /><br />Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to always come and comment on my blog. You are quite amazing in all that you do.Synchronicityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07631238942909923311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-39054341445485245072009-04-25T09:04:00.000-05:002009-04-25T09:04:00.000-05:00That sounds really interesting, and along the line...That sounds really interesting, and along the lines of what I always pictured. I think it would be fun to teach at a community college, where there is no stress about publishing, but you're still surrounded by learning and students.<br />:-)Chris Eldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16732006129353079344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-11803757202508666252009-04-24T19:11:00.000-05:002009-04-24T19:11:00.000-05:00Another difference between academics and most jobs...Another difference between academics and most jobs is that is a seven day a week job. My husband spends only 10 to 15 hours a week at the university, but he works on papers, committee matters, and other school stuff every day and almost every evening.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-77701928224473559922009-04-24T15:16:00.000-05:002009-04-24T15:16:00.000-05:00Wow! That's a lot of work.Wow! That's a lot of work.Rachel V. Olivierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08993034871233904955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-83044394032521970292009-04-24T05:52:00.000-05:002009-04-24T05:52:00.000-05:00Charles...Thank you so much for the signed copy of...Charles...Thank you so much for the signed copy of Cold in the Light. I wait for the thundering night to get started on it.the walking manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058913927297370740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-65122071590487740232009-04-23T23:26:00.000-05:002009-04-23T23:26:00.000-05:00Thanks for the condolences everyone. Through hero...Thanks for the condolences everyone. Through heroic efforts I've made a serious dent in the grading. If I can finish up tomorrow I'll have the weekend free, and then start on the next round Monday and Tuesday.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-1172817774738171042009-04-23T16:05:00.000-05:002009-04-23T16:05:00.000-05:00Charles,
I'm already tired.Charles, <br />I'm already tired.Danette Haworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13220718895967380788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-66600905188476952032009-04-23T15:25:00.000-05:002009-04-23T15:25:00.000-05:00Very interesting. I had no idea how complicated i...Very interesting. I had no idea how complicated it was. I just imagined a few hours in the lecture room followed by some marking!<br /><br />I would like to attend one of your lectures some day but I suspect it would all be very much above me.<br /><br />"Caribbean cruise, Caribbean cruise..."<br /><br />You've certainly earned one!<br /><br />You would never believe me if I wrote about one of my working days ;DMiladysahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08065128196666157541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-75292871803774589612009-04-23T14:52:00.000-05:002009-04-23T14:52:00.000-05:00Well, as busy as you are, it's gotta be better tha...Well, as busy as you are, it's gotta be better than the smell in a chicken house. Hope you see daylight soon.SQThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251030404220909306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-10869926902173270452009-04-23T00:31:00.000-05:002009-04-23T00:31:00.000-05:00Thank you for the informative post. My husband wor...Thank you for the informative post. My husband works at a University, too and his daily routine pretty much looks similar to yours.<br />I've never heard of the saying 'publish or perish' - but I experienced it.<br />DH works in the field of agricultural entomology so he has to do lots of field work as well. He likes it, though.<br />The one bit he hates is doing administrative chores, filling up papers and answering emails. Fieldwork and/or classroom activities do not exhauste him, but administration does.<br />The number of helping hands keeps decreasing (lack of budget) and qualified teachers (my husband for example has got a PhD Degree) has to do many uninteresting paper work normally a PA would have to do.SzélsőFahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600289147447182465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-27107977863612434572009-04-22T20:48:00.000-05:002009-04-22T20:48:00.000-05:00Charles, how nice to be "in on" your day! Please d...Charles, how nice to be "in on" your day! Please defer to your wife on this one!jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798858210138821711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-32431157006961173862009-04-22T19:51:00.000-05:002009-04-22T19:51:00.000-05:00My friend, after reading that, I'm impressed you s...My friend, after reading that, I'm impressed you still have time to write and blog. Very impressive.David Cranmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04749857752139212888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-57138473471942004842009-04-22T16:12:00.000-05:002009-04-22T16:12:00.000-05:00Hope you finish your marking quickly and return to...Hope you finish your marking quickly and return to the blog soon. I miss your pithy comments on my blog. Please check out my Virtual Book Launch when you have time.Leigh Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080517449825380527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-40770064344465509642009-04-22T11:56:00.000-05:002009-04-22T11:56:00.000-05:00wow, sounds busy. good luck!wow, sounds busy. good luck!Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15344808703550376121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-66328426338105645232009-04-22T09:43:00.000-05:002009-04-22T09:43:00.000-05:00I don't see how you find time to blog AT ALL.I don't see how you find time to blog AT ALL.Heffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13396114362826135207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-57706621372378239252009-04-22T09:11:00.000-05:002009-04-22T09:11:00.000-05:00Tough schedule. I'm glad I'm not a teacher. My dau...Tough schedule. I'm glad I'm not a teacher. My daughter is. She's in a very deprived area in Coventry with terribly bad behaving kids, but she's good at it.<br /><br />Roll on Summer holidays.Middle Ditchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16493665280732775898noreply@blogger.com