Cranky and Venting

I've been avoiding the blog lately because I've been cranky. There are a lot of little things going on, both personally and professionally, that are really irritating me. I didn't think I could write about them without being bitchy. And then today, after receiving an email that almost made my head explode, I suddenly remembered that I don't care if I'm bitchy. It's my blog and I'll write about whatever the hell I want. One of the reasons why I like blogging is because it is cathartic. When I can transfer the thoughts into words and deposit them somewhere, then I can clear my head to think about other things. So here is a non-exhaustive short list of things currently annoying me:

• "Friends" who think that starting an phone call or email with "How are you?" and then proceeding to go on and on about all of the drama in their lives is real communication as opposed to egotism.


• Women who won't acknowledge that trading sex for material goods is prostitution. Just because you are white, middle class, and educated and you are (typically) not handling cash doesn't make it less wrong! And, as I've mentioned before, when you're 30-something and don't know better, it is really pathetic.


• The fact that I don't get paid this summer. Yes, I love what I do for a living, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't get paid for it. I am working my ass off this summer for the sake of tenure. Yes, yes, I know that the hard work will pay off in terms of gratification and professional success some day. But, today, I have bills to pay. What other profession expects people to work for free?! It's completely exploitative and yet we accept is as part of the mythical honor code of academia. Well, it's bullshit. (Workers of the world unite! -- I still say KM wasn't totally off his rocker.)


• I chipped a tooth last week. When I think about all of the money that I have poured into my teeth it makes me want to vomit. It also makes the above point more irritating.