I finished Flaubert’s Parrot by Julian Barnes last night, but before I get to that, I just got the grade on my final project from and the grade for the whole class. I got an A 
The only thing I got marked down on for my project was that I didn’t quite get APA style. I know MLA citation style inside and out and APA doesn’t entirely make sense to me but I thought I had followed the correct way. No, I capitalized the whole title and in APA it’s only the first word of the title that is capitalized apparently. So I got marked off for that, but I think it hardly a sin. And here are the final comments:
Outstanding job on your project. I was impressed with the variety of searching methods you used, ensuring that you only included articles that met our required criteria. You found excellent articles that focused exactly on what was required. Way to go! You have caught on well to this searching business!
Woo! If anyone out there would like an annotated bibliography on the information seeking behaviors of humanities scholars that includes a few interesting articles specifically on literature professors and historians, I can provide.
And now I realize I am too happy and relieved over my grade–not that I thought I’d get a bad grade but there is always a bit of doubt–that I can’t think of Flaubert so now is a good time to do Emily’s Oversharing Meme.
- Name the singer/band/performer you are most embarrassed to admit you actually paid good money to see in concert.
Okay, this will let you in on what a complete dork I was in high school and what a complete dork I still am. Me and five friends went to a Barry Manilow concert. We had a great time. The man does a good concert and there’s no denying he can belt out a tune. Of course we knew all the words and I still do. I even own his two-disc best of collection. This is not something I generally tell most people.
- Which reality TV show have you watched more than once (come on. I don’t believe you if you say “none,” unless you don’t own a TV)?Dancing With the Stars! Since I have been ballroom dancing for the last nine years I can’t not watch the show. You’d think my Bookman and I had our own number paddles and a seat next to Len from the kinds of comments we make during the show.
I had a brief flirtation with American Idol way back when it first began and I still enjoy watching the auditions, but when they actually start being able to sing I lose interest.
- Which complete trash novelist have you not only read but enjoyed enough to read more than one book of his/hers?
- What sappy musical could you watch over and over and over again?
- Who was your first celebrity crush?The Lone Ranger. Seriously. The reruns used to come on in the afternoons when I was a kid and I loved the show. Couldn’t get enough of it. I think it might have been the horse and Clayton Moore’s voice.
- Who is the most embarrassing celebrity on whom you have a slight crush today?Jim Sturges. He was in Across the Universe and 21. I think he’s in his early twenties which means I am technically old enough to be his mother, but his singing voice is lovely and he has this look that he does that makes me feel giddy.
- What movie that everyone else and his cousin and even his dog has seen have you never seen?I’ve never seen The Godfather, Pulp Fiction, Schindler’s List, Brokeback Mountain, Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator–I could keep going, the list is very, very long since I am not a movie goer. In fact I have a hard time remembering most actor’s names which on occasion drives my sister nuts because I usually don’t remember the name of the movie they were in either. So conversations will go something like this: Remember the guy who was in the movie with the singing and dancing? He did a tap dance and there was also a tango in it and something about jail? And there were rumors once about gerbils? What’s his name? Yeah, him. I saw an ad on TV the other day and he’s in a new movie that looks like it might be interesting.
When I actually remember an actor’s name or the name of a movie I think I take a year off my sister’s life just from the shock.
- What were you drinking the first time you ever got drunk?The first and only time I have ever been drunk was on my 21st birthday. Getting drunk didn’t take long with vodka and orange juice. I had such a hangover I didn’t get out of bed until 3:00 the next day.
- Which old re-run will you still pause to watch if you’re flicking through the channels and see that it’s on?There aren’t many old re-runs that I would watch but if I ever run across Monty Python’s Flying Circus or Keeping Up Appearances those would definitely get me to stop. Or The Black Adder. I love The Black Adder. I also have to confess to a certain fondness for Charlie Brown specials. I love It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and the Christmas one with the sad little tree.
- What book/movie/t.v. show that only a fifteen-year-old would think is funny makes you laugh?Remember Mystery Science Theater when it used to be on TV and had Joel on it? Before it made it big and got it’s own movie? They’d make the dumbest jokes sometimes and I often laughed so hard my sides hurt. Gilligan’s Island also cracks me up.
I’ve read several of Judy Blume’s adult novels. Those were pretty trashy. I used to sneak into my mom’s room when I was a kid and read “the good parts” of whatever Harlequin Romance she had going. I’m not very good at the trash and when I do read a trashy book I usually don’t read others by the same author.
I’m not much of a musical fan. I did like the recent movie Across the Universe. Is it sappy to make a movie out of Beatles songs?
You’re weird.
MST3K rulez!!!
#1: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
P.S. Congrats on the A!
What a great meme! I will have to do this one tomorrow!
Congrates on your A.
Again.
I was a Psychology and English major back in school (wow, it’s been a while) - I feel your pain because I had to use both APA and MLA style for different papers in the same semester. It was so confusing.
But omg - Barry Manilow?
You only got drunk when you were 21? You really are a good girl.
I might just do this meme tonight.
Oh many heartfelt congratulations on the A, Stefanie! (although between you and me, I wasn’t surprised
) And the meme is absolutely hilarious. I can sing along to Barry Manilow too (let that be our secret) and you are so like my son with American Idol. He likes the auditions then instantly gives up. As for the Lone Ranger - well, of course - what an alpha male!!
I also loved the Lone Ranger. Definitely one of my first crushes. How funny is that!
Congratulations on your good test score - super librarian to be!
Can’t wait to hear what you have to say about Flaubert’s Parrot
Thanks for playing, and okay, Barry Manilow does beat Kansas (barely), but I’m sorry, The Lone Ranger does not beat Mr. Greenjeans. And Jim Sturges? How can anyone with double X chromosomes NOT have a crush, no matter how old she is? As a matter of fact, one of the best parts of Across the Universe (besides the music) was the eye candy. And I’m just like you when it comes to trying to remember actors and movies. I think I’ve had that exact same conversation with my own sister.
Congrats on the A! I’ve never seen The Godfather or Schindler’s List, either….with The Godfather I keep waiting for a day when I can watch all three (like that’s going to happen) and Schindler’s List is in mysterious limbo in my blockbuster queue..it should have arrived several times and yet something is always sent instead…
Congrats on the “A”! Let me know if you would like an annotated bibliography on technology use in public libraries or a report on lean healthcare, the product of my search class LOL.
What an interesting collection of facts about you. I would highly recommend seeing The Godfather I and II. These represent the apex of film so far — even if you aren’t into gangster flicks, there is so much to appreciate.
I used to like Mystery Science Theater, too. But the Barry Manilow confession . . . seriously, that took guts.
If you liked Joel era mst3k you might get excited about http://cinematictitanic.com/wpmu/ It’s his latest project with a lot of the original cast.
Congratulations on the A! Well deserved, of course.
I’ve been to a number of Barry Manilow concerts! He was cool once! Pinky swear! And besides, my best friend had a HUGE crush on him. We also saw Rocky about eleventy billion times for the same reason (her crush on Sylvester Stallone.)
Congrats on the A!
I bought every Barry Manilow album I could get my hands on in high school but I never got a chance to see him in concert.
The only movie I’ve seen from your list is Brokeback Mountain.
Sister, and so are you
wil, it does. And I haven’t been able to bring myself to see the movie that came out a few years ago because I am worried it isn’t any good.
Sylvia, I am sure you don’t listen to all Wagner all the time. C’mon, what embarrassing singer are you hiding in your classical closet?
And thanks!
Biblioatrist, it’s a fun one. Emily is good at making them up.
Dark Orpheus, Thanks! Keeping track of both styles in different classes in one semester would make me very confused. Yup, Manilow. And yup only drunk when I turned 21. I didn’t like the taste of alcohol very much and I have alcoholics in my family so drunk never was appealing but I wanted to know what it was like and I knew if I didn’t do it on my 21st birthday I never would.
Litlove, thank you, you are so sweet. You and I can do Barry Manilow karaoke sometime but I have to warn you, I’d be like one of those terrible American Idol audition singers that your son and I like to watch
Verbivore, Hi-ho Silver, away!
And thank you.
Emily, you do have me beat with Mr. Greenjeans. And you’re right, Across the Universe is full of lovely eye candy. I am certain you and I could have fun movie conversations and we’d both understand the other very well
Courtney, thank you. Maybe we could have a Godfather marathon weekend or something. No doubt Schindler’s list will finally get mailed to you when you least expect it.
Bibliophylia, LOL! I’ll let you know. And thanks.
J.D. perhaps one of these days I will get around to seeing the Godfather movies. As for Barry Manilow, I am so deluded that he could possibly be embarrassing that I had no problem admitting to a concert and my fondness for him
Kurt, excellent! Thanks for the link!
Carrie, thank you, you are very kind. Glad to find another Manilow fan! When he was on Dancing with the Stars last season I was in heaven
Susan, thanks! Barry Manilow still does concerts, you haven’t missed your chance yet! I’ll probably get around to seeing Brokeback Mountain one of these days but no telling when that might be.
Congratulations on the A! Now enjoy your break for a couple weeks at least. I have a hard time remembering actors’ names too — it’s impossible to keep them all straight!
Congrats! Sigh of relief on finishing another class and doing so well! I have to watch Peanut’s specials, too, if I come across them.
Well, I do enjoy a bit of Deee-Lite once in a while…