I’m stunned with the number of ridiculous rumors that have proliferated recently about my alma mater. Wherever I turn, people tell me the most outlandish, crazy stories that none of witnessed first-hand. Everybody heard something from somebody that heard something from somebody else. 

It’s scary how easy it is to destroy reputations once you start playing the game of “broken phone.” Rumors, exaggerations, fantasies, hints – it’s all totally nuts. It’s especially disturbing that the people who so avidly spread gossip are scholars or scholars-in-the-making. We are supposed to care about evidence, knowledge, truth. 

It’s sad to see people descend into the depths of insanity just because it feels nice to gossip. I spent half a day today trying to make folks see reason but it’s useless. 

So as you know, out Chancellor decided not to give us our backpay as a union-busting tactic. The money has been approved by the Board of Trustees and disbursed to the school, yet this one. . . individual is choosing to keep it hostage. 

On Wednesday, there was a big award ceremony at our university. Union people showed up with a huge framed certificate and said they wanted to award it to the Chancellor. The poor . . . individual got all proud and climbed onstage. The union folks said that the framed paper was actually the text of the email he sent back in summer to the university community promising that we’d be getting our backpay soon. And they asked him if he was willing to comment. Obviously, he had nothing to say. It all got in the papers and on social media.

I’m very proud of my union. 

Every week now we get reports of racist incidents on our campus. I’ve been here for 8 years, and there was never anything like this. Our student demographics have not changed, the tenor of instruction was not changed. But all of a sudden people started coming into the classrooms and the dorms and the shared areas to find racist slogans written on blackboards, doors, bulletin boards, etc. And I mean really vicious racist shit.

So what changed? I think we all know the answer. Students are mostly very young kids, teenagers many of them. I’m not trying to justify them but the young are like sponges. They absorb what’s in the environment and react to changing social norms. The perpetrators will be discovered, castigated, and probably expelled. But what about those who taught them that this vile shit is ok? When will they be punished?

Somebody writes on FB:

“My neighbors have 7 kids and 4 dogs they adopted from shelters. Their house is always very clean, and every time I come by they serve freshly baked cookies. The kids are all great students, and are very responsible and good-mannered. The parents are always cheerful and happy. I think they must worship Satan.”

I concur and need to add that they must also be very lonely. Who’d want to be friends with this walking reproach of a family?

I had no idea dance classes meant we need to get a pink leotard, a pink tutu, pink tights and pink ballet shoes. 

Plus, I got the feeling they expect Klara to stay at the lesson without me. Which is not happening. Are there really any 2-year-olds who agree to stay at a strange place with strangers without their mama? ‘Cause I haven’t met any such kids. 

Except for the toque, I got them all. So disregard the post from the other day, I guess. 

Egads, folks, do you have any idea how expensive dance lessons for 2-year-olds are? $40 for 30 minutes. I already enrolled Klara and we are going for the first time next week. But sheesh. 

And I’m so wiped my hands are shaking. The hardest part was that so many people wanted to talk to me today. I’m the introvert of the century, and so much human contact eats me alive. And then Klara decided not to take her nap today, so she was extra moody while I did everything I could think of to keep her awake until her normal bedtime.

I was so exhausted today that I watched kitty videos on Facebook. For the first time in my life. And hopefully for the last.

In the past, I’d unwind with a bottle of Captain Morgan spiced but since that simple joy was stolen from me by the analyst, I unwind by making a reading list. It’s seriously relaxing.

I experience a feeling of almost physiological bliss when I listen to our graduating seniors deliver their research talks. To hear them speak in fluent Spanish about the literary research they conducted is a delight like no other. 

We do good work here, folks. 

Did you, folks, see the new video of Trudeau fake crying in the parliament during his most recent apology for horrible, evil Canada? I can’t wait to get my US passport.

And no, it’s not an innocent meaningless little thing. He’s undermining the nation-state to get likes on Facebook.