Impressions

The last few days have been full of the sort of experiences that are at once seminal and nostalgic.

On Wednesday, I traveled with a group from my program to the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at UT Austin. Gorgeous. The campus, the weather—gorgeous.  In contrast to the institution at which I am ensconced (a blandly beautiful, inchoate mix of architectural faux-doms), the University of Texas at Austin embraces a more geographically apropos combination of reinterpreted Spanish tile-roof and modern stone. You sense the money that flows under the sidewalks. 


One result of which is the phenomenal HRC. Besides the headliners in its museum (a Gutenberg Bible, the first photograph ever taken—circa 1826, a seasonal exhibit, etc.), the Library houses the personal papers and letters of Hemmingway, Graham Greene, D. H. Lawrence, Mark Twain, scores of others, and, most gloriously—the papers of Evelyn Waugh! I spent my time on Wednesday perusing (and touching, handling) the manuscript of A Handful of Dust, along with E. Waugh's personal diary from 1933-34, the period during which Handful was published. 


I only discovered that the UT housed Waugh's material a few weeks ago. Though I have varied interests, and will probably keep myself more abstracted than the study of a single author would allow, I have a deep love of Waugh's work, and (I think) an affinity for his methods and goals. Already in his manuscripts I have discovered new material for use in my research. (The image above is Page 1 of the handwritten manuscript for Handful.)


Okay: done for now. Suffice: I am stoked on it!


Next topic: obese toddlers/ young children. Okay, not a topic, but: goodnight! I watched multiple very overweight children struggle around the playground with their peers the other day. Sad. And maddening: kids will NOT get fat unless you just stuff them with junk. Our two boys eat like it's going out of style—I don't exaggerate when I say that our three year old eats about as much as I do (and I am 6'4")—and yet they are still on the thin side. Sure, there's some genetics involved. But morbidly obese? That's negligence.


Okay: next.


Today: Austin again, and Round Rock. I attended some of a conference at UT, but most of the day was spent visiting places that were important to my childhood (I was, very coincidentally, born in Austin, though I haven't lived in Texas since 3rd grade). It was a great time.


Now: back to reading. I have about 8 significant things to do in the next few days. The odd and funny thing is... I'm loving it!