Whig Hill

A couple things I discovered as a first-time (half) marathoner

There will never be enough porta-johns for 31,000 people who are over-hydrating all in one place. Be prepared folks—don’t expect to be able to take care of your business in under thirty minutes.

Apparently a slower runner to the right etiquette does not exist. All paces all over the road and I think I ran about an extra mile just dodging and swerving. Not at all like running up and down the Greenway

Shout outs

An insecure history student like myself, working in obscurity and isolation (as historians tend to), can expend a great deal of anxious energy pondering and developing ideas and concepts that seem tenuous and naive at best. Then, one reads a few comments by an established scholar that absolutely validates that nascent concept--tacitly giving permission to proceed with your idea. These are watershed moments--gratifying because of intellectual ratification. Beth Barton Schweiger did that early in this dissertation process, and more recently Catherine Brekus and S. Scott Rohrer have done so. I just wanted to acknowledge this. Thanks, folks.

UPDATE: Ok, I still think I'm right in the criticisms below, but schmoozing the wealthy sure has paid off for them. This is fantastic news.

Dear Moravians,

I like you. I like visiting you and spending money on you. I think what you got going over there is pretty good. But I have a couple of questions.

Why are you so afraid of dogs? Really, you are armed with all kinds of hammers and saws and axes and you run away from my elderly pooch? Literally, run away. And the no pets signs everywhere? What’s up with that? A dog’s gotta dog, y’know?*

Also, why is your admission fee structured the way it is? I know all you can think about is the Fancy Decorative Arts Museum and how that’s a prestige project and all your wealthy (I mean, wealthy) friends love it, but why do I have to choose between looking at it (and paying to look at it) or only looking at two of your seven historic buildings (that aren’t gift shops, that is)? Think about how that works for the family with three kids and a dog who all want to see the artisan shops in the historic area –which is what you are known for despite what your wealthy friends tell you—but can only get into two unless they pay the extra ten dollars that gets you into the FDAM which your three kids don’t want to see and you are not going to drag them into anyhow. If I’m paying to see your site, I want the option to see all seven historic buildings at a reasonable price. I don’t want to be forced to pay extra for something I’m probably not going to see just to boost the numbers on the FDAM, thereby restricting my access to the things I do want to see. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe all those rambunctious toddlers and sullen teens do visit the FDAM. But something tells me the candle-dipping is a bigger draw.

And why is your website—nicely designed, btw—so vague about special event information. What is happening when at what time, specifically? Why is the navigation of the site so non-intuitive. Moravians, you are known for being technologically forward thinking. Always have been. Arbeit an diesem, bitte.

Finally, why are you carrying so few books on Moravian history in your bookstore when you shelves are filled up with ghost story books and partisan right-wing policy books. And why don’t you sell pipes in your gift shops anymore?

Moravians, I love you. I think you are way cooler than the other small peace-loving denomination that lives in this area. I guess that’s why I’m feeling this so strongly.

Your friend, etc., etc.

p.s. You should have trombone bands playing all the time. It’s Easter and I didn’t hear one trombone. That’s not like you.

*Seems inconsistent, I know, considering my post below, but why is fear of dogs an all or nothing thing with people? Surely you can distinguish between a pit bull on a tear, and my feeble, limping, tail-wagging animal, and act accordingly?

Apostrophe’s

Things that have happened this week:

Had a flurry of donations from people who I know don’t have much to give. Thank you. I am eternally grateful even if sometimes I don't act so.

Reached my fundraising goal. Well, it involves a technicality and the actual goal won’t be reached until after the run, but we got it. But you can still give--it is a good cause.

I have seen a flurry* of poor apostrophe usage and other bad grammar from businesses and other institutions that should know better. If they did, they’d be embarrassed. Now, anyone who has ever been subject to my writing knows I’m not the greatest grammar person, but, really…

Have returned to the archives and libraries. This week I worked on Lutherans and German Reformed churches. Not what I expected at all, but they will work well in the dissertation.

To that end, I found a down home North Carolina boy named Zwinglius Welker Fooshee. Died in the Civil War.

SOC Rovers sent along some things, including a personalized note that made me smile.

DO NOT BE ALARMED BY THIS—a pit bull attacked Lizzie. She’s fine. We were walking (on the leash, thank you very much) and this loose dog ran up, invaded her personal space and lunged at her neck. I pulled her back and pushed him off enough that he only got a mouthful of hair before running off. I was shook up and angry. If I had had some heat, it would have ended badly for the other dog (whatever the breed). Lizzie acted like nothing had happened. She was more frightened by the thunderstorms the next night, as usual. (She’s sitting in the corner right now wondering why I’m wasting her time sitting inside on the computer.)

I became an official candidate for a doctoral degree this week. I say that mainly as a self-effacing joke because I completed my proposal last year and had just forgotten to do this little bit of paperwork. D’oh!

Yesterday I saw three mutually exclusive references to the Bhagavad Gita. I had known it is a Hindu holy text, but other than that, nothing. Three times in one day seems odd.

This morning I ran twelve miles without walking. This explains why I’m inside on the computer, exhaustion and pain and all, but it doesn’t do the dog any good.

*Despite the subsequent apology, I can't believe I used this word twice in a post criticizing bad grammer. I should just keep my mouth shut when I have the urge to criticize.

 

Historians

I was about to get all depressed that Glenn Beck is leaving Fox News.... Really. I'll miss him. Who else features American history once a week? Who else could get so many people thinking and talking about our past. Well, like I said, I was about to get all depressed, but then I discovered that we'll be having Mike Huckabee carrying the American History torch for the next year or so. Thanks Mike!