Monthly Archives: January 2019

News From a Current Hometown

Posted on January 29, 2019 by profmondo

The Travel Channel has issued a list of “America’s 50 Most Charming Small Towns.” Mondoville made the list — the only city in South Carolina to do so. I don’t suppose I can claim all the credit for it — but … Continue reading →

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Sunday Evening Potpourri: Beauty and Sadness Edition

Posted on January 27, 2019 by profmondo

A bit less than an hour ago, I returned to Mondoville after having spent about 40 or so hours in the environs of Lexington, KY. The occasion for my travel was not one I would have chosen, but it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Broken Glass Waltzes, Culture, Education, Family, Literature, Why I Do What I Do | 6 Comments

On a Lighter Note…

Posted on January 21, 2019 by profmondo

  My beloved Kentucky Wildcats pulled down a national championship over the weekend. This one went to the cheerleaders, their fourth in a row and 24th in the program’s history. While there were a couple of errors (including an inverted … Continue reading →

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“I Am Principled…

Posted on January 21, 2019 by profmondo

You are stubborn. He is a pigheaded fool.” I first ran across this in the textbook for a logic course my dad was taking at UT-Nashville when I was in sixth grade. He took me with him on one or … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Education, Faith, Politics | 2 Comments

Sunday Night Potpourri: Shallows and Spiders Edition

Posted on January 20, 2019 by profmondo

We’re moving into night two of a three-day weekend, and I haven’t posted in a few days, so here we go… *** Yesterday the Spawn and I went down to Real City for lunch at her favorite restaurant (her treat) … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Family, Literature, Music | 1 Comment

“Or As I Call It, Wednesday.”

Posted on January 16, 2019 by profmondo

As I was teaching my 8:00 section of freshpeeps, a chattering crowd of young folks wandered down my hallway. I figured it was likely a tour group of prospective students and went on with my lecture. About a minute after … Continue reading →

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The Rising Frequency of Goodbyes

Posted on January 11, 2019 by profmondo

A friend of mine from my first grad school days (and the wife of one of my closest friends from undergrad) died this morning, a few months after having been diagnosed with cancer. She leaves my abovementioned friend and their … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Why I Do What I Do | 5 Comments

Time Machines

Posted on January 9, 2019 by profmondo

Brian Morton of Sarah Lawrence College had a fine article in yesterday’s NYT about a topic I’ve addressed in the past. As a medievalist — as a teacher of literature — part of my job is to walk my kids through … Continue reading →

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Gathering Stones Together

Posted on January 8, 2019 by profmondo

One of my late Christmas presents came early yesterday. Maybe I’d better explain. One of the top items on my Christmas list was A Time to Scatter Stones, Lawrence Block’s latest (and likely final) installment in Matt Scudder’s multi-volume, fictive autobiography. … Continue reading →

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Weekend Potpourri: Wedding Bell(e)s Edition

Posted on January 6, 2019 by profmondo

The winter break is coming to a close; classes resume on Wednesday, and tomorrow I have to help score placement exams for some of our incoming students. But it has been a pleasant enough break, and I think I’m ready … Continue reading →

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