I've had a generally miserable week (preparing a proposal draft to turn in last night, insurance cancelled by mistake, someone wrote a dissertation that's way too close to what I'm doing, advisor saying I can't defend this semester, dreaming about my proposal, issues with mr. stupidity, generally aware that The Advisor is disappointed in me and my unlofty goals, etc.). So this afternoon, between having my proposal, um, shall we say, dissected by The Advisor and letting my wonderful research group attack it (thanks, y'all!), I wandered over to the Harry Ransom Center to check out the wonderful Ansel Adams exhibition that's on right now. It is so good - if you are anywhere near Austin between now and January 1, you owe it to yourself and all that is right and good in this world to get over to campus and check it out. It's free and fantastic. Details on hours and all that here.Aside from the incredible beauty of the photographs, one of the most interesting things about the exhibition was how actively people responded to it. I haven't been in many galleries where everyone was talking excitedly with friends and strangers about the work. I was lucky enough to be behind a father and son who knew a lot about photography and whose comments made me pay much closer attention to special details in the art. But it was also neat to see grandchildren with their grandparents, professional and amateur photographers, UT students there for class assignments, and normal people off the street all enjoying Adams' incredible work. You need something beautiful in your life. This is not only beautiful, it's also free.
Also, last night after regaining my composure and finishing the draft, I went to the movies for the first time since Kenya. Proof is good, although in retrospect it was probably not the best choice on a night when one is 1) questioning one's entire career as an academic/ability to have an original thought and 2) wondering if one is losing it after bursting into tears in the middle of Dean Keaton on the way over to fix a nasty insurance problem. (On that sanity question, luckily Ginger was free for lunch at Shady Grove (our Official Nervous Breakdown Lunch Spot), where we were able to enjoy their Frito Pie with none of the nasty bird issues that plagued our last visit there, and left after I was pulled-together enough to get the proposal draft done by the 4pm deadline. Whew.)
Happy day, it's the weekend. I'm looking forward to the Colorado game tomorrow and to hopefully seeing "Not Lost: From South Sudan to North Texas" on Sunday. The Daily Texan says it's at 4 at the Alamo Downtown, but the theater doesn't list it on their website. Maybe it's the mysterious private party. UPDATE - it IS on at 4 on Sunday for $8. At any rate, this look at the journeys of some of the lost boys of Sudan should be interesting.
Other than that, it's just another gorgeous weekend on the ranch in Austin, Texas. Don't get much better than that!
(Photo: Ansel Adams Self-portrait, Monument Valley, Utah, 1958 Gelatin silver print © Trustees of The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust Collection Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona, Tucson - Please don't sue me, I'm promoting your show!)