Verna Kale

Roses are red
The ocean is wet
I love you all-in
Like my Jeopardy! bet

UNC UNC”d so hard.

Too many Duke fans on this site.

Punxy Phil is a demigod. Show a little respect.

A golden retriever sits in front of a cozy fire in a gas fireplace. A cat shaped rattan basket is visible in the background.

Tonight this guy had a breakthrough seizure lasting over 3 minutes. His regular vet moved to Mongolia (yes really) last week and the semester starts tomorrow so it’s really A++ timing there buddy.

Ah! So... you can suspend your holds but only before they are ready for pickup. This is great to know. Requires a bit of forethought but if you keep an eye on your place in the queue this seems like it will work well.

really!?! brb...

Weeks of nothing to read followed by every hold I put coming in at once. I wish my public library would let you pause your holds when your turn comes up so you could keep your place in line and get the book when you're ready without having to check it back in and then become #24 again.

There used to be people at our conference who also did the Key West thing, but not so much anymore. But by all means, show up in full Papa cosplay 😂

The OP was deleted but in a nutshell it suggested that in difficult times it’s a good thing to find a community with whom you share interests.

On that note… join the Hemingway Society. Open to all writers and fans, not just academics.

Thousands of white lights make up a big white mushroom hanging over a small town square. Not pictured: hoisting the magnificent fungus as “The Final Countdown” plays on the loudspeaker. Kenneth Square Mushroom Drop.

A stiltwalker dressed as a mushroom butterfly fairy waves her brightly lit wings and smiles under her glowing cap.

Happy New Year from the “mushroom capital of the world.” Kennett Square #pennsylvania

Golden retriever sits on rug holding large fleece throw. Beside him is a Christmas tree with no tree skirt.

His crimes are getting more audacious and it’s probably obvious why we don’t have a Christmas tree skirt. #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever

Golden retriever sits holding green and red dish towel in his mouth.

Retrievers gonna retrieve. All the livelong day. Whether you want them to or not. #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever

Trump’s Very Weird Night at the Kennedy Center Honors The president and I both got our heart’s desire. But something felt wrong.

but seriously if you want to know how the Trump Kennedy Center Honors went here’s my report from the night-of

News from my hometown: Stubhub marketed a spiritual concert (Lamb of God) as heavy metal show (different, more famous Lamb of God). I'm disappointed that the error was caught early, honestly. Chaos almost ensues doesn't have the same ring.

P.S. schedule permitting I'm always glad to return the favor and zoom into your class so don't hesitate to ask!

And then the writer wrote me back like HOW VERY DARE and also tweeted about it complete with f- bombs. But like...you literally requested invitations? So anyway, I'm EXTREMELY hesitant to make this ask, so instead of asking individuals, I'm just throwing it out there in general.

Funny story (not funny, I'm still annoyed by it) there was a writer who posted on Twitter that they would zoom into book clubs for free and to please invite them. So I invited them to zoom into my class (which is like a book club except there are more people and they have to buy and read the book)

Life Writers of BlueSky (biography, memoir, and spaces in between): If you would like to zoom into my graduate seminar this spring to discuss method, craft, ethics, business, or any other aspect of the work, please get in touch here or via my Penn State email.

December me would like to have a word with November me about her signup for the Holiday Concert cookie table.

I have found it very useful in exactly two aspects of my life so far. One, if you plug in all the books you like, it is VERY good at recommending other books. And two, it's been very good at generating ideas for Christmas presents for people. So I'm not a total hater!

Colleges: don't use AI in your application essay.
Also Colleges: * uses AI to evaluate application essays *
Professors: don't use AI in your work
Also Professors: * use AI to write syllabi, slides, & grade *
Students: * also using AI this whole time anyway *

Am I already dead? Have I gone to hell?

Screen shot from the Walmart website that is supposed to be an image of ravioli for a ravioli cutter. Instead of ravioli though the image depicts lots and lots of severed fingers.

I really am going into this horrible future kicking and screaming, but this isn't ravioli ya clankers.

Email screenshot text: Dear Verna We've updated our Global Privacy policy to include the use of an internal Al tool for transcription of interactions with our customer support. Additionally, we have made a few clarifying updates to our CCPA addendum. Please click here to read the updated privacy policy.

Email screenshot text: Dear Verna, We sent you an email on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, letting you know we've updated our privacy policy and our California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) addendum. The subject line of the original email was 'Update on your order' but should have said 'Update to Our Privacy Policy'. You may have also noticed the link for our privacy policy in the email went to the wrong page on LEGO.com. The link that we meant to use was

LEGO’s use of AI is going great so far 🤣

A large scoop of pink and green ice cream in a paper cup sitting on a snowy cafe table with a lit up greenhouse in the background.

I was elected president of the Hemingway Society, and celebrated with my favorite Creamery flavor. (OK so I ran unopposed, but any excuse to eat Peppermint Stick, a seasonal flavor available only 2-3 weeks of the year.) #pennstate

Congrats!

Penn State's head coach search reminds me of filling a TT role in an academic dept.
WHO O WHO CAN FILL THIS ROLE?
How about the highly qualified and experienced adjunct who has been here forever whom everyone already likes and who wants the job?
AGAIN, WHO O WHO CAN IT BEEEE? *dramatic flailing*

a cartoon cat with a green leaf on its head is in the rain Alt: Ghibli cartoon character Totoro with a green leaf on its head is in the rain

The only medication that has ever helped my migraines was discontinued in 2017 because it was so old it pre-dated FDA efficacy tests. I ASSURE YOU IT WAS EFFECTIVE. Anyway, I've been in pain for three days but seem to be coming out of it now.

A golden retriever stands on hind legs with his paws on the windowsill looking alert outside at a snowy street. On the floor next to him is a glove he stole earlier.

When the kids go sledding wifout you. (Even stealing a glove did not prevent this sad turn of events).