How a Bucknellian transformed her passion into a blog.
Give and take -- Alumni Experts Share Their Experience
By Melinda Kummer Rubinstein ’05 (English and studio art)
In college, I tested the waters in my first blog, with posts ranging from political rants to slices of life. After a few missteps in the Internet Wild West, where there are no rules, especially about civility, I abandoned the blog, never thinking I would return.
In spring 2009, I was back in the blogosphere reading about white dresses, DIY favors and wedding budgets in preparation for my marriage to Jason Rubinstein ’04. Blogging had come a long way since 1999. More like online magazines and less like Live Journal diary entries, these blogs showed me the successes of focused topical writing in an online format.
The writing itch resurfaced, and I started blogging about my wedding planning experience as Palindrome Bride (www.PalindromeBride.blogspot.com) in homage to our palindrome wedding date, 01/02/2010. My posts were picked up by the national wedding blog Weddingbee.com, where I was featured as a regular contributor. For nine months, I chronicled everything wedding from touching moments to gigantic DIY failures. When I posted my farewell wedding recap, I was left with a burning question: “What now?”
I took the old writing adage, “Write what you know,” and looked around my life. We had just bought a fixer-upper in Durham, N.C., and were watching several hours of This Old House a week. The Lowe’s plumbing department knew us by name. I was navigating the waters of cooking for a family and exploring the abundant farm produce in the South. We were coming into our own as a couple facing burning issues such as merging finances and cat ownership. Palindrome at Home (www.PalindromeAtHome.com) was born out of the stuff of our life. I roughly categorized our projects into Thoughts, Apron and Tool Box, then let the content flow from there.
I taught myself about purchasing domain names and storing online pictures as I took tips from my blog heroes. I hired out graphics work to improve the look and usability of my blog. I attended a BlogHer conference to network and learn from the hottest female bloggers in the country. I wrote, edited pictures and answered comments late into the night. I pushed forward with posting even during family emergencies, allowing the blogosphere to witness our woes and, in turn, to be comforted by longtime readers, now friends.
Today, Palindrome at Home gets roughly 1,200 visits per month. Building the blog certainly took hard work and dedication, but the steps were simple and merely took a leap of faith. Step 1: Find your voice. Step 2: Set up a free blog account. Step 3: Post regularly. Step 4: Keep posting.
Upon our recent move to San Francisco, I worried I would lose readers as our suburban home ownership lives took on an emphatically different, city-dweller feel. My blog friends followed right along with us as I let them in on the excitement of a cross-country drive and the challenges of turning our balcony into livable square footage. As much as our day-to-day routine has changed, the universality of this human experience remains the same. We move, we redecorate, we fail, we triumph and then we do it all again.
A very good day
Claire Vaye Watkins, author and assistant professor of English, recently won two literary awards on the same day
McCallum recognized by Library of Congress
Professor Shara McCallum is one of two poets to receive the Witter Bynner Fellowship
'Herman's House' film, discussion Jan. 29 at Campus Theatre
The Campus Theatre in Lewisburg will host the documentary film, "Herman's House," Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m., with an introduction by film director Angad Bhalla.
Alumnus, Oscar nominee Jan. 22: 'Life of Pi'
Tonight: Bill Westenhofer, a 1990 Bucknell alumnus nominated Jan. 10 for an Academy Award for his work in "Life of Pi," will give the talk, "The Visual Effects of 'Life of Pi'" at 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg. Admission is $2.- All This Really Happened?
When your father was a member of the Manson family and your mother committed suicide, people make certain assumptions about you — writing fiction is an antidote.
Eric Belcher ’91On the advice of a college coach, Eric Belcher '91 applied to the previously unseen and unheard-of Bucknell University. In a subsequent visit with his dad, he "walked on campus and fell in love."
Bucknell Forum Feb. 6: Best-selling author Rebecca Skloot
Best-selling author Rebecca Skloot will speak at Bucknell University Feb. 6 as part of the Bucknell Forum series "tech/no."
Meet our new associate professors
Sixteen recently tenured or promoted associate professors talk about what led them to pursue their fields and what inspires them as teacher-scholars.
Literary theorist: 'Challenge of the Humanities' Sept. 20
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak will give the talk, "Healthcare for the General Culture: The Challenge of the Humanities," Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. in Trout Auditorium of the Vaughan Literature Building at Bucknell University.
Sonnenblick: 'My young adult author career' Sept. 19
Jordan Sonnenblick will give the talk, "Not Quite J.K. Rowling: Thoughts on my Career as a Young Adult Author," Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. in the Gallery Theatre of the Elaine Langone Center at Bucknell University.
Griot Institute series April 18: 'Sally: A Montage'
The Griot Institute for Africana Studies at Bucknell University will present the theatre performance and discussion, "Sally: A Montage," April 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Terrace Room of the Elaine Langone Center.- Long and Winding
Long and Winding Roads: On the nature of reunions and returning by Robert Braile '77
Slam Poetry: From the Page to the Stage
Bucknell University students give voice to their poetry at the Stadler Center Slams, a reading series launched at the beginning of the 2011–12 academic year.
Ask the Experts: G.C. Waldrep on poetry, apocalyptic literature
Assistant Professor of English G.C. Waldrep talks about how poetry helps us explain the world.
Dines is Distinguished Visiting Lecturer March 6
Gail Dines will give the talk, "Sex, Identity and Intimacy in a Porn Culture," Tuesday, March 6, at 7 p.m. in the Forum of the Elaine Langone Center at Bucknell University.
Stacey Waite to give annual Darrow Reading March 6
Bucknell University's 10th Annual Drew Darrow Memorial Poetry Reading will be presented by Stacey Waite on Tuesday, March 6, at 5 p.m. in the Stadler Center for Poetry, Bucknell Hall.
Historian to discuss early modern English media revolution Feb. 14
Historian Dror Wahrman will give the talk, "The Media Revolution in Early Modern England: An Artist's Perspective," Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Gallery Theatre of the Elaine Langone Center.
Sociologist to discuss 'The Hip Hop Connection' Feb. 23
Sociologist Monika Gosin will give the talk, "Black and Brown: The Hip Hop Connection," Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Forum of the Elaine Langone Center at Bucknell University, as part of the Social Science Colloquium series.- Move Over, MAD MEN
Bucknell alumna writes a tell-all book about Madison Avenue in the sexy '60s.
A wrinkle in time
Through life-sized renderings of yearbook photos, painting project brings together Bucknell's past and present.
Open House Nov. 14 at Bucknell's Art Barn
Bucknell University's Department of Art and Art History will host an Open House at the university's Art Barn on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Meet our new associate professors
Sixteen recently tenured or promoted associate professors talk about what led them to pursue their fields and what inspires them as teacher-scholars.
BILL presents 'Tea & Talk' in October
The Bucknell Institute for Lifelong Learning's "Tea & Talk" program will host three afternoon events on Oct. 2, Oct. 18, and Oct. 24, exploring Uyghurland, dance and the presidential election.
A 'Golden View' of Art and Science
Makoto Fujimura '83 and President John Bravman explored how technology and the arts intertwine in the Bucknell Forum event, "Creative Engagement: The Questions Science and Art Ask of Each Other," held April 3, 2012.
Bucknell Forum April 3: The Artist and the Engineer
The final event in the Bucknell Forum series, "Creativity: Beyond the Box," brings together Bucknell University President John Bravman and artist Makoto Fujimura, Class of 1983.
'INFLUX: Sculpture by Joe Meiser' at Samek Art Gallery
The Samek Art Gallery at Bucknell University is hosting the exhibition, "INFLUX: Sculptural Works by Joe Meiser," on display through March 29.
Samek Art Gallery exhibition features alumni art collection
The Samek Art Gallery at Bucknell University is hosting the exhibition, "The Sandy and John Nesbitt Collection: The Discriminating Eye at Work," through March 29.
Master Chinese calligrapher to speak Jan. 31
Master Chinese calligrapher and painter Fang Zhiyuan will give a talk and demonstration of calligraphy at Bucknell Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in Trout Auditorium of the Vaughan Literature Building.- Blake, Bucknell and the Bible
An exploration of the liminal spaces of the heart, the mind and faith.
- 'Extreme Creativity' performative installation Oct. 1
The Samek Art Gallery, The Griot Institute and the Presidential Arts Initiative at Bucknell University will host the performative installation, "Extreme Creativity: An Experiential, Experimental Endeavor," on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gallery.
Meet Bucknell's new assistant professors
Eleven new tenure-track faculty members describe their research interests and the ways in which they are challenging students across the disciplines.
Meet Bucknell's new full professors
Seven recently promoted faculty members talk about what led them to pursue their fields and what inspires them as teacher-scholars.
Samek Art Gallery 'Portraits' through Oct. 2
Two portrait exhibitions -- "The Black List Project Volumes 2 and 3: Portraits by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders" and "Self Portraits 2002 - 2004: Photographs by Myra Greene" -- will open the fall 2011 season at the Samek Art Gallery.
John Hartmann '79John Hartmann '79 returned to Lewisburg last spring and enjoyed a full-circle moment. The art-deco murals on the walls and ceiling of the Campus Theatre that fascinated him as a student now have new life thanks to Hartmann Fine Art Conservation Services.
'Street art' provides text for understanding cities
Bastian Heinsohn, an assistant professor of German at Bucknell University, studies graffiti, or street art, in Berlin and other cities in the midst of revitalization.- Kristallnacht Remembrance
Kristallnacht Remembrance





