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Verna Kale

@vernakale.bsky.social
904 followers 825 following 619 posts

Associate Editor, the Hemingway Letters Project (Cambridge); editor, The Sun Also Rises (Norton Library); author, Ernest Hemingway (Reaktion). UNC ‘99; Fulbright, Germany ‘00-01; Penn State ‘05, ‘10. Llama. J!.

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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Queueing up emails to auto send on Monday morning instead of right now because I'm not a villain.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I love getting AI generated emails addressed to Ernest Hemingway. Why yes, I, the Nobel Prize winning (and quite dead) author would LOVE the opportunity to rep my book at your not-at-all a scam book fair. Also, let's use this technology to land airplanes full of people.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Was that Tom Hamilton’s Ring doorbell alert just now? My dogs went crazy. #Guardians
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
It would take more characters than Bluesky allows to say what Dolly Parton meant to me. Her music helped me through some hard times. 🦋
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The Odyssey was great! But was…was Calypso wearing the burrito blanket? I could not unsee it. Anyone else think this or just me? 😆
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Ha! I knew it!!! Trader Joe’s = Annie’s. The rumors are confirmed!
Cheese packet with bunny design next to box of Trader Joe’s white cheddar mac.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
When she saw my inspo pic, my nail tech asked if I was going to a party. She was incredulous when I said it was for a conference. I'm looking forward to the 21st biennial Hemingway conference, kicking off officially next Monday in Toronto (and unofficially on Sunday at the Blue Jays game).
close up of fingernails painted to resemble the iridescent greenish blue and pink scales of a rainbow trout with black specklesa full color illustration side view of a rainbow trout
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Pennsylvania you’re so pretty.
Purple bee balm growing in a field, bathed in golden afternoon sunlight.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
This still from Backrooms reminds me of the time I requested a desk and the asst dean of faculty walked me over to a campus building slated to be demolished and let me pick one from a pile exactly like this. The treatment of contingent faculty is so degrading they make horror movies about it.
dimly lit room with outdated furniture pieces piled almost to the ceiling. A man in business casual attire approaches in the background.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Deadlines loom but this day was too pretty to be indoors. Took the dogs on Musser Gap trail, a moderate up and back just 4 miles total, but I think this might be the last long hike for Zelda, who, at 10, has trouble with her back legs some days. #pennsylvania #dogsofbluesky
Old doodle pants at an overlook of a green mountain vista A tree stag grows up out of the brush.Purple dame’s rocket flowers. Invasive but beautiful.Aster flowers, native and beautiful.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Colyer Lake loop hike, spring ephemerals, first fish of the year, first lake swim of the year, and thisss guy. #pennsylvania #fishing #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever #snek
Hepatica blossoms on the forest floorA golden retriever in the background. In the foreground a bluegill dangles on the fishing line, hooked through the lip. A golden retriever swims in a muddy lake. A long black rat snake slithers down a pine tree trunk, just off the trail.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Pippin played in the mud, so he got a bath. Now that he’s air dried he has hundreds of cowlicks. #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
Golden retriever sits with his fur sticking up all over the place. A doodle is visible behind him too but she’s always curly.
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Reposted by Verna Kale
Josh 🐯 Hill @joshtigerhill.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Roses are red The ocean is wet I love you all-in Like my Jeopardy! bet
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
UNC UNC”d so hard.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Too many Duke fans on this site.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Punxy Phil is a demigod. Show a little respect.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
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.
A golden retriever sits in front of a cozy fire in a gas fireplace. A cat shaped rattan basket is visible in the background.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
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.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
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.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
On that note… join the Hemingway Society. Open to all writers and fans, not just academics.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Happy New Year from the “mushroom capital of the world.” Kennett Square #pennsylvania
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.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
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 on rug holding large fleece throw. Beside him is a Christmas tree with no tree skirt.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Retrievers gonna retrieve. All the livelong day. Whether you want them to or not. #dogsofbluesky #goldenretriever
Golden retriever sits holding green and red dish towel in his mouth.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
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.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
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.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
December me would like to have a word with November me about her signup for the Holiday Concert cookie table.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
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?
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
I really am going into this horrible future kicking and screaming, but this isn't ravioli ya clankers.
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.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
LEGO’s use of AI is going great so far 🤣
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
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
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
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.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
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*
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
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.
media.tenor.com
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
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
When the kids go sledding wifout you. (Even stealing a glove did not prevent this sad turn of events).
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.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Pippin stole and chewed the pompom off this Santa fascinator and his punishment is having to wear it while being publicly shamed.
Sad golden retriever wearing a slightly mangled sequin Santa hat fascinator and sitting in front of a Christmas tree decorated with small colorful lights and cheap tinsel.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Someone in a Reddit thread made a reference to “purse-flavored gum” and suddenly I’m 8 years old again. Just like in that Proust fella’s long book.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
In a 1959 piano book I flipped through tonight. Headphones were just about to become a thing too. Family togetherness is cooked.
Two panel illustration. In the first panel a family is gathered around a piano singing (caption FOR MORE OF THIS with ff fortissimo symbol); in the second panel the same family is lounging on a couch listening to phonograph records listlessly (caption LESS OF THIS with pp pianissimo symbol).
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Saw Wicked: For Good seated beside a lesbian couple, one half audibly sobbing, the other kept holding up her arms to show her date (and me?) her actual goosebumps and did a good job not noticing when I almost drank her drink instead of mine.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Losing streak + students already gone for break = dirt cheap seats. Ended up being a big win with the crowd chanting “Terry! Terry!” #pennstate
Selfie of me in a Penn State toboggan (beanie) standing in the stands of Beaver Stadium with football field down below. Some sections of the stands are empty. It’s a night game. I look happy.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Hot Ones is my guilty pleasure. As a person who can't even eat a jalapeno w/o crying, I love to watch celebs run that gauntlet. The new one w/ Winona Ryder is wonderful as an interview too though. I didn't know she was a book collector. My 8th grade delusion that we could be BFFs has been revived.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Join me in Toronto next summer for the International Biennial Hemingway Conference. Proposals accepted through 30 November. Share widely--especially with grad students. Student travel funding and discount student housing available: hemingwaytoronto2026.com
hemingwaytoronto2026.com
Hemingway Society Conference
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
10 months ago I braved the cold to eat some bagels at the grand opening of a new campus building that went kablooey yesterday--gossip consensus is steam in a pipe exploded. The building cracked & shifted & thankfully no one was hurt, but the $125 mil building is unusable for the foreseeable future.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Mostly cloudy in Centre County but I got a small peek of the aurora through the clouds. #aurora #northernlights
Nighttime exposure shows a snowy fiend, and some green lights behind the clouds  Nighttime exposure shows a snowy fiend, and some green lights behind the clouds
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Get to know your Mutuals, list 10 random things you like: When bees sleep on my flowers The quiet when it’s snowing Cherry pie Poodles Catching a fish Steve Martin Small town festivals Bass clarinet solos David Mitchell’s character Marinus Yard sales
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
First snow of the season. Button bush has pretty spring flowers, but I like it best for its long-lasting fall foliage. #pollinators #bloomscrolling #snowday #nativeplants #pennsylvania
Yellow foliage on upright branches. Each leaf has a neat little pile of a light dusting of snow on it. Morning sun behind  a large evergreen tree in the background.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Facebot just rolled out a new AI feature in the group I admin that I promptly switched off. This one is a "Quiz" bot posting the world's easiest trivia. The thing is, this happened in the LearnedLeague group. GTFO. Thanks to the member who reported the post. Have now turned that feature off too.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Among the other good news, in my local school board race the woman who homeschooled her own kids and who supports private armed guards in schools and the dude who has no idea how public schools work except that he kind of recently attended one both got trounced by qualified candidates.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
W/o any spoilers, can someone tell me if Orbital gets around to having a plot? So far we've circled the earth 3x, someone did a workout & we've named various countries the sun has shone on or not shone on. If there is a plot I will keep reading but if this is it I'll use my own orbits differently.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
OK which one of y’all was it?
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Pretty sure this cartoon imprinted on me as a child and that’s why I became a modernist.
A cell from It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.” Snoopy stands along a road with a sign pointing to “Chalons-sur-Marne 70.” The color scheme is pinks greens and blacks, the trees are leafless. It’s a nostalgic, slightly gloomy but beautiful scene reminiscent of WWI era illustrative art.
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Verna Kale @vernakale.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
It’s like when my h.s. basketball team went all the way to state and fought a good fight against Ray Allen. Still the hardest I’ve ever taken a sports loss.
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