Out at the Farm

30 October 2021: Some Sigma Tau Delta students and I helped out at the Tabler Farm Open House today. So much exciting potential out there!

Pun'kins!

 29 October 2021: Carved pumpkins with some of my favorite people tonight. Perfect way to end a busy week.

Who Would Have Thought It?

28 October 2021: "What would the good and proper people of this world do if there were no rogues in it,--no social delinquents? The good and proper, I fear, would perish of sheer inanity,--of hypochondriac lassitude,--or, to say the least, would grow very dull for want of convenient whetstones to sharpen their wits. Rogues are useful." --Rev. Hackwell, in the opening paragraph of Maria Ruiz de Burton's Who Would Have Thought It?

With both of my conference papers ready to go, with the Scarborough Lecture done, and with the Provost search winding down, I can finally turn my attention back to my book, I started reading Ruiz's novel today. I knew almost nothing about her or her work before, but so far, it's a fun and quick read. I am writing "ha!" in the margins quite a bit. 

Fall sweetness...

27 October 2021: A sweet early autumn day where moments of sweetness and delight abounded: good classes with smart students talking about great literature, conferences with them about their project and paper ideas, a fun Wednesday lunch, a haircut in the late afternoon, and working on some fun(ish) stuff this evening. 

Guilt trip...

26 October 2021: Came out of the shower today and found guy making himself comfortable on my shirt. The message seemed clear: "You shan't leave today. Stay with me." As I pulled it away from him, he just kept stretching out his arms on it. Nothing like starting the day off with a guilt trip from this sweet little dude.

Contemplating...

25 October 2021: Doing some thinking these days about pursuing a new opportunity at work. Still not sure, but beginning to lean towards throwing my hat in the ring. The whole question has me thinking about the things I am already doing, what I get out of/from them and why, and what I might achieve in the days ahead. In some ways, regardless of what happens, that exercise is a good thing. 

Fall looks...

24 October 2021: Drove out to Orr's today to get some mums and some cider donuts. Decided to plant two out of three of the mums (as opposed to putting them on patio furniture). Looks pretty good, I think.

Two parades in two days...

23 October 2021: Homecoming parade this morning!

Founders Day 2021

22 October 2021: So much fun to be able to have a real Founders Day again.

New little wheels

21 October 2021: One of my advisees gave me this little car today. Since it's only his second year, it was the first time we actually met in person. He was like, "Your office is pretty cool. I've only seen the wall behind you before!" Noticing the little toys and tchotchkes I have, he handed me this sweet blue ride, saying he and his friends collect them. Made me smile.  

Spring 2022 Advising

20 October 2021: Today I met with advisees for the first in-person scheduling sessions in two years. (In-person office hours have been happening all semester, but advising just started.) Though they could choose Zoom or in-person, all but one have opted for in-person. I get it. 

Conference paper progress...

19 October 2021: Today I finished a decent draft of my MAPACA paper (still some revising and polishing to do) and started practicing my SSAWW paper. I hadn't touched the latter since July (!), when I finished a really polished draft and set it aside. It feels very good to see both projects nearing their conclusion. 

Family Feud

18 October 2021: It's always fun when Tri Sigma asks me to be the faculty member on their Family Feud team during Homecoming Week. Even more fun when we won first place *and* when I saw the #1 answer for "who is your favorite professor at Shepherd?" Reader, I hollered.

"Lover"

17 October 2021: 

"and what I do not say is, I trust the world to come back" --"Lover," by Ada Limón

Kind of in love with this sad, hopeful, restless, and playful poem. That combination of adjectives is hard to balance, but Limón (as usual) pulls it off. 

Feels like Break...

16 October 2021: No commitments today and no extremely pressing work has translated into a day that feels like Fall Break. Took my walk early this morning before the rain started. Since then, it's been little chores, dumb TV, and just chilling. I can't do this very often, but it feels okay today.