I Fell Off The Face Of The Planet

Not really, but I have certainly been neglecting this blog. Sometimes real life gets in the way.

I recently went hiking in the Northern Cascades in Washington state. It was my first time in Washington state, let alone the Cascades and I really enjoyed myself. The scenery was stunning ... everything from Spring wild flowers growing on mountain slopes to enough snow on a Pass to close it for three days (due to avalanches) the day after we passed over it. We thought ourselves very lucky to have made it over the day before because reaching that Pass to find it closed would have put a halt to all of our subsequent holiday plans.

I also recently went to San Diego, yet another first. There I was baffled by numerous people stopping me on the street demanding to know what time it was. They didn't ask "excuse me, do you have the time?" but rather strolled up to me and simply stated "what time is it". Does this mean something other than simply wanting to know the time? It struck me as very odd.

In between San Diego and the Northern Cascades I suffered through a wicked cold that lasted for four weeks. I very rarely get sick and so it was a revelation to me to discover how important smell and taste is in motivating one to eat food. I am now making up for four weeks of disinterest with much interest in such things as McDonald's Egg McMuffins. This, obviously, needs to stop.

I also recently met a bloggy friend in real life, the third first in this post. I can't tell you which bloggy friend because that would go a long way to giving up my anonymity but suffice to say that she is as lovely in real life and it was a pleasure to meet her. I look forward to spending more time with her in real life in the future; in the meantime we have discovered a shared addiction and so are amusing ourselves with endless email Scrabble.

I have finished all of my teaching for the year and recently published two research articles and that means that I have also done all that I can in my quest for tenure. This is a really odd feeling; there is nothing more that I can do (good or bad) for my tenure application and it's left me wondering where the years have gone. I am feeling fairly confident that I will be successful but I am not cocky enough to consider it a done deal. My tenure application is due on September 1st and then I shall wait and wait for it to pass through the numerous committees and on to the University President for final approval (or not).

I have also turned another year older. Whatever.