Roped In

Against my better judgement, I somehow (truthfully I am NOT sure how I got picked) have gotten roped into giving at talk at an environmental meeting this Sunday.  All I know is that for some reason, I did not notice, and therefore did not DECLINE the invitation in time to NOT DO IT, so now I am feeling a bit stuck.  

It is a "meeting/protest" sort of thing about global warming.  Since it is too late for me to back out, I spent some time yesterday, trying to figure out more about this event so I could plan my talk.  What I discovered that it is a sort of "granola-y," "hippy-esque", "tie-dyed", "protesting", "kumbaya" sort of rally-like affair being held either inside or outside at a BAR about 45 minutes away from me.  

While I am very much concerned about global warming, and hell, environmental issues broadly, I am not really overly comfortable in a "crunchy-granola" style engagement.... even though I do admire folks who are of that ilk for sure.  

I do not think a "dry" academic type speech (which I am comfortable with of course) would meet the needs of these folks.  But, I am not really a rabble-rouser sort either.  So, this will be very challenging to me psychologically.  

I am going to TRY to have fun with it, I guess.  But, I am not really sure how to go about this.  I am seriously considering having a beer (if the bar is open) before I give my talk.... but that would likely be foolish in and of itself.  

I really wish I hadn't gotten roped into this.  

Please wish me luck.

PipeTobacco

RCG

I am enormously looking forward to going to the "Retiree's Cigar Group" this early afternoon!  It has been a tiring week of many different things pulling me back-and-forth from one thing to another.... and little of it has been related to things I would CHOOSE to do.  

The "Retiree's Cigar Group" if it proceeds like usual, will be a small bastion of calmness, camaraderie and fun. I look forward to hopefully many of the regulars being there.  It will be fun to talk with them.  

But, before I get to do that event, I have many rodent and fly items on my agenda this morning.  I also should be "adjusting" the verbiage of  my educational improvement project to align with the new hyperbolic new-speak language..... but I have decided I am NOT going to do so.  I will submit what I wrote as my goals and objectives before the ZOOMY immersion into the new double-speak over the last few days.

* * * * *

Running was again able to be OUTSIDE like it has been the last several days.  That is very nice and I am glad that at least for a while, the Canadian Wildfires are not causing issues in my region.  

* * * * *

I am still committed to EITHER Three-Star Blue or to Sir Walter Raleigh.  But, I cannot figure out which will ultimately triumph and be THE bowlful of pipe tobacco I will get to savor.  And, I am hoping, perhaps this weekend, that I may finally narrow down the pipe selection to the top three so I can begin the sprucing up process for each.  

PipeTobacco

Headache & TMJ

I have a splitting headache and TMJ issues at the moment.  I have just slipped my bite guard into my mouth and hope for some relief in perhaps 30 minutes or so.

Why, pray-tell, do I have these maladies at the moment? Well, they are a result of TOO MUCH ZOOMING.  I had ANOTHER three hour Zoom Meeting today with folks on the education committee I had the four hour Zoom Meeting with yesterday.  

Do not get me wrong.  The group is comprised of nice folks.  The goals are of modest importance, I guess.  But, these meetings require you to be "on" personality-wise, and they require you to at least pretend you are paying attention.  And, they are filled with a lot of yammering.  All of this tries out my mind and my patience at times.  

As I believe I mentioned yesterday, the way this work had been done previously was to have a ONE HOUR meeting every other week across the academic year.  THAT WAS (in my opinion) a WONDERFUL approach where it was pleasant, and fun, and created camaraderie.  I ENJOYED it when these meetings were in that scope and scale. 

Now, however, a decision was made to clump them all together into these LONG, LABORIOUS, TEDIOUS, and EXHAUSTING meetings that in theory will all be accomplished ahead of the start of the semester.  Some folks found it too difficult to find one damn hour every other week to meet, and so they suggested THIS.   To my manner of thinking, it really defeats much of the real purpose of this group.

What is this group about this year?  It is about a "NEW & UTTERLY AMAZING & REVOLUTIONARY" (please read those last modifiers with a sarcastic voice) pedagogical concept called.....

"High Impact Practices"    

High-Impact Practices (HIPs) are educational strategies that have been empirically shown to increase student engagement, foster deeper learning, promote critical thinking, and lead to positive student outcomes such as improved retention and higher graduation rates. These practices are designed to be especially beneficial for students from historically underserved backgrounds, playing a role in reducing equity gaps. 

Basically...... all the hyperbole means.... WAYS TO TEACH STUDENTS MORE SUCCESSFULLY.

But wait, there is still more......  here are the important "elements of high impact practices"......

High Expectations: Set clear learning goals and challenges that push students beyond their comfort zones.

Significant Investment of Time and Effort: Require substantial student engagement in educationally purposeful activities over an extended duration.

Meaningful Interactions: Foster frequent and substantive interactions between students and faculty, as well as among peers, about course material and related topics.

Experiences with Diversity: Expose students to diverse perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds, promoting intercultural competence and empathy.

Frequent and Constructive Feedback: Provide consistent and valuable feedback on student work and performance, guiding their improvement and growth.

Reflection and Integration of Learning: Offer structured opportunities for students to reflect on their experiences and connect their learning across different contexts.

Real-World Applications: Enable students to apply their knowledge to practical problems and real-life situations, making learning more relevant and impactful.

Public Demonstration of Competence: Provide avenues for students to showcase their learning and achievements to a broader audience, fostering a sense of accomplishment and demonstrating mastery. 

So, class... let us again summarize.....  the above means.... you want to figure out WAYS TO TEACH STUDENTS MORE SUCCESSFULLY.

Ugh.  The above is what we have now spent over 7 hours yammering on about.  

In the 40 years or so that I have been teaching, there have been at least 10 different "NEW & UTTERLY AMAZING & REVOLUTIONARY" teaching pedagogies that have been systemically adopted.  

BUT... each and every one of them can be distilled down to the same damn thing.....

Figuring out WAYS TO TEACH STUDENTS MORE SUCCESSFULLY. 

No other b*llsh*t hyperbole is needed.  

What annoys the hell out of me, is that with each "NEW & UTTERLY AMAZING & REVOLUTIONARY" pedagogy.... some folks will become obsessed with the damn language hyperbole of this "NEW & UTTERLY AMAZING & REVOLUTIONARY" pedagogy.... and basically do their same exact teaching and spend huge amounts of time saying and doing the same things but with descriptors of it with the new theory's language.  

* * * * *

That is what I have been doing on Zoom for over seven hours in the last two days.  

* * * * *

But, why?  Well, when that pedagogy theory nonsense was spread out to an hour every other week, it was less obnoxious.  The REAL WORK is what we are supposed to do make a change or changes in your class to have them become even better.  

My own project, that I designed,  is one where I try out a new way to teach what I call "refresher" concepts of anatomy and physiology via video.... and am providing these to a colleague for use in her course where these students have had their prior anatomy and physiology over 3 semesters earlier.  My idea is that with these specific, guided "refreshers" her students will be able to more successfully integrate the anatomy & physiology knowledge more deeply in their application of these concepts in case study work they are doing.  I have designed both pre and post test experiences where, if these videos ARE helpful, I will have measures of increased student performance and movement up Bloom's Taxonomy (meaning, deeper thinking).  And, I will compare these results with another group who did not receive these videos.  

My project is a real effort to improve the educational experience for students.  That is what I like to try to figure out how to do.  But, I will be damned if I will spend more than a millisecond in trying to fit my idea into the gobbledygook, hyperbolic, mumbo-jumbo new language of this latest ""NEW & UTTERLY AMAZING & REVOLUTIONARY" pedagogy... because it is already too big of a waste of my time to do so.  

* * * * *

As I drifted into and about of my imagination during the time ZOOMING, I kept debating in my mind, what beautiful, wonderful, and wholly charming pipe tobacco I would chose to indulge in with my upcoming (hopefully soon) pipe adventure that Pat helped me to see could be possible.  In my mind, I have now narrowed down the pipe tobacco I will eventually indulge in to either a) Iwan Ries Three-Star Blue or b) Sir Walter Raleigh - non-aromatic burley.  Both of them sound so beautiful to me .  I was imagining each of their unique and special flavors and textures .  I am not sure how I will ultimately decide.  But either one will send shivers of utter delight down my spine when that grand day arrives!  I have to still figure out which pipe will be "the one" however for the photographic display first.  

* * * * * 

My run this morning was interesting.  It was still ~ 77 degrees (~ 25C) this morning at 6:00am.  I could have and probably should have gone Sasquatch Mode on this run, but I did not.  I was already in a bit of surly mood with the knowledge of the MEGAZOOMING I had ahead of me.  So, I just pounded out the miles with as little thought as possible.  It was heavily clouded this morning, which was wonderful, but it was damn near 100% humidity too.  So, by the time I returned, every bit of clothing I had on was drenched (including my baseball cap) and considerably MORE WET and MOIST than these same clothes would be coming out of the washing machine before I put them in the dryer.    

PipeTobacco   

Appointments & Meetings (Blah....... Bah!)

 

I have an appointment and a very long meeting today, both of which are tedious. 

* * * * *

First, I have a relatively early eye appointment.  I am a little bit nervous about going to this appointment.  

For one thing, it will involve dilation (as usual) which makes much of the rest of the workday a bit more challenging.  I will end up likely wearing my sunglasses indoors even.  The last few years, even the fluorescent lighting in most of the U seems uncomfortably bright after dilation.  

Another thing is that I get nervous about is the glaucoma test.  Not so much about getting a poor pressure reading (as I have done well previously), but because of the tool with the blue circle light that touches the surface of my eye to determine that pressure.  Every year when I get that test, it reconfirms for me how I do not think I would ever want to even consider wearing contact lenses.  

I doubt my myopia nor my astigmatism has changed in any appreciable sense.  The amount of change over the last decade, hell even the last two decades has been minimal (almost zero) in that regard.  With the limited amount of change I anticipate, I may try to see if this year's glasses could be a "specialized" type of reading glasses.  I already have a nice pair of reading glasses (and another pair of bifocals from an earlier year) that seem to work well.  BUT, I would like to get a pair of reading glasses for the different distance I seem to read at while lying down.  My current reading glasses do a great job of reading the computer screen, and in reading textbooks at my desk and in reading music on the music stand.  But, at night, when I am in bed reading a book or looking at things on my Kindle, the distance I like to hold those items at is different, and it is harder to get a clear image with my reading glasses.  I would like these new glasses to be adjusted for that distance if possible.  

But, my biggest worry is about my developing cataracts.  The clinician mentioned them last year, which surprised me because she had never mentioned them before.  But, at the same time, I also realize it is logical for folks my age to have them.  I am nervous to find out if they have further progressed and if I am approaching any sort of need for cataract surgery.  I am hoping not.  

* * * * *

Second, I have a FOUR HOUR meeting on Zoom with the faculty educational initiative folks I talked about before.  I am still disgruntled at this new approach where they are trying to have several multi-hour meetings BEFORE the start of the semester, instead of the original approach which was to have brief, one-hour meetings occurring every other week across the semester.  I think this "big before the semester series" of meetings is sort of cheating in a way, as while the hours of meeting together technically accomplishes the tasked number of hours..... I truly feel more is accomplished with the one hour every other week approach across the academic year.  By having briefer meetings that are spread out, we can (in my opinion) accomplish more and better work.  But, I did not get to choose this schedule.  So, I will sit through these four hours today (and more soon as well).  I am not sure yet if I will go and Zoom in my U office or if I will go to my home office to Zoom.  The eye doctor is about equidistant between my home and the U.  

* * * * *

I did run extra early today.... and it was OUTSIDE as the Air Quality Index showed NORMAL air conditions for the first time in a helluva long time!  I may be sore tomorrow, as the running cadence is always a bit different outside than on the track, but it was nice!  It also allowed me to get up a bit earlier.  

I have been fussing and fussing with my pipes.  I have now gone back beyond the pipes that I have housed in my various pipe racks at home and at the U, to pipes that I have more in a "storage" sort of arrangement (packed carefully in a few boxes) in search of the official three "contenders" for my pictorial display.  I originally thought I had the three I was going to choose from, but then I realized I had not looked at these other "stored" pipes in quite a while now, and started on a "rabbit hole" exploration of them as well.  These "stored" pipes have flooded my mind with a whole array of memories I had not thought about in quite a while.  These reawakened memories have been swirling around in my mind all weekend.  I have to admit, I did not end up doing much in terms of picking the three contenders.... I ended up spending most of the time I had looking at them, remembering various memories.  But, after I do work through all the boxes, I should be able to make a better top-three contender list, so I may specifically spruce those three up before I make the ultimate decision.  

PipeTobacco

Comments on Comments (August 11th Edition)

As I am attempting to be more predictable, I am striving to always have a comments post on Monday.  This week's version is shorter, as a few of my regular commenters either were away or had less to say.  This may be my fault, though, as I was away for a bit from posting, which I apologize for.  Below are responses to those that did offer comments!  Thank you as always!  I appreciate comments greatly!!!! 

AC

"I go around in circles without actually running.

Hah!  I understand that.  But, for me the "circles" are in my mind most of the time.  As part of my anti-rumination goals,  I am really striving to live much more in the "moment" than I have typically done.  It is surprising to me how much work it is for me to try to break this thought pattern.  

"Running loops is not frootal. Now I must explain myself.  A very long time ago on a b&w tv, there was an episode of the Dick Van Dyke show in which a love struck boy called his love for Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) frootal, seemingly mixing up and combining futile and fruitless. These 5+ decades later, Sue and I often jokingly say frootal for futile. It is very appropriate to me in this case because of the Froot Loops in your picture.

I have always loved the "Dick Van Dyke" show, and now when I watch it, I find that I see/understand things in the show differently.  Even though it is indeed a comedy, there is a very present undertone of philosophy as well that I am liking!  It may seem especially odd, as his character was typically not central and primarily comedic, but I have grown especially in awe of the character played by Morey Amsterdam.  He is a gem.  His comedic timing is spot on, but his acting is much more nuanced than I recognized back when I was a kid.  It is also interesting to me that he physically reminds me of a shorter version of my Dad.  

"Spontaneity can be good, and I think it was in this case. It sounds like your kids are younger than I had thought.

Of our kids, the two youngest went with us.  My wife and I started rather late in our having our kids.  Our youngest was born when I was well into my 40s.  Our youngest is currently close to completing a Bachelor's Degree.  The other kid who came with us is deep into graduate school at the moment.  A late start is not that uncommon in professors, so at the U I am relatively typical in that regard.  For me, it was a purposeful decision to not even try/consider marriage until after I finished graduate school and landed a job, so I would know where I would end up being.... and if it was not near my own biological relatives, I would hope to be in the location where my future wife would have her biological family.  Very fortunately for my wife and I, it ended up being we were geographically reasonably close to all sides of the family.  

"I am surprised by your response to Margaret that the running came so long after the weight loss. Speaking of weight loss, you followed your ‘fat’ protocol quite rigorously.

Since it has been ~20 years since I have lost the ~135 pounds, fewer people in day-to-day even know I went through that change.  But, many of those folks who know of the weight loss have also assumed my running was a way to lose weight.  But, it was never actually a part of that process.  Running became a "goal" for me, because of a long-seated feeling of not being an "athletic" sort from when I was a kid.  When I inadvertently (~10 years after losing weight) began running, I surprised the heck out of myself.  One event actually sticks in my mind as a "spur" that actually got me to THINKING that perhaps I could run.....  as I had mentioned in the previous post, I have always walked.  Well, perhaps a few months before I began to dapple in running.... I was walking very, very early one morning before work, and I was wearing one of my outdoor jackets because it was a cold, late October morning (before daybreak).  When I was at the furthest part away from home on this walk, I put my hands into my pocket, and realized I had MY WIFE'S KEYS in my pocket!!!!!  And.... she had to leave VERY EARLY herself for a work related travel that was to require an 90 minute drive, so she was needing to leave very early herself, before I would normally return from my walk.  I had my own keys as well, so there was no backup.  And, I did not (at that time) carry a phone with me.... instead I had a small MP3 player to hear music (and also my pipe back then as well).  Well, when I realized what trouble I had caused (and what trouble I would be in if I didn't try to fix this as well), I stuffed my pipe into my pocket and began to try to jog home as quickly as I could to be able to get my wife her keys.  And, seriously, at that point I had not jogged/ran since I had been forced to do so way back in 9th grade gym.  Being lighter, I suppose, definitely helped, but I was damn surprised that I COULD actually do a semblance of a jog on my way back!!!!    That event is one of several that reawakened that "impossible dream" from when I was a kid of being able to be somewhat "athletic" by running.  

Margaret

"Track running is indeed tedious; when I used to do so at the YMCA, it made me dizzy sometimes. That's wonderful about the Cigar Group; you've found an excellent group of friends!

There are three areas where I can potentially run on an indoor track.  The one I use most is not far from my home.  It also is the one to open earliest in the morning, but it has the disadvantage of having no windows.  The U track opens a bit later (which is a disadvantage when trying to run before going to teach), but it has beautiful windows all around which help with not being as tired of the "loops".  And the third is at the Y, but it is the farthest out from me, and while nice, it is more of a drive than I want most days.  The friends I have at the Retiree's Cigar Group are very meaningful and helpful for me.  I look forward to an unstructured time away from the U and my other structured activities.  

"I can't stand treadmills either. I used to run outside and now I walk. Summer walking isn't my favorite; I much prefer fall and spring. But our weather is usually OK--with the right gear. Hope you'll make it to the Cigar Group this afternoon! Sounds like you need the relaxation.

As long as there is no ice, I like running outdoors.... as long as I can do so without a lot of sun.  Strong sunlight tires me out, and I burn easily, and try hard to avoid that.  

"What a fun family time! I've ordered fudge from that place and it was delicious. I imagine it's even better fresh. I think it's good to be away before the true insanity of back to school begins.

All of the fudge was amazing (especially like you say, because it was freshly made that day).... but the BLUEBERRY was truly amazing and special to me, as I have NEVER had such a beautiful, pure, and accurate rendition of true BLUEBERRY flavor before in a candy or even a blueberry pie.  It was truly special.  

Friday

The Retiree's Cigar Group was wonderful!  The talk was foolish and fun.  And, I did, very much enjoy my selection.  I chose to have a "Brickhouse "Mighty-Mighty" Maduro" again yesterday.  It is pleasant and creamy and flavorful.  I am very glad I found this set of friends and am glad I am going to be able to attend at the normal time every week until the middle of January now.  

I did my many loops running again inside this morning.  I am not foreseeing good outdoor air quality until perhaps Wednesday of next week at least according to current forecasts.  I am afraid I will forget what running outside is like.  

Today at the U is to be filled with the arduous task of creating submissions for my many research projects to the damnable Animal Use Committee at the U.  Many of you recall how I have described how annoying the committee is compared to how it should run.  Of the many applications I need to get in, six of them are "renewal" applications.... the Committee only approves a research project for one year and requires a "renewal" application each year.  But, the "renewal" application is only minimally less arduous than a new application.  I also have three new applications to get finished.  I doubt I can get all of them done today, but I have to work as hard as I can, because deadlines are not too far away.  

I also have to write an application to our Human Use Committee at the U because of an education/pedagogy project I want to enact and potentially acquire data from that I can present at a research meeting in the future.  I have not submitted a Human Use Committee application since just before the pandemic.  But, the Human Use Committee folks are much more logical, reasonable, and not so prone to "j*ck*ss*dn*ess" as are the Animal Use Committee folks, so once written, it should go through reasonably smoothly.  

I am hoping to end the work day today by going swimming with my wife.  Fingers crossed!  I hope to feel like the fellow above by 4:30 today.

PipeTobacco

Loopy

I have to admit, I am getting rather damn tired of having to run indoors because of the smoke from the Canadian Wildfires.  During the impromptu vacation, it was even worse in Upper Michigan, but I had no option BUT to run outside.  But, I ran considerably slower, and far fewer miles (which put me behind).

Doing zillions of loops on the indoor track is not exciting... especially in SUMMER when I can USUALLY run outside.  But, the theory is that the indoor track's air is "filtered" via the HVAC system and has a better air quality.  But, I should not complain.... at least I have an option.... and running zillions of loops is still far, far better than running on a treadmill!  I listened to a Novena Mass given by my favorite Capuchin while I also prayed the rosary during my run this morning, so the time was well spent. Fr. David is such a true delight.  He helps me to see and better understand my faith and how I should be, and how I need to work to be more of a servant to others in my life, each and every day.  

I regrettably have been so busy of late that completing the photographs of my biological father and academic fathers that I want to put up in my office.... and the cleaning and choosing of the pipe to have within that display.... have been slow to complete.  But, I am still so very excited by the idea Pat gave me about my being able to ultimately smoke the one pipe I will use in the display.  It is a brilliant idea, for it seems to be a way I may indulge in a pipe with minimal worry..... it is an isolated, special event, and I should be able to enjoy it fully but it has a very low risk to have me "fall off the wagon" I believe.  As I was falling asleep last night, I was imagining how wonderful it will be!

As it is Thursday, I do hope/plan to go to the Retiree's Cigar Group this early afternoon.  I am looking forward to the fun, relaxing discussion.  

PipeTobacco