Grading and Meeting Prep

Getting a helluva lot of grading done, getting ready to compile final grades.  Hoping to get the final exam scores figured out Thursday afternoon (after the Thursday Final Exam is administered) and then get raw scores for the course finished before I leave the U on Thursday so they can “marinate” a day before I decide if any sort of curve may be warranted before submitting course grades on Friday.  

Missing the routine of drinks and pipes with my father-in-law on “marination” days.  I probably give smaller curves without the “marination” of my mind with my father-in-law. 

Also putting together the things I need for the trip that starts Saturday. Hoping it goes well.  

Ran 9.3 miles this morning. 

PipeTobacco 

More Final Preperations

Busy, busy with all the last week things!!!! A bit tired.  

I ran 12 miles this morning.

PipeTobacco 

Winding Down

Winding down final aspects of teaching for the Summer.  It will be nice to have a bit of a break from “big professor voice” lecturing.  Will also be working on more reorganization of my lab this week.

I ran 10.3 miles this morning.  

PipeTobacco 

Points of Focus

 

A bulleted list of thoughts this morning:

• I ran 9.2 miles (~15 km) this morning.  That was a bit more than usual for me on the days I have to start teaching at 8:00am.  So, that is good.  I am on track that with at least 9.6 tomorrow, I can take the weekend off from running, and just walk instead because I will have hit my 55 mile (~89 km) a week running target.  
• Cleaning and reorganizing one of my labs is going smoothly, and I am still excited about its eventual cleaned, refocused design.  Even though cleaning and rearranging is not something I like doing, I am staying focused on the benefits that will be readily apparent when I finish.... to help me keep motivated.  
• My first air travel since the start of Covid is happening relatively soon.  Air travel is not my favorite to begin with, and so I am both nervous (about the air travel, with its normal myriad of hassles.... and of course the added Covid issues as well) and excited (about the destination) regarding this research conference I will be presenting some of my data at.  
• I found in one of the drawers in the research lab I am reorganizing, a pouch of pipe tobacco that I had not thought of in quite a while.  When I opened it and sniffed deeply, I was reminded of the slight caraway seed aroma that it had.  I remember thinking how pleasant and unique this pipe tobacco was to smoke when I last had it.  And, its from-the-pouch aroma reminded me about this rather fun and gentle tobacco.  I remember the smoke was also very "textural" to me, having a hefty density to it that was grand.  
• My wife is making a butternut squash casserole tonight for dinner, using a new recipe that she had found.  As is true with most recipes we try, I actively encourage her to double up on the spices as many recipes are spiced on the rather mild side because a lot of folks tend to be spice avoidant.  
• We are likely going swimming again today, which makes for a beautiful conclusion to the workday!  Immersing my entire body in the cooling water is something so utterly refreshing, I cannot adequately describe it.  And, the lowering of core body temperature a bit..... relaxes and refreshes the mind.  

PipeTobacco

Response to Unknown & More

 

A busy day ahead for me today in terms of some more of the cleaning and reorganizing of my bigger laboratory room.  Even though cleaning and organizing is NOT a favorite task of mine, I think I will be able to have a wonderfully rejuvenated space here when I am eventually finished.   The lab has been in its prior configuration for the better part of two decades (since my prior refresh) and it will benefit from a modicum of purging of some things and reorganizing others.  Some facets of my research equipment will find more space in this rendering, whereas other research equipment will be moved and shifted to less important positions in the lab as well.  The organizational schemata I imagine in my mind for how it will be when finished, will give me and my students more elbow room for the equipment we use most frequently and also more clean, unencumbered areas for creative development of new research tests/designs.  I doubt I will be able to finish all I envision in this one day, but I think I will be able to put a sizable dent in the project.   

I should also do some grading, but I am feeling more like moving around than sitting at my desk today, so I may postpone some of the reading/grading that I need to do until another day.  Hah.... it is fairly easy for me to find just about ANYTHING to do that is more enjoyable than reading some of these papers.  Unfortunately, while the crop of students I have this Summer is generally very active and attentive and willing to learn... and they are doing well for the most part in terms of learning CONTENT, they are collectively suffering from what may be called "pandemic prose syndrome".... their writing is rather atrocious.  I have had to use an ocean of red ink to try to show some of them a form of how standard grammar should look.  Fortunately, as this is a science class, there are only TWO papers.  I believe I would be despondent if I were an English professor and had something akin to one-to-two papers a WEEK to grade, of this caliber.  

Other items:

• It is SO MUCH easier for me to roust myself out of bed early on a day that I DO NOT have a timed deadline for arriving at the U.  I got up and hit the trail today at 4:52am and ran 13.1 miles (~21 km) this morning, and was still then able to get ready and get to the U and arrived at 7:55am.  But, yesterday.... when I HAD TO be at the U before my 8am class, I hemmed and hawed about getting out of bed.  I also had my first run of 2022 in "Sasquatch" mode (running without a shirt.... scaring damn near every person and other animal I would pass with my furry countenance).  Fortunately, at 5 am, there were only a few squirrels that I passed today.
  
• My friend who goes by "Unknown" wrote in the comments yesterday that he "didn't think it would be right" to describe his experience with "Peter's Pleasure" pipe tobacco because he felt it would "deepen my internal conflict".  I would actually like to ask him to reconsider.  I think his describing his own impressions would NOT add to my conundrum in any sense.  I believe that if he were to describe how he found the leaf to be, that it would allow me to experience a modicum of either its wonderful beauty or conversely his disappointment if the leaf is not as amazing as it is described.  I do not know if Unknown has actually received the pipe tobacco yet or is still waiting for his order to arrive, but I sincerely hope he will choose to describe his impressions of it in robust detail so I may at least experience it vicariously. 
  
• Last night, in the cool of the basement, I began to tear down an old, decrepit, grenadilla wood, five-piece alto clarinet I acquired more than a year-and-a-half ago.  It was in rough shape when I got the beast, but I am confident, that with patience, I am going to get it back to its former glory.  I am also trying to learn more of its history and precise age.  But, with the lower woodwinds, that is not always an easy task.  But, I shall persevere.  I tested one key that I removed already, and it is polishing beautifully, and the ancient, brittle pad on the key was removed easily and a new leather pad installed.  
• It DID reach 100 yesterday, and it may do so again today! I suspect this will be wonderful for the garden.  
• Oh, Unknown also suggested that I may want to trim my beard because of the heat.  My wife suggested the same thing.  However, for me, the heavier facial fur is helpful to protect my face from the sun, and truthfully.... the bushier I let it grow, it feels more cool in the Summer and more warm in the Winter.  So, I cannot see any benefit to trimming it down to its old, shorter length. 

PipeTobacco    

Teaching

 

A busy day of teaching today, so only a brief post during a break:

• I could only get in 8 miles (~13 km) this morning because (as usual) I did not get up as early as I had planned to in order to get more miles in before my very early start time on Tuesdays for work. I am rather frustrated at myself for NOT awakening as early as I should.  I hit the pavement for my run at 5:30 am.  I should have gotten out there by at least 4:45 am.  
• It is going to be very, very close to 100 degrees (F) today (~38 C).  The U has raised the temperature on its A/C system to use less energy, which is a good thing.... but my building is warm and humid already at the moment.  
  
• I am bound and determined to go swimming after I am done at the U today.
• I have not been writing about it much, because I fear it is boring to folks, but I have been working through some very strong cravings for my pipes and pipe tobaccos again yesterday and today. Sometimes the thought of being away from them is so exceedingly difficult.

PIpeTobacco

 

Blackberries

 

The next day of our adventure was also very fun and enjoyable.  I was able to run in the morning throughout the town, exploring the downtown area and also in running through several very beautiful neighborhoods.  There were many beautiful, Victorian era homes, many of which had turrets as well during my running journey.  

Where my wife had to do her work, she met a friend that she had not seen in quite some time, and this friend wanted to eat dinner with my wife and me.  So, we did.  Sadly, this friend was not a particularly "food adventurous" type, and so we ended up eating at an Italian place that was a local establishment, but was designed to be very much like an "Olive Garden" but with a bit of a collegiate feel as well.  My wife and her friend both ate some of the usual "Italian-'Olive Garden-esque'" fare, but it seemed rather mundane to me, so I kept searching around the menu for at least something that was "different" at the place.  I ended up ordering a "wet burrito" and was able to modify it to my liking (no cheese & no beef..... do not get me wrong, I am not opposed to eating cheese OR beef.... but I was not in the mood for oily, melty cheese nor greasy ground beef).  So my wet burrito had beans and sauce (salsa verde) and a mountain of jalapeno pepper slices for added fun.  It was pretty enjoyable.  

When we left the next morning, my wife and I stopped at a small, quaint, sushi place for lunch.   I had a tuna roll, my wife had a shrimp roll (I am not fond of shrimp), and we shared a California roll.  This place made their own wasabi (which I REALLY enjoy.... and my wife avoids like the plague) and their pickled ginger was wonderfully fresh tasting and unusually crisp as well.  We made it home early in the evening on Friday.

Saturday, I needed to serve at Mass.... lector, communion (substituting for the person who was scheduled), and usher.  And because we had a substitute priest who was retired, and had walking issues, and limped with a cane... I was also altar server as well.  The priest was a really nice fellow, and I talked with him for 15-20 minutes after Mass as well.  After Mass, I traveled out to the cemetery where to place flowers on my father's headstone and my father-in-law's headstone for Father's Day.  As usual, I was saddened to see so very few plants or flowers put out for deceased fathers compared to what typically occurs with mothers on Mother's Day.  But, it is unfortunately typical that far, far fewer folks do this for Father's Day.   I miss both of them a lot. 

Father's Day, yesterday, was very nice as well.  ALL the kids were there and there was no drama either.  It was very pleasant.  My oldest daughter made me (us) a favorite.... ratatouille, and bruschetta, and a cake.  It was peaceful, fun, and no drama.    

I ran 15.1 miles (~24.5 km) this morning.  I started a little later than I would have liked because we were experiencing a very heavy rain at 5:00am.  I waited until 6:00am to start.... much less rain and eventually it stopped as well during my run. I am just eating my cereal at this late time in the morning, it has fresh blackberries in it in addition to the usual blueberries.   

PipeTobacco

Variations & Intricacies

 

Well.... we are on our two day adventure.  My wife is working at the moment, and I am going to have a special electronic section for my class in a bit.  We are in the bit of a heat wave with temperatures nearing 100 degrees (~37 C) yesterday and today.  

On the drive here yesterday, my wife and I talked quite a bit about "beef wellington".  We both REALLY do want to try the dish some day... but we came to the same conclusion that $87.00 was just too damn much money to pay for a single plate of food.  I was feeling guilty about it, and so was my wife.  It was just too damn exorbitant and it seemed almost a "sin" to splurge on something so pricey.  The idea of doing so was making us both feel foolish, guilty, and we would be 'bourgeois-like" if we were to do this (I *think* I am using that silly word, "bourgeois" correctly).

Instead, after we arrived, we scoped out the city... and lo-and-behold, we found an Ethiopian Restaurant!!!!!!!  We were utterly delighted!  We had not had the pleasure of dining in an Ethiopian Restaurant since the start of the pandemic!!! And, while we had made some of our own Ethiopian food at home during the pandemic, it was never as good as real, legitimate Ethiopian cuisine.  It was SO very wonderful, hearty, filling, and flavorful!  The beautiful texture and flavor of authentic Injera bread is difficult to describe, but it delighted every corner of my mouth with each bite!  All of the samplings of side dishes were richly spicy and loaded with flavor and texture with every mouthful!  It was the perfect meal!

After I get through my electronic class, I may mosey around a bit.  I happened to notice that there is ONE tobacconist somewhat nearby.  From on-line photos it looks like it may be mediocre, but you never know.  It will be fun to glance around even if it is only mediocre.  I might find something delightful, though, so who knows.  It is always a bit of a surprise what there may be.  Smoking my pipe in a new city was always especially enjoyable with the new sites as I would meander around.  I would often meet and talk with some very nice folks along my journeys.  I will still meander around.  But, it is not as fun without my pipe.    

I ran 8 miles (~13 km) this morning.  It is always fun to run in a new place.  You get to see so much.  

When my wife gets finished with what she needs to today, we will likely go explore.  Perhaps find an ice cream shop or a cupcake shop.  

PipeTobacco

We are Going to be Hicks

 

We are going to get to go on the two day trip later I mentioned yesterday.  It will occur later in the week.  We are both looking forward to it.  

For many years, my wife and I have wanted to try a classic "hoity toity" culinary dish called "Beef Wellington."  To our imagination, it harkens back to ideas of very upper crust, Brittish cuisine where tuxedoed men and gowned ladies of near royalty would dine in the 1800s and early 1900s.    

When we see beef wellington served on television, it looks beautiful and rather ornate.  And, over several years we have looked on our various travels to see if there would be a nearby resturaunt that would serve this dish.  We have had a couple of "near misses" in this regard over the years:

1.  One time we found a restaurant that had it listed on their menu, but during our stay, the resturaunt was temporarily closed for renovations.  

2.  One time another restaurant in another city we were visiting had this dish on their menu, but we could not make a reservation as the place was fully booked on each day we had available.

3.  A third time, we were hunting around for a restaurant that had this dish, and unfortunately, the city had TWO STREETS WITH THE SAME DAMN NAME.... and you can guess, we did not realize this and spent quite a while walking up and down the wrong street looking for the restaurant.... only to find out about the second version of this street elsewhere in the city.... and by the time we figured it out, it was too close to closing time to be able to get to the resturaunt.

BUT, finger's crossed, we are going to be able to try out this dish later this week.  However, there is an interesting aspect to this upcoming adventure:

The RESTAURANT is horribly damn expensive! 

A single serving of beef wellington costs $87.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Single salads run in the $35.00 - $45.00 price range !!!!!!!

A single beer is $17.00 and a single glass of wine is $22.00

Entrees run the gambit in equally stratospheric prices, as do desserts.  

If my wife and were to eat a typical meal there, the meal for the two of us would end up being in at least the $300.00 - $400.00 price range.... before tips!!!!

That is not something I can handle/justify.  Nor can my wife.  

But, my wife and I ARE going to try beef wellington.  We are, however, going to be like hicks:

We are going to order ONE single order of beef wellington and ONE glass of wine.  We will then share the dish and the wine so we can see what this dish is like.......

.... Then after we have finished with this adventure, we will walk somewhere else down the street and have a regular, normally priced meal elsewhere.  

Yes, I know we will be like hicks doing this.  But we will be financially careful hicks.  

• Only ran 8 miles (~13 km) this morning because I had to teach so early.
• Still would very much like Peter's Pleasure Pipe Tobacco.  Still do not know if I should or not.

PipeTobacco

Banal Banana

 

Bananas are and have been a part of my workweek lunch routine for more decades than I want to count.  I have over the years, tried a large array of banana-type fruits (plantains,  miniature bananas, etc) but those variations have been eaten in other venues/times/places/contexts than the workweek lunch routine.  For the workweek lunch, it has ALWAYS been the "standard" grocery store banana.  But, even these "standard" bananas have undergone changes across the decades.... mostly due to growing issues related to a pathogen that can sometimes take hold of the plant and kill it.  This pathogen is regularly thought to be near the point of starting a "pandemic" across banana trees and potentially wiping out the population. 

The "standard" banana is usually referred to as the "Cavendish" banana.  I learned this perhaps 2-3 years ago while reading a news report about the risk banana trees were facing.  When I first learned of this moniker, it pleased and bemused me.... as "Cavendish" is a very common style of pipe tobacco.  Cavendish pipe tobaccos have been cured by a gentle heating process (often steam, but sometimes other heating methods are used) and this particular curing process leads to creating a pipe tobacco with a sweeter flavor and texture to its smoke.  I have enjoyed many, many Cavendish pipe tobaccos over the decades.  They are usually very grand and pleasant, although for some reason (perhaps due to the steaming process, but probably at some level it is just tradition), they are often overly moist (to my preferences anyway), and I typically would let them air dry somewhat for one to several days in a glass pie pan I use for such purposes, prior to smoking these tobaccos.  But, patience with drying has given me the opportunity to have many beautiful pipe-fulls of various Cavendish-es over the years. 

Back to bananas for a moment.... it is interesting to me that people have so many different preferences of WHEN they consider a banana to be at the perfect level of ripeness for eating.  I know some folks who prefer their banana to be rather considerably green.  To me, the banana is too hard and under-ripe at this stage.  My own preference is to have a banana be uniformly yellow with NO brown spotting at all.  To me, this stage is when the banana is at its peak of flavor and texture.  When bananas start to accumulate the level of spotting that is shown in the photograph I have at the top of this entry.... then.... to ME, the banana is TOO ripe and has an unpleasant, almost spongy texture.  Even though I have eaten many bananas of this "spotty" style over the years, I have mostly eaten them because that is what my wife gave me in my lunch and these "spotty" beasts were the last banana or two of the bunch before our next shopping trip.  To me, I feel these spotty beasts are better left for freezing and use in my healthy oatmeal "cookies" my wife and I make and bake up in large batches and freeze in packages she can drop into my lunch everyday as well.  

Other items:

• I ran 18.1 miles (~29.5 km) this morning.  I *HAD* planned on TRYING to reach 20 miles (~32 km) today (which would have been a new record distance for me in a single run) as it was a very nice morning.... but I foolishly had forgotten to plug in my "gizmo" watch (the one I inherited from one of my sons when he wanted something "fancier").  By not plugging in the damnable "gizmo" watch last night before bed, today I started to get flashing warnings about impending doom (the watch would no longer track my miles) starting at about mile 16.  I made it home at 18.1 and the watch had only 1% of its energy reserves left.  Perhaps next Monday, I WILL try to reach 20 again.
• Depending on what my wife finds out today, there may be a possibility that my wife and I can travel away alone for TWO days later this week as she has a potential trip she may need to go on for work about 5 hours away.  With the previous success of leaving our dog under my youngest son's care last time, I am hopeful to not be overly worried this time... if we get to go on the trip.  
• I keep debating on ordering a few ounces of "Peter's Pleasure".  I REALLY want to.  But, I keep worrying that  it may be too much of a temptation for me.  My "UNKNOWN" commenter friend, however.... has decided to order some for himself.  I am hoping that when he does receive it that he will write a detailed description of his opinions of it.  I look forward to hearing if he finds it as grand as it seems to be from its paper description.  
• At Mass this weekend, we had a substitute priest as our parish priest was at a conference of some sort.  As this weekend was the "Solemnity of the Holy Trinity" this priest was talking quite about about the mystery of the trinity in his Homely.  I happened to also be substituting for a lot of folks at Mass as well and was a lay lector, a Eucharistic minister, and also an usher at Mass.  After Mass, I asked this priest if he might have a recommendation for a book that delved into the theology and philosophy of the Holy Trinity, since I found his perspective in the Homily to be especially interesting and well developed.  I gave him my phone number, and he said he would look on his bookshelf when he returned home and give me a couple of suggestions on ones he especially valued.   I am hoping to hear back from him today.  
• My wife and I are in the midst of another "decluttering" campaign at our house.  Our plan has evolved into picking a particular room/closet and starting by envisioning how we would WANT the area to look and function.  We then try to imagine what we need to do to get that level of function back, and then try to take a very critical look at what things we NEED, what things we like and want to keep, and what things are just taking up space and we no longer find useful.  Each of us were able to take a trunkload  of useful items (that we did not need/want) to our local Goodwill.  Not only did we make the two rooms we have gone through more comfortable and usable, we helped in some small way, the workers at Goodwill.  And ultimately,  as these things will eventually be sold there at budget prices…. these items may be able to help some folks in need.  We are hoping to continue this trend to every other room/closet in our home this Summer.  

PipeTobacco

Festival AMX

 

Unfortunately, due to actual rain and also the threat of thundershowers, quite a number of the performers (local musicians) bailed on the Jazz Festival (because of the issue with electronics getting wet, I suppose).  Of the few stalwart musicians, there were two very interesting saxophonists, and a flautist that I really enjoyed.  This festival does not involve the use of formal stages, but instead, the musicians are assigned to be at various street corners out in the open and use electricity for their electronica from the nearest business.  So, it is understandable that several ended up bailing out.  The amount of spectator traffic was down as well (again, rain related), but I regularly run in the rain, so it didn't bother me in the slightest. 

There were also a variety of food trucks at the event as well.  Most of the trucks this time were of pretty standard fare.... burgers, pulled pork sandwiches.... that sort of thing.  I usually like the more exotic food trucks that serve more diverse fare or "fusion" concoctions.  We ended up getting the most exotic thing I could find, which wasn't particularly exotic.... but since I know the owners and like their food, we bought a couple of pumpkin empanadas.  The thing about their empanadas that is especially enticing to me is that they are BAKED empanadas and are not fried.  They were wonderfully tasty.  

Because of the lack of as much music as usual, perhaps the best part of the festival this year for me was had while looking at the vehicles at the car show.  While I enjoy looking at old vehicles of all sorts, I have to admit that I am ESPECIALLY fond of the more "quirky" vehicles produced by the long defunct, AMC (American Motors Corporation) (previously also Studebaker).  This year's vehicles had FIVE different AMC cars that were absolutely beautiful.  My favorite was a 1968 AMX.... I have not seen an AMX is so, so very long!  So odd, so quirky.... so very "cool" (to me anyway).  They also had a beautiful 1971 Gremlin, a 1975 Pacer, and my very favorite Rambler, the 1963 Hardtop (second generation)! 

• I feel rather slovenly for having only ran 8 miles (~13 km) this morning.  I *COULD* have done more, if only I would have rousted myself out of bed when I had planned to the evening before. But, I was too damn lazy and did not get up and on the trail until 5:30am.  I am not sure why over the last few weeks I am having such a difficulty getting myself to get out of bed at the time I determine I need to be out of bed in the morning.  If I would get my feet to the pavement by 4:45 am (getting up at 4:30am), I would be able to comfortably get all the miles I need.... in and completed.... and still have enough time to get ready to teach at 8:00am. I am annoyed at myself for this happening.
• I have been helping to clean out the laboratory of my friend who recently passed away.... the fellow who was in assisted living and just recently died of a heart attack.  It feels melancholic to look through his work, papers and equipment.  
• Pat's suggestions yesterday about the pipe tobacco I have been contemplating ordering (Peter's Pleasure).... have inched me quite a bit closer to hitting the "purchase" button.  I am sure I will love and relish the pouch aroma.  I think I can *probably* summon up enough gumption and fortitude to resist smoking a bowlful or two of this leaf.  At least I would *like* to think that I have that sort of resolve.  I am still letting the decision marinade in my mind a bit more before I "pull the trigger", so-to-speak.  But, I admit that my trigger finger is *VERY* itchy.  

PipeTobacco

Procrastination

 

There was an interesting article that popped up on my computer from "Inc." magazine related to procrastination. I am quoting an excerpt of this article, below (the italics):

* * * * * 

Procrastination isn't about laziness. In fact, it’s about your emotions.

According to Fuschia Sirois, professor of psychology at the University of Sheffield, it logically does not make sense that anyone would partake in something (like procrastination) when he or she knows it is going to have negative consequences. “This is why we say that procrastination is essentially irrational,” Sirois comments. And, she reveals, “people engage in this irrational cycle of chronic procrastination because of an inability to manage negative moods around a task.”

That’s right: Your mood plays a huge part in how much of a procrastinator you are. In one 2013 study, Sirois, along with Tim Pychyl of Ottawa’s Carleton University, found that procrastination is “the primacy of short-term mood repair ... over the longer-term pursuit of intended actions.”

Although you might understandably think overcoming procrastination is first concerned with task completion, in reality it’s primarily concerned with “the immediate urgency of managing negative moods.” 

* * * * *

Even though I have never thought of procrastination in the above fashion, the ideas suggested above do ring very true to me. I will have to keep this in mind the next time I am procrastinating badly about something.  

Other thoughts this  morning:

• To make up for my feeble mileage yesterday, I ran 16.1 miles (~26 km) this morning.  It was a beautiful, cool morning, so even though it was a lot of miles, it was nice on the trails.  With these miles, I am now back up to snuff for my mileage mark for Wednesday.  I typically would need to be at 33 miles (~52 km) since Monday to be on track.  I now have 36.6 (~59 km) miles so far.  This gives me a bit of a cushion in case tomorrow's early teaching time limits again the miles I can accomplish.   
• There is a Jazz Festival in the Downtown area tonight that my wife and I relish going to each year.  We have done this many years, but it has not been happening since damnable Covid hit.  But, it is returning today, and I am looking forward to this.  
• I am beginning a process of reorganizing and improving many aspects of my research laboratory.  I suspect it will take a few weeks worth of effort (interspersed between other U duties of course).  But, this time of year is a relatively slow time in my lab anyway, so it makes for a good time to clean and reorganize things so that there is greater ease and ability to start a new projects when Fall hits.  
• I keep looking and re-looking at that pipe tobacco I found online called "Peter's Pleasure".  It is the pipe tobacco described as "made from the flue-cured tobaccos of Zimbabwe and Malawi, with the addition of Black Cavendish and mild Burley tobaccos. Fruit and vanilla flavoring awaken this mild bend’s outstanding taste and aroma." I am still very intrigued by the description of this pipe tobacco.  It sounds as if it would be wonderful and remarkable.  I keep hovering over the "order" tab to potentially purchase a few ounces.  And, at one level, I tell myself, I will be happy to have it if I order it, for I can spend time smelling the aroma of this leaf in the pouch.  But, truthfully, I also hesitate ordering, because I am not sure if I would be overly tempted to smoke a bowl or two of the leaf as well.  All the many, many, many pipe tobaccos I have currently..... I HAVE smoked, so I know and recall each of their beauty and attributes.  But, this new tobacco, if I were to order it, even though the pouch aroma will likely be delightful.... I imagine it may gnaw at me, wondering what it is actually like while smoking it, which (of course) gives any pipe tobacco a whole myriad of additional delights.  And, while I think it would not hurt me to smoke a bowl or two of this pipe tobacco (or for that matter, any pipe tobacco).... I am not really sure if I have enough determination yet to indulge in a pipe ON OCCASION.... or if having a bowlful will simply cascade me back into my prior, regular indulgence (which at one level I WOULD relish, but I can also recognize as unwise).  Therefore, I keep hesitating on whether to purchase a few ounces or not.  

PipeTobacco

 

Wrong Side of the Bed...

 

I am attributing my mood to the "getting up on the wrong side of the bed" sort of thing this morning.  I feel sad and out-of-sorts.  I do not think I slept particularly well last night, for I awoke tired.  But, there is really nothing I can attribute it to..... no TMJ issues, no unusual worries.  I had the same AMOUNT of sleep like usual.... around 6 hours.

Although the LAST THING I wanted to do this morning was go running, I forced myself out of bed.  It was raining, but it was in the low 60s outside ( ~15 C) so that didn't really matter.  With my early start for lecture today, and a later than start time (~5:30am), I ended up only putting in 6.2 miles (10 km).  This means I will have to do a helluva lot of work TOMORROW to try to keep on track for my weekly goal in miles.  

I do not know of anything I could/can do to get me out of this mood.  All I know to do is to simply keep pushing, keep trudging through the day, doing what I need to do, and hopefully the mood will eventually lift. 

PipeTobacco 

Miscellaneous Neuronal Firings

 

As is my new "norm" of late, just a bunch of thoughts (bulleted for your convenience 😜 ):

• I ran 14.3 miles ( ~ 23 km) this morning.  I had been hoping to perhaps hit 19 miles (~30.5 km), but I was also feeling a sense of concern about getting a helluva lot of things done in the morning for work, so I curtailed my run at 14.3 miles (~23 km).  This number still gives me a little bit of a cushion for getting to my weekly mileage goal even if I have a short run tomorrow due to early class start times and sleeping in until 5:30 am instead of when I should get up at 4:00 am.
• The overnight trip with my wife was absolutely wonderful!  After her work, we went out to eat at a beautiful place where we feasted on some really wonderful food:
• She ordered a pork shoulder and rice and vegetable "bowl" and a salad infused with various fruits in addition to the normal salad accoutrements. 
• I ordered a Mediterranean chickpea and lentil "bowl" that also came with its own hearty array of vegetables and also ordered a cauliflower and mushroom soft-shell taco.  The soft shell was made from blue corn.  
• We ended up tasting and sharing each other's dishes because both were very good.  
• We also had an appetizer of flatbread topped with cauliflower that was infused with a buffalo blue cheese sauce.  Just wonderful!
• I also had two glasses of hard cider (one mulberry & apple, the other blueberry & apple).  My wife had diet cola (she does not like to imbibe).   
• It was also such a beautiful evening that we ate outside, and it was relaxing and quiet.  
• Afterwards we walked down the street back towards our hotel and stopped at an ice cream / gelato  establishment.  She had her usual mint chocolate chip ice cream.  I like to try new, odd foods, so I tried their curry gelato.  It was wonderful.      
• My son did an excellent job with taking care of the dog, and since he knew that I was worried, he was actually especially thoughtful and careful.  I was even able to use my wife's phone to "Face-Time" with the dog for a minute or two that evening.  Of course, everyone thought it was silly (even me), but it was fun.  My anxiety that I wrote about dissipated when I saw how he was intending to be careful and understood my worry. 
  
• Today (and tomorrow), I have been interviewing student applicants for the paid student research position I received some grant funding for.  This is always a difficult process, as I tend to find several very promising candidates, and I feel sad having to narrow it down to the one position I have.... when I would really like to award the position to several of the applicants.
• I have a pouch of  Cornell & Diehl: Autumn Evening pipe tobacco that I have had for quite a while that I have opened this morning while I work in my back office.  I have been taking several deep smells of the beautiful pouch-full of leaf throughout the morning.  I had remembered it had a slight hint of a maple scent, and was not disappointed.  From when I last smoked a bowlful of this leaf, I remember that it had a wonderful "woodsy" flavor to it that was just ever so slightly sweet to the palate.  Until I smelled deeply from the pouch, I had really forgotten about this leaf, but just the pouch smell alone quickly reminded me of how good it was to actually smoke.  I have felt a fair amount of temptation to reach for one of my pipes since then this morning.  
• My wife and I are going to attempt to make home-made Fresh Spring Rolls today for dinner (not the fried kind.... blech).  We found dried spring roll casings at the store (basically sheets of agar) and thought it would be fun to recreate fresh spring rolls.  I am going to try to concoct a peanut/sesame sauce to dip them in.  
• I checked out of the U library a copy of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle".  It has been a long time since I first read this classic work.  It felt like it was time that I should re-read it and see how my perspective has evolved.  I already feel it is exceptional, but I bet I will find even more nuggets of amazement that I may have missed.  
• I have to admit that I am feeling a bit enamored with the new Ford Bronco.  It looks like it would be a helluva fun beast to drive.  It is a modern recreation of the classic Ford Bronco of the 1960s AND is available in a manual transmission (a joy to me).  I have looked at them on-line quite a bit.  But, I do also recognize it is only a pipe dream.  First, they are too new to have used versions available (I only buy used vehicles when I do, to avoid some of the horrendous depreciation).  Second, they are too damn expensive new (base price with no additional items is $32,000).  Perhaps in three or four years.... when there are some three or four year old ones on the market, and presuming a return to NORMAL used car prices, it may be something I would consider. 
  

Panicky

 

Although nothing is wrong, I am feeling a sense of panic/anxiety this morning.  This is NOT typical for me.  For while you all know I can have a variety of worries, concerns, moody feelings at various times.... the feeling of "panic" for no ascribable reason is really not something I typically experience.  It is weird and is disconcerting.  

• I thought running this morning would surely help dissipate this feeling of "panic".  I was able to get in only 8 miles this morning (~13 km) because I had to be at the U very, very early for class, so I hit the pavement at 4:45am.  
• Yet, I still feel that edginess of "panic".
• My teaching needs today are not particularly strenuous.... in fact, perhaps of any day of the semester, this day has less need for me to mentally focus.... part of the day is taken up by an exam the students will take, and the lab and lecture portions are very simple, "old-hat" topics I know like the back of my hand.

I am thinking perhaps this feeling of "panic" may somehow be related to an overnight trip I am going on with my wife after my U work today.  But, that is just stupid.  I have been looking forward to this trip with my wife for months.  It is the first "adventure" trip we have been able to experience in over a year, and we both have been excited.  The trip is needed as my wife has a work related task she needs to perform at a site about 4.5  hours away.  Work will pay for her hotel room, so I get to tag along and when she is not at work, we can play.  And, I can play while she is at work too. 😁

And, it is only a one night trip.  We will be back home tomorrow evening.

Maybe, what I am feeling this "panic" about is our dog.  She is not able to come with me and my wife, so she is staying home.  And, my youngest son (who lives in our house) is tasked with taking care of her. And, in reality he is fully capable of this task.  I know that.  Yet, I do have to admit that I worry.  I worry that he will not be attentive enough to ensure that nothing unforseen happens.  In my mind I imagine all sorts of horrible scenarios (a) the dog suddenly bolts and runs away, b) my son and the dog play too hard and the dog gets a sore leg or something similar, c) the dog doesn't listen to my son and gets loose and is hit by a car or some such thing.  

In my MIND, I know the above is STUPID and FOOLISH to worry about.  In my logical mind, I know the probability of any of the three occurring is VERY, VERY LOW.  But, I do actually think that "the dog" may be why I am feeling panicky.  Just writing about it above, had me feel that sense of "panic" build.  

Again, I KNOW IN MY MIND how foolish and idiotic these feelings are.  But, my mind is not (this morning at least) able to quell or over-ride my "gut" responses.  

At least writing through this has helped me to better pinpoint where these emotions are coming from. I am not sure how I will try to dissipate these damn feelings.... when my logical mind already knows they are stupid emotions and cannot quiet them.  Maybe just having the recognition of where they are coming from will help me to squash them in some fashion.  

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More Bullets

 

As of late, it seems I can only grapple with giving a bulleted list of thoughts.  I am not exactly sure why, but, it is what I have at the moment:

• When Covid erupted in March of 2020, my coffee consumption changed.  Prior to Covid, my routine was to go to the U's Starbucks Coffee shop which is relatively near my building.  "Penny Pincher" that I am, I had a routine of taking the largest refillable coffee mug I had (been gifted years before) that was 24 ounces (~ .75 liter) and purchase a "fill-up" of their DARK ROAST coffee blend of the day.... and I would also bring a very large refillable 7-11 drink container that the Starbucks staff would fill with ice for me.  When I returned to my office, I would pour the coffee over the ice, creating a 64 ounce (~ 1.9 liter) iced coffee for me.  The cost for me..... only $0.94 (94 cents).  This was because the U was very into reusable containers.  
• When Covid hit, Starbucks was shut down for a while (and so was campus, we went remote for quite some time).  So, at this point, I adjusted my coffee routine.  As my wife abhors coffee, we have never had a coffee pot or coffee percolator in our home as it seemed rather superfluous. So, since the start of Covid, I have been using instant coffee grounds that I make in a large glass bowl in the microwave oven.  I have filled my 7-11 refillable drink container with ice from our freezer.  It has worked very well.  I have even occasionally splurged by buying a bottle of hazelnut coffee syrup (it is fat free and sugar free) at the local dollar store and would add a shot-glass sized amount of this flavoring from the large bottle, to my iced coffee once or twice a week. 
• It was raining again this morning when I went out to run, which made me happy (no need for sunscreen).  I ran 14 miles (~22.5 km) to try to keep a bit ahead of my weekly goal in case Thursday or Friday are difficult days to get enough miles in.   
• I am just plugging through doing needed tasks at the U today.  Not feeling particularly motivated nor inspired.... just working to get things off my plate to keep work things even-keeled.  

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