Nothing

 

I haven't got anything particularly novel to say at the moment.  I am tired from lecturing all day. We are going to a potluck at our new Parish ahead of going to Holy Thursday Mass this evening.  In theory, I do not need to go into work tomorrow and can potentially just work from home which would be helpful.  

I ran this morning like I always do.  I will hopefully run tomorrow morning and if I run the set number of (~10 miles) I will have reached my mandatory 50 miles a week (~80 km), and can have the weekend off.

I have gone to band and the new music we are playing has promise.  It is a "water" themed program for Spring according to our conductor.  One piece, which will be a challenge has virtually the entire part for my instrument for this song in the highest part of the upper register of my instrument.  Normally, the upper register is only occasionally utilized in parts for the bass clarinet, because as the name suggests, it is a low, deep toned instrument.   Much of the piece is near or at the C5 range  whereas most bass clarinet music focuses primarily on its beautiful, rich, low register more akin to the C2 range.  It will be a challenge. 

But, what I spend most of "daydreaming" hours thinking about are:

• Beautiful memories of my pipes and pipe tobaccos. I have so many different renderings of joyful memories, olfactory, gustatory, and visually that I can pull from.  I can almost taste the imagined flavors, almost smell the earthy leaf, and I can visualize (in my mind's eye) the beautifully thick, chalky grey texture to the smoke itself.  
• Imagined future travel that could permit me an indulgence in a real world sampling of the beautiful leaf in one of my pipes.  I have lately been imagining the indulgence specifically with a large bowled, full-bent, fishtail Peterson.  I also keep focusing in my mind's eye of the delight of peering into the bowl of the pipe during that first light, seeing the yellow flame from my Zippo be drawn into the bowl, igniting the leaf and seeing the combustion begin where each crumble begins to transition into a beautiful red ember. 
  
• The hoped for soon-to-be (hopefully) adventure to the cigar "club" the fellow at our Parish has invited me to attend.  I have likely 5 more work Thursdays before I have a day of break on Thursday.  I have been imagining the experience as simple contentment and camaraderie.  
•  

PipeTobacco

Hashtags

 

I am going to do some exploration to attempt to better understand "hashtags" which are NOT a shredded potato dish, nor is it the 70's era terminology for especially potent marijuana (since I have never had marijuana, I have no idea what "regular" versus "potent" may be in that regard).  

No, the "hashtag" idea I am interested trying to figure out references the "#" symbol that sits atop of the "3" on the standard (US standard) keyboard.  And, more specifically, how this little symbol when tied to some word, words, or array of letters is often found cluttering up the bottom of various Internet posts, social media posts, blog posts, and the like.  

I have SEEN these "hashtag" things for many years, but for the most part I tried to ignore them.  I clicked on one once, and it took me somewhere (I do not remember where the hell it was) that was chaotically not useful to me.  I am guessing they must link to some sort of aggregate database of some sort, probably of what folks may DEEM to be related ideas, but I am not sure.  

So, I have done the following to try to elicit help in understanding:

1.  I asked my wife.  (She didn't have any more clue to the answer than I did.)

2.  I sent a text to one of my kids who is especially "electronic" focused.  I have not yet received a reply.  Probably not until perhaps later tonight, I suspect.  

3.  I am NOW asking you, my blog friends to give me your knowledge of the "hashtag" with specific reference to why and how you would use them in something you READ, and also how and why you would use them associated with something you would WRITE.  

4.  Finally, I am also going to (likely tomorrow) after I amass the opinions and ideas of folks of whom I value their opinion (the above three groups), I will then (again, likely tomorrow) take that information and explore the Internet for the "global" view on hastags. 

Why, you may ask am I doing this?  Well, I am CONSIDERING.... NOT FOR CERTAIN ... but CONSIDERING.... creating a blog, or instagram site or facebook site that can serve as a type of community outreach for scientific research that I find meaningful and impactful.  Over the years, I have highlighted to my students about the dichotomy between what scientists know and discover, versus how the general public learns (if at all) about this work and consumes the information (if possible) in a way that meaningful and impactful for the broader aspects of society.  

I thought that by putting some sort of platform together to highlight in general terms, some of the more important new work related to my broad field, could be a helpful way for me to engage more in community service.   

* * *

• We did get the full damn 7 inches of snow on Friday.  But, it warmed up enough immediately after that it ended up melting off the driveway by the end of the day Saturday.  And by Monday, all the snow melted away.  
• I have still been struggling with a lot of sadness.  I keep telling myself it is just "March" and it should dissipate soon.  But, my mind is so swirling at times with memories of those I miss, both those that have passed away, and others who have drifted away.
• Running is still a CHORE at the moment.  I am awfully damn tired of ~100 loops every morning, dodging around folks who walk in the running lane even though they are not supposed to.  It will (hopefully) feel fun and exciting again when (soon, I hope) I can easily venture outside for my runs in the early morning again. 
• I have even been feeling SAD about my pipes and pipe tobaccos.  Typically, over these years of abstaining from their friendship and comfort..... I would feel senses of LONGING, DESIRE, CRAVINGS.... for their nourishment.  But, while those feelings remain, I also am now experiencing a SADNESS about them.  It is hard to explain.  I feel, perhaps locked into a corner, not having any real way to "succeed" regarding them. I cannot forget them and be "over it".  I cannot simply return full-time to them and "indulge raucously".  I cannot find any sort of middle ground that seems viable either. It SEEMS that there is no identifiable way to work or strive to make my lot regarding my pipes and pipe tobaccos BETTER that it currently is, and that being locked in a position that is not really comfortable is what I think has added the feelings of sadness.  

PipeTobacco   

I Do Not Know

We are predicted to receive potentially SEVEN INCHES (~18 cm) of SNOW between late tonight and  Friday morning.  (sigh)

The idea of  such a snowstorm makes my mind feel quite gloomy at this time of year.  The other mind spinning weather prediction is that on MONDAY, we will have a high temperature of 55 degrees F (+13 C).

There is ONE bright spot however..... it caused the cancellation of our Department Meeting!

One other bright spot that may seem strange, but has happened occasionally.... walking across campus on the way back to my lab after finishing my "big voicing" for the day.... some unknown fellow walking in the other opposite direction gave me a "thumbs up" symbol and then said, "That's a GREAT beard!" 

I will likely be able to work from home tomorrow (another plus), and have only one online meeting to attend.

* * * * * 

I do not have a helluva lot of new news.  I ran.  I HOPE to easily find a way to run tomorrow to complete my 50 miles (~80km) for the week.  

Lately, my mind feels less and less willing to go through the laborious thought processes to keep focused on why I put down my pipes and pipe tobaccos.  My mind even has been growing less willing to think and reason through a possible plan for measured, only very occasional indulgence in my beloved pipes and pipe tobaccos.  For whatever the current whim of my mind is, it seems simply too taxing to continue and I feel like just sliding back into whichever frequency of unfettered indulgence in my pipes and pipe tobaccos would equilibriate to. I have been thinking about throwing in the towel quite a bit lately.

PipeTobacco  

Tuesday into Wednesday

I am not sure if it is stress or a "24 hour bug" or what the hell it was, but YESTERDAY was horrible and horrendous from the moment the damn alarm clock rang.  I did not want to run, I did not want to go to the U, I did not want to do anything but stay in bed.  My body ached, my TMJ was flaring, my mind was mushy, my thoughts were "doom-and-gloom", my body had no energy, I felt edgy, I had a scratchy throat, and my soul felt empty. 

Everything was a monumental struggle.  But, I did FORCE myself to run, hoping it would knock some sense into me. It tired me out a bit, so emotions were not so ready to "boil-over".    I FORCED myself to teach, which was the last thing I wanted, especially a long, long 5 hours of "big voice" lecturing.... and especially the LONG, LABORIOUS, TEDIOUS topic I had specifically in my endocrinology (comparative thyroid function across major chordate and vertebrate taxa.... which is boring as hell, difficult to remember, and rather extremely disjointed... it has theoretical "value and importance" but it is not a specific subject I particularly find "invigorating" to talk about as it is rather dry).  My other two classes were of more exciting topics, for damn sure.

I am not sure if it was the single aspirin I took at ~ 9:30am yesterday kicking in, or just being done with "big voice" lecturing for the day, but I felt a bit "better" and relieved at the end of lecturing.  Yet, I was so damned dogged tired, unfocused, and TMJ achy still, that I really did not accomplish much at my computer afterwards, even though I have a LOT of writing to do that remains on my plate.  

By 5:00pm, I could not do any more and called it quits for the day.  My wife came by to pick me up (leaving my stead at the U that she would drop me back to later) so we could travel to the pool together and swim and talk.  Actually "SWIM" is a bit of a misnomer. When I am with my wife, I do not swim per-say, but instead we both water-walk in one of the lanes.  She walks in a forward direction back-and-forth in the lane, and I walk backwards in the same lane so I can face her and we can talk together more easily.  My wife prefers walking forward as it is a major form of her exercise to try to help regulate her blood glucose.  I actually quite like walking backwards as it has my use my leg and torso muscles in the opposite fashion to how I do so while running and ends up being an added component to my "stretching" routine to keep my leg muscles more limber and from shortening and painfully tightening as can happen to folks who run without stretching (an aside, I DO traditional stretches at the conclusion of my run each day as well, because of the very important need to do so, but walking backwards further enhances the stretching results, I find). 

Immersing in the pool, the chatting, and the being able to be just "normal" (not "on" as in work, not "big voicing" as in work, not focusing on just getting crap "done" as in work) felt so wonderful.  The coolness of the water against my body was refreshing.  The talking was fun and casual.  By the time we got out of the pool, I felt CLOSE to my "normal" self.  

This morning, I again awoke with the same dread.  Fortunately, no TMJ pain, however.  I have been forcing myself through the same routine as yesterday.  Fortunately the "big voice" lecturing (3.5 hours today) was over more interesting topics in both classes. I am hoping we can swing swimming again this afternoon after my graduate seminar ends today.  It may be hard to fit in as we have a "care-and-share" event at our new Parish this evening.  It is part of the Lenten Season activities.  Sometimes they are very good, sometimes they cantilever off track precipitously so that they are just folks yammering about unrelated topics.  I am hoping for a very good event this evening.  It is SUPPOSED to be about a presentation of Catholic Missionaries who organize groups to travel to different areas worldwide where they will spend time working in service to the community.  From my understanding, their current focus is for some folks in a small village in a country in Africa (I apologize, I cannot remember which country at the moment) where the Mission and volunteers are working to rebuild their school and other parts of the village that were destroyed, I believe, due to some form of weather related cause.  My wife and I have talked about trying to serve in one of these ways for the last few years.  We are both thinking it would be something that would be valuable and helpful for us to do.  We HOPEFULLY will learn more about this tonight.  

* * * * *

I still think part of my malaise is related to it being the damnable month of March.  Today is the official, first full day of Spring, and I was sadly awoken to fresh, new snow covering everything, and temperatures around 25 degrees (-4C)  and dark skies that only brightened at sunrise to a dark, ashen grey. I keep trying to push away the many thoughts of "gloom".  

At night, I have been (as usual, I guess) allowing my mind to wander where it will go.  But, I have found that I have had to try to be more "directive" to my mind of late, for I easily can fall into "gloom" thoughts of the deaths of the the many loved ones I have had on my mind, or into thoughts and worries about the "one I no longer mention here" who is contemplating some rather poor options again which is causing both my wife and me a great deal of concern and feelings of failure.  So, to not get stuck in one of those circles of sadness thoughts, I have been forcing my mind (as best as I can) when going off to sleep, to imagine or remember one of the following three:

1.  Me simply resting in a nice, wooded park on a Summer day.... my back resting against the trunk of a big oak tree, while I quietly scan off into the distance while smoking one of my large bowled, full bent briar pipes filled with a half-and-half mixture of "Three Star Blend" and Prince Albert. 

2.  Me and my father-in-law sitting out in his back yard outdoor lounging chairs in the middle of Summer, laughing, chatting, drinking a tall whiskey and coke (his favorite Summer drink) and smoking our pipes together.

or

3.  Me actually visiting the cigar lounge and talking with folks about just "stuff" and finding and enjoying a cigar in a quiet, casual afternoon.  

PipeTobacco   

 

 

Tentant

 

"Tentant" is a Latin word, and it means "to try".  

I have decided that TENTANT is what I must focus on this week for me.  I am still feeling a great deal of the doldrums of the difficult month of March, even though I have past the Ides of March.  As I talked about somewhat the last week and a half, I am feeling a big sense of loss.  I am recalling and remembering a lot of the deaths of loved ones, and feeling their loss.  But, to live in those thoughts is to live akin in an abyss.  That is not what life is supposed to be about.  

When I can get my mind focused and wrapped around the concept, I know damn well that life is MEANT to be a time to WORK, to STRIVE to do good and positive things, a time to do SERVICE to attempt to make life better and kinder.  It is easy to lose sight of that focus, when hurts and hardships, and harshnesses and difficult memories can so easily flood into the mind, and so easily disrupt our focus and our efforts.  

So, March be damned.  I am not serving my love ones I have lost.... I am not serving my living family and friends.... I am not serving my students.... I am not serving my community.... I am not serving my faith..... IF I LET these harsh feelings and harsh emotions rule over my mind and prevent me from what I SHOULD do.

So, the oft-used phrase of "picking myself up by my bootstraps" happens again TODAY.  I will force myself to get back up to snuff.

My work for today is the "usual" teaching (only 3 hours today), but a special emphasis this afternoon will be in organizing some of the needed animal use applications for research done as well, so I can get some of my students off and running on some new projects associated with my most recent grant.  I have as a goal, the completion of at least 1/2 of the applications before I leave for the day.  

Other varied thoughts:

• I POUNDED OUT as fast a 10 miles as I could this morning.  I do find that the effort does help me shed some of the gloom.
• I have set an appointment to talk with the specific duo of my researchers who procrastinated and really were not focused nor motivated.  I am going to give them "the talk" to see what is their future.  They are both thinking more about jobs, socialization, etc.... and not planning for their future.  
• I was able to talk with the "cigar fellow" from Mass this past Saturday.  He was wondering why I hadn't been out there, as I had told him of my interest.  Unfortunately, because of my work at the U, the "club" (just a bunch of guys who get together to talk and smoke cigars) he belongs to there, meets at noon on Thursdays..... and so for the time being I am unable to go.  Most of the fellows are already retired, so the time is of little consequence.  I told him, that I am looking forward to going as soon as I can.  I told him, however, that I likely will not have an open Thursday from work until the end of April.  He even told me Saturday, as a manner of encouragement before I told him of my work schedule, that I could smoke my pipe there since I had told him earlier that I had relatively modest experience with cigars as I was primarily a pipe smoker.  He remembered that part and was trying to encourage me, I think, thinking that I was hesitating about cigars.  (Late addendum.... his mentioning my pipe smoking made me smile, as I felt glad he was interested enough in having me join the group that he remembered that detail.  It felt nice to have that encouragement.)
  
• My wife and I are going swimming (I hope) late this afternoon.  It should be refreshing.  

I have to get to doing more work.  I have been listening to Ian Anderson's works lately.  He is most famous for his leading of the group, Jethro Tull.  However, he has a lot of music of various sorts.  (Late addendum.... just to make sure.... I very much enjoy Jethro Tull.  But, I also greatly like Ian Anderson's other work as well.  I did not want anyone thinking I was being in any way disparaging about Jethro Tull.)

PipeTobacco 

Semi-Important Thought

 

It occurred to me while running this morning, that a REASON I am not fond of the idle chit-chat at the sorts of dinners I have this week is (besides being an introvert) because I tend to not talk A LOT at these sorts of things.  I am not generally a person who will easily or willingly just rattle off the myriad of thoughts that are going on in my head.  Some people can do that READILY.  Some folks have what I guess can be called a "gift of gab" where they can simply keep up a continual, extemporaneous, exogenous dialogue of whatever pops into their mind.  

That is NOT me.  While I have (what seems like) 852 billion thoughts percolating through my mind at any given moment much of the day, I need to precisely and carefully select which (if any) of those thoughts are ones that become verbalized.  SELECTING thoughts to discuss is exhausting in "mixed company" ("mixed company" in this context means basically any folks in a social setting who are NOT family, friends, or work associates).  There are also all the "contextual" considerations of a) who may find which thought interesting or boring, b) which "code" to adopt in speaking (should I pepper my speech with the blue collar malapropisms and slang I grew up with, should I use my "professorial" diction and tone, should I adopt my "dad joke" style of speech,  etc.), c) how loud or soft to speak to an "intimate" table of 8 folks (the typical U seating arrangement) that allows others at the table to hear, but does not unnecessarily contribute more noise to the din of the banquet room by mixing in more sound to the chaotic cornucopia already going on.... and many more considerations.  

So, what I do for the most part is LISTEN.  And I am a DAMN GOOD listener.  I listen so carefully and so intently that I could often repeat verbatim the conversation at a table.  What I mean by this is that I actually PAY ATTENTION to what folks are saying. Some folks DO NOT do this.  It matters not if the conversation is inane and nonsensical or if it is a doctoral dissertation..... if I am needing to LISTEN, listen I DO, dammit.  And, so, it is very much the norm that folks who like to talk.... LOVE to talk to me, because I do listen and do hear them.  But, at a table of eight folks with a whole helluva lot of random talking back-and-forth, it is EXHAUSTING and damn near overwhelming to listen and remember the details of every single person's story.  But, it is how I am wired.  In conversation, I do not "weed out" (aka ignore) some folks, nor some folk's DETAILS.... perhaps out of worry/concern that I will ignore something that was meaningful to that person. And to have that worry/concern that I ignored someone would be further exhausting. 

But, that is why, as an introvert, after a "social" event of this nature, I am wiped out.  I am a relatively noise-sensitive person to begin with, but after a social event, I need QUIET.  

To not be ALL GLOOMY today, I have to end with what I consider a somewhat funny story of one of my beloved uncles, Uncle Chet (Chester).  Later in life, when he grew harder of hearing, he aquired the standard style of hearing aids of that time frame (1980s).  These hearing aids had a small dial on their side that (with your fingertips) you could rotate to adjust the volume.  My Uncle's wife (my aunt of course was a bit of a stereotype, and her Italian heritage (and slight Italian accent she gleaned from her parents who WERE actual immigrants from Italy) was displayed in her personality of being a very loud talker, who used her hands a lot when talking.  She also tended to be very directive to my Uncle (liked to tell him what to do and how to behave).  Well, my Uncle and Aunt would argue occasionally, and just because he KNEW it would annoy her during an argument, my Uncle would make a very purposeful gesture with his hands, to turn off the volume of his hearing aids when he didn't want to hear what my Aunt was saying.  She would get SO exasperated.  I am not really sure if he DID actually turn down/off the volume on his hearing aids or not.... but I know he at least pretended to do so.        

Low

 

I am feeling very low emotionally.  I am trying to pull myself out of it, but not having a lot of success currently.  I feel TOO busy.  I feel TOO much like my life is being a "robot".  I feel as if I have no time to live an actual life as much of what I am doing of late is just getting things DONE, usually at the last moment, in order to just keep things going.  

I know in my mind that these feelings are from a) getting over and through the disruptive meeting I had undergrad students present their finding at.... and their last minute focus and last minute panic that I had to guide them through, b) March is always a sh*tty month in terms of memories of hard, sad things, c) the added focus on the harshness of March due to the suicide that I mentioned in the prior post that further stoked the memories and feelings and thoughts about that 30 year ago suicide by my niece, and d) the need to attend some yearly U functions this week that just disrupt my schedule and time (these are some "care & share" dinners where there are awards presented (and I have to go to them because I am getting an award) but is really in most regards to me, each dinner is just a three hour period of torturous, idle, "small talk" and "chit-chat" that drains me of energy.  Introverts NEED to decompress from these sorts of things.

As an introvert by nature, it may seem odd that most of my day-to-day is in talking and lecturing to folks.  And, perhaps it is odd.  But, I have grown over the decades to be able to do (and enjoy) lecturing and teaching.  Idle "chit-chat", however, is still something that by-and-large has me feel uncomfortable. There is a bar at both of these events, so that typically helps to "lubricate" my tongue a bit and I can grapple with the idle chit-chat and even probably am perceived as "charming" in my frumpy, sort of way.  But.... it is DRAINING.

PipeTobacco

Suicide

I have been feeling rather low the last several days.  I have much to say about MANY things, but today I will focus on this:

A young adult kid of a family my wife and I have watched on television occasionally over the years committed suicide last week.  It was shockingly unexpected by the family.  

Even though I only knew of this family (and this kid) through a television program, this death stirred up a lot of emotions in me. Suicide is a horrific thing, and a family that experiences suicide is forever changed.

The emotions this first stirred up in me were of the emotions I felt about my niece, who committed suicide 30 years ago now. She was 17 when she ended her life.  I can only imagine what she could have/would have become today as a 47 year old if she had not chosen this path.  

I tend to try to not think about her suicide much any more because it does not really have any benefit to do so.  It simply brings up the sadness of the loss of her, it brings up a great deal of anger that she did this, it pains me to see how it has changed many facets of my larger, extended family.  

With the news of the television kid's suicide last week, it brought all those emotions back to the surface.  As I have stated before, the year that was 30 years ago was the worst year I have ever experienced.  Several deaths of relatives occurred that damnable year in addition to my niece (my Dad, two close uncles, my major professor/mentor, an extremely close family friend).  Those sad feelings too have resurfaced.  

And, it caused a resurgence in my dislike of March, for over the many years, a much higher than normal percentages of deaths I and my family have experienced have been in this month of March.  My Dad, my Mom, one of my uncles, two aunts.  My wife experienced the miscarriage of one of our kids in March as well.  Several cousins also passed away in March. 

Then, even though they were more recent, the suicide of one of my colleague/friends, and the deaths of three others .... all of these since Covid started.... those memories also flooded back.  

None of the above is new news, other than the television kid who committed suicide.  But, it does not mean the emotions are not difficult.  I am trying to figure out how to put these emotions "back on the shelf" so as to just carry on.  As much damn sorrow the above produces, it does no damn good to try to do anything BUT put the emotions "back on the shelf".  They do not "go away" as that is impossible.  But, they can be managed.  I need to wrangle them back in.  I think just writing (at least) the main points out here is a way I can help myself get them "back on the shelf".

I ran an extra hard (tried to be faster) 13.1 miles (~21 km) this morning on the damn track to stomp out the emotions and pain as well.  It is called carrying on.  

I will just keep on trying to carry on. Some folks try to suggest suicide is a "noble" thing or that it is a "right" that people should have.  But I think suicide is the sh*tt**st thing a person can do to people that they love. 

PipeTobacco       

Practice & Practice

 

Running was nice this morning.

Today will be a day of tremendous practice with my students.  I am hoping each team is prepared enough to do a good job with only needing polishing for their talks.  But, it is possible that the one group may still be unfocused, which may mean today will be a long day.  

I think my wife and I will go to a restaurant to eat tonight.  It is likely we will go to a place in our region that is a primarily "Chinese" place, but it has a bit of diversity straying into other cuisines as well.  The hallmark of this place (for me) is not the prepared dishes, but the option they also have of creating a dish of your own choosing using a pseudo Teppanyaki style of cooking.  At this place, fortunately (for me), the actual perpetration occurs behind a glass wall at one side of the restaurant to limit the heavy frying odor that many choose and use a lot of oil (not my favorite odor).  

The true hallmarks, however, are that you have a "salad bar" style arrangement to pick your vegetables, meats, noodles, spices, etc for this Teppanyaki style.... and you simply bring a plate of what you would like them to prepare for you.  

In my own case and style, I typically choose every vegetable available.... zucchini, onions, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and more, and then add spices of your choosing.  I typically have a very heavy dose of Indian curry, pepper, and a bit of chili (my wife always chooses traditional Chinese spices, meats and noodles in her version).  I forgo noodles and meats, and have been very successful in having them prepare my dish sans oil, by asking them very nicely to add "no oil" whatsoever.  It is wonderfully tasty.

With it I usually have a monster sized salad.  Additionally, I get a side of rice and they have a "sushi" bar as well, and there I typically get 4-6 pieces of fresh spring rolls (not fried), 4-6 pieces of sushi often with a bit of crab, and one piece of some fancier sushi I have not tried before.  Plus, lots of wasabi and ginger on the side.  

I hope it will be a fruitful day... and a nice evening with my wife.

The potential pipe day is only a few days away.  Keeping fingers crossed.

PipeTobacco  

The Roughly Nine Months

 

Roughly, nine months is the gestational period for human development in utero.  At the moment, we are close to that same gestational period in the U.S. for the election of our next president.  If this upcoming election cycle were to be equated with a pregnancy, I am of the opinion that this next nine months of election "pregnancy" will undoubtedly be amongst the most chaotic, destabilizing period of time I have ever experienced in all my many, many years. 

I never ascribed to the "never trust anyone over 30" crap that was a common phrase in the late 1960s.  It always rang of ageism to me then and still does.  Yet, ageism is again at play, this time universally applied to both presidential candidates.  Age is NOT the problem.  In my opinion, Nikki Haley is a loon for having that be the (feeble) focus of her (useless) campaign.  I do not think age discrimination is a good strategy.   

I cannot imagine how the next nine months will unfold with the two nominees. While I will assuredly vote for Biden, polls thus far show Trump ahead of Biden.  Various other thoughts:

• If Trump were to win, it would be a new "Grover Cleveland" occurrence, only the second time where a president experienced two non "back-to-back" presidencies.

• Regardless of who wins, polls suggest that little would change in the House or Senate, and basically we would stay mired in another four years of gridlock with minimal substantive work occurring.   

I think the next nine months may truly be the most chaotic time our nation has ever experienced.  

PipeTobacco
 

A Mind of Hidden Ideas

I am too embroiled in the coaxing and cajoling phase for my undergraduate researchers in the moment to actually expound on the myriad of thoughts I have been having since receiving my notification about my grant being approved. 

But, I can say I have many exciting (to me) ideas about how I may be able to utilize these funds to do all sorts of wonderfully intriguing things.  And, one of these things, that my be only a pipe dream, but also may be able to BECOME reality.... is that I may have enough focus from this grant to actually write a damn BOOK!  Not an article (they will come), not a chapter (yawn), but a whole damn book!  Again, it may be a pipe dream, but right now it feels do-able.  

It will take a lot of work, of course, but also a lot of organization.  So, we will see.  

I was reaching in my pocket for my keys to get back into my office earlier.  There was a student out front waiting for me to "talk" about his grade.  I reached into my pocket and as I drew out my keys, part of the chain holding some of my many, many keys in a somewhat unified mass must have caught on the Zippo lighter in my pocket, and the lighter popped out onto the floor and clanged around a fair amount.  The kid looked down to the floor due to the noise, and then he asked with an odd hint of surprise in his voice, "You, have a lighter?"  

Not being quite sure which direction he was coming from with that question, as he could have been meaning the question/statement from a host of different angles (he could have been anti-smoking, pro-smoking, pro-camping, hell, perhaps pro-marijuana, or who knows what the inflection in his voice was about)..... I did not know how to frame my response.  As I ushered him through my outer office door, I simply said, "Yes, and perhaps another 5 of them at home." 

The POTENTIAL for a visit to the pipe shop on my way back from this regional meeting next week is still a possibility!  No research kids have thus far asked me for a ride.  Other aspects of the meeting still seem "ok" for this pipe shop possibility as well!  

PipeTobacco