Fried-ae

 

I am not fond of fried foods.  The odor of the hot oil is unpleasant to me.  When I was hefty, I did eat a lot of fried foods..... mostly at parties and gatherings..... because that was what was available and.... I would eat to occupy time when I wasn't speaking.  And, with my "introvert" tendencies, I tend to not talk a whole helluva lot at bigger gatherings, but listen instead.

With the above out of the way, why do I post this picture?  Well, the title of this entry is "Fried-ae" which was my attempt at a euphemistic, mashed together title..... Fried...... because my mind feels rather "fried" from the ups and downs, and rounds-and rounds of the week.... and Fried-da as a conscious and intended misspell of "Friday" which is today.

* * * * *

Emotionally, I am feeling "even-keeled" today.  But, it has been a rough, dark, and stormy sea.  Up-and-down, and round-and-round aptly DOES describe physical and emotional feelings well for me this past week.  Some bullet points:

• I kept up on my running every single day.  There were some mornings I was feeling rather despondent and moody about running and almost did not go three of the days since I last wrote. BUT, I forced myself, and EACH TIME it proved helpful to make things feel more emotionally manageable.  Stomping out all those miles reliably reduces stress for me.  It does not ELIMINATE stress, but helps put it in a more possibly manageable level.  I know in my mind each morning that it will help me feel somewhat better if I am in a sad mood.  But, lately, I am struggling and having to force myself to run.
• The unpleasant duo at work has very fortunately left me alone this week, and I am glad for that.  Things are not copesetic by any means, but (probably because of their own start of the semester challenges) it was quieter, and I was less on edge.
• My SIL has been here all the rest of the week since my last entry.  It has actually been nice, and she is a wonderful person.  But, it still is challenging because of the disruption of routine at the start of the semester.  She has had successful dialysis treatments, however, and that is the important thing.  Her husband, who is driving back from Colorado, should be home really, really late tonight we think.  Even though my SIL enjoyed being with us (and we enjoyed having her and helping her), I think she is looking forward to being able to be at home tomorrow, and back into her own routines as well.  
• A big, unexpected challenge befell upon us on Wednesday morning.  My wife's car had a catastrophic electrical failure while she was driving in the middle of our town's busiest, six-lane road.   The damn car just died in the middle of the road.  The car's emergency flashers were even acting oddly. This resulted in a lot of travel challenges, with me needing to collect her, and ultimately her brother helping out too so that both I and she could get to work AND my SIL could get to her dialysis that morning.  Fortunately this brother-in-law is retired and has a more open schedule.
• The car ended up experiencing some sort of computer malfunction associated with the operation of the alternator which then resulted in the frying of the car's battery.  $450.00 later (plus needing to add on the towing fee) the car is supposedly back up to snuff.  
• With all the chaos, I did not go to the Retiree's Cigar Group.  It saddened me.  I was contemplating taking a trip there today, but I am not really sure if it would be valuable or meaningful, as I would likely be alone, as very likely none of the guys I know from the group would be there.  So, I am unsure what I may or may not do.  
• I am also frustrated/angry/disheartened about the vaccine issues now.  RFK Jr's vehemence against vaccines has me awfully damn nervous.  I had HOPED to get the new Covid vaccine, the new Flu vaccine, and the RSV vaccine this year.  But, it appears that his new "guidelines" exclude me and it worries me.  I am trying to check and see what the plans are for my health insurance and if they may still cover them, or if I can pay them out of pocket (I have no damn idea how much they will cost, nor even if I can get a clinician to green light my receiving them since I am now outside the criteria.).  
• I am also very sad about the Mass Shooting in Minnesota.  On so many levels, it just hurts.
• My mind is so tired and so "mushy" feeling this week, that even when I try to live in my imagination and think about my pipes and pipe tobaccos.... it is not even possible.... I end up falling asleep even before I can organize a thought in my imagination.  I tried to force myself to at least try to read my book for a little bit last night.  But, while I got my reading glasses on, and had the large, hardcover book perched in front of me, I really never even saw a single word that I can recall..... I fell asleep so immediately.  After some period of time, my grip must have relaxed, and the book fell flat against my face, startling me awake enough for a  moment to close the book and put it on the nightstand. 

PipeTobacco 

Various

Right now I am simply trying to make it through the day. 

• I am starting my embryology class.  Scheduling problems with arrival of certain organisms has had me scrambling on what to do today for this class.
• I ran.... to get it done... but also to try to dissipate stress hormones related to my anger at the person who had been mean/rude/various other descriptors last Thursday.  I would like to tell the person off, but that is not an appropriate strategy.  I would like to "ignore" things, but that keeps it festering in my mind.  I think I will try to write out my feelings and then try to edit them down as a POTENTIAL document I may send this person.   But, it also irks me that I would have to devote a helluva lot of time to write out these feelings and also to edit them.  Time that I resent needing to find for this situation.
• My SIL with the kidney dialysis and the wound vac may be coming to stay with us for several days because her husband has to be away.  I love my SIL, but admit the drastic changes in routine this will induce feels stressful.
• The schedule changes due to my SIL's stay also mean swimming with my wife is likely off the schedule and I would need to go solo (not as relaxing, peaceful, nor as enjoyable without her), or not go (no stress relief/relaxation).  

Not much else I can focus on at the moment.  It is not really the kind of start to the semester I had envisioned, nor is it what I had hoped for.  It has made me emotionally and mentally tired.

PipeTobacco

Comments on Comments (August 25th Edition)

More about the goings on tomorrow.  I wanted to get my responses to comments out today if I could with it being the first day of classes.  And, I have them below

 AC

Ya gotta wonder what is going on in that person’s head. I mean, we can’t all be chums, but there has to be a way to be aloof rather than mean.

I really wish I knew/understood myself.  My opinion is that she behaves the way she does based upon her upbringing.  I think she tends to FOLLOW people who speak the LOUDEST.  When I was a newbie in the Department, long, long, long ago, her thoughts and ideas were basically a parroting of the loudest fellow in our Department.  What he said, she agreed with and upheld.  I actually tended to agree with most things this guy said and thought.... he was a really nice guy, just LOUD and "commanding" to be listened to.  So, I never gave it much of a thought in my early friendship with the person I had been speaking about hurting me.  But, I have seen in quite a few instances over the decades, that she ends up adopting her mindset to whomever is simply the loudest and most pushy with their opinions.  Currently that person in our Department is the other person who hurts me greatly, so that is their current synergy.  This current loudmouth in our Department is someone whom I disagree with rather vehemently on a number of fronts that are significant in the Department.  

The young teachers in my department would joke about the brevity of our meetings.

Hah!  I can understand that.  

Prof. you have always been kind and sensitive, so I didn't that you could be a conservative -- not as they are now anyway. I say that as one who used to lean that way slightly. But that was long ago now.

Thank you!  I am societally and politically liberal, although I live my own life rather conservatively.  

GaP

Now THIS is the type of blog entry I remember reading back when you were a regular pipe-smoker. The passionate description of the leaf, its textures and flavors...Your loving or the ritual of melding flame to leaf. I consider myself a dilettante pipe smoker. But a proud pipe-smoker I am...and you were one of my first mentors, believe it or not.

Thank you.  I am glad to have been a mentor of sorts.  I wish I did not feel so much "conflict" myself.  Perhaps it would be more accurate for me to actually say I feel such a "juxtaposition" about things.... I think this is a better way to state it.  I feel so many different sides about my beloved pipes that it sometimes feels rather confusing. 

Katrina

I'm sorry to hear about the meanness - you don't deserve it and I hope the pain eases quickly.

For a while, I kept wondering if there was something I did to deserve this.  It has taken a LOT of careful thought and working through emotions over the years, but I more fully realize (most of the time anyhow) that I DO NOT deserve this treatment.  It doesn't really change that I do receive this treatment, unfortunately.  

You are so thoughtful in your replies! Good luck with the start of the semester.

Thank you!  Classes this morning were fun, in a blustery, getting students enthused and getting students planning their ways to attack the class sort of way.  

Linda's Relaxing Lair

The containers are nice.

Very, very true.  I have many, many empty pipe tobacco canisters.  Several of the ones I pictured, but many others as well.  They are esthetically pleasing to me to see, and have them all over the place in my garage and workroom holding all sorts of different odds and ends.  

Margaret

I don't understand meanness so I hurt for you. You seem like a fair and likeable person who always tries to do his best in his job and with his colleagues. Is she jealous? Power hungry? I would say that's it's all about her and not you, but that's no consolation.

I agree with you... it really does not make sense.  I have never really encountered this sort of thing before the major culprit in meanness came into our Department (the person I spoke about last Thursday is this major culprit's "minion" and this "minion" who is also now mean and unpleasant was a long standing former friend.  

Ten potentials? You need more narrowing. ;)

You are indeed correct.  But, it is a difficult to accomplish, albeit fun process.  All the beautiful memories are so enjoyable to relive, and yet, I do eventually pick "the one" so I can have it for the display..... and very truthfully also to allow me to adopt Pat's wonderful suggestion of smoking that particular pipe one time as a special event opportunity before I have it be the "display".   

I did perceive it as the way you presented it and not as negative, but that you were unsure that you could meet their needs or be an interesting speaker for that kind of event. I appreciate your explanation and clarification.

I am glad.  I always worry about words.  Words can sometimes impart unintended meanings.  I TRY to be very, very careful in my word choices.  

Pam J

Work feuds are the worst feuds. I used to say that every job comes equipped with its own personal pile of sh*t stinking up one corner of the office. It’s the law. And speaking of laws, have you heard of Sayre’s Law? One version of it was popularized by Kissinger: "Academic politics are so vicious precisely because the stakes are so small." I have great respect for educators so I don’t necessarily agree that the stakes are small. But I’ve read many, many novels written by academics where faculty feuds are the centerpiece of the plot. Two novels that I recall are Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher, a professor of creative writing at Univ of Minnesota, and Straight Man by Richard Russo, a former academic who gave up teaching when his first novel was a success. Both books might make you laugh at your personal situation.

I love the Kissinger rendering of Sayre's Law..... neither of which I had heard before, but have now written down to make sure I can keep it in mind.  I may make a print-out of it to staple to my bulletin board in my office.  And, I thank you greatly for the two book suggestions!!!!  I have looked up both and have ORDERED both!!!!!!  I think they will be helpful to me to read!  I ordered used copies so they may be a bit slow to arrive, but I am excited to get them.  

I think about that a lot. That reminds me of the novel The Oppermanns by Lion Feuchtwanger, published in 1934 and republished in 2020 by someone who no doubt saw the parallels between trumpism and Germany in the early 30s. Good book. Unsettling.

I have this book now in my queue too, but have not yet ordered it.  I may see if I can check it out of the library first to see if I feel encouraged to read it all (before buying) or if it will depress me too much.  

...as always, your self-analysis is interesting. I’ve been reading your blog long enough (and thoroughly enough) that I already knew everything you said about yourself in your reply. You are in so many ways an open book, which is why I’m hooked on your blog and a handful of others.

Thank you.  I do admit to trying to self-analyze..... but sometimes I wonder if it a benefit or a hinderance to do so?  At some level, it may not matter which it is.... for I think I do NOT know of any way to STOP myself from self-analyzing.  I have tried to stop ruminating as much as I have in the past, and that itself is awfully damn hard.  However, I think I am progressing a bit in that goal.  Rumination is going to of course contain SOME self-analysis..... but (at least to me) rumination is broader.... and extends beyond self to far more as well.  

Pat

Professor, if this chaotic and sneaky meanness was inflicted on you in the course of academic activity, can you enlist the support of a college dean or other senior administrator who might at the very least be an empathetic sounding board but might actually become an ally (and protector if the meanness/sneakiness is not just subjectively hurtful but actually impedes your academic and professional work)?

I am debating that.  It may be possible or it may be something that would backfire (the particular up-and-up administrator is a little focused on "easy" (for him) rather than "right" in many decisions.  So, I am still considering it.  

Another approach: Is there anything you could do in the spirit of Romans 12:20, showing this person unmerited kindness and support despite her awfulness toward you? Best-case, as a former friend you might melt her heart a bit and regain some of what was lost. Middling-case, you might confuse her and leave her feeling guilty for her actions. Worst-case, at least you would know in your heart that she hasn't brought you down to her level of sneakiness and meanness.

That is actually very, very wise.  I would like to think I could muster up enough fortitude and energy to actually show unmerited kindness to this person.  But, I have NOT been able to do this so far.  My best ability up to this point has been to avoid this person as successfully as I can.  But, I know (and you know) that is not what I am supposed to do,  nor necessarily what my Roman Catholic faith would guide me to do.  I struggle to figure out how to successfully do what you suggest.  I do not know if I am strong enough. 

Anyway, if there is something that you know is important to, or valued by, this hurtful person, is there any way you could return to her your kindness in repayment of her hurt?

Especially if this colleague has hurt you publicly, and your other colleagues are aware of her actions, your taking the high road might be exactly the response she neither expects nor wants, yet might be not only the best spiritual choice for you but also the most practical choice in winning over your co-workers and making your/their hurtful colleague look like a selfish and desperate loser by comparison.

Again, you are truthfully very right in the above.  Yet, at least currently, I am too weak to do this.  I think you are correct that it should be what I do. 

Professor, if I'm understanding your description of the display, it sure sounds like you could add one nice feature -- you could leave the pipe's bowl accessible such that you could load it with a favorite tobacco (albeit unlit), and thus give your display a subtle olfactory enhancement, to make it all the more evocative of happy memories.

A nice idea, but probably not practical.  I envision the pipe being above the photos adhered to a plaque,  With the arrangement of my office, the photos will be hanging at roughly ~65 inches and the pipe plaque will be centered above the three photos.  It would be a little tall to easily fill the bowl regularly to use as an aroma enhancer.  

Fortunately, however, I can easily just open any number of the pouches of pipe tobaccos in my desk drawers in that office anytime for the olfactory enhancement!  And, truthfully, I do that rather regularly.  

PipeTobacco

Saddness

I am in a very blue mood at the moment, but I am trying to work my way out of it.  My blue mood stems from a usual source....

One of the two folks that have been hurtful to me long-term at the U..... this person, unexpectedly again was truly hurtful, mean, and mean spirited towards me.  This is the person who had been a former friend as I have spoken of before.  

The unexpected nature of this, and the sneaky, yet chaotic type of unpredicted meanness she displayed.... well.... I should NOT be surprised.  But, I was.  And, even though I have been trying to just push through, it has brought up the whole helluva lot of memories of her past doings that hurt and stung as well.  

I know there is not really a helluva lot I can do about this OTHER than push through it and move on.  But, no matter how I KNOW this is the only option, it is still damn hard to get myself there.  

This really was not pleasant to experience yesterday, especially with the myriad of on-going work I need to do in preparation for the start of the Fall Semester. 

Also, due to a "back to the U" meeting I must attend today, there will be no Retiree's Cigar Group either.  By the time I would get there, everyone would be long gone.

PipeTobacco 

Three Star Blue Vs Sir Walter Raleigh

I have to admit that I have been spending more time (than is perhaps desired at this time of the year), imagining in my mind which one of the above two pipe tobaccos will be able to fill the beautiful bowl of the pipe I will be able to indulge in when I get my ducks in a row and have the photos ready and the pipe & plaque ready to go.  There are, of course, "fancier" pipe tobaccos that I have, but I am aiming for the two that please my palate and mind the most.

Both pipe tobaccos are so beautiful and delightful in very different ways.  It will be a tough decision.

 The Three Star Blue, is a gently aromatic blend of burley with a slight vanilla cast.  But, what is especially different about Three Star Blue is that it has in addition to the beautiful burley tobacco, it has some cavendish and perique pipe tobaccos as well.  These two additions tend to make the smoke more smooth and sort of velvety in texture.  Very, very tantalizing.  

Sir Walter Raleigh is a "plain" burley leaf pipe tobacco, but "plain" is a word that is a bit of injustice to the leaf.  In reality, Sir Walter Raleigh is a pipe tobacco that has a some what "rougher" smoke and texture, but it is "rough" in very pleasing ways.  Flavor wise, it is rather simple, but has hints of flavors that are reminiscent of both brown sugar/molasses and also hints of flavors that are almost whisky-like.  With this leaf being cub-cut, the smoke tends to be thicker and more substantial.  It also has the cache of being the first pipe tobacco I ever had tried way back in my youth.  It too, is very, very tantalizing.  

It will be a hard decision.

I am still sorting through the potential pipe that will be the display pipe.  It has grown to be a more elaborate task than I had originally planned.  But, it is rather fun, although I am also feel a bit of impatience at my indecision.  Truth be told, I have currently "narrowed" the pipes for selection down to TEN potentials (haha, I jest in using the word "narrowed".... when I started to rummage through the boxes of pipes, so many ended up striking my fancy that the number of candidates grew to the now ten).  

* * * * *

Running went well.  It was indoors, but still, I felt pretty good getting it finished.  

PipeTobacco
 

 

 

 

Comments on Comments (Day 2)

A second day of comments on comments from the last week:

AC

"Have a good boys afternoon out.

Thank you! 

"It all comes down to doing your best for the the students. It’s simpler than trying to recall sixteen separate points. You may be able to tell that I have not been in many useful meetings.

Haha!  The way meetings end up frequently being about who can fill the time and "talk the talk" is frustrating and disconcerting, indeed.  I am a firm believer that MOST meetings on pedagogy amount to nearly ZERO value and just become word salads discussing and debating new pedagogy jargon.... and little-to-no real world improvement in education.  I am of the mindset that real world improvement in education occurs primarily at the INDIVIDUAL TEACHER level.... meaning he or she has to spend time contemplating their own difficulties and successes and individually making adjustments and improvements at the individual instructor level.  

Linda's Relaxing Lair

"Enjoy your time. I love ❤️ the frog 🐸 illustration. Warm greetings from Montreal.

Thank you!  It is a surprisingly meaningful time for me.

"I tried contact lenses at about the time when my eyes were changing to require bifocals, so the experiment didn't work well, and I quickly reverted to glasses.

My major challenge is that the idea of having to regularly TOUCH my eyes gives me the willies and imagining having to do that EVERY DAY or even a few times EVERY DAY just makes me feel a lot of stress just IMAGINING it.  :)

"I have confidence in you.

Thank you!  I wish I could figure out a way to have more confidence in myself..... it is hard for me to muster up most days.

"Apparently I have cataracts developing. They have been for some time and haven't seemingly affected me yet.

I was caught off guard when I was told I had them last year.  Even though I have not investigated as much as I should have yet, I keep wanting to learn about typical progression patterns for cataracts.  

Margaret

"I'm so glad that you have bonded with this group; I remember how nervous you were about going the first time.

Yes, I was quite nervous, indeed.  I sometimes still feel a little bit of nervousness before I get there..... will there be new folks I have not met..... will there be more folks than seats..... will I uphold my end of the conversation.... those sorts of things.

"Oh, boy, those buzz words and lofty sounding generalities are SO familiar. Every year or so our professional development revolved around NEW! EXCITING! SUCCESSFUL! theories--unfortunately, short on specific strategies. Retirement is great, PT!

Haha!  The improved pedagogy Ferris Wheel is never ending it seems.  I am of the opinion that most of these "NEW", "EXCITING", "SUCCESSFUL" theories stem from the need for education faculty at the various universities needing to have publications.... so they take the principles of basic logic in education which really has not changed to any appreciable extent and repackage it with new buzz words, lots of hyperbole, and some sort of nod to the political trends of the day...... to get a publication.  But, then.... the unfortunate result is that masses of educators then spend countless hours repackaging what they do in the classroom simply to align them with these new buzzwords...... and that can take most of an educators time..... time which COULD HAVE BEEN USED by the educator to actually think about what he/she could strive to do more successful in his/her classroom.   

"Sorry about the TMJ and the Zooming marathon.

TMJ is tiresome indeed.  When my TMJ acts up, it tends to drain my energy.  Zooming..... like any "yammer" type meeting... tends to be tiresome.... BUT... in some ways it is better than face-to-face meetings..... I can more easily try to do other work on the computer (keeping the Zoom Room smaller on my screen) and still appear that I am paying CLOSE attention.  :)  I can even (by carefully keeping the papers out of view) grade papers while appearing reasonably engaged in the Zoomy activity.  :)

"I've had both eyes done; fast developing cataracts were affecting my quality of life. I didn't care for the surgery but did appreciate the clear vision afterward. I have a wrinkle in my right eye's retina; I'm always nervous about that changing for the worse. It would be a very intense surgery to fix that if I ever have to. A four hour meeting! Even one hour meetings are painful--ugh.

Yes, I know that cataract surgery is wonderfully successful.  I remember (even though long ago now and with less developed technology) both my Mom and my Dad had successful cataract surgeries.  So, eventually it will likely be needed.  I still admit I get a little nervous about what if MY particular surgery someday is the one of a very small percentage that goes awry?  

"I think it will be interesting! I love the shirt by the way. When I'm uncomfortable, I often let others direct the talk by asking for questions or making a couple statements and asking for input. Most people LOVE to hear themselves talk and it takes the pressure off you!

I will be writing about the event in the next day or two, so you will hear more about it then.  Yes, asking for input is often a great way to get folks talking and to reduce my speaker discomfort.  Several of the speakers there did that sort of thing trying to rile up passions in the crowd.  As you may recall from yesterday's apology to Pam J.... my real worries were more about if I would measure up successfully.  I had to try to prove to myself that I could "do it" I guess.  

Pam J

“These practices are designed to be especially beneficial for students from historically underserved backgrounds, playing a role in reducing equity gaps.”

Interesting that your university cares about helping “underserved” students and/or reducing “EQUITY” gaps. You’re in danger of tRump cutting off any federal funding for daring to care about (evil) DEI.

(Rueful laugh).... I agree with your statement.  I would not be surprised if the U did get some sort of funding punishment in the near future.  It is so disheartening that science, education, and hell.... so many other things have been so decimated.... and in such a short period of time.  I was wondering to myself the other day if perhaps this significant mailse felt by reasonable, caring folks today about the current situation.... does it mimic in any of the feelings and emotions of reasonable, caring German citizens in 1928 or 1929 before and as their society began to be upended by the the incredible horrors of the Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s?  I certainly hope we are not on that sort of precipice.... but things now are getting rather more disturbing than I even imagined.  

"I'm not surprised that you have early signs of cataracts but I am surprised that you seem a little fearful of the surgery. I've had cataracts removed from both eyes, several years apart. It's the best. Easy, painless, and what a difference it makes! Because cataracts develop slowly, you don't realize how much they compromise your vision until they're gone. I had my eyes adjusted to make reading glasses unnecessary, a wonderful side effect of the surgery. My sister, with nearly identical vision problems, had her surgeon adjust her eyes so she never needs distance glasses but does need reading glasses.

I know you're an anxious person but I encourage you to embrace any cataract surgery in your future.

I agree with you.... the cataract surgery is incredibly successful and as far as surgery goes..... very, very safe.  Broadly I am not "afraid" per say about having the surgery when it becomes necessary.  But, I do admit that even though extremely UNLIKELY, I do sometimes get a twinge of fear about WHAT IFs.... like, what if I am the 1 out of 10,000 surgeries where something goes awry and I am forever blinded?  Stupid, and unlikely, I do know... but if I am not careful, I can drift into that sort of fear.  

"“I do not think a "dry" academic type speech (which I am comfortable with of course) would meet the needs of these folks.”

Respectfully disagree. You were probably invited precisely because they want an academic type (dry or not). Just because they seem like crunchy-granola folks to you doesn’t mean they’re not serious about their cause. There are entirely too many stereotypes in our current society. In my opinion.

I did specifically reply to the above comment in my post on Monday for folks who may want to read that.  But, for the record, I want to again to apologize to Pam J for the words I used.  I can readily see how they could be read as negative.  And, I want to again state that was NOT my intent.  I was primairly trying to grouse a bit about my own fears about my inability to give the group a successful talk that they wanted.  

Pat M.

"So nice to read that you are re-connecting with old friends, those stored-away pipes. Your talk of "memories" leads me to wonder about your selection criteria for the memorial display. Are you looking for a pipe that is most aesthetically pleasing? Or are you looking for a pipe that is most deeply associated with pleasant memories of one or more of the three "fathers" you'll be honoring? Or a little bit of both? Whatever you decide, I'm glad that the display preparation is giving you an opportunity to re-connect with treasured memories, and I hope and trust that the display, when completed, will help to keep those treasured memories all the more alive for you.

Those are good questions, Pat.  Initially, I was primarily wanting to select one of my older pipes from the era when those three folks were still alive, so with my Dad passing first, it would have to be a pipe that is 30+ years old.   I also want the pipe to be one of the very traditional shapes and finishes (not a freehand style, nor a rusticated pipe for example), and I want it to have "gravitas" as well.  But, at the same time, I DO NOT want it to be a pipe that was owned by my Dad or either of my two academic fathers.... and I do not want it to be a pipe that I would possibly carry around with me in my shirt or coat pocket someday.  I want it to be one I can leave "permanently" on the plaque on the wall.   In some ways it is is a tall order (hard order).  I actually went to my pipes stored in the boxes after examining my pipe racks, because I did not want to "give up" the potential "portability" of any of my pipes that are in my home and U offices' pipe racks.  But, after opening the long closed boxes.....so many memories began to flood my mind for those pipes in the boxes too.  Many memories I had not thought of in quite a long time.  As it stands at the moment, I am still trying to create a small pile of pipes that display enough "gravitas" but are not too sentimental for it to be "permanently" affixed to the display.  And, as you can see, even in my thoughts, the "permanence" is not absolute either, for I do not want to damage the pipe by literally affixing it to the plaque but instead by using some sort of stable (non-damaging) clamp to hold it in place.  

PipeTobacco 

Comments on Comments (PART A)... Apology to Pam J & Explanation

This week, I am going to seperate my comments into one comment I speak about today, and others from last week that I will speak about tomorrow (Tuesday).  I think this is warranted because I want to clarify some of the things I said last week and Pam J's comment helped me to see how what I wrote could be thought of as negative.... negative in ways I DID NOT INTEND to be negative.  So, let me begin:

Last Friday I spoke about how I was going to give talk at an environmental meeting this past Sunday.  The meeting was a political meeting/protest sort of thing about global warming.  When I realized it was a political rally sort of thing, I then wrote in my post last Friday that it was: 

"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" 

The above quote of my post is what I want to focus upon today, because regrettably I can see now how the above statement could be easily viewed as ME being NEGATIVE about such events.  Pam J, a very nice friend and reader of my blog posted the following important comment about what I wrote:

"Respectfully disagree. You were probably invited precisely because they want an academic type (dry or not). Just because they seem like crunchy-granola folks to you doesn’t mean they’re not serious about their cause. There are entirely too many stereotypes in our current society. In my opinion."

So..... to start with.... I wish to sincerely apologize to Pam J and to anyone else who read what I wrote and felt I was being negative about the types of political rallies/events I spoke of.  

And, now I hope to EXPLAIN more accurately what I actually meant when I quickly wrote my previous post......  I am going to do so in bullet points to make it easier for me to clarify what my INTENDED thoughts were from that post:

• I have been to many political talks and rallies over the years.  My own political persuasion would best fit into the label (not a perfect label by any means, but the one that is probably the best-fit)  of being a "union supporting, liberal democrat".   
• I have two rather treasured mementos of past political talks/rallies I have hanging in my home office.... one a signed playbill from the esteemed author/political satirist, Kurt Vonnegut from a time in the late 1970s where I was able to hear him speak.... and another of rally poster signed by Abbie Hoffman from an anti-nuke rally I attended in the early 1980s.  
• When I used the terms "granola-y," "hippy-esque", "tie-dyed", "protesting", "kumbaya" in my prior post, I DID NOT INTEND for those terms to indicate anything negative.  I have always enjoyed being in that sort of crowd at a variety of different venues and events.  I HAD MEANT to use those terms simply to GIVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FLAVOR OF THE EVENT I was being asked to speak at.
• My NEGATIVITY (which I can feel in my post) was meant to reflect my own negativity about my ability to meet the needs of this request to speak.  I happen to be really an introvert at heart, but I have a job/career that involves public speaking.  That is sort of akin to oil and water.... they do not mix well, and if you shake things up to make them mix, it only lasts a while.  
• I LEARNED how to speak publicly in the CLASSROOM and believe I do a pretty damn good job of it.  I have also LEARNED how to speak publically at the various RESEARCH MEETINGS I attend, and I believe I am reasonably adept at that.
• BUT.... and here is "the rub" of the matter..... I had never spoken at a political rally/event of this sort before..... and to do so EFFECTIVELY and SUCCESSFULLY a speaker has to have a dynamic nature that is far different than a successful classroom lecture and is far different than a successful research talk.
• I feared I would fail.  I feared I could not do what was hoped for.  I feared I would not be up to the task.  I admire folks who can be so dynamic and politically vocal and passionate.  I do not know if I measure up successfully.
• So, my grousing and hemming-and-hawing and my negativism..... that was ALL MEANT to be about me, and my worries and fears of my own shortcomings to be a dynamic, interesting, inspiring, and motivating speaker in this very new to me sort of speaking engagement .... a political rally/protest sort of event.  
• I did not know if I could pull it off.   Could I SUCCESSFULLY give this group the presentation they wanted?!?!  I know I could talk about and explain global warming and why and how it is occuring.  I know I could talk about how global warming impacts wildlife and also human agriculture.  I know I could talk about how global warming impacts other forms of pollution.  But, could I do so WITHOUT coming across as a boring, "egg head"?  Could I do so WITHOUT being perceived as a droning "nerd"?  Could I do so in a way that HAD a dynamic quality that befits a political rally?  Could I do so in a way that would be successful in meeting the needs and desires of that group?  Would I be able to fit in AS A SPEAKER?
• The prior bullet point (above) is perhaps the best way I can try to state WHAT my negativism and worry was actually about.  I was feeling very insecure and unsure of myself.  I was worried that I would put folks to sleep.  I was worried I would completely miss the mark of what was wanted.

So.... specifically for Pam J but for anyone else who similarly felt negatively about my Friday post.... I again apologize.  My word choices were made in a rather "off the cuff" fashion of my trying to express my worries.  But, I did not succeed in relating what I had MEANT in my own heart and mind.  

I hope the above clarification helps in better understand what my intended message was.

I have written too much today and need to get back to my U work.  I will also do a post about the rally itself in the next couple of days.  

PipeTobacco

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 

Where I Was

I was away for a bit as you may have noticed.  Where had I been, pray-tell?  Well, it is a rather long story.... but I assure you I will try to give an ABBREVIATED version below:

My wife became very interested in having an impromptu vacation.  Unfortunately, "impromptu" is challenging for a variety of reasons, mostly non-human.  

First was our dog.  She is elderly now, and even IF a boarder was available, I would worry greatly about her being there.  But, being "impromptu" eliminated even the possibility of a boarding facility, for in my region they fill MONTHS in advance.  So, that would not work even if I was comfortable with it. 

Second were my rodents and my nematodes.  Though they do not require A LOT of care, they do need a LITTLE BIT of care quite regularly, and unfortunately at this time of the Summer, student researchers tend to be quite scant, and in this instance were NOT available at all.  And, unfortunately, the student WORKER who is tasked with taking care of broad rodent duties across the Department is unfortunately a poor and unreliable worker this Summer.  He is not someone who I have a supervisory role over as he does broad rodent work across the whole of the Department.  The person who does supervise this person is herself in a state of mind where she too is not the most reliable at the moment.  This supervisor happens to also be one of the folks I mentioned before that has been a challenge for me, and is the one who was a former friend.  For my nematodes, I can stretch out care needs with very careful planning to 5-7 days, so that limitation shaped our plans as well.  

So.... with the above issues, here is what transpired:

1.  My wife took the initiative to find a budget friendly "AirBnB" for us.  We have NEVER done an "AirBnB" sort of accommodation before so it was a completely new experience for us.   

2.  Ultimately, we decided to take a long road trip to travel to Northern Michigan.  And, we brought our dog.... and two of our kids decided to also accompany us.

3.  Our dog has never traveled well with us except very occasionally when kept in a "crate" to limit her movement while traveling.  But with the four human travelers and the dog, we ended up using my wife's rather small car as it was one we could all fit into because there were enough human seats.  Normally, when we "crate" the dog during travel she sits in the crate in the hatchback area.  But, with the full group we had, the hatchback had to be used for luggage, etc.  The crate itself actually takes up the ENTIRETY of the hatchback area when it is used so it was not an option to be there.  

4.  As I am deemed the "dog whisperer" (aka, she is very attentive to me, and minds and listens to me much more so than others in the family), the ultimate decision was that I would sit in the back seat with the dog (mostly sitting on my lap or between my feet) and one of our kids in the other back seat, and my wife and the other one of the kids traveling with us would be in the front seats.  Basically, my role was to keep our dog calm and happy if possible during the hours and hours of driving.

5.  Happily, I was able to keep our dog calm and happy and she actually did quite well.  When we arrived at the AirBnB, we were surprised at how cute and quaint it actually was.  It was in the middle of nowhere, but it served us well.  It was an old, small, two bedroom "farm house" style home.  It was, from appearances, built sometime in the early 1920s and was what would be quaintly described as "shabby chic" (more emphasis on "shabby" perhaps than "chic" but it was fun, comfortable, and nice).  We were all able to relax, and our dog was able to relax well there as well, and we were all comfortable.  With the four of us, we played many, many games of euchre in the evenings.  

Highlights of what we did:

A.  Spent a large part of a day in Mackinaw City, and saw the Mackinaw City fort as well (Lower Peninsula).

B.  Spent a large part of a day on Mackinaw Island, (here is a view of the island's shape), and saw the fort on the island as well and bought some really great fudge (chocolate peanut butter, chocolate cherry, butter pecan, and blueberry).  As an island, this is (of course) BETWEEN the Lower and Upper Peninsula.  

C. Spent a day at Tahquamenon Falls State Park (Upper Peninsula).

D.  Went to the Horton's Bay General Store (near Charlevoix) which is still a store, but also very much an "Ernest Hemingway" historical site (and gift shop too) to see some of his stomping grounds in the Summers as a kid and young adult (Lower Peninsula).

E.  Spent a day looking around in St. Ignace (Upper Peninsula) and we ate Pasties which are a very traditional, Upper Peninsula food.  Traditionally they are beef, but I tend to not like scrambled beef much.   I ate a bite of one of the chicken ones we had, and also ate a vegetable one.    

So, that was what we did.  When we returned home last Wednesday evening, we were tired but had a great time.  However, I had to spend Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the U working on rodent, nematode, (and also fruit fly) things that all needed attention by the time of our return.  So, that is why I was unable to post until Tuesday.  Well, also... on MONDAY, I was having to attend a day-long U "planning" meeting all day for a discussion about "learning communities".  

Sincerely,

PipeTobacco 

Comments on Comments (August 5th Edition)

Below, as is my hoped for plan to continue.... on Mondays (yes, today is Tuesday, but that is a small oversite...  I will discuss tomorrow, on Wednesday... I will talk about where I have been).  So today, I try to reply to select comments from the prior period.  I tend to like this approach more than trying to reply directly to a comment as they sometimes are not noticed by folks because most folks do not go back to a previous post.  The way I reply below has the person and their comment or comments in bold and my reply in normal font. 

AC

"Do you think that our self-concept gets frozen in time in early adulthood. That, to some extent at least, seems to be how I see myself in my dreams or reveries. Although I don’t suppose that I really see myself in my dreams, I can say that is what I feel about myself."

I think that is likely so.  For me, I have a tendency to "see" myself like I was in my late 20s much of the time.  Not that I do not often look very different aged in many of my dreams, but I mean when I am thinking on the fly about "me" I typically default to a concept of me when I was in graduate school.

"Your willpower is very strong to have enabled you to do what you did and to keep on running your daily mini marathons ever since then."

I am not sure, truthfully, how much "willpower" I have.... but I DO know I can be awfully damn stubborn with myself if I am compelled (often by emotion or worry, but sometimes other things).

"Even now, with my mini weight loss, I know how close to the edge I am and how easily I could tip over the edge and be lost forever as it were.

Sometimes I do feel "on edge" myself.  This was especially true the first 4-5 years after I lost my 130 pounds.  With a lot of folks who regularly "yo-yo" with their weight, I was quite fearful that was just going to be fate.  I feel fortunate that I have been able to stay at my normal BMI for damn close to 20 years now.  And.... congratulations on your own weight journey!  It is meaningful for health!

"I don't know any of this, but you can, apparently, install iCloud for windows on a PC computer. I haven't done this. I did try once but ran into problems. I don't know if that would ultimately help you.

I HAVE heard about that, and have thought about it, but then.... I would have to figure out a way to obtain a copy of GarageBand.... as I am not sure I could transfer or co-use my GarageBand (on my iPad) to my PC.  

"From DMP, above, it might be better to use PC Apps.

Yes, I am looking into the options DMP mentioned as well.  Unfortunately, it will take me a while to sort through things as I am not confident when trying new "gizmo-ey" programs.  I get a bit aggravated easily when a program does not follow MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT in its logic, and I have try to figure out its TRAIN OF LOGIC.  :)

"My one advice: don't cheap out on the computer. Make very sure that it will handle the load, now and into the future.

One of my kids is encouraging me to get something bigger (power-wise) than what I thought I would need.  So, your idea does seem to be a consensus.  

"Is there a good music store nearby where you can get your questions answered? Is there a music dept at your Uni?

I have talked to the "modest" music store nearby and also to music folks at the U in the relatively recent past about these ideas.  Almost universally the folks basically said..... "Bah.... just get a Mac!"  But I am unfortunately too damn stingy to do that.  The Music Department and the Physics Department are the only two U Departments that went against guidelines and adopted Macs.  

"I need to get back to stretching now that I am supposedly recovered. During the season, I work it around hockey games on tv, so I tend not to think of it now.

Stretching is BORING as hell, I admit it.... and sometimes I feel rushed and not wanting to do it.  But, I am 100% sure it has helped me to be able to run for as long as I have now, because without it, I believe I would have stopped running due to the discomforts that would unexpectedly occur.  But, with each discomfort that has arose (perhaps 4 over the years?) I was able to figure out I did not have an "injury" but that instead I was experiencing discomfort because my muscles were shortening because I did not recognize to stretch them.  

"He's (Trump) killing you bit by bit.

It is shocking, and it is even more shocking how little fight anyone of power in our government displays against the crazy things he is doing.  It is very disheartening.  

DMP

"Garage Band is certainly capable of doing a lot of audio editing function, but might still be a bit much to learn for a beginner at recording. Another similar free audio recording/editing program is Reaper.

Hmm.  I am going to look into that more (only have just glanced at it a bit after you mentioned it).  You feel it would be a bit easier for a novice like me to learn to use?  

"You might try a simpler program like Audacity for recording audio tracks, which can then be combined into one audio file."

I actually have Audacity on my PC.  I obtained it a while ago (4-5 weeks ago) as it was recommended that I could separate an audio track of my community band with it so that I could have each song as its own file (sort of making it like a CD).  Unfortunately, I have yet to try to figure out how it works yet.  Do you think Audacity has the capability to make the combined file like I am thinking?  If so, that may be my best bet as I already have it.  I will see if there is an Audacity for Dummies book I can look through.   

"For video editing, I found VSDC filled my needs well, allowing me to edit and place separately recorded videos, as well as line them up in time.... both are free programs, tho the "pro" version of VSDC ( which is still relatively inexpensive) is well worth it IMO for added features.

I will keep that video program in mind..... after I figure out what I am actually going to comit to for audio.... I can then think through better how to handle audio  Thank you very much for the guidance and suggestions!!!!!  

GaP

"Yep. The Orange One is exactly what I expected him to be. And far, far worse. Glad that you have that isle of calm to retreat to, Professor..

It disturbs me how significantly he is breaking political norms in ways that seem so egalitarian and elitist.  And, even more surprising in how the legal system cannot stop him even when they try.  IMO regardless of whether a person leans more Democratic OR Republican.... everyone should be worried and afraid of all he is destroying.  

 

Margaret

"Do you think that's why you run so much? The fear of slipping back to nearly 300 pound you? Having surgery seems so drastic but for some it may be the only option to live a longer life, as long as their diet after that is well-managed and healthy. (that's the problem, eh?)

Actually, it is interesting that I only began to run around 10 years AFTER I lost my 130 pounds.  When I lost weight, I did so by basically only trying to eliminate as much fat in my diet as I could and increasing dramatically the amount of fruits and vegetables I would eat.  I tried to limit myself to a maximum of 30 grams of fat a day.  Even before I started to purposefully try to lose weight, I had been walking ~5 miles a day.   In terms of the fat reduction, the most challenging foods (even to this day) for me to have around the house are pizza and also mixed nuts.  Those are two foods I still have a bit of difficulty in not overeating, so I try to not have them around much.  But other than that, it was a relatively easy process for me to steer away from unneeded fats.  

Running came about for a different reason.... as a "hefty" kid, I always felt in awe of athletes (especially runners).   When I began to run, I did so to see if "I could" possibly do this seemingly impossible thing I always had in the back of my mind.  I surprised the hell out of myself that I actually could start to do so, and kept it up from there to where I am at now.  

"I've seen Garage Band on my phone but had no clue what it did, so I'm no help there. In my experience, Apple and Windows don't play nicely with each other, even after all these years. I too had Windows at work and stuck with it at home although I do have an iPhone. Typical of me, nothing is compatible! :)

It is indeed frustrating about the incompatibility.  It also does not help that I do not seem to have much patience in trying to fuss around with computer programs to figure out how to get them to work either.  

I've always been bad about stretching. I didn't run at your levels but it might have avoided some knee and shin issues. Hope the cigar group went well!

I knew physiologically how valuable stretching was, but it IS NOT fun, so I understand your avoiding it.  I really only committed to it myself so I could (hopefully) keep running.  The cigar group was wonderful and relaxing.  :)

"I knew Trump would be awful, but I didn't even imagine this level of destruction and cruelty. It's unbelievable AND terrifying!

It has already gone well beyond anything I could have imagined.  I am at a loss for words most days and I am dismayed at the relatively insignificant push back that occurs from any of our political leaders about any of it.

Pam J

"Both my husband and I are watching in shock and horror as this man destroys so much that did make this a great nation. I spent my entire 41-yr career working at the National Institutes of Health, which has taken a huge hit under Trump2.0. This latest EPA blow is an especially hard one to swallow. I’m also outraged at his attempts to rewrite history in museums and national parks. Too many words criticizing US slavery, he says. From the NYT:

‘Mr. Trump directed the secretary of the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, to determine whether, since 2020, “public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction have been removed or changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history.” ‘

I fully expect him to reinstall statues of confederate ‘heroes.’

He’s a vile, contemptible excuse for a human being.

I agree with you fully.  Yes, I am also crushed about the decimation of the NIH as well!  The times we are in, truly seem akin to the times ahead of many forms of war and revolt.  I am very, very sad.  

Pat

"A wild idea concerning your photo/pipe memorial... As the pipe you choose for the memorial will never again be a potential "regular use" pipe, but instead will be set aside forever as a permanent symbol of the bond you share with your three "fathers", might it be most appropriate for you to smoke ONE bowl of tobacco in that pipe before you set it aside as part of the memorial? That strikes me as just about as "controlled" a circumstance as one could imagine, not likely to provoke other instances where you might repeat that special memorial act. And yet, in the highly unlikely event that the one bowl of pipe tobacco might cause you to reconsider your abstention overall, that would then be an objectively GOOD development, as it would connect your return to your bond with your three treasured role models. But most likely the one-time use of that pipe would remain as a memorable and important singular event adding heft to the emotions associated with your wonderful new photo/pipe memorial. Plausible, Professor?

I think that is a wholly wonderful and EXCELLENT idea!  I feel it is manageable too!  I believe I will actually DO that!!!!!!  Thank you for the idea.... it had not occurred to me!  Now, I have to narrow down and figure out which pipe I will use.  I have to admit, unfortunately, I had gotten a bit side-tracked in my office decorating efforts due to other U requirments, so I have not actually made a final decision yet on the pipe to use, and in fact I have not fully cleaned/polished the three contenders yet due to other needed work.  But, the idea of me being able to have a controllable date with one of my pipes.... has me excited and eager to get back to that task!  Again, I thank you for that idea!

"Professor, I can't resist suggesting that your process opens the door to a slight revision of my previous suggestion. Perhaps you should smoke one bowl of tobacco in each of the three finalist pipes to help you decide which one you will finally choose? : - )

Haha!  You stated the above a bit later.... and it is damn tempting.  But.... maybe I can?  .... it does sound very appealing.  I am not committing to the three yet.... but I would LIKE to.  But..... I am still awfully excited as I do truly think I can manage and fully commit to having the ONE pipe at least!!!  And that makes me very happy.

"Seriously, even if you don't end up smoking the one finalist pipe, I think your display sounds like a wonderful memorial as well as an ongoing encouragement to the son of those three fathers. I hope the completion of your display is uplifting, enjoyable, and successful!

Yes, I really am excited to get the display up and finished.  I do think it will be very nice as a memory and also as a sort of "art piece" in my office.  

Pepperlady

"I know I would have to major cleaning in my garage to have a band.

Haha!  That made me smile.  Thank you!!!!!