Slammed

It has been an enormously busy day (especially for a FRIDAY at the U).  I have not had a moment to sit down to do anything outside of getting work things done until this very moment.  I arrive here at 7:43am and it is now 3:53pm.  And, I still have to get a few more things done too.  But, I am taking just a few moments to come here to jot some things down:

• I was lucky I went to the track and started running RIGHT at 6:01am  (they open at 6:00am).  It gave me the ability to get in 8.7 miles (~14 km) before I HAD to leave to get ready to head to the U.  I still have to make up a bit of miles probably on Saturday to get my goal for the week.

• I have been in meetings galore with faculty, with students, with student researchers all day, doing all sorts of tasks.  It is also the time of the academic year where letters of support are needed by junior faculty from "respected" geezer faculty (aka the folks who have reached the top of the advancement ladder, like me) as part of their retention process and potential acquiring of tenure and potential promotion.  I have been asked to write several of these support letters.  

• I have been extremely active with my research students today as well.  We are getting a new Drosophila project underway, and so that is intellectually interesting, but requires a lot of time go guide the researchers into seeing both the "big picture" and the important minutia they need to be aware of to make the research a success.  I am also having to goad some of the kids from some of our prior work into getting their damn data analyzed... because it needs to be ready for a conference presentation only 6 weeks away.

Yesterday, I hustled myself over to the cigar shop and was fortunate that TWO of the guys were still there! One was my friend from Mass who initially invited me into the group, and the other was Frank.  Unfortunately, I do not have enough time at this moment to write out about the stories heard, but it was a beautiful and relaxing time.  I may try to write it out for tomorrow.  I also enjoyed a "Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-aged Connecticut" cigar.  It was a pleasant cigar.  And, being able to talk with (at least some) of the guys was wonderfully relaxing and made for a calm, contended mindset that lasted all evening long.  

When I arrived home from the Retiree's Group, my wife and I went swimming and we then came back and had a wonderful, quiet evening together with dinner being a home-made Ethiopian soup my wife had put into the crock-pot yesterday morning along with sandwiches.  We watched television into the late evening.  Just wonderfully peaceful.

PipeTobacco   

PCS = 7..... the beauty of a pipe is so alluring to me. Like a beautiful melody or an exquisite painting.

Contentedness Score = 6..... even with the busy-ness.... things seem pretty ok.

  

Not Sure

I am not really sure what I will do after my long, 4.5 hours of "big voice" lecturing today in our U's huge lecture hall.  I will be exhausted from all that vocal projection.  I will be heading out to being those lectures very soon.  Earlier today I have been mostly working with my rodents and doing a lot of fussy paperwork for an upcoming Research Conference that I am part of the Executive Committee in. 

Last semester, at the end of the 3 hours of "big voice" lecturing I had in that same lecture hall, the timing of the end allowed me the beautiful luxury of then traversing to the "Retiree's Cigar Group" and I was only modestly late in arrival.  It was something I had grown VERY fond of each Thursday.  

Part of me SO very much wants to travel out to the cigar shop, and try to capture the same sort of fun and relaxation I had been experiencing every Thursday for the last several months.  But, I am not sure who if any of my friends will still be there at the time I can arrive.  Will I be disappointed and no one will remain?  Should I or should I not have a cigar if no one is there?  Should I read a book while there, if I go? Will the larger amount of "big voice" lecturing make me feel (especially if disappointed at no friends still there) more ornery and exhausted if I go.... hence making the experience not enjoyable, or will it still feel like a respite, a relief, and a pleasantry? 

I am just not sure what I should do.  

• Still been running.  10 miles (~16km) each morning this week.  Some days it has been enjoyable.  Today, it felt less than enjoyable, but I persevered.  
• I am of the opinion that the "doctor" (my preferred moniker for him....QUACK!) who treated my foot challenge (the corn/wart/whatever) did not really do a damn thing.  I do not think it really went away and I have the same issue and it is frustrating.  I am going to take measures into my own hands and work on it using over-the-counter callous removers. 

PipeTobacco

PCS - 9... I really would like a pipe very, very much at the moment.  Perhaps indulging in a cigar at the shop may help somewhat, but I do not know. 

Contentedness Score - 3.5.... nothing is really wrong.... I just have feelings of aggravation and a lack of understanding about the near future.

Gallus Ova

The information about retirement yesterday had me daydreaming all evening long. Do not get me wrong, I actually very much enjoy MOST of my job (you know the exceptions in terms of some annoying folks).  But, the one facet about retirement that I am looking MOST forward to is the flexibility in terms of my time.  The idea of having a flexible schedule of when to do things seems so beautiful.  I was able to taste the flavor of that freedom during the pandemic, when the U was in lockdown and all our classes were online.  Being able to choose day-to-day when I would get up, when I would do work, when I would exercise was SO freeing-feeling..... even in the midst of the pandemic.  

Eggs are interesting in many biological and also culinary ways.  In my embryology course, I talk a whole hellluva lot about eggs from all sorts of different beasts and various forms of vegetation.  But, from a culinary standpoint, I also admire eggs.  Of course I have used and eaten eggs as part of various delightful and delicious baked goods.  But, interestingly, I never really liked eggs as a singular food type when I was a kid.  It was not until I was in adulthood that I began to find eggs as a singular food to my liking.  

For me, I tend to like four different types of singular food type eggs..... a) coddled are perhaps my favorite, b) hard boiled, c) scrambled, and d) frittata/quiche.  I am very much not fond of fried eggs, or any rendering of those. 

I am still pondering what to do if anything on Thursday relating to the Retiree's Cigar Group.  I already feel sad about not being able to be there.  I am not sure if I should go as quickly as I can get out of the U and POSSIBLY find one or two stragglers who may be left, who most likely will be nearly ready to leave when I arrive..... or if I should go there and likely just be by myself and read a pleasure book.... or if I should simply just not go and stay at the U and work.  I need to make some sort of decision/plan. 

"Gallus" is both the Genus and the species name for the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus).   Ova is a more "sciencey" name for an egg.  One funny final thought.... when I wrote above... "all sorts of different beasts and various forms of vegetation"  it reminded me of a funny definition I would use to define "biology" and I would use it especially to tease my botanical cohorts (my being a zoologist):

"Biology - the study of animals and their food sources."😁

PipeTobacco

PCS - 8... I have been thinking deeply about my beloved pipes the last few days.  The feelings of deep yearning for them seems to be very prominent and strong this week.  

Contentment Score - 6... thus far, anyhow..... it just seems like a normal, average day.  That.... in itself, is soothing. 

Supposedly

 

The retirement company that is associated with our U has retirement specialists that come to campus once a month to help folks with questions/concerns.  I made an appointment with them to see what was up.

That appointment was today.  Trying to learn about my retirement options is a daunting task for me.  My inclination is to have extraordinary trepidation about retirement because I am terribly afraid to be "destitute and homeless".  I can understand that this last sentence may sound silly.  But, it is a very significant fear of mine.  Perhaps it was a worry instilled in me by my Great Depression era parents.... but I do  not tend to think so, although it may be a part.  Perhaps a large amount of my fear is related to the ambiguity of the various "calculators" and "predictor models" that purport to project into the future factors such as inflation, economy, etc.  Or perhaps there is something more that I just do not understand about my fears.  

But, I do know that the idea is wholly frightening.  I keep imagining scenarios where what APPEARS to be a comfortable retirement plan becomes decimated and simultaneously social security drys up and Medicare is dismantled.  I have even had nightmares of exactly these things happening and I awake in a fully pajama soaked sweat from the fear experienced in those nightmares. 

With my U position I am able to go to these specialists every month or two, and I am thinking I NEED to do this, just to try to allay my fears and anxieties.  In today's session, which arguably was extremely hypothetical, the fellow set up a scenario where he projected out until we are each in our mid nineties the projected costs we would together have based upon "lifestyle spending trends" we talked about.  He was even able to (with my wife's permission) access her own retirement information and combine it in this theoretical model with my own to project our "couples" needs.  

From his modeling, he suggests that in THEORY, if we were to retire in two years, we would THEORETICALLY meet our monthly expenditures every month in this projection through our mid 90s with a THEORETICAL monthly surplus of ~$6,000.

I do not know if I believe the above, or if in reality the above is just this fellow "blowing smoke" up my posterior.  I do not know if I trust the modeling system.  I do not know if I can test the accuracy of such a model.  

Overall, it SOUNDS amazing and wonderful and more than I (we) could ever hope for.  But, I do NOT believe it, and I do NOT trust it.  This fellow also helped me enroll online for a retirement simulator approved by the U's retirement agency that I can "play around" with to test various scenarios.  I may have to do this, and see what my own efforts at modeling may show.  I imagine I would strive to create as much of a "worst case" scenario in these models as I could figure out.  Perhaps, IF after I exhaust creating as many worse-case scenarios as I can figure out.... and if they would somehow still allow us to have at least an ability to SURVIVE in retirement... then PERHAPS I could feel less afraid and less fearful.  I do not know.  It all seems to be smoke and mirrors if you ask me. 

PipeTobacco

PCS - 8.... I would so much relish a calming pipe.  The retirement talk has made my stress hormones sky rocket.  And, the ambiguities about what will occur regarding my inability to go to the Retirees Cigar Group at the proper time if at all this coming Thursday make things feel very harsh.

Contentedness Score - 3.... nothing should be wrong, but I now feel a lot of anxiety.  I feel exhausted.  The fear is draining.  

Day 1

From a teaching standpoint, I am now finished with Day 1 of the semester.  I still have plenty of research things, meetings, and paperwork things to do for the remainder of the day.... but the teaching is finished for today. 

I had to buy a new set of tires for my wife's vehicle.  We noticed what a difficult time the car was having navigating on the slippery, icy, and snowy roads this weekend (we had a fresh ~3 inches of new snow on the roads), and as I inspected them, I realized that they were the ORIGINAL tires from when we purchased the car (50,000 miles ago).  The tread was not particularly deep. Usually the mechanic we use checks our tires when the vehicles come in for service.  But, my wife had been choosing to go to a "Speedy-Lube" to have them change the oil in her car the last two years or so because she wanted to just hurry up and get it done fast (~10 minutes) compared to when I would take the vehicle to the mechanic and it could take an hour or two or three before it would be worked into the schedule.  Since I rarely drive her vehicle, I had overlooked that no one was paying attention to the tires.  I will not neglect to do so from now on since she appears to want to continue "Speedy Lube-ing". 

My MIL seems to be doing ok with everything, and I hope we can continue in that way to get her through the arm recovery for the next four more weeks.  This will allow her to be cast free and to use her walker again in about five weeks.   

I am not sure what if anything I will do this Thursday concerning the "Retiree's Cigar Group".  Unfortunately my lack of being an actual retiree has hampered my progress and I have a class on Thursday during the prime meeting time.  It is discouraging.  I am considering maybe trying to get there as fast as I can after class and to see what is going on.  At best, there may be one or two stragglers who stay quite long there.... and I could have a cigar and talk with them.  But, it likely would not be for long, perhaps 15 to 30 minutes maximum... if they are there at all.  Then I would likely be alone.  I could potentially take a book to read, but that is a whole different dynamic in and of itself.   I just am not sure.  I will GREATLY MISS what was.  I am not sure what to do.  I want to go there.  But, I am not sure.

Anyone else remember the old "One-A-Day Vitamin ads like I posted here?  Or the original glass bottle you would buy them in?  I do, and I think I may still have one of the bottles hanging around somewhere in a box somewhere.  

PipeTobacco 

   

Brief

My MIL is doing reasonably well, other than…. because of her memory challenges, she keeps asking why there is a wheelchair in her room and she ended up taking her cast off once (we put it back on more firmly and there is a “lock device” on it that we hope prevents her from doing that again).  Her return visit to assess her arm’s progress is late in the week.  

PipeTobacco 

Wrist

Unfortunately, my Mother-In-Law fell and broke her wrist yesterday in her assisted living apartment.  It has been quite chaotic and difficult, especially due to her cognitive decline.  Right now she is seemingly doing ok.  But we had her at the emergency room for quite a while and now she needs to use a wheel chair during her recovery as she had been moving and navigating with a walker.  I am hoping that she continues to do things that will help her recovery and not try to get up unassisted.  

PipeTobacco