Friday Thoughts

Bullets of thoughts for today:

• The Retiree's Cigar Group was a valuable and fun experience for me yesterday.  It felt like "normalcy" AND it was also fun.  I ended up getting there a bit later than I would have liked, but there were four of my friends there, and we talked and talked and had a very pleasant time.  As I have stated before, group sizes do impact how much I tend to talk in a group setting.  I am considerably more talkative when the group size is four or less.  Above four, I have a strong tendency to be a bit quiet, but still listen carefully.  It felt so enjoyable and relaxing, I ended up staying ~3 hours.  We laughed, joked, had some mildly serious discussion.... it ran the gambit.  Just, so very nice.  
• I ended up having a Cohiba Red Dot 6x60 cigar.  It was pleasant.
• I have been busy this morning with my usual "warning letter" to students..... to remind them that starting next week, there is a consistent pattern of a wide array of things that will become due and must be submitted electronically by the electronic deadlines.  The pattern I have talked about several times is consistent..... for example, in one class.....nearly every Monday a lab write-up is due, and nearly every Tuesday, a writing analysis is due about a research article, and nearly EVERY Wednesday, a physiology assignment is due, and nearly every Thursday, an anatomy assignment is due, and on nearly every Friday, an electronic quiz is due.  I have been stressing at the start of each class so far that it is extremely time consuming for me to adjust electronic due dates for individual students who miss a deadline, and that I DO NOT HAVE available time to do this.  This rather "fire-and-brimstone" approach to getting students to follow electronic due dates is my approach to TRY to limit the percentage of my ~250 or so students who will inevitably miss one or more deadlines to ~3% or less.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that my new "fire-and-brimstone" technique may work to accomplish this goal..... but I do suspect it may end up being an unrealistic "pipe dream" as usual.
• I am going to work at getting my weanling rodents up to snuff today as well.  I have several batches of new pups who are now at weaning age and I can sort them into groups for this Fall's work.  
• My SIL is going to be staying with us for a couple of days (starting this afternoon) because her husband (my BIL) is going to some sort of NASCAR event relatively far away.  This is my wife's sister with the health issues (kidney issues, diabetes, etc) that we often (with her husband (my BIL)) play euchre with quite often.  I am not sure yet if she will want/be able to... but I suggested to my wife that if my SIL is up for it, one of the things we could do is that we could go swimming.  I know my SIL misses swimming (she no longer drives, and lives too far away to usually do so, and her health challenges (surgeries etc) had been an impediment).  I am hoping she feels well enough that she can and will want to go. 
• While I ran at 5:00am this morning (it was a chilly 48 degrees (~9 C)) I wore a sweatshirt, and I decided to push myself hard.  According to my "gizmo" watch, I kept up a heart rate of ~175-180 through the run.  The "gizmo" watch also told me this workout was in the "highly improving" training effect level which was nice.  Usually, I run at a pace that typically only suggests a "maintaining" training effect level.  After I finished the rosary, I fell into deep thoughts of reminiscing about the pure beauty of the amazing bowlful of pipe tobacco I allowed myself to experience in Nevada (the mixture of M58 & SWR).  The vivid beauty of those memories helped me to NOT focus on the considerable exertion I was doing to stay at ~175-180 bpm.  
• I am SO damn close to having a clean and highly organized tool/work space in my "redesign" of my garage!  It is exciting to see it coming together, although the progress feels agonizingly slow at times.  The tools/work area are all along one wall of the garage (so we can still both keep our vehicles in the garage as well).  The area had always been a HORRENDOUS disarray of  crap strewn all over the place, with many things simply dumped into a lot of bins a plastic storage boxes.... so much so that I really never had any idea where anything actually was 90% of the time.  It had been aggravating me for a very, very long time, but the task was so daunting and my "extra" time always seemed too limited (and disjointed) to ever get things back up-to-snuff.  But, now (over the last four weeks), I have been forcing myself to "do what I can" in bits and spurts of time..... doing all sorts of things.... rearranging tables and shelves, actually hanging two cabinets on the wall, and going through the agonizingly  tedious tasks of sorting through and organizing all the various things (hand tools, fasteners, etc) AND putting them in logical and orderly areas in the work area!  It used to be that I would cringe and shy away from many home tasks.... not usually because of fear of not being able to figure out how to fix/do a thing..... but USUALLY, because I dreaded TRYING TO FIND and figure out where the tools I needed were in the mess.  I would often have to spend a good hour or two (at least) rummaging around trying to locate the needed items.... often for a task that would ultimately take ~20-30 minutes to complete when I had the supplies!  It was infuriating to me. 
• In the above sorting process in the garage, I also have now compiled a huge array of all manner of fasteners from over the decades (screws, bolts, nails, wall hanging hardware, washers, brads, and on-and-on).... that I realize that I probably could use some sort of organization device to help me sort and keep track of all the items.  The small cabinet show atop of this post is a relatively inexpensive cabinet I am contemplating potentially getting for this task.  I do feel guilty about buying the cabinet, so I am hemming-and-hawing a bit.... but I do think it would be helpful, so I am trying to nudge myself to actually order it and NOT consider it a frivolous waste of money... I am NOT quite there yet, but I am trying to turn my thoughts around.  I did find one for roughly $59.00.
• I am also beginning to use MANY more of the empty 1 pound pipe tobacco canisters I had been saving specifically for storage of garage items.  It makes me very happy to start using them (I have always used a couple, but I knew I had a couple of garbage bags filled with those beautiful canisters.... stored in the attic for just this exact plan.  As I mentioned before, many of these canisters were from my own consumption over the years, but some were from my Dad as well.  Well.... there was a very INTRIGUING find I had when I pulled down another bag of these canisters..... I found a tin of my Dad's that I DID NOT REMEMBER having.  It is a 1 pound size canister of Union Leader pipe tobacco.  I do remember the can from when I was a kid..... but MY DAD was not overly fond of Union Leader pipe tobacco (it was probably a gift given to him) so it was always way back in the kitchen cupboard used by my Dad to store his pipe tobaccos (whereas his favorite, big 1 pound cans of Sir Walter Raleigh and also Prince Albert were always front-and-center in the cupboard so my Dad could fill his pouch easily each morning before work (and I would quietly "sneak" samples myself as a kid)).  The Union Leader can likely was from the mid 1960s, as it has a more "old school" metal, press-in lid (much like old style metal gallon cans of paint have).  Most of these big cans of all pipe tobaccos transitioned to easier to open and close lids at least by the early 1970s.  
• But.... here is the SHOCKER.... when I pulled the can out of the bag, I was intrigued, not have seen it in a helluva long time, and not even remembering I HAD it...... I thought it would definitely be one to immediately use and display in the garage (to show more pipe tobacco diversity in the cans).  So, I got out a blunt edged table knife to carefully pry off the lid) and when I gently lifted the lid, I was shocked to see that it still had pipe tobacco inside!!!!!  It was roughly about 1/4 filled (maybe a bit less than 1/4) with Union Leader Pipe Tobacco!!!!  And..... and a DEEP, molasses tinctured aroma greeted me as well!!!!!   The pipe tobacco seemed to be in absolutely great shape.... and it smelled heavenly!!!!!! I was flabbergasted to say the least.  I suspect that over the years, my Dad would have a pipeful of Union Leader every once in a great while, and the ~1/4 can was what was left when my Dad passed away.  And, I never knew it was in there and forgot I had the can as well.  My mind immediately raced/rushed to the idea..... "It seems smokable!"  I did not do that, however, as I was worried and concerned that it may be "bad" or "spoiled".  But, I also peered around INSIDE the can.... and even though the EXTERIOR had some surface rust, INSIDE seemed pretty damn near pristine!!!!!  And, there was still the piece of "parchment paper" sitting atop of the remaining tobacco (many 1 pound cans of pipe tobacco would have a clean piece of some sort of paper atop of the tobacco, presumably to help with packing).  
• So.... the Union Leader IS NOT going to be used as a sort of "parts-bin" in my garage anytime soon.  Instead, I am am so curious and intrigued, and debating within my psyche, if I SHOULD try it, or if that would be ill advised.  I have a lot of thoughts on the matter, and I will have to try to sort them out.... but not today.  I need to get to my rat pups.

PipeTobacco 

Bootstrapping

I have not been posting due to the "same-old - same-old" refrain.  There were some significant challenges with the person I no longer write about that emotionally impacted me and my wife.  As we moved towards  and then through the Labor Day "Holiday" we were both feeling an onslaught of harsh emotions.

But, what to do?  "C'est la vie" I suppose.  We are both just marching on.  As distances improved, both me and my wife began to feel less hurt, and more like our "normal" selves.  We both now feel as close to our "normal" as this situation allows.

* * * * *

So, yesterday we were able to return to swimming after I completed my day at the U.  It was a great, refreshing, and enjoyable experience for both of us.  It is always especially wonderful in that we get time to not only refresh, but both of us can focus on each other and talk about each of our respective days and how things have gone for us.  

Afterwards, we decided it would be fun to go to our favorite cafeteria at the U for our dinner.  Neither of us felt much like cooking, and it is always fun and enjoyable to choose from the wide array of items at the cafeteria.  It is also fun in some ways that I occasionally run into one or more of my course students, who at first view seem a little bit "deer-in-the-headlights" at seeing their grey, old prof standing in "their" cafeteria.... especially in THE EARLY EVENING.... getting some food.  After their initial surprise, they typically smile, and then go back to their circle of friends at some table and sometimes point out that I am there.... with my wife, no less. It is kind of funny, and a bit endearing.  A lot of the kids, even those not in my classes, will nod and smile at us as we get our food, and beverages.

Running has been especially important to modulate stress (see above first paragraphs).  I am needing to wear my headlight due to having to hit the pavement by around 5:15am now, in order to get to the U in a timely fashion.  

I am VERY much looking forward to the Retiree's Cigar Group this afternoon.  I will relish the time yapping with my friends in such a congenial location.  

PipeTobacco

Tuesday

The first couple of days in the semester are so busy laying out the "groundwork" for the courses and labs, that it is pretty much a continual effort all day on those first three days or so to get all my classes started.  It makes for a couple of tiring days.  And, with the return to "big voicing" as well..... that adds to my tiredness these couple of days.  But, usually by the end of the week I feel back up to snuff.  

I am eating my cereal as I type.  It is my usual very high fiber mixture with blueberries that has soaked for about two hours (I love soggy cereal).  An errant blueberry rolled off my spoon and then fell upon the sleeve of my lab coat, rolling down my sleeve as if it were on a roller coaster.  It was strangely captivating to watch its graceful movement.  

Band went very well last evening.  There are a variety of very interesting songs..... strangely our director chose a sort of "Halloween" style theme for our Fall series.  I will have to write more as I get more immersed into the music.  

When I went to bed last evening, I started to read the novel I have there, but I was really not focused nor into reading it.  So, instead, on my Kindle, I perused online pipe shops to entertain my mind.  As is often the case for me, I again ended up gravitating towards my favorite shaped pipe.... the 1/4 bend Dublin.  Perhaps spending quite a bit of time salivating over the beautiful pipes I would like to have and smoke was a silly and foolish idea.  It did not do anything to help quell my PCS ranking, that is for certain.  But... it did help me to feel happy as I went to sleep..... not as much as would have happened if I had indulged in a beautiful pipe.... but still a feeling of happiness did occur.

PipeTobacco

Bullets Today

First lectures are today, and I am getting all my ducks in a row and finessing things.  Here are some brief bullets:

• Hit the trail at 5:27am this morning.  It was gently raining.  It was dark outside, so I had to use my headlamp.  Besides normal running, I also did again my 1 mile of HIIT.
• At the U, I helped one of the laboratory instructors for my class with getting her class started as she was nervous and had a lot of questions even though she taught the same damn thing several times before.
• I big voiced for the first time since the end of June.  Today was only for three hours.  But, my voice is tired.  All three hours were in the gigantic lecture hall so I had to project very strongly.
• As it was day 1, it was my usual "fire and brimstone" lecture about due dates, and planning to study, and planning ENOUGH TIME for ADEQUATE study.... all while working through the syllabus.  I then, as usual, apologize about seemingly being harsh and dictatorial.... and then assure them that lecture from this point is more about the beauty and inherent excitement of the science.  My "fire and brimestone" first lecture is designed to wake them up about PLANNING their week so that they can attend class, have adequate outside study, do their money-earning jobs, get sleep, and still have time for family and friends..... they are damn busy people, and if they do not PLAN, they will give the "short schrift" to their school work.... which will NOT be helpful to them.
• Last week, due to the plethora of meetings on Thursday (all day..... ALL day... including Parish Council, which I should write about)... I did not get to go the Retiree's Cigar Group. So, I decided to visit the shop on Friday.  I was happily surprised to find Jerry there (he is one of the regulars at the Retiree's Cigar Group.... and he seems to go there several additional days a week as well), and he and I chatted for a good while.  When he eventually left, I finished my cigar while reading a leisure book (a novel).   It is interesting to note that I RELISH the camaraderie of the Retiree's Cigar Group.... the FRIENDSHIP is the key to me.  Do not get me wrong nor consider me naïve... the cigar too was generally pleasant of course..... but I keep re-realizing what I already know, but do not fully understand.... that I do not have the same sort of  "kinship" with a cigar as I do a beloved pipe.  I am rather ambivalent about the cigar.... it is nice.... but in comparison, where I have a clear affinity for pipes and pipe tobaccos (hence the sometimes mentioned Pipe Craving Score (PCS, which by-the-way would be an "8" today)) I would never really even imagine having a equivalent Cigar Craving Score.... it would be unnecessary.  This fact still just has me wonder about the matter as it sometimes seems illogical.
• I have the first rehearsal of band this season tonight. I have put the reeds and mouthpiece from my beloved "Frankenhorn" bass clarinet through the usual start of the season paces...... a wash of them in a denture tablets solution, followed by an overnight soak in a weak hydrogen peroxide solution, and now having them sit all day (until I dry and package them up for rehearsal tonight)  in an alcohol-based, mint mouthwash (a store brand version of "Scope").  I do this once each season because I sometimes worry (probably unnecessarily) that prior cold germs from prior playing may be laying dormant within the mouthpiece and/or bamboo fibers of my reeds.  
• I better go get lab ready for tomorrow and the day of more big voicing this time for my embryology course.

PipeTobacco

Meetings & More Meetings... and More Meetings

Today is officially (in my mind, anyhow) the least pleasant day of the academic year.  It is our "Welcome" date at the U, where the day is FILLED non-stop with meetings after meetings after meetings from 9:00am until around 7:00pm.  Added to this, is (not sure if I mentioned this or not).... but tonight I have the first Parish Council meeting of my being on the Council.  I think I wrote sometime last week about my (mistaken) belief the meeting was LAST Thursday.  I had my dates off by a week, and it is today.  So, for me, from now (just going to head to a meeting), until I leave a bit early (~5:45pm to get to the 6:00pm Parish Council meeting).... I will be in meetings from 9:00am until probably 8:30 - 8:45pm tonight.

Yesterday, Pat commented:

"As for your potential trip to the U, it sounds as if you're saying that there isn't parking reserved for faculty."

In reality, for all concerned, the process the U has is better for everyone.  We DO have reserved faculty parking lots.  But, with a certain, large, subset of the dorms being located in central campus (not the periphery like the other dorms), for the three biggest days of "Move In", the two closest parking lots to my building are usurped to form a traffic cone infused undulating pathway for parents bringing in their kids and their enormous amount of stuff.... the opportunity to reasonably safely drop off people and supplies relatively near these central dormitories.  Before this plan was enacted, hell, perhaps 20 years ago now.... the three days of "Move In" were more riotous and challenging as parental folks would double park all along various near roads.... on streets that were not designed for ANY parking.  The traffic jams, the irateness of drivers and parkers and unloaders alike was not pleasant.  So, even though it is still a challenge to navigate during these three days, I am "glad" (relieved?) my two primary parking lots are usurped during those days for "the greater good".  

Off to my meetings.

PipeTobacco

Unfocused

I am more than a bit unfocused today.  I am trying to avoid going to the U as it is "move-in" day for all the kids in all the dorms..... so it is traffic-wise, pure chaos on campus.  Some students wait until tomorrow or Friday, but usually a majority move in today.   

I did run.  I did send out a bunch of "Welcome to 'XXX' Course!" e-mails to all my students... reminding them of what books they need, what to do ahead of the start of class (get books, read syllabus, get a planner, think through their times and plans for outside of class study, exploring our LMS, etc.).  I also reminded them of our building and classroom number and timing of the first class.  I usually do something similar to this TWICE prior to the start of the semester..... the first time for the "eager beaver" types who want to get their ducks in a row well in advance (usually I do that e-mail in mid-to-late July.  The one today is for the majority of students who typically do not look at things until perhaps a few days prior to the start of classes.).  I will also send a similar e-mail to folks again after the first week is completed, letting them know that if they have not yet done "a", "b", "c" etc.... that they are AT SIGNIFICANT RISK for falling behind.... and this would very negatively affect their ultimate grade at the end of the semester.  

But, that is all mundanity.  It is "important" for my sanity though, to try to decrease (it never fully eliminates) the number of students who eventually come to me after missing a few due dates for various assignments.... crying "I did not KNOW about 'XXX' !!!!!" even though they damn well did IF they read any of these three different e-mails.  But, again, even that is just mundanity related to the student experience when you have ~250 students.... there WILL always be a small handful of "headache-inducing" kids who exhibit a considerably "scattered" mindset.  

So, whilst in the midst of the mundanity.... I have been just living in my thoughts and memories of pipes and pipe tobaccos. The flavors and textures of the M58/SWR bowlful in Nevada have been especially at the forefront of my mind probably because of their recent proximity.  If I think hard enough, I can still in some ethereal way still TASTE the beauty of those two blends together.... they formed a truly lovely "culinary" fusion together.   I can, with enough thought, still ethereally feel the comforting massaging of my neurons.  It can be ALMOST like reliving that actual LIVED experience.... but... regrettably it also is NOT the experience.  Sort of a yin-and-yang.... a positive and a negative simultaneously. I also would switch from time-to-time in my mind, to a few of the countless other pipe memories as well... each one sweet as a memory yet also bittersweet as they are only.... a memory.  It is interesting to think of and recall how all those prior bowls of pipe tobacco were each a bit of a celebration, even though not every time did I recognize them as such.... as they were just a part of everyday life.  Perspectives can be interesting in how they may modulate. I do not regret my Nevada adventure in the slightest, but I can attest it has ramped up my PCS score (the system I used to regularly report on) to around a 9 or so... many if not most days since I have returned. Prior to Nevada, my daily PCS score had been hovering around 5-7 depending on the day.  After all this time, I can now at least accept that it is very unlikely I will ever have any extended periods of time with PCS's of 1-3.  It does not seem like a reality I will/would ever experience.  

So, what to do with the rest of my day?  With my low focus, I will very likely keep my head well within the heady pipe tobacco memory "clouds" but I should also do some tangible things.  Perhaps I will continue to work on and finish the tidying of my garage, or perhaps I may try to venture onto campus to do a bit of work with my rodents, flies, and worms.... if I can find a parking spot.  Eventually late in the day, my wife and I have plans to swim.  Tonight for dinner we are having toasted "BLT" sandwiches since it is tomato season for REAL home grown tomatoes from my sister.  As I am not fond of bacon, mine instead should be listed as "TLT" sandwiches, as for me I substitute sliced deli turkey for the bacon my wife enjoys.  

PipeTobacco        

Lab Cleaning

Today is the day I have set aside for cleaning and straightening of my major research lab.  This is going to occur in a few minutes, as I spent a significant part of the morning working with the U's Grant's Officer to work through various aspects of anticipated grant expenditures during the Fall.  I used to enjoy working with the Grant's Officer because she is a really nice person.  But, my enjoyment for these meetings has been dampened a fair amount this last year or so because of a software program called:

WorkDay here is a link to their website.

I think I have written about WorkDay before.... they bill themselves as "...a unified AI platform built to serve your entire organization."  But, it is complete and utter balderdash (I would prefer stronger, more accurate cuss words).  I have yet to meet a person at our U who thinks WorkDay has HELPED improve things related to paperwork issues..... although I suspect there may be a few "higher ups" in U Administration and/or U Finances (who I try to avoid) who probably think this is the "cat's meow" because a) they themselves have to do less work, b) they do not hire as many folks as they used to.... to do these paperwork things, and c) they just enjoy making the real working-folk's (we faculty and staff) lives much more difficult and aggravating.

Again, I have NEVER met a person who has a positive thing to say about WorkDay.  It saddens me and makes me just a bit suspicious of my beloved NPR as they have WorkDay commercials regularly now as the damn company has decided to be an NPR sponsor.

* * *

One of the things I was thinking about as I drifted off to sleep last night...... and yes, I was reliving in my mind that exceptional bowlful of M58/SWR again..... was how the whole experience felt so sensorially VIVID.  It may seem very silly, but during my enjoyment of that bowlful, sounds were more musical/lyrical, views were more colorful and vivid, flavors and smells felt more robust, and even tactile sensations felt more substantive.  It was such a beautiful gift.  

* * *

When I ran this morning, I began a new process that I had heard about based upon a story from NPR where they were talking about research findings showing a significant value and benefit of what is called "HIIT" which stands for "High Intensity Interval Training".  I had heard of this approach for a number of years (and when my youngest son was in Cross Country way back in high school, his coach made the team do this type of thing to improve their speeds in the team), but I never thought it may have benefit for me. But this research finding reported that HIIT training as a part of exercise was shown to offer benefits in metabolism and protein production and usage.  Basically HIIT occurs if you push yourself in a series of all-out, short but extreme bursts of effort.  

So, today, as I ran my usual 6.2 miles of late (10 km)...... I purposefully ran my typical pace for the first five miles (~8 km)... but then tried to do "HIIT" during the last 1.2 miles..... basically I would run like a bat out of hell (basically as fast as I possibly could) for about two minutes, then slow to normal pace for about 30 seconds, then speed back up to maximum for another two minutes...... and so on through that remaining 1.2 miles.  

My findings..... yesterday.... wholly normal paced run.... heart rate during run averaged ~125 bpm.

My findings...... today..... in the "normal run" section.... heart rate during the run averaged ~127bpm.

                           today...... in the "HIIT" run period.... heart rate was hitting up to ~155bpm

In theory, this "HIIT" work will help my metabolism and will help me in a variety of other ways, so I am hopeful.  I do not really care if I get "faster".  I am looking for the health/wellness benefits.  My resting heart rate yesterday was 49 bpm, this morning it registered as 48 bpm.  I have also increased work with a BOSU and been adding in "jumps" more regularly... but I will have to explain those two another time.

* * *

I have some battery operated hand tools (circular saw, jig saw, drill, sander, reciprocating saw) that are considered "old" by tools with battery standards.  I resent that connotation, however, as they are only ~ 20 - 25 years old.  But, I had over the last year or two, not used them too often.... mostly because the damnable NiCd batteries have worn out and I was not wanting to investigate getting new batteries.  But, finally, I have done so and low-and-behold they still make these batteries for the tools (Ryobi, 18V system) but the batteries have CHANGED to being two DIFFERENT forms.... option a)  NiMH batteries, and option b) Lithium batteries.  I am trying to learn the ins-and-outs of these two forms to figure out which I should buy.  Any help and advice would be appreciated.   What I have gleaned thus far is that the NiMH are very heavy (like the original NiCd)... BUT they can be charged in my original charger.  They are also cheaper, but their charge does not last as well nor as long as the Lithium and they can potentially still develop a "memory" if you charge them improperly.  The Lithum, by contrast are lighter (than the original NiCd), BUT they require a NEW charger since because my original charger would ruin them in short order.  They are more expensive than the NiMH batteries (and again the added expense of the charger too), but the charge is suggested to last longer.... AND you can (theoretically) charge them and they will maintain that full charge for months until you use them.  So, I am not sure which route to go.... I see benefits with both styles, but not sure which is best for me.   It feels aesthetically kind of strange that NiMH batteries are the same orange/black color that the NiCd batteries were for my tools originally and look "normal" as part of the tool's blue/orange color scheme.... but the Lithium batteries are neon green/black.... which would look "strange" with my blue orange tools.... but that (at least alone) should not be the deciding factor.

PipeTobacco