Central, Brewing, and End of the Semester

Well, this is interesting.  I just finished an interview as an "Expert" on Social Media with the local Fox affiliate regarding the "mouse in the chinese food" meme.  It looks like it has been around four a little while, been in a few states, and is now gracing our lovely little corner of the grass plains (hmmnnn ... could we call this area the Plains Sea, like the Dothraki Sea in 'Thrones'?).  Doing press is always weird.  Doing TV is REALLY weird.  As the saying goes, I have a lovely face for radio.

On to the title: Central States was great this year.  Exhausting and recharging at the same time.  I am so fortunate to have an academic home like CSCA.  Of course, that means that way too many projects were once again generated while there.  Luckily, I am taking a break from planning ... for a little while, at least.

Brewing.  Needs to happen.  Soon.  Thinking about getting something going this afternoon before the parents show up.  Let's see if that actually happens, but it seems to be a good idea right now.

End of Semester.  Really?  Already?

Damn.  Too much to do ... as always.

Realizations

So, in the last few months, a lot has been happening around Casa de Tyma-Nelson.  The biggest thing is the planning of our wedding.  That has been interesting and, oddly enough, going a bit more smoothly than I anticipated.  I am sure I just jinxed us and we are now going to have something close to, well, name your "wedding becomes a spectacle" movie.  Nah.  It will go off just fine.

The next monster thing is me ... going up for tenure.  This has me worried in ways that I cannot even fathom.  I put on my best face but, at the end of the day, I continually ask myself "am I worthy?"  Tenure - the acceptance of your peers that you do have something to offer your department, school, and discipline - is a strange and oft nerve-wracking experience.  Like the above-mentioned nuptials, I am confident this will also go fine ... or at least confident enough ...

I chose this picture because, well, it is funny.  Perhaps it presents me in a non-caring place.  Perhaps I look like a hippie from the 12th century.  I don't know.

So ... Realizations.  

Damn, I am freaking lucky!  I mean, look at this situation.  I am, currently, sitting in my office at home (in a HOUSE), working on a blog (because I am taking a break from editing chapter one of a thesis), marrying an amazing woman, working on my health, watching my beard bet a bit more gray every day (and kinda digging it), have my PhD and will hopefully be a tenured professor at a truly impressive university in a city that surprises me more and more every day, while getting full-on into brewing beer (something I have wanted to do for a long time) ... and I am not even 40?  Yeah ... that's the stuff.

Next time - a discussion of brewing and the insanity that is Central States.

See this woman?  Amazing!