And the new year (Academic) begins ...

Good morning, readers -

Well, the new year has begun. My second year on faculty at UNO is in full-swing. I wish I could say that I feel completely comfortable and calm ... but I don't. This is a good thing. The week prior, I had two articles come back with rejection notices. This, of course, means that I now am adding two more projects to my list of things to get done yesterday.

At the same time, though, it feels good to know that I have a pretty good idea of how this campus works. Granted, there will always be surprises, but that is what makes things worth living, right? I definitely have noticed that my willingness to stand up for things has gone through the roof ... or, for those that know me, back to normal. When I was an RA at Mankato State, I explained in my re-application materials that "during my first year, I learned the ropes. Now, I want to see how far I can make them swing." Yeah - trouble is brewing :-)

I am excited about the classes I am teaching. I do miss not having first year students this year, but that is replaced with the work that my upper division and graduate students are going to be accomplishing. I have high hopes for them ... and for myself. This should be an excellent and thought-provoking year.

More to report later. Good luck to all my people who start their coursework (as students or teacher) in the next few weeks! Take care!

Adam.

It's been a while ... but here we go ...

Hey there, everyone!

So, I have been thinking about what to discuss on here for a long time.  I think I shall follow the advice I gave one of my graduate students yesterday while setting up his comprehensive questions response: "Organization!"  Here we go - 

1) The first year is done

I finished my first academic year as a faculty member at UNO after the PhD.  I was hoping for some massive revelation on life, some shining light or trumpets or something to mark this milestone.  When none of those things happened I realized that, well, I have actually been doing this for a long time.  The biggest difference is that a) I was not thinking I really need to get that PhD started (because it is done!  See previous posts for details :-) or b) I really have papers to write for class or my dissertation to continue to work on (same as previous).  All of that is done.  Now I have other things to worry about - where to go out tonight?  I wonder what shows are in town this weekend?  I really do need to get started on those revisions.  For the first time in a LONG TIME, I am quite happy with what is happening now.  This is what I signed on for, right?  The biggest thing now is the tenure clock.  

• One year down, five to go (at least, depending on location)
  
• six papers presented, 
  
• several panels organized, 
  
• conference events headed up, 
  
• chairing committees on campus, 
  
• teaching classes, 
  
• getting research going, 
  
• still need to get a 2009 publication date on the CV.  
  

This is now what is in my mind.  At the same time, though ... I can breathe.  I can live.  This will be discussed more thoroughly in main point #3.

2) Being in a long-distance relationship with my nephew

I miss Owen.  I find that weird.  I have only seen the little one for at most a few hours of his entire life, yet I think about him often.  I think, perhaps, that my missing of my family (by blood or bond) gets projected on him.  I know life for the rest of the family is cooking along at mach speed ... and I am down here.  I just want to be the best Uncle I can be.  Since there is no manual for such a task, I simply keep him in my thoughts, worry about him, and will find ways to spoil him as much as possible (sorry, Peter and Melissa, but that's my job.  If I ever have children, I am sure you will be the same way).

3) "Living" where you are, not where you might/could/imagine yourself to be.

This has been a tough one.  When I first accepted the position at UNO and moved to Omaha, I figured it would be a short term gig and I would start hunting for positions closer to the home country as soon as possible.  As the year has progressed, however, I am not so sure on that.  I have a really unique opportunity here, something that is not often handed over to first-year faculty.  I am getting to teach, for the most part, those courses that I do so enjoy teaching ... and it sounds like folks (including me) are finding out that I am good at it.  The biggest thing has been relationships.  Whether friendship or intimate, we often hold onto people from our home or our last port of call when we move somewhere new as a touchstone, a way for us to navigate the new world we are in.  Over the last month, I have come to the realization that that touchstone is me.  It is internal, not external.  Home is not where you hang your hat, it's where you choose to live.  If you choose to live in your mind somewhere else, even if the possibilities are wonderful and you see that idyllic reality calling you, you are intentionally splitting yourself into parts.  It took a while and some difficult decisions to recognize that I am here, now.  I have arrived here and must keep that focus if I am to become who I am.  Call it Adam V3.0.  My family is always with me, my friends are near to my heart, but life has blown me to the dead center of the country.  I have to recognize that "home" simply signifies those places that just feel right.  I think it is ok to have more than one.

So, there are my musings.  Sorry it took so long, but I have been on the road, finishing up a semester, and coming to some realizations about my life.  Take care, be well, love and respect to all of you!

Cheers!  Adam.

Moments that change everything.

Hello, everyone - 

So, on the fourth of March, the next generation of Tyma came into the world.  My sister (in law) Melissa, with the assistance of my brother Peter, brought Owen Walter Tyma into the world.  I don't even know how to begin on this.  Just writing these words out brings a smile to my face and my eyes start to well up.  Of course, as the uncle, I may be biased, but the kid is absolutely amazing.  Of course he is - he is Tyma ;-)  During that day, I was teaching ... ok, I was actually checking my phone every five minutes for updates, bouncing in my chair in my office (more than usual), and trying to focus on lesson plans and meetings.  Not easy.  The next morning, I ran frantically to the Cities, slept briefly, then went to see the little one at the hospital, not quite 24 hours old yet.  Over the next couple of days, I was able to spend a fair bit of time with him.  Don't worry, conspiracy theorists, I have not started indoctrinating him ... yet.  Heading back to Omaha sucked; just had to say it.

I don't know how to describe how quickly and permanently things changed for me at that moment.  Granted, the chances of me having a child are dwindling, and that is fine.  More to the point - I think about how Owen is the 3rd generation of Tyma in our line - and that is it.  My father and I talked about how, given our interesting family history, this is a unique moment.  For me, I just relish in the fact that I will be able to watch him grow, change, become strong (in mind, body, and spirit), and be part of that experiment.  Because, at the end of the day, we are all experiments and processes ... really.  

Yeah ... I am a pretty damn proud Uncle!  And I will spoil that kid ... but in my own instructive, educational, and disciplining way :-D

The Lanky Hair

Good afternoon - 

I have been meaning to post on this for a while, but I never get to it.  Ok, here it goes: I am currently growing my hair long.  Why, you may ask?  Glad you did.  I am growing my hair long because I plan to donate it when it is long enough (not sure where yet, but there it is).  I am doing this for my aunt.  Auntie Jean died just about a year ago.  This was due to complications from COPD, cancer, and a host of other things that were ravaging her.  Due to her treatments to fight, she lost her hair, grew her hair, lost it again, wore wigs, did not wear wigs, the whole nine yards.  She always said she loved my hair and that I should always let it be free.  So, for her, I am doing just that.  I will do this as many times as my own sanity and that of those close to me will allow.  So, for those that see me at conferences and the like, and wonder why I am shaggy or I have suddenly started wearing a ponytail, now you know.

Everyone in?  Good!

Cheers!  Adam.

A New Year ... A New Direction?

Good morning, fellow readers!!!

Well, 2009 is here.  Have you started thinking about the past year?  For the first time in a long time, I actually have.  The past year (or, really, two years) has been insane in too many ways.  I will spare you with a recap.  Let's just say that I have had more highs and lows than the best, most ferocious roller coaster ever created.  And I actually LIKE roller coasters.

So, with 2009 comes realizations, right?  We have a young, vibrant, non-White man about to take over the office of the POTUS (those fans of West Wing or in the know will understand that).  Many people make a resolution for "No Drama" or "To Work Out And Lose A Ton Of Weight" or "To Become Financially Secure."  Yeah, I am thinking that those things, those wonderful, are out of reach.  We all slip on our workout routines, we get involved in something that will cause our blood to boil, and, well, have you seen the economy?  

For me, here is my resolution - To Seek Balance and Equilibrium.  

I have a pretty darn good life thus far.  I have a job that I both appreciate and enjoy, I think I might actually have a couple of articles to come out of the diss, my sister-in-law is due in March (let the next wave of Tymas be unleashed onto the world), and my parents are still going strong.  My friends are amazing (I think we are all starting to hit our stride), I am meeting new and fantastic people all of the time.  My goal is to just find that balance of heart and head that I am always looking for.  I think it is possible.

What is your goal for this year?  List it, make it official, and post your progress.  Force yourself into the public sphere so that it holds you accountable!

Now - if I could just find a way to make my student loans magically vanish.  I am NOT looking forward to March ... damn bills!  :-)

Cheers!  Adam.

Someone I am excited and proud to call my friend

So, this is not by me.  This is by my dear friend Najla who I went through (perhaps am still going through) the PhD process with.  You need to read this, you need to share it ...

Wearing the Hijab

... and the next President of the United States is ...

I am excited, I mean REALLY EXCITED, about President-Elect Obama.  I have been waiting for an actually eloquent, intelligent, and real president for a long time.  I would argue that, even in Clinton's second term, we lost that.  I have many hopes, I have concerns.  We all should.  What we should not do is think that he is going to solve all of our liberal-leaning woes.  He won't - he can't.  Here's why.

If you listened to both he and McCain's speeches Tuesday night (and you really should.  Heck, if THAT McCain had shown up during the campaign, I may have voted a different direction), they both have this underlying narrative, this permeating argument, of unification.  This country is broken, cracked, shattered.  The overt challenges of two wars, the economy, the disdain for present-day politics in the US - all of these simply signify the underlying systemic failures that are occurring all of the time.  Watch the news, read the paper, open your eyes and look around the community that is yours.  Rather than people excited about their futures, they are frightened by their next 24 hours.  Obama cannot change that.  You can - We can.  I think he said it best when he pointed out that this will not be easy.  There is work to do.  All of us have to roll up our sleeves and do the work.

So, what kind of work is that?  Not bitching about it, that is for sure.  It is time to ask for a little less and do a little more.  Whatever work you are doing, whether it is in your job or in your community, make it count.  When I teach my students, I always ask them to consider the following - What's in it for me? (The WIIFM?)  What does this theory tell me about the world?  What does this argument strategy help me achieve in the end?  Now it is time to update that precept - What's in it for Us?  What does the work I choose to do accomplish for the greater good?  How does this act serve something more than me?  I will be the first to say that the individual needs to be happy with her or himself before they can serve the greater good (you cannot build something with a tool that does not work right!).  Once you have reached that, through working out or meditating or finding the right job or what have you, what is the next step?  THAT is what is important.  And THAT is the question I pose to you now.

Be well, have fun.  Live the moment and Enjoy life!  But remember to work towards the greater good. There is work to be done - are you ready?

Nosdrovie!  Adam.