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.

... and it is done ... and it is ... green?

So, this afternoon, after returning from my over 5 hour writing extravaganza with Lynnette (See previous post), I see a large package waiting for me in the apartment lobby ... from NDSU.  Inside, protected by the strangest packing material I have ever seen, are two bound copies of my dissertation.  One is mine, the other goes to Dan and Kara, who wanted a copy on their shelf.

Yep, there it is, bound in its glory.  

So, does that mean that it is done?  Does this mean that I am official now?  I still have not received my diploma in the mail, so it is hard to say.  What I do know is that it looks pretty darn cool on my bookshelves (which you can see behind me), I think I may end up reading through it once (then wish I had edited just a little bit more), and afterwards, well, I think it will be an interesting piece to have on the coffee table for some light reading.  I will say this, though - having your name on a bound copy of something that you wrote ... it is pretty darn cool :-D

Now, I just have to figure out something witty to write in the copy that goes to Dan and Kara ...

And here we go ...

New town, new job, new people ...

That is what I have been experiencing since July 1.  A quick rundown of the way things have been progressing:

1) successfully defended the dissertation in May.  A week later, I walked in graduation.  However, I was not fully declared and officially "Doctor Tyma" until August 2008, when my degree was actually cleared, approved, and posted to my transcripts.  They want to keep their hooks in you as much as possible.

proof that I really do get the goofy cool stuff.

2) I am now the assistant professor of visual communication and culture at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  I am living in the School of Communication.  The people I work with are pretty darn cool.  My students are excellent.  They are so motivated that it makes me almost jealous, like I am not good enough for them.

3) As can be determined from 2, I am now living in Omaha, NE.  I dig my apartment and my neighborhood, which is like this near-perfect blending of Grand Avenue, DinkyTown, and NordEast.  In other words, I am extremely comfortable there.

4) I have met some pretty cool people.  Mark and Lynnette are both faculty on my campus.

Mark is in the College of Business, and Lynnette is down the hall from me.  They are married, by the way, and crack me the hell up.  The third in the picture (from your left to right) is Lori.  She teaches Art in two area schools (k-12).  We are trying to convince her that she needs to apply for a position with our Art and Art History department, so the three of us are not the youngest faculty on our campus.  It is ridiculous!

5) Now my life starts again.  Learning a new town, trying to keep in contact with my old friends, making new friends, figuring out what this town has to offer me.  All in all, I am very happy with my decision.  I could have been closer to the people that I know in Fargo, but I would have been limiting myself drastically.  And, anyway, that is what roadtrips are for, right?