reflection
Casual Science Returns
I'm putting words on the page, a few keystrokes at a time.
reflection
reflection
On Inheritance
My grandmother passed away this spring, aged 93. Yesterday my father brought the last of the furniture I have inherited from her and my grandfather. She was a cheerful, outgoing woman who had a habit of treating friends like family, and distant relatives like immediate relations. She was a keeper
What am I even doing
This weekend I'm in the in-between space of classes ending and finals week beginning. My classes will meet one more time to finish existing work and share projects, but there's no new stuff to do. No more slides to prepare, copies to make, or work to
reflection
To Do
I cannot brain right now. There’s a buzz in my head like a fluorescent bulb in an empty office. A quiet, persistent humming that at first I didn’t notice, but once noticed I cannot stop noticing, as if its sound is magnified by my attention. I have things
justice
Cutting off other futures
I'm having trouble not caring. I was fired1 in March. I've witnessed a series of poor decisions that have crushed staff and faculty morale and negatively impacted students. I've seen in-fighting over the scraps the administration/Board dangles over our heads. And every time
Professor Damocles
My university administration is planning to cut faculty next year. We don't know who or even how many, but I know my name is on that list somewhere. I'm probably not at the top, but I'm also not at the bottom. I've
culture
The Bus
"The last student who went to graduate school after working with me was hit by a bus," my research advisor said to me as I began to figure out what I'd do after graduation with a Bachelor's degree and a desire to work in
reflection
Professoring by the Golden Rule
My internal clock is perpetually off. I am very, very good at arriving 5 minutes late. Reminders and alarms help, but they aren't a cure. I am also an Olympic-level procrastinator. Something due at noon? I may finish at 11:57 that morning. (If it didn't
Level up!
The spring semester was rough. I was constantly going full-tilt and couldn’t find time to stop and breathe. This fall couldn’t be more different, though I’m busier than ever. I’m teaching an overload (15+ contact hours), wrangling four research students on three separate projects, picking up
profLife
Research Ideas and Foreboding Joy
The other day, I had an idea. I had a research idea, and I got very excited about it. I did a quick literature search and came up with almost nothing. That got me even more excited. And then it got me worried. “Nobody’s done this idea before! It’
reflection
All work and no play
March 2017 I spent the fall semester on maternity leave. My daughter arrived in August, a new and wondrous source of joy in my life. I needed weeks to recover physically from the stresses of childbirth, and months to figure out what my life looks like with another little person
culture
Identity change
When I got married, I changed my last name. I was very attached to my maiden name, and couldn’t bear to let go of it completely, so I dropped what had been my middle name, took my maiden name for my new middle name, and finished off my new