My how time flies (he types while flying over West Virginia en route to Chicago). I know it’s been a while since you heard from me, so let’s get into it.
SONG INSPIRATION
This blog is inspired by Ella Mai’s Shot Clock.
LAS VEGAS
In mid-April, after living only 4.5 hours away for almost 6 years, I travelled to sin city. The trip was part of a long birthday weekend, so I tagged along as a +1. I didn’t expect to like Vegas. The only thing that fascinated me about the city was the architecture of the different casino resorts. I hoped to snap a few photos of famous properties. However, I was very surprised to find myself mesmerized by The Strip. The lights. The sounds. The people. The smells. (OK, the smell of skunk weed was mega off-putting.) Vegas is an adult Disneyworld – an oasis of pleasure and entertainment. A swarm of possibilities filled my head – the shows, the restaurants, the slots, the table games, shopping, etc. Within 24 hours of arriving, I was already planning my next visit. What changed my mind? Some deets. I stayed at the Cosmopolitan (a luxurious, stylish, and modern property). I gambled for the first time at roulette and won! I walked the Strip, which is much longer than you might expect. I dined at delicious restaurants. And to top it off, I attended a Cirque du Soleil show at Treasure Island – Mystere. But there’s still so much I want to do. So, I’ve already begun constructing a list of places to go and things to do when I return. Now I understand how people can visit this city so often and never run out of things to do.
Advice: That thing that you think you won’t like or that place that you’re sure isn’t your type of place. Yeah, do that thing. Go to that place. Even if your instincts were correct, at least you’ll now have the data to confirm it. Better yet, you’ll have a new life experience.
END OF SPRING 2019 – ONE MORE YEAR
Another hectic academic year has ended. This year, especially this semester, was way more raucous than expected. I found myself swept up in the throws of student government, administration, course work, and social organization. As a result, my research – and thus my dissertation – suffered during the spring. I stopped working on it in mid-February and didn’t resume until late April. That wasn’t helpful. However, I did enjoy many of the tasks that kept me away from my research. Leadership, managing people, and making effective change were just some of the things that really grew on me. I made mistakes, discovered new strengths, uncovered unexpected weaknesses, and grew as a person. That said, I’m glad it’s behind me. Now, I can get back to work. The remaining year is depleted of responsibility in a way not seen since I entered graduate school. That should give me ample time to work on my dissertation, tech review in the fall, and finish up next spring *fingers crossed*.
Advice: While graduate school is a marathon, finishing up can be a sprint. There’s the dissertation, the job search, relocating, extracurricular obligations, loose ends, etc. You’re wrapping up a monumental phase of your life. That’s exciting and terrifying. You must strike a balance that allows for a responsible, yet sustainable, final lap.
SUMMER 2019
This summer is all about that work, work, work, work, work, work. It’s the first summer since I started grad school that I won’t go home for a few weeks around the Fourth of July. Don’t get me wrong, I have almost 2 weeks of travel planned. I’m going home for a week for Memorial Day and I’m going to Pasadena for 5 days to attend the Ninth International Conference on Mars and visit some friends. Aside from those events – although I can’t discount the possible weekend trip – I’ll basically be in the desert all summer grinding out my dissertation. Progress the last 3 weeks alone has been stellar, which gives me major confidence. I’m hoping to have two polished drafts of two of my dissertation chapters by late August. Building a list of jobs to apply to after I tech review is also on the agenda. If I’m going to successfully wrap up my graduate education in the next 12 months, then a significant amount of effort is required over the next 3.
VIRGINIA / D.C.
Last week I took a trip to Virginia to visit a close friend. Now, I’ve never been to Virginia (or D.C. for that matter), so I didn’t know what to expect. I flew into the smallest airport I’ve ever experienced. We’re talking a one flight per day type of place with only 3 TSA agents, a single “terminal”, and a boarding area smaller than my living room. An aside: the in-bound flight was the 2nd worst I’ve ever experienced in terms of turbulence. What I did NOT expect to find were some of the friendliest people I’ve met (since visiting Wisconsin), gorgeous scenery (rolling green hills and mountains), and surprising wineries (the best chardonnay I’ve ever tasted, and I despise chardonnay). The food was amazing, but in retrospect I did expect that given that Virginia is in the south. Another thing I did not expect was a trip to Washington D.C. For some reason, I thought D.C. was 4 hours from where I was staying, not 2. Due to this realization – and a woman I met at a winery tasting room named Tamika (sp?) – I was able to visit D.C. for a day. Sure, it was a nasty, rainy day and I only had 5 hours in the city proper, but at least I was able to see the Treasury Department, White House, Washington Monument, African American History Museum, IRS, FBI, EPA, and the Museum of Natural History (the only one I went inside). There’s still plenty – obviously – that I’d like to do in D.C., so I’ll probably have to plan a dedicated trip.
Advice: This trip – like Vegas – gave me a lesson on the prejudice of places. I’ve kept a list of places I’d like to visit in my head for as long as I can remember. That list has involved a variety of countries, states, and cities. The list is short. Visiting rural Virginia was not on that list, but my short time there showed me that there can be hidden gems were you least expect it. If you have such a list, consider fine tuning it and checking any prejudices I may have.
CURRENT SHOWS
Currently watching: Game of Thrones (s8); Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta (s8); New Girl (s7)
Recently finished: A Series of Unfortunate Events (s3); How to Get Away with Murder (s5); Madame Secretary (s4); Russian Doll; Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (s4)
Thank you for reading! My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, June 6th. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 