This week gave me whiplash, leaving me readier than ever for a break. Lectures, meetings, interviews – oh my!
SONG INSPIRATION
This week’s blog is inspired by Doja Cat’s track – All Nighter – from her 2018 album, Amala.
THANKSGIVING 2021
If you ask me, I’m ready. It’s been 2 years since I’ve been home for Thanksgiving and 22 months since I last saw my parents in-person. Even for an icy-hearted badass like me, dat’s tew much. I am anxious to return to the coast and spend some much-needed time with The Rents, the Doggo, my bffs, and my extended family. And let’s not forget the delicious food at home and my favorite eateries. Since we’re still in a pandemonium (did you forget?), I won’t venture out much out of concern for my parents’ health. Time permitting; however, I will spend a day or two in New Orleans at the tail end of the trip. That’ll be my chance to socialize and stuff my face even more.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
I am learning SO much about the job application process. Every mistake is an opportunity for infinite growth, because I literally go from 0 to 1 in experience. So many firsts. I’ve had two initial interviews and multiple follow-ups. Yesterday, I submitted a lecture on plate tectonics (I had 3 days to prepare, make, and record it). After months of submitting applications and waiting to hear back, it’s all happening so fast now. And I’m finally having to consider my priorities while learning about new departments and about the potential places I could be living.
Like real estate, it all comes down to location, location, location. As I’ve mentioned before, academics don’t generally have much choice with regards to location (other than places we can reject outright from, say, safety concerns). We generally go where the jobs are. For me, I’ve applied to positions in places where – at the end of the day – I could live. That said, the second half of 2022 promises to be a travel heavy year for a variety of reasons (i.e., vacations, weddings, graduations, moving, holidays, etc.). Therefore, I have to consider seemingly mundane, yet impactful, factors such as proximity to a major airport.
Starting a new job somewhere else also means coming to terms with my departure from the state I’ve called home for 9 years (by August 2022). I’ve spent a significant amount of time reflecting on the experiences I’ve had and friends I’ve made here (many of whom have already left the state). The excitement I’ve had for relocating is morphing into cautious excitement and reflection. I feel like I’m at the top of the roller coaster just as the cars are starting to roll over the edge.
WRITING UPDATE
My third (science) manuscript is just about ready for submission. My coauthors will give it a final pass and then it’s off to our journal of choice. I’ll likely start the submission process a week or so after Thanksgiving. I’m eager to receive feedback from the reviewers (mostly to gain a different perspective) and to use that time to start working on my fourth manuscript.
My novel, on the other hand, is not ready for submission. Despite working on it 5 days a week, progress slowed after returning from Japan. I no longer have 2-to-3-hour chunks of time to just sit and write. However, progress is steady and the book is ~50% complete. I have been increasingly motivated thanks to the Writing Excuses podcast. Said podcast has also led to a renaissance in my reading for pleasure. I’ve been reading 20-40 pages per day since I returned stateside and that’s given me hope that I’ll be able to consume many of the books I’d put aside for years. In order to be a good writer, you have to read a lot.
CURRENT SHOWS & BOOKS
Recently finished: Bakuman (s1); High on the Hog; Hunters; Modern Family (s4); Sex Education (s3)
Currently watching: Bakuman (s2); Great British Bake-Off (s9); Modern Family (s5); Neon Genesis Evangelion; The Naked Director (s2)
Recently read: The Dark Tower by Stephen King; The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (highly recommend for geologists and/or fantasy lovers!)
Currently reading: The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
Thank you again for reading! My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, December 16th. Continue to exercise caution. If you haven’t already and are able, please vaccinate yourself against Covid and the flu. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 