It’s peak autumn in the Northeast. Bring out the hearty meals and crack open the warm beverages!
SONG INSPIRATION
This month’s blog is inspired by Jealous Type from Doja Cat’s new album, Vie. And, yes, I am obsessed with it. It reeks of the 80s.
MIDWAY
We’re halfway through October and the semester! I still can’t believe how quickly they pass. Thankfully, student energy and engagement remain high even after midterms. Until recently, the weather had resisted slumping into spells of cold and clouds, which resulted in lots of sun and milder temperatures. I admit I’m a smidge ready for autumn. But I can’t say the same for winter which I fear may come early this year. Teaching the art of writing to my first-year students has been so rewarding, and the quality of their essays improved markedly between drafts. My research assistants have put in loads of work as they prepare to either present at conferences or submit abstracts for future presentations. I couldn’t ask for a better Fall, although an acceptable permanent position would be nice. There have been more permanent positions posted than expected, but the job market is also swamped with talent due to government layoffs. My fellow academic friends and I remain highly skeptical, but we persist.
SAN ANTONIO
This weekend I’m leaving town for another conference. A couple of students and I will give presentations on our respective research. GSA Connects is the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, and it’s a conference I’ve grown to appreciate for its moderate size and inviting atmosphere. I’ve never been to San Antonio, TX, so I’m excited to experience a new city especially the famous riverwalk. Plus, I’ll have a chance to enjoy one last gasp of warm weather. I’m even more ecstatic to see a slew of friends and collaborators, many of whom I haven’t seen in a year or more. The social atmosphere of a good science conference and awesome colleagues is intoxicating. I still have plenty of work to do, so this isn’t a vacation by any stretch. I have multiple papers to write, job applications to submit, and reviews to complete.
ANOTHER DEPRESSIVE EPISODE IN THE BOOKS
After 9 years of living on cloud nine, I fell into a 3-month depression. However, I’m happy to report that I’ve been depression-free for over a month. Why am I sharing something so personal? Depression is not a source of shame. My life has changed dramatically from the days when I suffered from cyclical depression. I now have more cognitive-behavioral tools to assist me in addition to a strong social support network and a killer therapist. Mild to moderate depression isn’t a curse. Rather, it’s your body’s way of telling you to slow down and reevaluate. If your chemistry is off, you’re off. My summer depression wasn’t triggered by low self-esteem, which was typical of my youth. Instead, it was triggered by external factors – the current political environment of the US, my employment status, and attacks on science that threaten my career aspirations. Like so many in science, I’ve worked my ass off for years to earn my stake in the academy. But that doesn’t mean a hill of beans to fascists who hate science and hate people like me in science. Thanks to my summer depression, I reflected and realigned my priorities. The last few weeks have felt amazing! Why? Because I’ve acknowledged what is outside of my control, realized my priorities, made peace with decisions which were ultimately good for me, and developed a framework for my future.
WRITING UPDATE
My writing partner and I have committed to regular meetings, and it has made an enormous difference in my progress. We both have goals to submit our respective work this Fall. I intend to submit a horror short that I wrote a few years back to cope with relocating to N’Angland. Our working meetings have also spurred progress on my novel. I’m less than 100 pages from the end, but the year is winding down fast. In the world of science, a collaborator and I recently published a commentary addressing pedagogical uses of Notebook LM. Furthermore, I’m working on three manuscripts to be submitted by this winter and early spring. In lieu of funding given the war on science, I’ve decided to focus my efforts on pushing out papers this calendar year. Writing is challenging, but super rewarding.
CURRENT BOOKS AND SHOWS
Recently finished reading: A Brief History of Time (short and interesting, but sometimes a tad dry)
Currently reading: Dune Messiah; Project Hail Mary
Recently finished watching: Daredevil (s1); Jujutsu Kaisen (s1); Leviathan; Only Murders in the Building (s4); The Grimm Variations; Wednesday (s2)
- Loved Daredevil and Wednesday! Leviathan was a cute alternate history, which interesting implications but not too deep. Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most visually stunning anime I’ve ever watched. The Grimm Variations was an interesting fairytale anthology, but I wanted more.
Currently watching: Daredevil (s2); Moriarty the Patriot; The Floor (s3); The Gilded Age (s3); The Great British Bake Off (s16); The Great British Bake Off: Professionals (s10)
Thank you for reading! The next blog is scheduled for Thursday, November 13th. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 