Welcome to one of the last AI-free bastions – complete with typos and all!
SONG INSPIRATION
Betty Wright’s classic, Clean Up Woman.
MIDTERM
Darkness arrives shortly after 6 PM now. We’re midway through the semester, less than a week from my midterm (which I need to write), and less than two weeks from the US midterms. The last 6 weeks have felt, well, like several months. Teaching a new, upper-level course is a special kind of lift, which has been exacerbated by not having teaching assistants. On top of that, I’ve been setting up my new lab space, attending multiple reading groups, and pushing forward several research projects. While I’m genuinely excited by student progress in class, I’ve been working 45–60 hours per week – with that number on the higher end in recent weeks. It’s nothing compared to my doctor friends, but losing nights and weekends has hindered other aspects of life. On the other hand, I’m feeling so much joy from my community. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to share so much time and space with truly amazing colleagues fully engaged in the craft of teaching and mentorship.
AGING IN THE TIME OF AI
Two weeks ago, I fell climbing the steps into my home. A face down, ass up fall. I hurt my hand and banged my shin. Now, I haven’t fallen in a long time, and it probably wouldn’t have made much of an impact on me, but then I’ve also had pain in my left foot for months. That’s probably because I’ve been walking around barefoot all summer, and my house slippers have lost their arch support. Oh, and did I mention I finally had to buy a mouth guard to alleviate the side effects of my jaw clenching? All of this plus my recent birthday has forced me to come to terms with my age. I don’t consider myself old. Not at all. But I am aging, and my body is changing. All the more reason to take more responsibility for health.
At the same time, I’ve been deeply immersed in spirited conversations around artificial intelligence which has only added another layer of uncertainty. It makes me wonder what kind of world I’m aging into. We often hear stories of older people feeling as though the world is leaving them behind. I wonder more about the world – the future – I’m entering. I’m part excited about medical advances, part terrified at AI-augmented nuclear facilities, and part demoralized at the next generation’s overreliance on the most powerful tool in human history. But maybe I’m just tired, pained, and in need of some orthopedic slippers.
WRITING GOALS
In the world of writing, it’s feast and famine. For science, I’m wrapping up proposals and starting a few of manuscripts. Thanks to some work in the evenings and on the weekends, I’m catching up with my academic writing. It also helps that deadlines are approaching. I do feel like I’m not pushing out papers as quickly as I would like, but I’m making steady progress.
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for fiction. I haven’t edited my novel since the semester started, so I’m going on 6 weeks without nourishing my creative soul. BUT maybe that’s about to change. My writing partner and I agreed to an ambitious plan for November (famously known as national novel writing month) and December. I hope to write 1000 words per day for the month of November, likely dividing that between two projects. I need to mix it up, or I’ll burn out. That would be enough words to, ideally, complete revisions on my first novel. And maybe have enough words left over to complete a couple of shorter projects. In December, my writing partner and I are hoping to complete a self-contained project, which would also involve writing 1000 words per day. It’s been two years since we collaborated, and we grew so much from that experience. I’m hopeful that I can end 2026 on a writing high note.
CURRENT BOOKS AND SHOWS
Recently finished reading: Dungeon Crawler Carl; Teaching with AI
- Dungeon Crawler Carl was a well-acted, delightful adventure. I’d highly recommend the audiobook. Devouring the series so I can catch up with my trivia team!
- This book definitely wasn’t written for a liberal arts audience, but it did have some nuggets that forced us professors to rethink our purpose in higher education.
Currently reading: Carl’s Doomsday Scenario; The Liberating Arts: Why We Need Liberal Arts Education
Recently finished watching: Abbott Elementary (s5); Daredevil: Born Again (s1); Grantchester (s1-2); Law and Order (s13); Physical 100: Italy
- Season 5 of Abbott Elementary felt like a melodramatic oasis of humor and joy.
- Daredevil: Born Again is a gritty, action-packed, character driven roller coaster with our favorite attorney from Hell’s Kitchen. But it’s heavy at times.
- Grantchester has a been cozy English crime procedural, although I’m irked by the choices of some of my favorite characters.
- Law and Order remains a morning staple and excellent white noise.
- Physical 100: Italy was also a ton of fun – more than I expected!
Currently watching: Grantchester (s3); The Great British Bake-Off (s17 – US); Law and Order (s14); Shameless (s2); The Ghost in the Shell (2026)
Thank you for reading! The next blog is scheduled for Friday, November 20th. Until next time….
