# My Commonplace Book > A Thinking Journal ## Posts - [Fall, the funhouse version](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/11/fall-the-funhouse-version/): Alt title: Sneaking back in to blogging the end of NaBloPoMo, when you all are exhausted from reading and writing for a month straight and maybe this whiny post will disappear into the ether… So, you all know how my July-into-August went this summer. Turns out that was just a preview, since mid-August to now has basically been a funhouse mirror version of mid-July to mid-August. The order was different, but so much was the same: The move went well, mostly because of Engie and Dr. BB and their willingness to help me move heavy things back to my old […] - [Sideways, upside down, and backwards](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/08/sideways-upside-down-and-backwards/): Well, that didn’t go as planned. My summer, that is. It’s been a while. And there are reasons (sooo many reasons) for that. But just as a quick interim update, here’s what the plan was: Instead, my summer looked like this: And then, the day after my name change hearing, life decided that I should add: I did move to my new apartment, which is a saga all its own. So, put that on the “done” list. But the rest of my summer? This part? My dad did have his surgery, but I was not able to be there. Instead, […] - [Summer 2025 - Everything, everywhere, all at once](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/06/summer-2025-everything-everywhere-all-at-once/): Friends, I’m starting to wonder what on earth I was thinking as I “planned” my summer. This post title is not focusing on the news-news (although it could, because good grief, I am exhausted from wondering what horrors will be unleashed on us every. single. day…). No, it refers to what’s going on in my life this summer. But before I begin, a huge caveat: I am only responsible for keeping myself alive. I have no children, no spouse or partner, no pets. I live ~1000 miles from my immediate family. I am not listed as anyone’s legal guardian anymore. […] - [It's the little things...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/05/its-the-little-things/): I’ve had a lot of Big Things on my plate this semester, and sometimes (or maybe most of the time) I’ve felt completely overwhelmed. But a series of little things that made life better in the last few weeks made me smile. The list, in no particular order… It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. ~John Wooden Any little wins in your lives recently, friends? I think we can all use them these days… - [Digital overwhelm](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/04/digital-overwhelm/): I’m restless and unfocused right now, and it’s driving me bonkers. I have had some very productive weeks, and then others that have been a whole lot of nothing. Is it the end of semester blahs? Some work and personal challenges? Trying to keep track of all the minutiae that make up my days? I don’t know. What I do know is that I am completely overwhelmed by digital file overload. I have no idea how other researchers keep up with the literature in their fields without losing their minds. (Any other academics care to weigh in???) Part of the […] - [Six for Saturday](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/03/six-for-saturday/): Drifting back into the blogosphere with a Six for Saturday (although it may be Sunday before I get this finished, edited and posted…). But first, I have to say how much I appreciate you. Yes, you. If you’re here reading, if you’ve read in the past, if you’ve never wandered by my blog before. You have been my lifeline these past 2 months. Your blogs have made me laugh, have reminded me that my life is just one of many. You’ve helped me remember that things that seem Big And Scary often are absorbed into our lives and, eventually, become […] - [Hesitating...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/02/hesitating/): To post this, but rather than leaving this page un-updated… I’m dealing with a lot of Hard Things right now, so I’m not present here or even in your comments. I’m not keeping up with CBBC. Right now it’s just about getting through. So, please know that I will be okay, it will just take time. Love you all, can’t wait to be back here. - [Bright spots](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/01/bright-spots-3/): A quick post, in the spirit of Elisabeth’s Happy Things Fridays. (She has a new one up today, fyi. :>) I had intended to write a longer post this morning, but was derailed when I went in to update a Word document and found that Copilot had been installed without MS asking me about it. Things I Do Not Like About Technology. But! Moving on to brighter things (and if anyone can help me get the darn thing off my MS apps on my Mac, please share!). Engie has been a bright spot in my life for over a year […] - [The year that was](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2025/01/the-year-that-was/): 2024 had bright spots as well as challenges…and for me, it was the year that i remembered who I am and what I love. I credit all of you with spurring me on to go back to the things that make me, me. Your comments, your suggestions, the ways in which you live your lives – all of the things I love about all of you – reminded me that yes, these were things (well, many of them) that I used to love, too. Reading This is probably the most striking change. Friends, this was the year that I rediscovered […] - [Current state](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/12/current-state/): I hate posting things that are not positive, particularly in this space between the years, but this is where I am right now, and this is one of the few places (virtual and real life) where I can be fully me. I’m not going to lie – 2024 for me was like being on an endless roller coaster that sped up over the course of the year. A conglomeration of challenges made just getting through seem like a victory. And here I am. So, what is my current state? I think it’s best summed up by Adam Grant’s article on […] - [Looking ahead](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/12/looking-ahead/): I might write a post about my hiatus from this blog, but I might also just move ahead and look forward. I’m still pondering what and how much to share. Right now, though, I’m trying to look ahead. Near distance and far. What will life bring in the first half of 2025? (Spoiler alert: A LOT more work than I was planning…sigh) What will life start to look like over the next few years? The next ten years? The next 20? I can’t do it all at once… right now, my gaze (and my goals) are focused on making it […] - [Gratitude](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/11/gratitude-2/): It is Thanksgiving week here in the US, so this will be one of many posts you will see on gratitude. This one will be short, I promise. I’m just dipping a toe back in, re-emerging into this space after far too long, and hoping to reconnect with all of you. Because that is the point of this post. I may find it difficult right now to be grateful for the direction of our country, but it is never difficult to feel grateful for your presence in my life. You have kept me afloat, with your emails, and invitations, and […] - [Not quite yet](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/11/not-quite-yet/): I’m not quite ready to be back in this space, but wanted to let you all know that I am still reading your posts and hope to engage more soon. I miss you all. To those who are participating in NaBloPoMo, I am cheering you on. (And please don’t worry when you read this post – I promise, I’m fine.) - [Noticing](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/09/noticing/): Words and phrases about noticing, about paying attention, have seeped into my life this summer. Another nudge from the universe? Quite likely. The first time, it was the phrase, “What you focus on increases”. The quote is from a book, The Noticer, which was selected for a summer book club run by the American Nurses Association. I chose not to take part, and now I am regretting it, given the number of posts I saw that highlight the quote and some other takeaways from the book. (Has anyone read it? I trust all of your opinions more than I do […] - [Michigan Trip Day 2](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/09/michigan-trip-day-2/): Updated Sept 9 to add…photos! Tuesday – on to Grand Rapids! I wanted to see the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park and there happened to be a FLW house nearby that was offering tours the day I planned to be there. But first, I had to get there. The weather tried to thwart me – again. I decided to drive up through South Haven, but on the way had to pull off the highway to wait out another terrifying storm. At one point, I literally could not see in front of the car, and there was standing water. On the […] - [Michigan Trip Day 1](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/09/michigan-trip-day-1/): Well, this recap of my trip is taking much longer than anticipated. I should have taken a page from Birchie and drafted it while traveling. Live and learn. So, today you are getting day 1. It was one of the more eventful days, with a lot of driving and activity, so I suspect (and you probably hope) that the other recaps will be shorter. Monday, early early morning. I was so fried from my summer nuttiness that I had to force myself out of my apartment. But I managed it, and, as planned, hit the road by 0400. That’s when […] - [Choosing a path](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/08/choosing-a-path/): I’m working on the vacation recap, promise. It was a wonderful trip and it’s taking a bit of time to write up. So in the meantime, I’m sharing something that I thought about during my trip. This trip gave me long stretches of time to just…think. To let my mind wander – not think about work, or my to-do list, or anything like that. Just think. I started thinking about the path my life has taken, really thinking about it. Have you done this? Have you looked back at your path, at the choices you made, and wondered, “What if…?” […] - [(Definitely not) Ten for Thursday](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/08/definitely-not-ten-for-thursday/): This was going to be a Five for (LAST) Friday post. Then (maybe) a Six for Sunday. Here we are on Thursday – so you’re getting (definitely not) Ten for Thursday. Just a few things that have been happening, that I wanted to share, while I plan out a few upcoming posts. I hope you are all doing well here in mid (!!!) August. Take care of yourselves, and enjoy the last weeks of summer. Hope your road is a long one. May there be many summer mornings when, with what pleasure, what joy, you enter harbors you’re seeing for […] - [Discombobulation](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/07/discombobulation/): I have been discombobulated and out of sorts all week. Trying to get a blog post up but hitting a frustrating writing wall. (So you get this short one, instead…) Dealing with several things that came up suddenly at work that require most of my attention, taking it away from what I should be working on. Worrying about my friends who are in areas with horrible fires (Nicole, San, Julie, I hope you are all okay…). Thinking about everything I need and want to organize and declutter (especially the digital clutter…it’s taking over my life, I swear) and how taking […] - [Two principles](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/07/two-principles/): Two important principles I need to remember: Principle 1: The rule of holes: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. I’m not entirely sure how I managed to forget this rule for living, but, well, I did. I’ve found it relevant in work and life recently. At work, I’ve stopped digging on some projects that just needed to be put aside. They’re not priorities for now. I may never pick them up again. But I was in a hole, and I needed to just. stop. digging. In life, this quote came to mind when I realized that my […] - [Tuesday, again](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/07/tuesday-again/): It’s Tuesday, so time to subject you to a few more bits and pieces from life in the past few weeks… I’ve noticed that my life does not really change in rhythm when summer begins. I cannot remember who all has posted about the change to “summer life” when kids are out of school. I know Elisabeth has mentioned it, and I know it’s what I experienced as a kid. But now, life is more constant. I don’t mind that, but when I forget it? When I realize that summer isn’t going to be what it was (too many) years […] - [Tuesday politics & a bit of randomness](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/07/tuesday-politics-a-bit-of-randomness/): I had a great post queued (side note: is there a better word to type than “queue”? I would say no…) up for today. And then, yesterday happened. Warning: This post will include political comments, which I have not typically shared here. But the state of our country, the impending sense of doom I feel, and the potential demise of democracy are too much for me to ignore. If this isn’t your thing, or if you strenuously disagree with me, please skip this post. It’s been a bad week for Democrats, anyone who believes in democracy, anyone who longs for […] - [That feeling when...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/06/that-feeling-when/): …you come across something – art, a sign, a piece of writing, a book – and you think, wow. Wow. That was exactly what I needed, coming into my life exactly when I needed it. Twice, lately, this has happened to me. First, with a book (more on that in another post, promise). Then, with an old essay (close to 15 years old) by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have never read Eat, Pray, Love. I never understood the appeal. (But please, if I SHOULD read it, please make your case in the comments! I’ll consider it, I promise!) This is from […] - [On inertia, and breaking through](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/06/on-inertia-and-breaking-through/): First, if you came here thanks to Engie and her wonderful blog, welcome! And to those of you wondering who and what I am talking about, Engie is an amazing blogger who lives quite near me, has helped drag me out into the real world several times, and is celebrating the 20th (!!!) anniversary of her blog this year. To celebrate, Engie has requested guest posts from bloggers in our little blogger community, and for some strange reason, she asked me to write one. It went up on Sunday, and I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments and meeting some new-to-me […] - [Four more days](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/05/four-more-days/): I came across a word this weekend – a German word, no less (hi, San!) – that captures everything about this time of year for faculty. Torschlusspanik. According to the person who wrote the column, it means, literally, “gate close panic”. (San can, hopefully, back this up? It’s the same definition given on Wiktionary and what seems to be an actual German site, the local.) This person put it in the context of the end of the academic year – the rush to finish everything from the academic year so one can shift into the summer term (or summer break) […] - [Dipping a toe](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/04/dipping-a-toe/): I know this space has been quiet. I haven’t written for months. And I did consider just… not coming back. It’s been an interesting few months, months during which I questioned my place here, and what, if anything, I had to contribute. I love reading others’ posts, and gleaning insights from their experiences and lives, but have questioned whether I was – or even could – add to the conversation in the same way. Was I just adding to the noise? Yet I missed this space, and interacting – even in my limited ways – with others in this community. […] - [The other half of the proverb](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/02/the-other-half-of-the-proverb/): Well, we’re 12 days into February, and I am (finally) (again) posting here. (I removed the apology for not posting more frequently that was here in my first draft, as I know what the response would be. :)) Flipping the script a bit, I wanted to share some things from the other half of that proverb I love so much, “Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half sorrow.” So, this early Monday morning, here are some things bringing me joy… I’ll leave you with another joy quote to start off your week, and hope that it will include […] - [I feel like the internet could use a hug](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/02/i-feel-like-the-internet-could-use-a-hug/): It seems like 2024 has gotten off to a not-great start for a lot of people, many of whom are in the blogosphere that we all seem to be inhabiting these days. So, I’m just here to say, I’m sorry it sucks. I know I can’t understand what you are going through. And, if I were with you in person, I (not a hugger, mind you) would give you a hug. Remembering that “Shared joy is double joy. Shared sorrow is half sorrow.” And also, this, sometimes life sucks, and there’s nothing you can do to change it right now. […] - [Bits and bobs](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/01/bits-and-bobs/): So, classes FINALLY started. It seems later and later each year, I swear. My new group seems to be quite motivated but, well, it’s only been one class so far. We’ll see how today goes. At least they all seem to have done the pre-work for class, which is heartening. My students are all moving forward at what seems to be warp speed – again, heartening. They are really starting to forge their own paths and it’s so much fun to watch. And yet, I’m feeling kind of, well, blah. Part of it is probably the weather. As Engie and […] - [The four C's of January](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2024/01/the-four-cs-of-january/): And shockingly, the list doesn’t include cold. Although it certainly could. I am sorry, as usual, for my longer-than-expected absence from this space. I’ve had less time than anticipated during this “break” for things that feed my soul. Oddly, it seems as though things may calm down a bit when classes (finally) start next week. So, the four C’s. They’ve been ruling my life these last few weeks… may I introduce Chaos, Catastrophizing, Comparison, and (the desperate search for) Calm? It was not the start to 2024 that wanted or expected, despite my post on Bright Spots a few weeks […] - [(More) Random thoughts on a Saturday](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/more-random-thoughts-on-a-saturday/): It’s that in-between weekend, and for many of us, it marks the end of the “holiday” week at the end of the calendar year, and the start of the new year. I’m filled with some random thoughts today and thought I might as well get them out so they stop circling in my head… I’ve had a headache for 3 days running now. I really dislike taking pain meds, but I’m starting to think this beast may force my hand. It’s like there is a clamp on my temples. Sigh. (Update: I caved and took 2 ibuprofen at 2 pm. […] - [Bright spots](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/bright-spots-2/): I hope that everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Christmas that was what you wanted it to be, whether that is a small, quiet celebration, or a large and noisy gathering. And, for those facing hard times (and there are so many, these days, who are), I hope that you were able to find some light and comfort these past few days. Thinking of those hard times, I feel like I need to acknowledge that the world is very heavy right now, for many people. I try not to get too political on this blog, and I’m going to do […] - [Secret SANta 2023](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/secret-santa-2023/): I (finally) posted on Instagram this morning, thanking Julie, who shares her world at Thinking about Things, for her lovely gift. She really did a lovely job. And while she did not know it, she sent me down a path of happy memories of a wonderful time in my life. So thank you, Julie. I haven’t written about my past lives, or the places I have lived, yet. I’m old enough now that there are quite a few. But one of the absolute best was the year and a half I spent as a travel nurse on the West coast. […] - [Precarious balance](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/precarious-balance/): I feel like I am walking a bit of a tightrope this week. I’ve talked about how challenging the last few weeks of the semester are, when students are ready to check out for a few weeks (or, um, have already done so), so I’m not going to rehash that again. (I’m sure you’re relieved you don’t have to read [or skip] more of my whining…:>) But this semester there have been added challenges, and that’s added a rather thick layer of “other stuff” on top of my usual slog to winter break. Because I am who I am, this […] - [One that hit home](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/one-that-hit-home/): “The way to live a full life is to act quickly. Particularly as you grow older, it’s alarmingly easy to let a year or two (or five) slip by without doing the big things you always felt like doing. You get into a rhythm—not necessarily one you love, but one you become comfortable repeating—and the grooves of your daily routine become deeper and more established. Speed is perpetually undervalued. That doesn’t mean you should feel frantic or rushed. In fact, it’s likely you should eliminate some of the things that make you feel so busy to make space for things […] - [Limping to the finish line](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/limping-to-the-finish-line/): I hate to do this, but I need to start today with a brief whining session. I got 2 hours of sleep last night, and only because I went to bed ridiculously early. Why, you ask? Well, because the neighbors (yes, THOSE neighbors) had a party with people shrieking in the community room, the hallway, and their apartment from about 9:30-12:30. And also they had their music (and accompanying bass) up louder than ever. So loud that I was able to record it on my phone and can now share that with the apartment management. I’m at the end of […] - [Thanks! but also, this week...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/thanks-but-also-this-week/): Thank you to everyone who commented on yesterday’s post seeking printer suggestions. I hope you all enjoyed the throwback to the days of Windows ME. 🙂 This week is, quite possibly, the most challenging week of my professional life. We’re talking over 25 years here, people. This is when I start looking back at jobs I’ve had throughout my career, and pining for the simpler days of showing up, doing the work, and heading home. But it’s never that simple, is it? Even when I was in those positions, I was all in. I am, for better or worse, someone […] - [Crowdsourcing a solution & ooof](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/crowdsourcing-a-solution-ooof/): This week has been a WEEK. How is it only Wednesday??? I’m taking the easy way out today – I need help with something, and maybe one of you can help. I have this ancient printer. It’s so old that the driver download site includes Windows Me. Does anyone else remember that short-lived disaster? What it does not include is Windows 11. Which means there is no driver for my (new) laptop. (Note: This is a home printer, but I want to use it with both my work laptop and my home laptop.) I would like to find a small, […] - [Regrets...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/regrets/): I’m not going to be able to put up the longer post on the roads I’ve traveled, but I hope to get to that this week. It really is such an interesting idea, to me, at least. But I’ve been thinking last night and this morning about short- and long-term regret. I sometimes regret things that happened far back in my past – e.g., how I approached my college years, the groups with which I was involved, and that kind of thing. I also have short-term regrets. Today, I have some regrets (or, maybe, have had some second thoughts?) about […] - [The roads we travel](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/the-roads-we-travel/): I’m hoping to write a longer, more in depth post on this topic soon, but as a teaser for that… Do you ever think about the roads or paths you have traveled to get where you are today? I find myself looking back, sometimes, and honestly wondering how on earth I landed in this life. I love my life – this is not a post lamenting lost opportunities! But it is most definitely NOT the life I envisioned for myself in high school, college, or even graduate school (the first time around). I tend to think about my life as […] - [Not quite the respite I was hoping for](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/not-quite-the-respite-i-was-hoping-for/): Friends, I think I may have officially lost my mind. Remember how I was hoping to have a calm, quiet weekend to give myself a bit of respite from the nuttiness of this time of year? While I have partially succeeded, yesterday I had the opportunity to question my sanity. Why, you ask? Well, because I honestly thought that I could go to Target at 2:45 pm on a Saturday in December, park, and get in and out with my pick up order in a reasonable amount of time. I’ll pause while you burst into laughter. To say that did […] - [Respite](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/respite/): This was a nutty week, for sure. I’m coming in to the weekend grateful to have 2 days to reset, to have a bit of respite before taking a deep breath and plunging in (again) next week. I know it will be brief, so I hope to take the time I need to get some rest (literally and figuratively). I hope to catch up on the last of the NaBloPoMo posts (still forging through!) and spend some time doing things just for me. In addition to, well, catching up on the to-do list. Because let’s get real – many of […] - [Discombobulated](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/12/discombobulated/): I would swear I just had a post with this title but a quick review shows that it wasn’t in the last month. So I think I am safe. 🙂 I am having a discombobulated morning. Nothing major has gone off the rails, but everything I have tried to do has hit a minor stumbling block. Running in to work to grab a few things for the weekend, and finding that I didn’t have something I thought I did. Forgetting to put water in the coffee maker. Being unable to install my really ancient printer on my new work laptop […] - [Dragging](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/dragging/): I hope that the wonderful bloggers who have been doing NaBloPoMo are not dragging – because you have reached the end! And oh, it’s been wonderful reading your posts every day. I started posting every day (a complete change for me!) on November 8. I now have it in mind to post daily until December 8, so that I can at least say that I did a whole month of daily posts. 😉 So I’m not quite done yet. In my regular day-to-day life, though, I am dragging. The time between Thanksgiving and the end of the semester is always […] - [Juggling](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/juggling-2/): I know many of you juggle more than I can ever imagine. Kids. Spouses. Busy jobs. Busy lives. Friendships. Blogging. (:>) And yet, for each of us, what we do every day becomes the norm. Our definitions of “the norm” change over time, of course, but generally speaking, I think we all acclimate to what our lives are in this moment, and we do what we need and want to do to have the life that we have right now. I could go off on a tangent about how I am very, very lucky to have the life that I […] - [Expectations](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/expectations/): I’ll apologize in advance for a short post that’s potentially a bit of a downer, but this is top of mind this morning and it seems I’m sharing things more frequently here, so… Have you ever held someone to a standard, and been disappointed when they didn’t live up to your expectations? (Why do I suspect that is a rhetorical question? Perhaps I should ask if there are any unicorns out there who have never been disappointed by someone else…?) It happened to me yesterday, and it was hard to swallow. I expected one outcome and got something completely different. […] - [Not a questionable decision](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/not-a-questionable-decision/): An unexpected one, but not questionable. A few weeks ago, Stephany posted about how she was grateful that it was finally peppermint mocha season. OK, I confess – I scoffed. I’ve never been one for holiday coffees (no, not even pumpkin spice) and usually go for plain nondairy creamer in my coffee. But something about “peppermint mocha” made me think that I might actually like that taste. So when my grocery store had it on sale last week, I picked some up. Friends, this was not a questionable decision. It tastes so good – and so different from my usual! […] - [Questionable decisions](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/questionable-decisions/): Ever make a decision and then stop, and think, wow, that was really dumb? (If you said no, then I want to learn your magic, because this happens to me about every other week, if not more frequently…) Last week’s questionable decision: Opting to get my new laptop last Wednesday morning at 8 am. I’ll let that sink in. Who would choose to get their new laptop on the day before a long holiday weekend, when University staff are not working and even the Help Desk has a skeleton staff? Oh, and how about we make it a day when […] - [Saturday randomness](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/saturday-randomness-2/): Here we are again, Saturday, and my mind is blank when I try to think up a “good” post topic. And then I realized…there are so many random thoughts drifting through my head that it makes more sense to just get them out vs. letting them keep circling. And with that, I shall spare you any more of my random thoughts. A slightly pathetic post for a kind of gloomy but still enjoyable Saturday. Be well. - [Alone, but not lonely](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/alone-but-not-lonely/): There’s a difference between being alone – which I am, frequently – and being lonely – which, fortunately, is not something I experience on a regular basis. For me, there is joy in solitude, in being with myself, in the (relative) quiet of my small apartment. I spend time with others when I want to or need to, but solitude is my typical state of being these days. I know that doesn’t work for everyone, though. I was alone yesterday, on Thanksgiving here in the US. My parents have finally accepted that I can’t travel out East for this holiday, […] - [Connection](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/connection/): And gratitude, of course, for those connections that have become so important to me. A brief post today, just sharing a lovely paragraph from Susan Cain’s The Kindred Letters. So by all means, enjoy your dance parties and your family reunions, your dinners out and even your team-building exercises. But also notice the quiet ripples. Notice the way that each thought, each action, each step you take in the world, has vast and far-reaching effects that you never quite anticipated. And notice how these ripples are forming at this very moment, in ever-widening circles, all around you. That’s what connection […] - [Communities](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/communities/): Happy Wednesday, everyone. (Did anyone else grow up calling it hump day? As in, the hump in the middle of the week? My parents did and I still have the term in my mind as a marker of where I am in my week. :>) I started thinking about the communities that we have in our lives this morning – prompted by the realization that I have 3 communities that serve different purposes in my life. The mental wanderings started with thinking about support and love (of different kinds) and how I get those things from different people in my […] - [What prompted it...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/what-prompted-it/): So, my post on clutter and trying to rid myself of it didn’t come out of the blue. Kim had a comment on that post that nailed it: I have people who love me, whose love language is gifts. Of things, not experiences. My parents are wonderful people. Their love language is gifts. And they look for any opportunity to send me something that they think would be helpful, or fun, or useful. I love them for this, I really do. But it means that things will randomly show up in the package room from them without any warning. Recent […] - [Gathering all the motivation (and caffeine)](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/gathering-all-the-motivation-and-caffeine/): Starting my Monday hoping to power through on caffeine and the need to get. things. done. I’m staring down the last few weeks of the semester (um, four? I think there are four after this week?) and realizing just how bonkers it’s going to be. Guest lectures. Students needing to have their materials reviewed, commented on, and returned. Meetings (of course). And sprinkled in there, my desire to go through the clutter and get rid of some of it (or at least have a plan!). So I’m gathering my motivation and (being perfectly honest here) drinking all the caffeine. I […] - [All of the stuff](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/all-of-the-stuff/): Not getting too deep into anything today because my will to live has been sapped by grading papers and trying to make heads or tails out of some students’ writing. My brain kind of hurts. So instead, you get my overview of Stuff. As in, stuff and things. Literally. I have a love/dislike relationship with stuff – and by this, I mean anything from clothing to small appliances to food to cleaning supplies… Basically, anything in my apartment that has physical dimensions and is not me. I know I need stuff. I also know I don’t want a lot of […] - [Saturday Randomness](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/saturday-randomness/): Well, my no-peopling weekend is going to be challenged by running errands this morning. Eeps. I plan to go straight to self checkout, though, to avoid all possible interactions. The question is, will I pick up a lipstick at Target (some of the more makeup-savvy people reading this probably just fell over…sorry…) to try Elisabeth’s trick? I know you will be waiting with bated breath to find out. 😉 Other than that, it’s a working weekend. We do not have a Thanksgiving (or Fall) break, which means next week is the usual mishmash for me of teaching, meetings, and other […] - [Better late (and very short) than never?](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/better-late-and-very-short-than-never/): I’m skidding in near the end of the day (well, workday) here to get something up, because I like my posting streak and didn’t want to break it. Huh. Who would have thought? Anyway! A few highs and lows from this week… but more highs than lows, I promise: Highs Low-ish things Have a wonderful weekend, all. Here’s hoping I can keep my mini streak alive. 😉 - [Random question and...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/random-question-and/): …an update on the book that I am reading with my friend. (I know, you are so excited right now!) First, I want to thank Elisabeth for sharing her hack for adding color to her cheeks (I feel like I should use the Canadian spelling of “colour” in order to properly honor her suggestion… :>): using a bit of lipstick for color on her cheeks. I think this might actually work for me – I always look a bit TOO red when I use actual blush, but this seems like it might be more subtle. Now… to determine if I […] - [My (exceptionally boring) morning routine](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/my-exceptionally-boring-morning-routine/): Caveat: I am not putting times on this post, as my sleep schedule is completely wonky right now. I get up very early. I hope to shift things back closer to normal – at least, normal for me – soon. Stephany asked about my morning routine, which kind of made me laugh. It’s very boring, as you will soon see, and is likely very different from the morning routines of those of you who have kids and spouses/partners and long(er) commutes. I’m only responsible for myself – no one else to prod awake, no one who needs a lunch or […] - [Joy in the universe](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/joy-in-the-universe/): I’ve mentioned Holstee on here before, but I’m not sure if I have mentioned the associated app (Reflection.app). I use it every night as a kind of “download” of the day. They have prompts – quotes, which of course I love – and allow you to tag entries with things like “Highlight”, and other tags you create. Anyway, I don’t use the prompts often, but yesterday’s really spoke to me: Joy in the universe, and keen curiosity about it all – that has been my religion. – John Burroughs This reminded me of the wonderful word from A Swiftly Tilting […] - [All of the things](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/responsibility/): Warning: Potential for whining ahead. I feel like the number of things I am involved in at work has tripled in the past 1-1.5 years. In my personal life, of course, I’ve always been in charge of my own life, happiness, etc. Who else would or could be? At work, though, all of a sudden it seems like I am working with more students than ever. Several of them are doing independent studies. I need detailed notes to remind myself of who is interested in what concepts and which populations, and what the next steps are. Thank goodness for my […] - [Double takes](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/double-takes/): Life in an apartment complex can be interesting. Just checking the mail, or taking out the trash, can make me wonder, who are the people with whom I share this space? Take, for example, the tires. I can’t tell you the number of times that I have gone into the tiny package room and found 3 or 4 full sized car (or truck?) tires taking up pretty much all of the floor space. This happens much more frequently than one would expect, even in a building that probably houses a few hundred people. And it raises a bunch of questions… […] - [Do you go all in on holidays?](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/do-you-go-all-in-on-holidays/): I promise I am not trying to generate controversy, but inquiring minds want to know: Do you love holidays ? Do you like to decorate? (I know the answer for some people who wander by here when I put my blather on the internet…) Because I really don’t. I don’t know when this shift happened. Was it when I was working shifts at the hospital and was working most holidays? Was it after I moved out here and was living alone and didn’t need to do anything – like decorate – for others? But I am not into holidays, any […] - [Let's go for three in a row...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/lets-go-for-three-in-a-row/): I’m not promising four, but since Beckett asked about what I was reading, and I had thoughts on that (and a question), here we are at 3. Perhaps a record for me. So, right now I’m reading a trashy Jenny Colgan book as my bedtime book, which is fine but also has a character who is driving me bonkers. That character hasn’t shown up for about 100 pages so my experience has markedly improved. My other book is Running with Sherman. This is a buddy read with a friend from high school. We have done nonfiction buddy reads – usually […] - [An answer, an intention, and a question](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/an-answer-an-intention-and-a-question/): I know you’re all waiting with bated breath to find out… how were the jeans? And (because I am a kind person, and it’s early in the morning), the answer is… not bad. They are not new jeans, so they were comfortable in that broken-in-jeans kind of way. And they didn’t pinch, or fall down, or do anything untoward that made me want to run back to my leggings. That said, I did change into comfy pants when I finally got home (WHY did I pick my longest day in the office this week to try this??). But that’s par […] - [A test - and a mindless post](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/11/a-test-and-a-mindless-post/): So, after seeing several people post during NaBloPoMo (thank you, San!) that blogging a bit daily is easier than long posts every once in a (long) while (ahem), I’m posting a rather, well, minor post today. I have a whole post queued up on connection and disconnection and how I struggle connecting. And it occurred to me that, to connect, sometimes you have to reach out. Duh, me. I’m running a test today. Of what, you ask? Something in class? Nope. Jeans. I have had a hard rule for the past almost-four years that I will only wear pants with […] - [Here I go...again](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/10/here-i-go-again/): Another Monday morning. Another week. And another chance to do this a bit differently. I want to take time in the morning – again – to start my working day a bit more mindfully. I’d really like to read a chapter in a book, or a few email newsletters that I get. Something not-work. And I struggle every. single. time. I try to make this change. Why is this so hard for me? You’d think it would be easy, right? Break the habit of opening work email and my To Do list app (this thing has been life-changing for me […] - [Rest](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/09/rest/): It’s been nearly a month and I haven’t yet written up my Chicago trip. But it actually relates to today’s post, which has been percolating in my brain for the last few days. The semester has started, and with it the sense of drinking from roughly 5 fire hoses at once, trying to manage all of the information and interactions and responsibilities. I worry constantly that I will drop not just one critical ball, but possibly all of them. This year, I’m juggling more than I have in past years (don’t ask how many independent studies I’m currently overseeing…). And […] - [Currently...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/08/currently-2/): …finding it hard to believe I’ve been away from this space for so long. This was not a planned absence, believe me. I have wanted to come here, to write, to reach out (AGAIN) for a long time now and haven’t been able to muster up the energy? courage? will? to do so. ….kind of wondering why I am here. I don’t want to use this space as a place to complain, and I suspect that is the reason my writing mojo has left me recently. It’s been a tough summer, friends, so instead of focusing on the past, I’m […] - [Random life things](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/06/random-life-things/): Life. So much randomness. So much weirdness. I suppose it’s what keeps me coming back for more every day. Well, that, and reading your blogs… So without further ado, some random life things from the past month-ish… Including snippets from my trip to see my family. 🙂 - [Disappointment](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/05/disappointment/): It’s been a while. A long while. Even for me. There are reasons, but first, again, I’m sorry for the disappearance. I still need this space to process, to think out loud, to send my inner ponderings out into the universe, even if it’s kind of anonymous. There’s something about writing here that reminds me that I don’t just exist in a vacuum – I’m still part of the world, despite feeling disconnected at times. Right now, though, I’m overwhelmed by disappointment and frustration. Why, you ask? After planning for months and (finally) starting to feel a sense of anticipation […] - [Stuff](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/05/stuff/): A few weeks ago, Engie (Hi Engie!) posted about her collection of bowls, and whether that makes her a collector of things. I left a long-winded comment, as is my wont, because her post made me start thinking about whether I consider myself a collector. I grew up in a family of collectors. My father has, believe it or not, one of the larger collections of antique spectacles and related material in the country. My mother always claimed that she does not collect anything, but well, let’s just say her collections of snowmen, cookbooks, and other ephemera tend to say […] - [When you make a dumb decision...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/04/when-you-make-a-dumb-decision/): I try very hard not to make dumb decisions. Despite my best intentions, though…they happen. Last Friday was one of those times. I was at a conference in Des Moines (I thought about not saying where, but since location is key to my dumb decision, it didn’t make sense…). I went down Thursday, had a wonderful day Friday (poster presentation, catching up with former students and colleagues, and even some current colleagues who I see infrequently), and then drove home Friday night. I needed to be home for the weekend not only to work, but also because I really need […] - [Grounded](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/03/grounded/): I read this recently on Rachel’s blog: On Friday I listened to this episode of Deep Questions and I’ve decided I need to be much better about my remote work discipline.  So often I find myself in the almost meditative state of replying to emails, sending teams messages, finishing one random thing from my inbox.  I know that this isn’t efficient but I love the tiny series of accomplishments I get from the bits and bobs. BUT, no one is going to promote me because I responded quickly or wrote 60 emails in a day.   I need to be a lot better […] - [Setting the record straight](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/02/setting-the-record-straight/): Subtitle: a fun get-together with NGS/Engie/NGradStudent. As those of you who read NGS’/Engie’s blog know already, we met up at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens last Saturday, during their open house. To be clear, we were not intending to go the weekend of the open house, but, well, that’s how it turned out. Despite the crowds – and my hideous social awkwardness – we had a wonderful time, and had some unexpected, fun experiences. The best surprise? They had the greenhouses open! As in, “here’s where the magic happens”. It turns out that Engie is – not surprisingly – someone who […] - [Showing up](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/02/showing-up/): It’s already one week into February, and I’m finally at the point where I am ready to set an intention and some related aspirations/intentions for the year. I know most people do this in January. I wish I could do this in January. But thanks to the vagaries of the academic calendar, and my tendency to schedule my annual review as soon as possible in the Spring semester, January is not a good time for me to be looking forward. And yet. I’ve had my word(s) for the year selected for weeks now. I’ve been considering some aspirations (let’s not […] - [Routines, ringing bells, and reality](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/02/routines-ringing-bells-and-reality/): Oliver Burkeman (yes, I know I need to read Four Thousand Weeks…) writes one of the best newsletters I receive. Recently, he wrote a long post titled, “Because the bell rings”. I wound up saving the whole post, but will only share pieces here. I can forward you the email if you are interested in reading it, though. It really resonated with me, particularly as I face reality on February 1, and rip off the band aid. So to speak. 🙂 From Oliver Burkeman’s newsletter, December 19, 2022: …there’s often a deep tension between the desire many of us feel […] - [Some highs and lows](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2023/01/some-highs-and-lows/): Life, as always, is a series of highs and lows. Never of great amplitude, but enough to influence how each day feels as it ends…So, some recent highs and lows off the top of my head (in other words, not one of my typical posts that I dither over for days… ;>). Highs Unexpected acts of love – This one is a bit odd, but, well, I’ve thought about the unexpected little acts of love that show up in my life, two pop up: The upcoming trip to Ireland! Although this is also a serious source of anxiety. Friends, I […] - [Surfacing...I hope...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/12/surfacing-i-hope/): …for what seems to be the millionth time. Sigh. Also, wow. I didn’t expect to be away for a month. Over a month, to be honest. This month turned out to be one of the most challenging yet of my working life. Personally, professionally, spiritually, and physically. As a result, I haven’t shown up here, and that I haven’t shown up for myself. I’ve neglected this blog, and the joy I get out of interacting with those of you who still come to read. I’ve neglected my physical and psychological health, by never taking days off from physical exercise or […] - [The order of things](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/11/the-order-of-things/): Alternative title: Priorities. Are mine in the right order? It’s been A Month, friends. I knew November was going to kick my rear and it truly has. I think it was the travel out of state, combined with several things at work finally moving forward (and therefore requiring my involvement/participation/presence), that sent me over the edge. I have finally managed to feel like I have a grasp on my time, and my to do list, now. Which, of course, means that we’re heading into the end of the semester and things are going to get bonkers again. I haven’t been […] - [On expiration dates and doomscrolling](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/11/on-expiration-dates-and-doomscrolling/): I’m mindful that the road ahead of me is way shorter than the one behind me. ~Maria Shriver, in her Sunday Paper from 11/6/2022) How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. ~Annie Dillard  April 22, 2022 ~Expiration date on cheese purchased last Thursday (just as a reminder, that was 11/2/2022…) I’ve been thinking about expiration dates, life behind me and life ahead of me, and doomscrolling recently. I haven’t been writing here, with the usual excuse of not-enough-time-busy-busy-busy. I haven’t been journaling in my handwritten journal. Where I have been mini-journaling is in the Reflections app, a favorite of mine (linked with my Holstee account) that […] - [Test](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/11/test/): Test post - [Bright Spots](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/10/bright-spots/): I wanted to get my previous post off of the top of the page. While it was cathartic to write it, to complain, to share my frustrations, that’s not what I want to focus on with this blog. No, life isn’t always rainbows and bunnies. But. Life is good, in general. It’s my attitude (and, honestly, the way I live that life) that I need to work on. So today I wanted to share some bright spots from the last week. My blogging friend Elisabeth talks about “joyfinding”, which is such a lovely and appropriate term. But I don’t want […] - [Second thoughts](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/09/second-thoughts/): I just unpublished a long, whiny post after some second thoughts. I’m going to do some judicious editing and repost it, but… just in case there’s a broken link out there, that’s why. (I was feeling sorry for myself, wrote a bit too much, and, well, no one needs to read all of that. :>) - [Enough](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/09/enough/): Note – This is an edited version of the even whinier version I posted briefly on Friday afternoon. I left most of it intact (that’s why it says I wrote it Friday) but modified how detailed I was in my description of my day. ***OK, and further edited to add (10/4) that I recognize my extreme privilege, and this is such a first-world problem. There are people suffering and dying without water, or food, or shelter. There are people dealing with the aftermath of multiple climate disasters. And I’m complaining about a situation I put myself in. I absolutely know […] - [Umwelt and "the other"](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/09/umwelt-and-the-other/): A long time ago, I wrote a post about the word sonder. Since you all probably don’t need or want to go back and read my random ramblings from 2020, the basic idea is that everyone is living their own lives, separate from yours. And that you will never have the privilege of knowing everything about those lives – only they will know that. Sonder came back to me when I read Ed Yong’s recent piece on Umwelt in The Atlantic. Umwelt is the concept that each animal (and I would include humans in this) has its own “sliver of […] - [Calm... and hope](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/08/calm/): OK, that’s not the most informative blog post title, but… it’s (mostly) what I am feeling as this week draws to a close. The post from earlier this week definitely reflected my state of mind at that time… but it’s always fascinating to me how things can turn on a dime, shifting my frustration and stress and, well, overall angst to a more positive outlook. Sometimes, the Universe delivers. And when it does, I feel compelled to say thank you. Plus, I feel like my blog has devolved into a whine-fest, and I don’t want it to be that way. […] - [Emerging, with some difficulty](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/08/emerging-with-some-difficulty/): Yet again, my long break from this blog was not intentional. At first, it was – I left for vacation with my family at the end of July and knew that I wouldn’t be posting that week. But I assumed I’d be here the week after that, perhaps recapping the trip (it was wonderful) or highlighting what I hoped August would bring. What August wound up bringing was, well, a bit of chaos. See, when I fractured my arm and had to have surgery, I also had to postpone a bunch of medical appointments and procedures that had been scheduled […] - [Monday musings & random thoughts...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/07/monday-musings-random-thoughts/): And, oh, yes, an update on the much-anticipated shower! I know you are all waiting with bated breath to know if I did get the shower that I was desperate for after two weeks. Ha! I did get the shower. It might have been the best shower I have ever had. Before, when I was dealing with medical issues (“crises” seems a bit strong… :>), I hadn’t had these types of restrictions. I had other ones (e.g., covering something while showering) but never the strict admonition to keep the dressing dry no matter what it took. Anyway, I came back […] - [How things have been going...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/07/how-things-have-been-going/): (Apologies for missed typos in advance…) Overall, I’m so happy with how things are right now. I mean, given the fact that I have a fracture in my arm that I didn’t expect to have, they’re going as well as I can have expected. The difference between now and a couple of weeks ago is amazing. I know everybody was freaked out when I said I had to have surgery, but honestly? It’s much better having had the surgery, than feeling the bones move around in my shoulder. Sorry to all of those who get squeamish about these things, I […] - [](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/07/712/): I promise a new post is coming soon. Hopefully you all won’t desert me if I keep focusing on this for a few days. I’m trying to process it for myself, as well as share with you what’s going on in my life. I will say, though, that I did have to have surgery. That was unexpected, since I was originally told that all I would have to do would be wear a sling for a few weeks and then start physical therapy. So it’s been a bit of an adventure, particularly because I live alone, as you know, and […] - [So, about the last two weeks...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/06/so-about-the-last-two-weeks/): What happened to me… Oh, my, where to start this story. I want to write it down before I forget it, as I know I will. Well, not the experience, per se, but the details. And I don’t want to forget them. As I’ve learned all too well over the years, these experiences that shape me come back to haunt me in the future, and I’d rather know and remember what happened, and when, so that I can be ready when that does happen. So where to begin? I traveled out east for a visit with an established specialist to […] - [Unexpected](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/06/unexpected/): Well, disappearing for nearly 3 weeks was not planned, to say the least. And sharing why will take a bit of time. So just…well, just a head’s up that if you’re paying attention to this random space on the internet, I haven’t been vaporized, and I promise I’ll be back to explain a bit more. I’m hoping to get some time to do this today or tomorrow… I do hope all of you who regularly stop by are well – I have been keeping up with all of your blogs as I am able, although my comments have certainly dwindled. […] - [Random voices from the past](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/06/random-voices-from-the-past/): I was thinking about this this morning, as I put on a very casual outfit for the day (think leggings + hoodie). I teach this afternoon, but I’m kind of over the idea of “dressing up” to teach for 2 hours. I’d rather be comfortable – and the students honestly do not care. Plus, I rarely see anyone else (faculty, administration, deans, etc.) when I go into the building this late in the day. Which is why it surprised me to have a voice pop into my head from, I kid you not, my junior year in college. It was […] - [Emerging...finally](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/05/emerging-finally/): Well, that was a longer pause in blog posts than I intended. Goodness. I think the last time I posted was nearly a month ago. I certainly didn’t plan to be post-less for so long, but, well, life and work and various and sundry “things” conspired to keep me from sharing my thoughts in this space. And wow, I missed it. Even if I am just putting these thoughts out into the ether, and no one is reading them, there is something cathartic about writing posts about what is on my mind. It’s different from what I write in my […] - [An ordinary life](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/05/an-ordinary-life/): ***Thank you all for your absolutely lovely comments on my last post. It took a lot to post that, and it took a lot out of me, to be honest. Reading your comments, and the support your offered me, made such a difference. So thank you. Again, I am grateful beyond measure for the community we have built. <3*** I’ve noticed a bit of a theme in the quotes and passages that I have saved in the last few weeks… the idea of striving for an ordinary life. That not all of us are meant to be extraordinary, shining stars, […] - [On photos, or the lack thereof](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/04/on-photos-or-the-lack-thereof/): NOTE: This got super-duper long, and I don’t expect anyone to read through to the bitter end. It was just important for me to put this out. 🙂 Also… this was a really vulnerable post to write, which I’m sure you’ll realize when (um, if) you read it. Something that has become increasingly clear to me – whether others have noticed or not – is the fact that I share very few photos on my blog. If you engage with me on Instagram – and follow me, especially – you may have noticed that the same thing is true over […] - [Crowdsourcing...](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/04/crowdsourcing/): OK, I’ve had a few questions circling in my head for a week or so now, and think that you all might be able to help me. Any insights/answers/suggestions to the following would be much appreciated… Can you wear black and brown together? I’m dead serious – I have no idea. I’ve alluded to the fact that I have, quite literally, no fashion sense. My clothing is one of the least interesting things about me. I grew up somehow thinking that one cannot wear black and brown together. But I’ve done it once or twice recently (note: not when I […] - [Heaviness and Courage (of course)](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/03/heaviness-and-courage-of-course/): Oh, friends. Despite my best efforts and intentions, it seems I can’t get here to write more frequently than every two weeks or so. I guess that is what will have to do, for now. I have so many things that I think of sharing with all of you during my days, and they never make it to the screen (and, perhaps you should be grateful for that, as my mind is truly a Random Idea Generator). As so many have acknowledged on their own blogs, the world is just so heavy right now. War, the pandemic, ongoing political… um… […] - [Sunday randomness](https://my-commonplacebook.com/2022/03/sunday-randomness/): **Edited to add** This post will come across as ridiculously frivolous in light of all that is going on in our world. I have been following the news out of Ukraine, of course, with a heavy heart. Yet, for the first time in a long time, I find myself needing to step away a bit. I still pay very close attention, but I also need to find space for non-doom-related thoughts. This post is in that spirit. I will come back to the war, and my thoughts, at some point. But for now, I’m finding that a bit too much. […] ## Pages - [About Me](https://my-commonplacebook.com/about-me/): This is still a work in progress, despite me originally drafting this a few years ago. Who am I? I’m an avid reader, self-professed nerd and introvert. I’m (sigh) approaching middle age, and still working on figuring out exactly who I am. My life has taken many unexpected twists, turns, ascents, and descents. Am I where I thought I’d be 25 years ago? Heck, no. But I am where I want to be, doing what I love to do. I’m a researcher and faculty member at a large University. I love to run, and work out daily to keep my […] - [My Commonplace Book](https://my-commonplacebook.com/1-page/): Welcome to My Commonplace Book. I’m currently in the process of setting up a new site, and working through some bugs (of course). Please bear with me, and I promise I’ll be back soon.  [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)