An "archive" entry, reprinting basically what was on my Facebook (with a few comments included), of updates from my 28-29 June journey from New Orleans to Chicago. Optimized for a window about 1200 pixels wide, but I don't know the HTML code to fix my browser entry's width like that, so beware the clutter if you have a wider browser window!


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My schedule has been kind of nightmarish the last few weeks, not only with lots to do as the semester comes to a close, but also with big and sudden adjustments to have to make, sometimes close to the last minute. It's made things exciting, though, too, in a modest, academic kind of way.

My dash up to Cincinnati was put under strain right away ( Read more... )

Rainstorm passing overhead without much fuss. Suddenly, after it seemed to have given up all its energy, it let loose with a sudden flash of lightning that struck nearby and a single thunderclap that not only shook the house but also set off all the car alarms in the neighbourhood. I confess a certain childish glee in that moment ( Read more... )

Enjoyed two weeks of hospitality from family, with Leslie and Jim being generous as ever in opening their place up for a long stay, with Mom pitching in when they needed their space to host Jim's brother John's family. So I got to enjoy all that time with family, and more competitive Wii than I thought possible with my nieces, while also spending ( Read more... )

It's kind of a glum holiday. Since I've never been part of the "fly home for Thanksgiving" crowd - always being close enough to drive, or in the last several years in Milwaukee, just jump on the "10" bus outside my apartment, since we always have Thanksgiving at my Aunt and Uncle's in Milwaukee - I forgot the basic wisdom of buying a plane ticket ( Read more... )

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Yesterday was one of those brilliant days where just about nothing went according to plan, and that the whole day was far more fabulous as a result. I went in to the University to pick up a book that a student had borrowed overnight and to let a student take a make-up exam. I was only expecting to be there for An hour before heading back to my ( Read more... )

Mike Novak, Southerner. Nope. Not quite there, yet. I mean, I'm there there, having arrived at my new apartment in New Orleans at about a quarter to midnight last night. My landlord's agent, Leslie, was beyond awesome in letting me take a cab to her place and getting the key from her, along with a lift over to the apartment. She said she was a ( Read more... )