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AAYOR has an interesting post about life changes, online identity/ies, and blogging. Her post reminded me that in some ways I've been wondering about some (although not all) of the same issues. Specifically, recent blog posts aside, I am much less "cheeky" these day than I was when I first started blogging.
Don't get me wrong; I've not morphed into a church mouse nor have I given up all of my sarcastic, bitchy goodness. But due to various life changes the past couple of years, perhaps the most significant of which is one many of you followed here on this blog--my leaving Asshat University due to getting denied tenure and coming to Big State University--I am considerably less frustrated with life. I am, dare I say, content. And wow, content should not be underestimated! This has all led me to further contemplate the importance of liking one's work. At Asshat University I knew I wasn't happy but believed that unhappiness was restricted to my professional life. Now in retrospect I so clearly see the extent to which that professional stress and dissatisfaction influenced everything else in my life. It took some perspective--getting away from it--to see what should have been obvious.
Now that I enjoy my work again (sure, some students still piss me off; what professor doesn't experience that frustration?) everything else seems to be falling into place. Of course, when it comes to blogging, this also means I have to think longer and harder about blog posts because I have many fewer "you won't believe what moronic thing a student did this time" posts or "what an unbelievable clusterfuck this departmental meeting was" posts.
read more »Oooh, congrats on the baby girl! How exciting!
I had a similar experience in terms of realizing how being unhappy with my job made me unhappy with so many other things. It is amazing how much perspective you gain on a job after you leave it!
As for blogging - would love to see you blog more, about whatever you find interesting. (Though I suspect you will have much less time come summer! ;-D) But it is interesting to think about the different role it plays in our lives at different times.
So It's interesting reading your post and AAYOR's post because I actually started a blog this year to feel more a part of the community. I've been commenting and such for 3+ years but really only blogging for 2mos. And I'm not sure my heart's in it. Except that every so often I feel the desire to respond extensively to a post. I don't know if I'll keep it up, but I know I still feel part of the community just through comments. I think if you have an established personality and presence you can continue to participate at different levels.
Glad to hear from you!
I am in the midst of returning to being a vegetarian. Last year, I gave up all pork products. Now, I have given up all beef and limited chicken and seafood. I am feeling better because of it. I haven't blogged much about the change, but maybe I should.
How exciting! You need burpcloths and diapers and bottles and oooh! Yay!
Wow!!! Congrats on the impending adoption---how exciting! (and scary, yes, too, but it's a "good" scary, I'm sure!)
Oh, yay for the prospect of adoption. But I understand the freaking-out feeling of "I'm not ready yet!"
Still, I'm with you on the virtues of contentment. I am supremely content with my relatively small but very collegial situation.
WOW!!!! I can't believe that it may happen so soon!!!!! I am so fired up. I was thinking the other day about calling you re: your birthday in October and what you're/we're planning. Maybe meeting in St. Thomas is out (one thought I had) but if it means that I get to meet the little chica, I could settle for a fiesta in the midwest!!!!
You sound good. Really good. I'm curious about the fam stuff, though. (I facebooked your bro the other day and was tempted to email him, though I'm not sure how often he logs in. Don't tell him this, but he looks so OLD!!! Maybe its because I remember him as a lanky late adolescent... or maybe he just smoked one too many....)
I always admire people who adopt! Congrats!
My aunt was adopted from Korea in 1963. While her and my grandparents have had a serious falling out, I think she was always grateful that they took her out of a bad situation. She was a street kid in Seoul, and her mother (or someone else) had just dropped her off at a Christian mission. She was only 3 at the time.
Best of luck with this huge life change!
congrats on the new baby cheeky coming into your life, that is so exciting!!
i so know what you are thinking! even though he is not here, every day i think, this is so surreal, is it really happening?
i know you will be a great mommy, and you will love it. :)
Congrats on the baby and on the all round contentedness.
Congrats on two important happenings: contentment and a cheeky chica! Very cool, on both counts. Job stuff is amazingly important in establishing self content. I'm not there yet, so I laud you!
What exciting news about the adoption. Congrats!
congratulations on the baby news! that's fantastic. and if you ever need tips, pointers, advice, or links re: the veg thing, you know where to find me. ;)
Very glad you're back. Hope all goes well with the baby...and a daughter at that!
Wow. I have such mixed feelings about your news. You are so bitchy that I cannot imagine you would be a very loving parent. Profs don't have to be substitute parents but they do have to have some mentoring abilities and you have shown absolutely none in your rants against your students. I have wondered about the deal with your dog so it makes sense that you have a dog and not a kid. Please really get your act together before you make this decision. You can't change kids like you did universities. What you get is what you live with, love, nurture (if you have that in you which I doubt), support forever even if she is not the picture perfect baby/child/teen/young adult you think you deserve.
