Work, Fun, and Love

Wow, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks, with lots of work and lots of fun!

First, the work… As many of you know, I am leaving my Ph.D. program and taking the Master’s in December. In some respects, this is not an easy decision. I love what I study. I really get excited about reading political science and public policy literature, thinking critically about it, and taking classes where we then have engaging discussions about it. I look forward to contributing to the field by teaching, researching, and writing. Yes, I am a big nerd. However, for a variety of reasons, this is not the time for the Ph.D. I had a great first year and am having fun now in my program, but there are so many other priorities that I must take care of now. So, instead, I have busily been finishing up all my coursework this semester, preparing for my graduation and subsequent move to Texas, and applying to jobs. The combination of activities keeps me extremely busy, but I have managed to enjoy life, too.

Now, for the fun! I love Michigan in the fall. A bunch of friends and I visited a cider mill and a corn maze, which is quintessential fall in the Midwest. It was a lot of fun. I never would have been exposed to such colorful foliage (I saw color in New England, but I spent most of my time in the city, never exposed to the full extent) and outdoor fun in Texas. In my part of Texas, the most abundant foliage is the mesquite tree, which grows about five feet tall, is mostly brown with minimal green, and has thin limbs and thorns as its main appendages. Doesn’t it sound beautiful? Nope. Well, this is why when I went to college and bought a beautiful plant at a non-profit fundraiser, I insisted that it was a tree. It had green leaves and stood about four feet tall. If we call the mesquite a tree, I reasoned, this plant certainly qualifies. Yes, I mostly said these things to irk my roommates in the obstinate, dramatic way I defend all of my claims, but there was a part of me that really believed my plant was a tree. Of course, I killed poor Alfred, my tree, after never learning how to nurture greenery during my childhood. Sure, we watered our dirt at home in hopes of sprouting up grass, but it rarely came to life.

I took a road trip to Columbus, OH, last weekend to visit a good friend who just moved there to work on his MBA. We had such a great time visiting Jason. Amy, Jake, and I also had a memorable road trip, taking part in great conversation and belting out all kinds of songs. The biggest hits seemed to be Michael Jackson and, wait for it, wait for it, Boyz II Men!!! Who knew Jake kept such music on his iPod?!! Yes, most people would probably expect it from me (and, yes, I do have a whole CD of their greatest hits), but it was Jake who provided us with the classics. Amy sat in the back amused as Jake and I sang our hearts out to “Bended Knee.” Of course, some of the lines are ridiculous, and we paused to laugh hysterically at one particular line: “I’ll never walk again, until you come back to me, I’m down on bended knee.” I hope that my wife is OK with dancing to a Boyz II Men song for our first dance. I will passionately sing every word into your ear. Please, ladies, you know that’s romantic and H-O-T-T…and totally me (in that half-joking, half-serious, half-attractive, half-dorky sort of way)!

Yeah, there’s a bunch of other fun stories, but I will spare you for now. Ladies, if you think you wanna listen to my Boyz II Men collection, give me a call. Just be prepared to fall in love with me, for nobody sings about love quite like B2M ‘n’ I!

Efficient vs. Anal

I shared a story with a few friends yesterday and today, and I thought that I would share it with others in order to elicit opinions. I was walking to class Wednesday morning, and I happened to bump into one of my classmates on my way there. This was my first conversation with the girl, and as I look back on it, I am a little frightened to think about her opinion of me. Here's how it went down:

I crossed the street and encountered the girl. We exchanged pleasantries, and she then asked for the time. I told her that it is 8:20. Our class starts at 8:30, but the professors really don't begin lecturing until 8:40, as is customary in most schools. She said that she was proud of herself for being ten minutes earlier than she usually is. I told her that I was ten minutes later than usual, and she must have noticed that I was speedwalking (I guess she was about five feet behind me as she said this) because she said that she would speedwalk with me. Honestly, I was really upset at myself for leaving later than my usual time, and I really was on a race to the classroom before I encountered her. That morning, I became so wrapped up in reading political commentary, and I left later than usual. Anyway, I told her not to worry about speedwalking because I really was attempting to not be as punctual as I usually am. I told her about how much time I waste showing up early to everything. She said, "Wow, you're really trying to rein in your anal side." I agreed. What?!! Why did I agree? By trying to control my anal side, I perhaps come across as even more anal. I really do think about efficiency quite a bit, and thinking about efficiency as much as I do makes me a little anal. I do not think I am out of control, though.

There is another component to this time-wasting, and it is the answer I should have given. I show up early to every class, and I often get frustrated not because I waste so much time, but because I am really bored during this time. I usually have all my reading done, so I sit there. And wait. And wait. That answer would have made me seem less anal and much cooler, which I think (or hope) I am. Instead, this girl thinks I am a freak. lol.

So, am I as laid back, cool, and collected as I think I am, or did I give this girl the right impression of me? Chances are that I will listen to your words, argue against them, and end up at my desired conclusion. Delusional, that's another one of my issues, but we should probably tackle one at a time! Still, let me know.