Monday, October 19, 2009

Has it been this long?

Okay, WTF? Have I been in a time warp? Kidnapped by aliens? Where have I been? I'm asking you that like you know...

I'm breaking the silence! I've been tuning in to the blogs of others but haven't been in the mood to blog myself. But, I returned from Medieval Pop's wedding yesterday (indeed, they got married) and so I thought I'd dive back in before embarking upon yet another crazy week.

This will take bullet form:

1) The best news first: TD has been asked to come out for a visit and talk at Research Think-Tank (hereafter known as the Tank)!!! I'm so happy. It's been hard to try to get a time set for the visit to take place, but it will happen in early December. It's not (or at least it doesn't seem to be) because they're having other candidates out - in fact, TD posed many different Mondays over the next month and a half and for various reasons (all of which they were forthcoming about) it couldn't happen. Their research group is spread over 3 different states and during most of the other times TD could come (i.e., when there wasn't a wedding to go to!), various members of the group were traveling or they had some company-wide event to attend. So, he'll go out then and we hope they'll like him and hire him!

2) This news is particularly good because neither one of us is going on the academic job market this year - there aren't ANY jobs in our dismal lists that coincide geographically even a little. So, the Job Market Gnomes are sitting around and watching daytime TV, eating pop tarts, and generally growing squishy around the edges. My band of ninja warriors are considering subcontracting out for a while until I have a secret mission to send them on - if anyone knows of a small dictatorship that needs toppling in the next few months, their rates are reasonable.

3) I just recently went on a lovely trip to give a talk at a friend's college - it's so nice to be an invited speaker! I was on their college website as an event! The talk went well and the people and students were delightful.

4) I (blessedly?) still haven't heard about my manuscript or the article I sent out. I pray for the reprieve to continue through the end of the year. But now I'm starting to think that I should begin to consider my second project, whatever that may be. I know that many people already have their second major project in mind - but I don't. Jesus, how do I start to think of one? I feel like it took me so long to think of the first one! Maybe I should just play it a little cool for the next year and write a few articles? And work on getting this most recent book ms published, of course.

5) My birthday was last week - MW is now 35. I spent my birthday in an airport in transit from my talk visit. But tonight friends are taking me out to tacos and this weekend I got to see TD, so it has been the week-long birthday celebration.

6) We might have more great news soon....hmmmmm....

10 comments:

heu mihi said...

Happy birthday! Yay for the Tank visit! And as for the additional good news...I have a guess....

Phul Devi said...

Happy Birthday and Yay for you! Here's hoping all your future news is glorious and wonderful!

Enjoyo the tacos!

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

Yay, yay, and yay! Happy birthday and lots of good wishes to you.

Pilgrim/Heretic said...

Hmmm! Happy birthday, and I am most intrigued by the possible more good news. :)

Susan said...

Hippy Happy Birthday! I hope all the news continues to be good!

As for second project, I usually start with some part of the previous project that is unfinished. It morphs later. Or something that you cut out of the ms. that might be the start of something new. As you get into it it will change. But I'm a historian, so maybe this doesn't work in lit.

What Now? said...

Fingers crossed for the Dutchman and the Tank! (which really should be the title of an adventure story or band or something)

This old world is a new world said...

No. 6. Guessing, with fingers crossed...

Sisyphus said...

Happy Birthday! Sorry about the job lists being crappy, but hey: send the gnomes and ninjas my way! Pack 'em up in a box or something and shipp 'em on over here, cause I need all the ass-kicking I can get!

Oh, and keep us posted!

Belle said...

All fingers/toes crossed for TD's talk and hiring. Belated Happy B-day!

As for second project, I'm with ya sister. I thought I had one, got all the basic reading at hand... and haven't touched it. I seem to be stalled. So if you figure out something on that front, be sure and pass it along.

Fifi Bluestocking said...

Great news about the Tank! Keeping everything crossed ... And I hear you on the second project - I'm totally stumped there too.