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10
Oct 25

Cutting pieces off

I went in for a little medical procedure today. This was planned. I am fine. We scheduled this several months ago. There was a mysterious spot no one liked on my back. (I, however, was fine with it. Couldn’t see it. Wasn’t bothering me.) So they did a biopsy. The lab work determined it was the sort of thing that’s not a danger today, but you don’t want it around tomorrow. And so today was that day.

There was bleeding and stitches. I’m calling it a surgery. There was not enough anesthetic. There is never enough anesthetic. For the record, should you be with me when I need medical attention, it is general anesthetic or bust.

The guy asked me what I would like, as I had had time to peruse their generous offerings on the menu, accessible by QR code. I said I’d take the local, and then two regionals, please and thank you. Oh, I played it tough. I said I don’t want to feel the sensation of you tugging on my skin, even in the areas around the professional butchery. In truth, I want to be down the hall, around the corner, and across town at the mall. I don’t want to remember any of this.

Especially when the local begins to wear down. Which did happen. And I don’t want to hear you and your assistant discussing the finer points of the size of the suture material. Get the good stuff. Get it fast. Let’s stop the bleeding and have a blast.

I tried to enter into a discussion with the guy — hey, he let me stay conscious and that was his choice — about all of the things I can and can’t do in the next several weeks of recovery. I think he came to think I was arguing with him, but I saw it as a negotiation. What if I do this, but not hard or well? Finally his colleague laughingly said I can’t do the dishes for two weeks. And yard work, that’s right out. I guess the new phalanx of ninjas will see their training delayed, as well.

I am told the incision was the size of a couple of quarters. And I’m sure it will not feel pleasant tomorrow. I am to treat with alternating dosages of Ibuprofen and Tylenol.

What in the wide world of medicine is going on with these orders?

The dressing has to get changed twice a day for the next two weeks. Stitches come out in 14 days. And, supposedly, I am to take it easy for three to four weeks, though even the derma-guy said, “But you have to live your life.”

So I’ll milk it as long as I can, I guess? Or until I go stir crazy or feel guilty about not pulling my share around here.

Hey, at least the local stayed with me for much of the day. Operating under the idea that I’ll be equally uncomfortable wherever I am, we went to watch an Army-Navy doubleheader. Women’s soccer, and then men’s soccer. I even saw the Goodyear blimp.

The Middies won the women’s game. And before the men played The Leap Frogs jumped onto the field.

Catober, Day 10

cycling / photo / podcast / Rowan / Thursday — Comments Off
9
Oct 25

Classes and bicycle clicks

Once again, a quickish post, because that is the theme of late. It is a necessary theme. Why, I do not really understand, but it just is.

We’re entering a little podcast section of the criticism in sport media course. Today was our first. They’ll listen to a different style of production next week. And, two weeks from today we’ll have a little midterm exercise on a third style of podcast. After which, we will move back into video products. By then we’ll also be halfway through the term, and I am hoping we’ll start turning a corner into some real critical analysis. But, today, we discussed this.

It was clear that some people actually listened to this episode. And not all of them especially liked it.

There are six or eight general styles of podcast, this sits in perhaps two of those little worlds, and it is well done. Also, the story is a good one, and it is well produced. But it didn’t land to the degree that I’d hoped. One key task in teaching media criticism is to convince people of the need and value of critical analysis even when it’s not your favorite subject matter. The episode above is the final installment of a four-part serial about money in college basketball. The exploitation and the exploited. That should be fairly mainstream for a sports media audience. The podcast they’ll listen to next week is a bit more of a back-and-forth talk show. Maybe that’ll solve our problems.

In the org comm class I returned the students into their groups — they are running a fantasy football league as part of the class — and pretended to be their GM, telling them each to nominate and pitch one of their players as a feature story for Monday Night Football. At the end of the class they all gave a give spiel. Then we all voted on the best one. One group got a few extra points for having the best story and best pitch, almost by unanimous consent. And, truthfully, they were ready to help the MNF producers tell a great story.

When we got home this evening my lovely bride told me to go on a bike ride. I do what I’m told. She had to go do something else, but I got to pedal away into the early evening air.

Normally, I would avoid or crop or otherwise edit a little power line out of my photos, but I liked the way the sunlight was bouncing sharply off the underside of this one.

And my timing was just right, such that i got a terrific shadow selfie. I’ve almost got the technique here down, as you can see.

It was just a little 50-something minute ride, through and around town, but I was grateful for the chance to get out and do it. (Thanks, hon!)

This is going up the little hill where our subdivision is. So, once again, I was able to time this out pretty well. Power lines notwithstanding.

That’s it. Tomorrow will be less fun than this, but at least it starts the weekend!

Catober / photo — Comments Off
9
Oct 25

Catober, Day 9

photo / Rowan / Wednesday — Comments Off
8
Oct 25

An open house day

We spent much of the day on campus. It was a welcome back open house. We were all encouraged to attend, make nice, be in our offices and look refreshed and recharged. We are six weeks into the semester.

Branding issues aside, it was a big success. There was a fire alarm and firefighters and students interested in our programs and a lot of life and energy and vitality, which is what we were hoping for. And I even got some grading and other work done.

I am never going to get caught up, though. Maybe next week. Or the week after. Definitely by the week after that one. That’s what it might take. Today didn’t cause the problem, but there were about four hours that didn’t get devoted to the problem for all of the fun of seeing friends and meeting new people and so on.

The best part, perhaps, was listening to the young woman standing outside my door telling someone else she was going to finish this degree, and then get a master’s degree in that, and another master’s degree in this other, and then maybe an MBA, and then get a PhD. I applaud that enthusiasm, would that everyone had it in the classroom. But I wondered: has she discussed these ambitious plans with her parents and financial advisors? And, also, will I be working for her one day?

Somehow, when we left, it was almost dark. I mean, come on, I took this photo at 6:22 p.m.

Surfers chase an endless summer, I just want to chase long daylight hours. Hours which I can sit in my house or office and admire as the day passes me by, mostly, but still. Don’t judge me, I have fair skin and a lot of reading to do.

OK, the continuation of a light week. I also have two classes to prepare for tomorrow, and then the rest of everything else, as well. Until tomorrow, enjoy Catober!