Kona, day 19

Thursday, April 9

Kona, day 19

A few strong resources for both diversion — https://artatatimelikethis.com/ and https://www.nytimes.com/article/short-films.html — and reflection.  Found this last essay particularly helpful.

Today not terrifically productive , but did get a few things done.  A few notes written in the morning; and thoroughly enjoyed a lesson with a very bright and engaging perspective student. That hour of teaching helped me focus on why I continue to be in academia, and to let go of yesterday’s interaction with asinine colleagues. [I don’t understand why that word isn’t spelled assinine.]

Also got in a very quick trip to the grocery, and packed up some things to mail home to save checked-bag space/weight.  [One would think the airlines won’t enforce weight limits on empty flights, but we’re not betting on it.]  Began writing a letter of reference for a fabulously talented colleague who’s evidently nearly hired by one of the strongest programs in the country (for many years); as most universities are clamping down on hiring just now, this hire seems close to concluding and it’ll go through.  He’s a massive talent, the program is world-class in every way, and they’d be a great match, I think.  Finished with a bit of the online course I’m taking, just about an hour’s worth. 

I look at this little list of what the day’s doings, and it seems reasonable.  Yet it felt like I spent the day watching movies and doing crossword puzzles. 

I have no sense of these days, the passage of time; rather just the feeling of floating through without sustained focus, touching base with the horrid news of the hour and feeling the misery of the state of things.

Which, I suppose, takes me back to the NYTimes essay I noted earlier.

Still, though, as ever, fortunate to know that all in the sphere of my loved ones remain safe and healthy.