The light of day ...

Ah, the light of day(s) ... and the aid of a friend and reader! It would appear that my most recent musings have raised at least one eye brow - and for an arguably good reason.

It was less than 48 hours ago that I mused on my return to academia. I, rather inarticulately, explored my own thoughts about the distinctions between theory and practise ... academia and the less lofty pursuits of my prior employment history. My clumsy, pre-dawn ramblings may have raised the ire of more than one attentive reader, and for that I apologise.

Rather than annoy, I had hoped, instead, to articulate my own surprise, and occasional frustrations at the new surroundings in which I find myself. The productivity of said surroundings that my personal history has taught me to question. (Having said that - there is very little my personal history has not taught me to question).

For the record - the teaching profession is more than valuable - until humanity develops some type of genetic memory - teaching is essential. The methods of teaching, and of teachers, are plethora, and many (if not most) are good. It is to those, that I apologise for any slander my last post may have caused.

Blink ... Blink ... Blink ...

Okay - I can't sleep. 3 o'clock in the morning, and I'm wide awake! This is ridiculous ... and it's the second time it's happened in the last month or so.

Could be a number of things too ... school starts in less than a week - and this will likely be the last semester I spend in full time education for this programme. In some ways, I'm looking forward to returning to school. I don't know if you've ever heard of people who 'catch the travel bug' or who 'catch the acting bug' ... well ... I think I've 'caught the academia bug'.

In some ways this new found love is frustrating - I've always heard (and kind of believed) that 'those who can't do, teach', and I'm not even really talking about teaching, but being in the environment where people engage in the intelligent free exchange of ideas. Of course, one has to pay for that intelligent free exchange of ideas (hence calling into question the free part).

In some other ways, though, I'm looking forward to the completion of this degree and moving on. My friends at Myers'-Briggs would probably attribute this desire for closure to what they would call my "high J tendencies".

My lovely wife is on vacation this week, so we've had more time to catch up on things - again - that free exchange of ideas that the stuff of life sometimes interrupts. This has brought up a new mental snag for me (or should I just say another mental snag). I've realised that I'm also coming to terms with the fact that middle age is imminently looming.

I can just envision many of those who read this blog snickering into their pajama sleeves - most of my friends are older than I am, so my admissions may seems somewhat ... well ... maybe youthful.

On another note, in my email box today, I found a lovely email. A friend has invited me to take photos at his retirement party, later next month (see, older friends). This was a mixed blessing, because while I was very flattered that someone would trust me to record the images of such a significant event, and it is very significant, especially for him, I am also saddened because I realise how much this retirement thing is costing my friend, and how much grief work is going into it.

Well, maybe I'm going to crawl back into bed, and try to get back to sleep. Sweet dreams everyone.