I've had 4 days in a row of social activities. Much fun but glad tomorrow is a quiet day of work from home. Now watching the latest Hallmark Christmas movie about a girl who is single for Christmas. (Hope I land somewhere fun for Christmas. But still glad for a quiet day tomorrow.)

It's a good day to be a Miami Hurricanes fan! I hate to say it but ND got shafted. No way a 10-3 Alabama should be in over 10-2 ND. 5 SEC teams in the playoffs is ridiculous and there should be conference limits. My Canes are playing A&M, which I think will be fun. #CFP

I'm not going home before our holiday party (it's in 2 hours here on campus) so taking care of some low-hanging fruit. It is dead quiet. I'm working on my email inbox, and have managed so far to delete about 150 emails from the beginning of this semester, several of them waiting on replies from me.

It was definitely both cats sleeping with me weather last night. (And still sleeping while I get started on my PT exercises.)

My favorite present under the Gothmas tree.

The Gothmas tree is up for the season. It especially looks dramatic when it's dark out and the tree lights are the only source of lighting.

13 years ago I bought a house. (And hoping to sell it in about 2.5 years.) Errands this morning including Central Market which wasn't too bad. But I now have what I need for turkey carcass soup. (Except for the carcass.) Now enjoying my favorite tacos! (Migas from Veracruz All Natural.)

Comes back from England with $400 worth of tea. Opens today's email with notice of The Steeping Room's holiday sale. Am I buying more tea? Heck yeah! I love TSR's Christmas blend. It's my absolute favorite.

In Brighton, England, and it is very beautiful here. This is day 5 for me in England and I have to say I like it here very much.

I've had several misadventures today but I ended up in a pub near my hotel with good food and football. The day has certainly ended well.

I'm at the Austin Airport heading to London for World Fantasy (which is in Brighton later next week). The TSA agents are working hard and they currently aren't getting paid. What Trump and his government are doing is absolutely shameful with how federal employees are being treated.

I am officially in the losing my mind with how much stuff I have to do before international travel phase of the week. Much of it actually Day Jobbe stuff. I've spent the last 30 minutes making a list of things to do/follow up on.

Jfc this us chilling. I am physically not able to protest today but am there in spirit with everyone! Fight the good fight and please be safe!

After PT today I stopped at T Mobile and added a 10 day international Pass to my mobile plan to start when I land in London. Only 9 more sleeps to go before heading to London!

Buying a ticket to see NIN in March was so much easier and less stressful (and cheaper!) than trying to get Lady Gaga tickets. I have secured a ticket to see NIN. Can't wait! (Still hoping I manage to get a ticket to Lady Gaga but I'm not paying resellers $$$$$ prices. I'll keep checking for those.)

I'm starting work on the fall 2026 course schedule, so that our students have classes to take next year. It's not exciting work, very complex and detailed. So I'm streaming Lady Gaga while I work on it, and my supervisor was bopping outside my hallway to the music.

I made a new friend at the game watch. He's an 11 month old puppy.

Large turnout for the Miami/FSU game watch at Freddo ATC. Never been here, but the menu looks good. Of course I'm having an orange drink (Aperol spritz). Happily the weather is great this evening.

Just got my flu and covid shots. I don't usually experience side effects so hoping the trend continues. But scheduled them for a Friday just in case (and since Monday is my wfh day). I go to England in 3 weeks!

Hegseth is a racist, misogynistic POS. To sit there in that room people with decades of experience, calling them fat (and implying lazy), telling them they're returning to a "gender neutral male standard" is like a JV qb telling Dan Marino how to be a qb. Also male standard isn't gender neutral!

It wasn't pretty but I'll take that W. #DolfanForLife

UT is very proud of their record-breaking fall enrollment (55k!). My dept enrollment is up around 5%. Anyone in a student-facing role is fast heading towards burnout, because we certainly aren't getting any extra support for the increased workload. news.utexas.edu/2025/09/18/u...

🚨NEW: "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" just dropped its first response to ABC, FCC chair, and Disney firing Jimmy Kimmel. Trump ain't sleeping tonight. 🤣 This is a must-watch. 🔥

Every now and then I get something in my HEB curbside order that I didn't order. Usually don't discover it until I get home. Last week it was 18 eggs so I had lots of eggs this week. Today it was a $15 salmon. I called the store and they said keep it or donate it. Guess I'm having salmon for dinner.

Much as I want to see Lady Gaga, I'm not willing to pay $500+ for severe nosebleed tickets during a pre-sale. I'll try on Monday during the general sale.

The world is shit today but I have a ticket to see the new Downton Abbey film tonight (bought about 6 months ago), and a Pimm's Cup to start off with. So I'll enjoy a few hours away from all the shit that will still be around tomorrow.

Just got home from dentist, had to get 2 old fillings replaced. Can I just say how much I *love* nitrous! That's it, that's the post.

There's a student who started here Fall 22 who is a real character. I was meeting with him and he was telling me about the time he took a geometry class, and I said gosh, I loved geometry when I took it, back in 1978. Without missing a beat, he asks what was it like taking class with Pythagoras?

I think Trump looked genuinely mad that the brown player won the US Open. In other news: Alcaraz is just such a beast!

If I were in the mood to buy a Rolex I wouldn't be after they invited Trump to the US Open men's final. Ticket holders are missing action because of increased security, and I doubt Trump even gives a shit about the tennis. I just want to watch the match not be reminded that 47 is there stealing air.

In my happy place. I did 15 minutes on a treadmill, got some coffee, currently icing my knee* and enjoying week 2 of college football. Sound is on the Iowa/Iowa St game because that one is the most entertaining. *mildly injured left leg last night so it's tight and sore but pt exercises is helping!

NFL is back! Not a fan of Dallas so I'll be rooting for Philadelphia. Also watching the US Open women's semi-finals. Great PT session today. I'm going to start walking daily(ish) on a treadmill to build up stamina. Managed 15 minutes (slow) today. Much too hot out. Maybe summer's last hurrah?

Learning that Graham Greene has died. Sure I saw him for the first time in Dances with Wolves, but my favorite of his roles was in Thunderheart. And now all the leads of that film are gone. He was just terrific in everything I saw him in.

If you enjoy… Weekends Safe working conditions Retirement benefits Paid vacations Breaks at work Sick leave Paid holidays … then you’re part of the labor movement. Happy Labor Day.

All the Mario Cristobal haters can just go cry in their hate tonight.

Loving Miami! (And by football law I'm required to I hate ND. I went to those games in the 80s.)

It feels so long since I've had time off that this weekend is tripping me up. Looking at the rain chances and I keep wondering if I'll make the pool party I was invited to. I should because that party is tomorrow. I do have an event this evening to watch the Miami/ND game. Not in a bathing suit!

I just blew up my credit card buying an expensive (but fully refundable) ticket to London for @worldfantasy2025.bsky.social! Still need to sort out accommodations and itinerary for London and Windsor. But I now have a way to get there!

I love my physical therapist. That's it, that's the post.

I went shoe shopping today at an outlet mall even. That is something most people don't think about but not the easiest thing for me to do. But today I managed to walk to a store and shop a bit and try on shoes (and of course buy them).

I was asked (first time ever) to write a letter of rec for a student applying for Marshall and Rhodes scholarships. These are not your average LORs! The stakes are very high, since these are such prestigious scholarships. The student is exceptional, and in the end I had to edit down my letter.

I don't particularly love Newsom, but I do love whoever is handling his social media lately!

First day back at work after being off 2.5 weeks. The alarm was rough this morning! But it is a WFH day at least. And Office Manager Dorian is making sure I'm working hard. (So. Many. Emails!)

Every day is Leg Day in my house. #pt #ouch #ItIsStartingToWork

Went to the rec center to ride the stationary bike. That was a humbling experience. In March I could ride it 45-60 minutes at a level 12-14 resistance. Today I did 15 minutes at a level 1. I probably could have ridden longer but I don't want to over due things. Today was to get my legs to stretch.

Final day of staycation. Need to set all the alarms for Monday. Has been relaxing although doing PT twice a week, so hasn't been totally pain- or stress-free. Planning to relax as much as possible this weekend! NFL preseason has started so that will help. Book to read. Cats to snuggle.

My summer staycation is nearing an end sadly. Did refinance my car today. Lower interest and 90 days no payments/interest. Which will help pay for my PT, which isn't cheap. Left knee still a raging bitch. Right knee is improving! This week is lots of "this will be uncomfortable" exercises.

This is outside the 2nd floor of my house. Not sure how this little guy got all the way up here from the ground.

This is the start of what I hope is a long fight against what the fascists in Texas are doing. (I live in one of the districts that is getting carved up and potentially absorbed by a district in Midland, 300 miles away from where I live, with *so* much in common with Austin.)