So I have been thinking a lot about discipline. Not in the sense of punishment. Punishment is about an authoritative person or structure enforcing submission of someone who is subject to their power. There is probably a time and place for this type of discipline – such as in a functional accountability system – but …
Thoughtful text that is concise and accessible is a mark of persistence. No worthwhile creation is born fully-fledged. Complex physical movements are always performed clumsily before they become fluid: walking, running, riding a bike, throwing a ball, strumming a guitar, mincing an onion, hitting fifth position… No amount of natural ability in any of those …
I took my first chemistry course as a junior in high school (Grade 11). I think that was pretty common in the U.S. for most people in my generation. I guess chemistry was still an elective in most high schools in the early-90s. But it was an entrance requirement at most colleges by then – …
My mom wanted her ashes spread in the river at her favorite campsite. So after the memorial service, my family and some of her close friends made the trip south from Havre, into the foothills of the Bear’s Paw mountains. Actually, now that I think about it, I am not certain whether that particular campsite …
I spent about 10 years living on a hobby farm. Living there taught me a lot of things: the difference between time and calendars, how to be carried by nature instead of getting run over trying to control it, what hard work looks like, what community looks like… and sooooo much home maintenance. Stuff wears …
Articles about guitarists inevitably take a turn toward describing their “rigs.” It’s usually in connection with discussion about their “tone.” When I was first learning to play guitar, I remember reading articles and feeling like I should understand what “tone” was – and knowing I didn’t. Not really. So I took the authors at their …
I woke up yesterday thinking about what I wanted to write. And today, same. Yesterday I stayed in bed for a while, enjoying being able to puzzle through ideas under the warm sheets, knowing it was -15F outside. Today, I didn’t lounge – even though it was even colder outside. I got out of …
I am sure we’ve all been there. Trying to stay out of sight from a second-floor window, while surreptitiously watching, enraptured, as the septic guy installs the new drainfield. That’s a thing everyone does, right? How could you not get caught up? Right? It’s an amazing thing to behold. How did he know exactly …
I got my first adjunct instructor gig while I was still in grad school thanks to my mentor in the Preparing Future Faculty program, Ron Brisbois. The member of the faculty in his department who was becoming the chair was getting a course release, as part of the compensation for the new role. So they …
My office door isn’t plumb. That bugs me. It isn’t far out. You can’t see it. Really, its only noticeable if there is weight on the coat hook on the back of the door. Because then it falls partially-closed. Not fully-closed mind you. Not even mostly closed. Just closed enough to look sloppy. If my …