Late Summer Chaos

Oh, what a week. I’m still trying to recover from the YearlyKos convention. I had a blast, like the year before, even though I had some trouble with internet access this time. The access at the convention was wonderful... as long as there was sufficient power on one’s laptop. In the Hyatt above, however, access was more than I could afford. So, there I was, with lots to blog about, and no way to do it. There were enough things waiting for me at home that I haven’t had time to catch up until now.

I’d like to share the inspiring experiences I had in Chicago (eventually) but first, I have a few minor things to whine or brag about announcements:

First, I haven’t forgotten about the Friday Fractal... last week, I simply didn’t have time to post one. Today, I have one, but it will probably be this evening before I get it posted.

Now, why am I so far behind? It’s back to school time! My son is starting first grade and I’m starting my first year at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Both cases have been a little challenging. My son’s elementary school was burned down on the last day of school (the building was empty at the time, thank goodness) and won’t be repaired until October. In the meantime, the kids are being sent to a variety of schools in the area. This doesn’t really have anything to do with my blogging, other than the fact that I’ve had to drive around about twice as much to drop off forms and whatnot.

As for my start at Boulder... I’m excited. Orientation was not too long ago, and I had the chance to walk around the campus and meet with an advisor about the Environmental Studies program. The atmosphere there is wonderful... all the sandstone buildings and garden-lined paths sitting right underneath the flatirons. The Environmental Studies office is in the Earth Sciences building, which is filled with incredible fossils and rock samples. I’ll be taking a class there on "global change" ...I simply can’t wait. I’m also taking a class titled "Philosophy and Sciences" with a professor I’ve been hoping to meet. I couldn’t ask for a better way to begin. Classes start at the end of this month, at which point I hope to return to more serious science blogging. I’ll admit, the past few months have been pretty carefree as far as academic pursuits go. Maybe I needed the rest, but my brain is definitely feeling deprived by now!

Now, about my review of the YearlyKos convention. It’s taken me most of the week to gather up my notes, find the relevant websites, and take in all that I heard over the four days I was gone. Now, all I need to do is write about it. I haven’t decided if I’m going to do it all in one post, or break it up into bits and pieces. If I choose the latter method, I’ll have something up soon. Otherwise... well, it’ll be up eventually!

Thanks to all of the patient readers who have been checking in during my recent blogging lapses.