The Plan

What am I doing here?

We've all asked the question, I'm sure. I ask myself frequently, but for the purposes of this conversation, I'm not asking about my place in the universe, my reason for living, or anything quite that esoteric. What am I doing here, with this blog?

The idea is to document, explore and reflect on my very last quarter as a college student. In two weeks from yesterday, I will take on the last chapter of the challenge I issued to myself oh-so-many years ago. In this, my last 10 grueling weeks, I face the challenge of not just completing but blowing out of the water a full 21 credit load. (Note: 12 credits is considered full time. On my campus, most full timers are enrolled for 3 courses, totaling 15 credits. So there.)

I'll use my remaining two weeks of "freedom" to get a jump on things. I'll be reading and writing, and generally doing everything I can to lessen the shock of this huge workload. During these two weeks, I'll check in and share what I'm up to. Once the quarter begins on September 24, my intent is to post two or three entries a week for the duration of the quarter. I'll share some details of what I'm working on, reflections on my final courses, and a little bit of my thoughts for the future.

My entries are likely to range widely in frequency, length, content and style. Think of this project as something akin to a box of Cracker Jacks. It will always contain a prize, but none of us know beforehand what that prize might be.

That said, I encourage you to visit often and share with your friends.

Be well.

Turning the page...

I'm not leading a double life. I'm leading a triple life.

I always wanted to be able to say that. But as with most things we wish for, I didn't really understand what I was getting myself into.

In one of my three lives, I am the dutiful cog in the machine of a large investment firm. It's not exactly representative of my life's hopes and dreams, but it's close to home and affords me a myriad of benefits that I suddenly can't imagine living without. And perhaps most importantly, it enables me to partake in the second of my triad of lives.

My second life consists of wide-eyed dreaming, unchecked curiosity and debate in the vast universe of academe. By my calculation, I've spent more time inside the classroom walls than asleep in bed, and far more time than in any other avenue of my life. Being an adult student, though, gets you thinking not only about the staggering number of hours you spend at school, but also the enormous costs-- both financial and emotional-- that come with the status of "nontraditional student."

Among the costs is the immeasurable impact on my third life-- the as-yet private one. In this life, I am a poet and a would-be collage artist. I'm a chef and an author. I take care of animals and they, more often than not, take care of me in return. This private life is not the one I intend to unfold before you, although hints and glimpses are sure to show through from time to time. All I can ask is that you, dear reader, be kind with your consideration of what is and should remain a quiet affair.

My initial intent-- my impulse here, my experiment-- is what I will share more about in my next entry.