Welcome, 2017!

While 2016 was satisfying for our family on so many fronts, I can't help but get excited about turning the page in 2017. This stems from nothing more than the urge to improve. Working in academia offers educators so many opportunities for renewal. Because of the evolutionary nature of information, progress, technology, and communication (among so many other critical domains), we always have something new and interesting to discuss. Because of the nature of new student groups, new teaching windows, and different teaching modalities, educators can always tweak things or add texts or revise materials. 

I do this for at least one class every year, and I'm excited to say that I am going to completely revise the materials for both American literature and technical writing in 2017. I am going to teach some different writing assignments, use some new technologies (spicy nodes and glogster), and bring some different texts into the fabric of what I'm doing with students. 

I am excited to coach Lyla's soccer team again this spring. After teaching a full night schedule at FSCJ and working Monday-Thursday from 4:30-10:00 p.m. (after looking after Luke all day), it will be a blessing to get back outdoors with the kids this spring. Children are filled with optimism, and I've been blessed to work with so many that are truly coachable. They can take criticism and they try hard, and that's all a coach can ask for...

I'm writing fiction again! I have been asked to contribute a pair of themed short stories in 2017, and I am working on another collection of short stories. What can I say, it's my favorite medium...

I am thrilled to be nearing the end of my work at UCF. I couldn't have picked a better program of study for the work I am doing at FSCJ, and I am very thankful for the help and guidance I've received in the last year in developing my dissertation...

In terms of sports, man...things can only get better. Let's go, Oregon. Let's go, Portland Trailblazers. Let's go, O's and Jags! C'mon, Knights! Let's go, Jumbo Shrimp (yep, that's our minor league team here in Jacksonville)...

I'm going to read more for pleasure this year. I'm going to cook and bake, and I'll have a few rounds in the 70s on the golf course. I'm going to help people when I can, and I'll be sure to ask for help when I need it on my end. This is how we make it--by relying on each other as members of a community.

I resolve to remain politically involved in where I live and how I live. I think now, more than ever, we have a real need to become monitoring citizens in this American democracy, and part of that is speaking out about issues that need to be addressed. The Rogerian compromise is something I see a lot of value in, and I plan to work hard to listen more and strive for compromise where possible.

Be well where you are, and best to you and yours in 2017. Make it a great year--a year of growth and renewal!

So Very Much to be Thankful For...

It has been a tumultuous and amazing year around these parts. In the last few months, we've been tested as a family in ways that are hard to explain in words. We've been pushed to the very edge of doubt and despair, and we've persevered to the point where we feel comfortable and eternally grateful. This is a big part of that feeling:

Our son is such an amazing blessing. In 2016, we've overcome many obstacles. We just had our first brand-new roof as a result of hurricane damage. We've had our home repaired numerous times, and we've had to deal with some very real health problems for the ones that we love so far this year.

But the joy and the glee in that picture above is so real. This is our family, and Lyla is such a great big sister. I can only say that I am thankful.

I spent 2016 writing a non-fiction study. 2017 will be more fiction. I promise...

2015

Turning the page feels good, and I always look at these first few months of the new year as an opportunity to touch base with some core goals that set the rest of my year up for success. This year, as I head into comprehensive exams at UCF and dissertation work, my goals are a bit different. I have two releases forthcoming in 2015 (a story collection and a novel), but I don't see much happening in the way of new fiction. That's both a little bit sad and kind of exhilarating, as I've never written a book-length work of non-fiction. So my first goal is to dedicate myself to the academic text process, and switching gears takes some practice--on the reading, writing, and thinking fronts. It's just a different creative lifestyle, I think...

I'll be spending much of the next few months writing a prospectus and reaching out to authors in the speculative fiction community. I'm mulling project design and drafting research questions. I'm considering ordering and coherence in the various essays that I'll be putting together. I'm investigating the level to which I want to include visuals and multi-modality (interesting workshop coming up in February on this very subject at UCF).

In terms of personal goals, the girls and I have a bunch of stuff to continue to work on as a family (all of it positive and hopeful). We'll stick with soccer and ballet, and try to play more golf and take more hikes and camping trips. These girls! Man, very fortunate...

I want to train hard for the Gate River Run in March, and I want to chill out on biting my fingernails (criminy, why is that so hard?). I want to excel in these exams and continue to grow in my role in the Converged Communications program at FSCJ.

2015 should be a fine year. As I write this, it feels like an Oregon spring day here in Northeast Florida. The air is crisp and the sun is bright. I'll pick Lyla up from kindergarten in a bit and we'll head out for a hike. I dig it...

Hope it's a banner year for those dropping by. Set some goals and knock 'em down, and keep that optimism throughout the journey...