I've Got A Wonderful Feeling, Everything's Going My Way

So I think that I am having a good week -- a really good week! Only trouble is, I just may be a tad too busy and too tired to be sure!

Here are selected highlights, one for each day:

Monday: As already mentioned, I did really well on the ice rink during my skating lesson -- thanks, in large part, to the lovely danaeris for her private help!

Tuesday: Remember that invited lecture that I gave, back in April for the "Dark Side of Astronomy" course at the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education? Remember how I said that it went "extremely well"? Apparently, I was not practicing the art of self-delusion... because the coordinator of the OUDCE's annual Astronomy Weekend invited me back to speak at next year's event -- this time on cosmic rays.

Wednesday: I was supposed to ring at Saint Cross. Really I was! However, on Tuesday evening, the opportunity arose to procure excellent seats to the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Merchant of Venice. Thus, Wednesday evening found cheshcat and I piled into Peter and making our way back to Stratford-on-Avon. As one would expect for RSC, the production was very good. Maybe not quite as excellent as the History Cycle... but those are big shoes to fill! I have not seen this play before -- so now I have seen twenty-two of Shakespeare's plays performed on the stage, with fifteen to go. It is a very... interesting... play to watch in the current era. In particular, I refer to its unapologetic racism and -- even more so -- the religious discrimination that is so central to the plot. With the exception of Bassanio, I don't think that any of the characters were likable... but my sympathies really do lie with the so-called "villain" of the piece, Shylock! As for the oft-heard claim I have heard about how Shakespeare wrote no strong women -- other than, arguably, the Lady Macbeth -- all I have to say is this: See The Merchant of Venice! Portia is undeniably the strongest character in the entire play (though Shylock comes in as a close second).

Thursday: I have a job!!! Okay, yes, I already had a job. But my current contract ends in October and, due to the major financial crisis afflicting my field (see this entry for details), there will be no chance of renewing it. Once my contact ends, the position will cease to exist for lack of funding -- I will not be renewed and there will be no new post-doc to take my place. However, I now have a job lined up for when my contract ends! And it keeps me in the worlds of academia and particle physics! This is a Very Good Thing, indeed! More details later perhaps... but this really has been a ridiculously busy week -- even by my usual standards -- and I have much to do before I can sleep.

Oh! Lest I forget: Since there have been several requests, expect kitten pictures later...

I've Got A Wonderful Feeling, Everything's Going My Way

So I think that I am having a good week -- a really good week! Only trouble is, I just may be a tad too busy and too tired to be sure!

Here are selected highlights, one for each day:

Monday: As already mentioned, I did really well on the ice rink during my skating lesson -- thanks, in large part, to the lovely danaeris for her private help!

Tuesday: Remember that invited lecture that I gave, back in April for the "Dark Side of Astronomy" course at the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education? Remember how I said that it went "extremely well"? Apparently, I was not practicing the art of self-delusion... because the coordinator of the OUDCE's annual Astronomy Weekend invited me back to speak at next year's event -- this time on cosmic rays.

Wednesday: I was supposed to ring at Saint Cross. Really I was! However, on Tuesday evening, the opportunity arose to procure excellent seats to the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Merchant of Venice. Thus, Wednesday evening found cheshcat and I piled into Peter and making our way back to Stratford-on-Avon. As one would expect for RSC, the production was very good. Maybe not quite as excellent as the History Cycle... but those are big shoes to fill! I have not seen this play before -- so now I have seen twenty-two of Shakespeare's plays performed on the stage, with fifteen to go. It is a very... interesting... play to watch in the current era. In particular, I refer to its unapologetic racism and -- even more so -- the religious discrimination that is so central to the plot. With the exception of Bassanio, I don't think that any of the characters were likable... but my sympathies really do lie with the so-called "villain" of the piece, Shylock! As for the oft-heard claim I have heard about how Shakespeare wrote no strong women -- other than, arguably, the Lady Macbeth -- all I have to say is this: See The Merchant of Venice! Portia is undeniably the strongest character in the entire play (though Shylock comes in as a close second).

Thursday: I have a job!!! Okay, yes, I already had a job. But my current contract ends in October and, due to the major financial crisis afflicting my field (see this entry for details), there will be no chance of renewing it. Once my contact ends, the position will cease to exist for lack of funding -- I will not be renewed and there will be no new post-doc to take my place. However, I now have a job lined up for when my contract ends! And it keeps me in the worlds of academia and particle physics! This is a Very Good Thing, indeed! More details later perhaps... but this really has been a ridiculously busy week -- even by my usual standards -- and I have much to do before I can sleep.

Oh! Lest I forget: Since there have been several requests, expect kitten pictures later...