Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Some good news

It's official now: I've been approved for a sabbatical for the fall by my college's sabbatical committee. While I'm off, I'll do some writing and research, finish up and prepare a book manuscript--or at least come close to getting all that done. I'll be in Wichita most of the time, but there will also be a couple of quick trips to research libraries in there, too, including a week or so in Mexico and a trip to Denver to have a look at the Denver Art Museum's Latin American collection--especially their casta paintings. I'll also be preparing and giving a couple of lectures at the college about all this.

Starting this summer, good old Blog Meridian will see some occasional posting, but most of it will probably be in some way connected to boring old academic stuff. Over at my other blog, Domestic Issue, though, I'll be posting lots and lots of boring old academic stuff. You've been warned.

I think it's fair to say that I'm really, really happy about this.

12 comments:

FletcherDodge said...

Slightly off topic, but my bloggy friend Lucas will display photos in the Otras Americas exhibition at City Arts in Wichita in early May.

I highly recommend it (based solely on the description I read here).

PS- Sorry if this constitutes blog spam. But I thought you in particular might be interested considering your interest in the "other" Americas.

Anonymous said...

COngratulations.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to second the congratulations! Sabbaticals are the the essential medicine for surviving the trifles of academia...

Anonymous said...

Dude...
Congrats, man. I'm not in academia, but have had a couple of close friends who were, and know that sabbaticals do not come easily, nor to those with less than stellar credentials and performance.

Remember all us little folks who you stepped on as you worked your way to the top. We will still be here as you wind your way back down, hiding behind the brambles and waiting for an opportunity to get even... heh...

John B. said...

Thanks to all of you. This is actually pretty humbling and has revealed to me some, um, quirks (as I see them) in how sabbaticals have (or have not) been approved in the past. That's probably about all I should say about that here. Well, that, and that I want to do my best to assure the committee that I'll do good work while I'm away from teaching.

emawkc, your comment was not spammy in the least; in fact, I already visited the post and told your friend I was looking forward to seeing his work.

Doc and dd, thanks. dd, "medicine" is a good way to put it. It won't be a vacation, but it'll feel like one.

Winston, dude, somewhere in your comment is some sincere good wishes, I'm pretty sure . . . but I'm too busy peering in the brambles now to be sure.

Cordelia said...

Congratulations.From the quality of your blog postings, I sense a fine book, articles, and lectures coming.

Anonymous said...

More congrats. I'm sure the rest of us will benefit in some small way -- not that it's all about us.

Cheers.

Russell Arben Fox said...

Many congratulations, John! I hope you have a wonderfully productive summer and fall.

Anonymous said...

Oh, a sabbatical. Now how dreamy does that sound? Just wonderful, wonderful for you!

John B. said...

Thanks, Randall, Cordelia, Russell and Pam. "Dreamy" is pretty much the way I think about it, too, Pam. In fact, I was telling a colleague this morning about my sabbatical, and she was sharing with me her euphoria when she had been granted one; I told her I could relate, that I'd find myself musing about the fall, and then kind of, you know, have to remind myself that I still have 4 weeks of the spring semester to, like, do work for. So, yeah: the alarm still goes off at 5 every morning, at least for a while longer.

Lucas said...

hey man! I'm glad you stumbled upon the exhibit happenings & hope to see you there!

you've got a great blog w/ tons of content!
- Lucas

John B. said...

Lucas,
Thanks for visiting and for the kind comments. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the exhibit.