Musings of Professor Fox

I really never know what to write until something hits my brain in a way that says, "you need to talk about this, if only to work through it for yourself." On occasion, I actually listen to myself, and if someone else can relate (just one someone is all it takes) then I feel the effort was valuable. My two worlds often collide: my scientific/researcher persona and my creative/writing persona. I would explain it in terms of the Marvel and DC universes, but if you know me in real life, you know I really despise all movies DC. So, I would hate to attribute any part of myself to a metaphor that I do not like. World 1. My brain loves to digest and process all things math and science. From a very young age, I got along with it all with the exception of biology (and really only when we had to start dissecting stuff *shudder). Chemistry, Physics, all Mathematics. Love, love, love. Nailed A's in every class I took. Even back in the day when we did "times tables", you kno...

I had to take a test. Writing this memory in the middle of a pandemic makes me remember fondly how easy "hard" things were to get accomplished not that long ago. As part of the application materials to get accepted into Graduate School, I was required to take the Graduate Record Examination or GRE. I mentioned in my last post that it had been decades since my last standardized test, and I was quite nervous about it. Nonetheless, online I went to select a testing center and an available date. The closest available option was about 120 miles away and three weeks or so away. I put in my information, entered my credit card number, and my adventure was set. Now, how to prepare?? A quick Google search revealed any number of study guides and aids, but I opted for the free download from the GRE site itself and worked carefully through the examples. Very quickly, I proved to myself that I had forgotten quite a bit of information from my last academic adventure. Forge ahead I did thoug...

Deep into the summer of 2016, my wife and I were sitting on the back porch, enjoying the view, talking about life, and sipping our respective beverage of choice. I had been struggling for years with the decision about whether or not to go to Graduate School and earn a higher degree or be satisfied with being unsatisfied with my job. Really, many things were on the table and she finally just said: "If you are going to do it, now would be the best time. Figure out what to do and do it." At some point, I think I had just hoped that someone else would make the choice for me and the clouds would open up with the booming voice that said, "You are going to do THIS." That moment never happened, but I did start to move forward with some planning.  Many years ago, I made the decision to pursue industry certifications instead of advanced degrees mostly because I felt they were more useful to my job. In hindsight, and if you work in a University setting, go with the advanced de...

 the trees in the forest  are placed ever so  delicately by random chance offering  umbrage to the smallest traveler on the unmarked  paths winding and twisting  over and under deadfall old becoming new  with natural sincerity

  The day was unusally calm for mid-September in the Rocky Mountains, but she would not complain. Serena Michaels was bound and determined to make it home at least once during these crazy pandemic times. She had her bus ticket in hand, and made her way from the office, where she had the most wonderful chat with the kind ticket agent, to the platform where the great steel beasts were parked awaiting their passengers. The compartments underneath Bus 1023 were open, and the driver was guiding passengers to place their suitcases according to their seat assignments. Since Serena had requested the very back row, she quickly moved to the farthest compartment, stowed her single suitcase, and then moved toward the door. She would keep her backpack with her since her entire life and career were stowed safely in the padded compartment. Her laptop. She never let it out of her sight. Looking back quickly to remember the compartment number, R4, she walked toward the front of the bus and climbed ...