First post on the new blog

Moving this up to the top temporarily

I've closed up several blogs in the past few weeks and started this new one. Some of you may remember Professor Sherlock - well that blog is gone. I'm starting over and here's a little catch up.

Teaching: This fall I started out with six classes and down to three since three have ended. I'll pick up more the first of October. I'm down to one school at the end of this year and will most likely pick up one or two more in 2013.

Conferences: Haven't done a conference since March. I'm thinking about scheduling three for late 2012 and early 2013. Not sure about that - I sort of burned out on the conference presentations. If I could get some workshops, I'd do those.

Travel: I've been away at the campground where our larger trailer is parked permanently (with a brand new huge 20x25 deck) several times in the past two months. I've been there for 8-10 days and then I'll come home for a week or so and then head back out again. We've taken the smaller trailer up to the mountains a couple of times in the heat of the summer (lots cooler up there in the summer) and we're planning a 10 day vacation in a couple of weeks.

Technology: I'm addicted to my android razr smartphone. When we travel, I use mifi and it works great. Now I can truly work from anywhere.

Dogs: Velcro is hobbling around - somehow she pulled a muscle in her back leg. It's getting better very slowly. She's kind of old now -- we figure between 13 and 15.  Buddy is ornery as ever. Actually I think he's going deaf and it's not just total oppositional defiance. He's still laid back with a "don't bother me" attitude. He sleeps all day. Beau is great. He's settled down so much. But he's still got some serious separation anxiety although at least now we can leave him at home for up to 3-4 hours without trouble.

Mobility: well I had a hip injury about 6 weeks ago and it's still problematic. The prevailing opinion of various docs is that I need two hip replacements, one knee replacement, shoulder surgery, and there's nothing they can do for the arthritis in my lower back and in the tiny bones in my feet. So I'm not doing any of that. I got a power chair for use indoors at home and a three-wheel mobility scooter that I use to walk the dogs at the campground and in the neighborhood. Man oh man -- Beau loves going for his walks now. We can make tracks too and he loves to run! I love wearing his ass out so he sleeps the rest of the day.

Health: Other than the mobility issues, all is going well. The diabetes is under control (has been for the past four years). I'm continuing to lose weight at a very slow pace (which the endocrinologist says is the best way to do it) and my A1C is in the non-diabetic normal range. This is due to (1) significant weight loss -- that's been about 60 pounds so far and (2) low carb meals. That's all it takes to keep it under control. Unfortunately I can't exercise so I'm still taking the metformin but I've been able to cut back as the weight loss continues. I figure I've got about 20 to go and then we'll see what's up with the meds.

Winter plans: Some travel, some work, two more ebooks to publish, new responsibilities at work, and travel whenever we can. Everything depends on the weather!

Welcome to the new blog. I'll be writing about teaching, health, and yes for at least a few more weeks, politics! Drop me a line to let me know you were here.

NW