One Crazy Summer

My defense is done. My summer schedule is wide open. My first thought for this entry was to take a note from Jeff's blog, and write my summer 'to do' list. Upon further reflection, I realized that most of the bullets on my list are not things I will finish - rather objects of my obsession.

Phillies - In the last year or so I learned how to be a baseball fan. I never liked baseball growing up, although like most kids I went to a few games. I always thought baseball games were boring. Now I find them suspenseful. I feel the same way about hitchcock movies. They are boring for kids, but in fact are excellent. ( insert something here about the maturing of taste). I appreciate the long games, long seasons, and wealth of statistics. I like baseball the way I like a good long movie. The kind you don't want to end. (I have also become a bit of a stat nut, esp w.r.t. my favorite country-singing slugger Chase Utley)

Papers - Although my defense is done, and I am technically a doctor, I am not done with my summer's worth of work. My thesis is rough and I have two half written papers. Without scheduled meetings, I will probably be working on these all the time. (while simultaneously watching baseball etc)

The Move - Sometime near August 1st Blythe and I will move to Chicago. There is a ton of planning yet to do, but essentially we are looking to find a fun urban apartment that makes us feel a part of the city. Think loft, exposed brick, rooftop balcony, etc.

Trips - This summer, like the past few, is full of trips. Blythe and I will go to Pennsylvania for a motorcycle trip in June. In July we will fly off to Rome for a conference/vacation. In August I am scheduled for my third trip to Brazil, this time Paraty. I am already sick of O'hare.

The Summer - All work and no play ... I expect plenty of canoeing, camping, motorcycling, beer, softball, running, and movies to fill the space between the other bullets, keeping the summer less lame, and me more sane.