Welcome back if you have not thought about this for awhile, I can admit, neither have I. Well, perhaps that is not exactly true. I have thought about writing, but have been frightened to do so because some did not appreciate my writing or perhaps what I wrote. At this point, I have decided to write again. I have not deleted anything from before, but much has changed since the last posting last spring. So . . . to catch you up in a post of 6 -9 months; it is a tall order, but I am technical writer so I am supposed to be clear and concise right??

So much has happened since January and beyond. I remember being advised to take care to demonstrate my work and what I have been doing. That admonishment was rather prophetic, and even though I thought that at the time, I was still surprised when the actuality of that event came to pass. Since that time I have learned a great deal about the reality of some of the things I read for my comprehensive exams when working on my Ph.D. I read a book titled The Transformation of Power by Thomas Wartenburg. His understanding of the third dimension of power became a reality in my everyday life and continues to be something very real.

I am reminded of how I believe our current administration has done things much more egregious than Bill Clinton ever did in terms of the constitution. The Bush/Cheney White House, at least in my opinion, has corrupted the executive branch of the government in ways I could have never imagined. It is certainly my hope that an Obama/Biden administration will be much different. I believe so or I would not have voted as I did.

Things in the personal realm are fine . . . I am quite solitary, but that is certainly safer. I very seldom go out in town at this point, but that is by necessity and has been, for all practical purposes mandated. That point will be argued by some, but I am certainly willing to take the argument on. Besides, I do not really mind; it is cheaper and keeps me safer. On the professional realm, it is somewhat connected to the personal, but that has always been normal in my life. I am merely what I am or who I am, and I do not try to be anything else. What has been interesting is to determine who or what I am. That is where some of the counseling things both past and current have been helpful. While I am not always sure what I am, I do know what I am not or how I have changed in the past year.

In my co-dependent way, I have always been concerned with what others think or how they judge me, but that is changing. It is a difficult change, but a necessary one. This is not to say I have no regard for others’ opinions, but I am no longer willing to merely stand by and let myself get runover and misjudged and mistreated. That is a difficulty for me, but on the other hand, it is something necessary for me. I must say there have been those colleagues who have been very helpful, sometimes without even knowing it.

One of the things I have been reacquainted with during the past year is my disdain for authority. Well again, that is not exactlly correct. What I am not appreciative of is the unethical use of authority, or my perception that this is the case. Perhaps I am merely misguided, but I am not sure that is entirely the case. In other terms of my professional life, I have been asked to be the keynote address for the Haas Lectures, which is a well-known thing in Eau Claire, WI. In addition, I have had a couple newspaper articles and now another speaking engagement all about my dissertation. The reason is it was published last Spring. That was an amazing development for me. I am certainly appreciative of my dissertation committee and my chair.

On a personal level, I got six thousand miles (maybe even more) on the Harley this past summer including making a trek to Sturgis again albeit a week early. I did get a lot of thinking time during the summer, in spite of teaching two classes. All in all it has been a busy, an unpredictable, and roller-coaster of a year, but I am still quite okay. I really have no complaints. I will be back writing and I thank you for reading.

Best,

Michael