Back on the job

Spring break is officially over, and today I was back on campus to get work done. My advisor had re-committed me to devoting Mondays and Fridays to my own work (not homework or work for him), so I tried it today. It went pretty well. Aside from a few minor tasks, I managed to focus. (When an assignment has to be walked over by noon to a professor's physical mailbox across campus, what are you going to do? You're going to do it, Monday or not.)

I spent most of the day editing an article. It's been rejected twice. Ironically, the place I'm submitting it this time is probably the best fit. To meet their word count, though, I needed to shave about 1000 words off. I went through it twice; some of the cuts were low-hanging fruit and others were more difficult. The funny thing is, I had thought it was decently written, but this time around I was dissatisfied with my writing. Shortening it up strengthened it considerably. It probably needs one more pass through, and my dissertation chair has offered to read it in a few days when he gets back from a trip. After he looks at it, I will heave it once again into the submission pile.

I also spent some time running Stata for a conference presentation that I'm turning into a journal article. I did this on my laptop, but it's a huge mound of data, and for the future it would be better to use the library's computers. I just have to find out when the lab is reserved and when it's free.

Snow day

Sledding
Originally uploaded by TheTurducken

The snow fell fast last night, and this morning there were several inches on the ground. I went outside this morning and wondered where all the children were. Shouldn't they be outside making snowmen? Then I got to the golf course and figured it out - they were all out sledding.

The ground actually isn't very cold, so the roads melted off pretty quickly, more expeditiously than the weather reports had called for.

Perimeter Trail

Blooming
Originally uploaded by TheTurducken

This is an easy, surprisingly scenic 5-mile hike west of Nashville. I was really surprised to see flowers out this early.

Free reads!

For those of you who haven't yet enjoyed Neil Gaiman's American Gods, he has posted it for free.

If you like comics at all, you might want to check this out.

If you like Neil Gaiman and/or comics, check out the first Sandman, available online.

If you like neither Mr. Gaiman nor comics, nor do you anticipate that making their acquaintance will surprise and delight you, I have no links to suggest at this time.

Tour northeast Arkansas in your automobile!

My plan for spring break was to head to Arkansas and explore the Ozarks. I would start off at Blanchard Springs, a unit of the USFS just east of the Buffalo River National River, then move west along the river. Then I'd head down scenic Highway 7 to Hot Springs (which is in the Ouchitas, not the Ozarks), and then top it all off with an old-fashioned bath at Hot Springs. ("I'm taking the waters.") The reality started off according to plan. I drove out on Saturday, noticing that most of northeast Arkansas is flat and swampy. When I reached the hills, it was a welcome change. I camped at Blanchard Springs at a lovely site by Sylamore Creek. The next day I did a little hiking. First up was a 1/2 mile loop past Blanchard Springs and some bluffs. I also saw three white-tailed deer, which was pretty cool. (Honestly? I never would have seen them if they hadn't caught wind of me.) Next up was a 1-mile loop around Mirror Lake. The loop entailed fording the stream, which looked too wet for me, so I returned the way I came. The hike was short, but featured a lake, a dam, AND an old mill. Then I went on a tour of Blanchard Springs Caverns. It's a pretty cave, and the Forest Service does nice tours (no wacky lighting or ghost stories). Don't worry, I didn't cave alone - this was a ranger-guided tour suitable for all ages, and even handicapped-accessible. So I drove out to the Buffalo River. It was around 2 p.m., and I started to do a 3-mile hike called Indian Rockhouse. But clouds were rolling in, dark ones, and the air felt oppressive. I bailed on the hike and checked at the ranger station, and they were calling for rain. Then snow. Then below freezing weather. In other words, if I stayed up high, I would be stuck. I decided to head down to Little Rock, where at least I could stay dry in a hotel. However, I missed out on the lovely views of the Buffalo. The next morning the forecast was worse. It would stay cold and rainy in the Ozarks - it would rain all over the state - and the southeast part of the state was being menaced by tornadoes. If I went to Hot Springs, I'd be cowering in a hotel. The weather would suck for several days, while I spent money on lodgings and looked for stuff to do. I knew when I was defeated, so I headed home today. Now that I'm back, I see that Mountain View (near Blanchard Springs) has a Lake Wind Advisory, a Flood Watch, and a Winter Storm Warning in effect. Jeepers. Hot Springs only has a Lake Wind Advisory and Flood Watch! At least there is no mention of tornadoes.