This is The January 2023 Update

They rip the sun bleached pulp pasted wanted poster from a wall outside the salloon and let it drop, just a crumpled wad to roll along the horse cart trodden dirt road, a useless picture of a target no longer living that no one needs to remember.

Another dead year laid down for good. He spits and our gunslinger walks on, spurs a jangle, and is then shot in the head. Because only the dead have a right to forget the past or leave their blogs not updated.

That ain't me. It's a new year and -- speaking in a Mila Jovavich style -- I remember everything. And I want to. That's why I made this website, to archive my posts and all that I publish throughout the year. And I just had the thought that maybe I should offer sort of general updates here, for those curious, like my friends and anyone else I haven't heard from in a while. Since I stopped using Twitter I have worried that people may presume that I've been dead or something.

Anyway, this is my general update at the start of the new year. Hello to anyone reading it! It was a really great year and I think it's set to be an exciting one ahead of me too.

In November, I think it was, I decided to not pursue a PhD. The process of applying and writing right after graduating in June and during a long interval of unemployment (luckily, a resolved interval now) was just exhausting to keep up with. It was a hard choice but there were several factors besides exhaustion that contributed to it, some good and others of a value neutral sort. A big hesitation I had before committing to this was worrying if I might disappoint my letter writers (shout out to Katie, Stefania, and Eren!) or make whatever work they've already done all for nothing. Luckily, they are beautiful and supportive people, and this was not the case. So I have for now put aside all that and am both doing the true work of studying and living passionately, and working a full time job, instead of jumping back into academia. It's a good thing.

Now, as for the upcoming year I already have some exciting things cooking up. There should be a few new publications available for people to read soon enough. One has been such a long time coming and, eagerly waiting it's day as the strangest pieces of work I've ever produced. I basically cannot wait. It won't carry a formal dedication when it's out, but I would dedicate it to Carol Guess, one of the best professors I ever had, for all the support she ever gave me as her student, a peer, and a fellow writer.

Clearly I miss and love my academic friends, and I'm still very much a student of my passions.

So, in summary, the true work goes on!