Saturday, July 14, 2012
Baskin Robbins Ben
My traditional birthday blog post will be postponed due to an academic conference. Rest assured, however, that my standard reflections on the past, present, and future of the Invisible Ben will be posted here later this weekend.
In the meanwhile, I urge you all to have a fantastic Fête Nationale!
_________________________________
[7/15/12]
And we're back. Sorry for the brief hiatus, ladies and gentlemen. After spending most of yesterday attending talks on such esoteric matters as the historiography associated with women in science to early modern theories of blood circulation, I found myself with very little time to ruminate upon the arrival of another birthday.
This was my "Baskin Robbins" birthday--one flavor for every year I've been alive. Instead of obtaining a tasting spoon worth of every scoop, however, I chose to organize a small get-together here at the Invisible Apartment. After all, if the gods of academia were inclined to gather so many of my colleagues in my city at the same time, it seemed only fitting that I take advantage of the situation. Framing the event as a Bastille Day/end-of-conference party to avoid placing undue pressure on out-of-town guests to attend--I sent out an e-mail invitation to approximately 20 people.
In the end, approximately a dozen showed up, the majority of whom were unaware of the deeper significance of the occasion. Only a few hours into the affair did I learn that someone had figured it out, when a group arrived with a small chocolate cake and entered my flat regaling me with "Happy Birthday." Of course, I had already prepared a Bastille Day-themed dessert (shortcakes covered with toppings mimicking the colors of the tricoleur), but I don't think anyone complained about there being extra cake for one to let them eat.
Of course, after a few hours, everyone went home. As I paced around my apartment, picking up party detritus, I started to contemplate what I had accomplished over the past year and how many things remain to be done. Completing my dissertation and securing employment for the next academic year were important preliminary steps, but there are still book proposals, articles, and job applications to complete.
Otherwise, who knows where I will end up by the time my 32nd birthday rolls around? Whatever happens, I'll keep you posted. For now though, enjoy the rest of your weekend. I'll see you on the Internet.
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In the meanwhile, I urge you all to have a fantastic Fête Nationale!
_________________________________
[7/15/12]
And we're back. Sorry for the brief hiatus, ladies and gentlemen. After spending most of yesterday attending talks on such esoteric matters as the historiography associated with women in science to early modern theories of blood circulation, I found myself with very little time to ruminate upon the arrival of another birthday.
This was my "Baskin Robbins" birthday--one flavor for every year I've been alive. Instead of obtaining a tasting spoon worth of every scoop, however, I chose to organize a small get-together here at the Invisible Apartment. After all, if the gods of academia were inclined to gather so many of my colleagues in my city at the same time, it seemed only fitting that I take advantage of the situation. Framing the event as a Bastille Day/end-of-conference party to avoid placing undue pressure on out-of-town guests to attend--I sent out an e-mail invitation to approximately 20 people.
In the end, approximately a dozen showed up, the majority of whom were unaware of the deeper significance of the occasion. Only a few hours into the affair did I learn that someone had figured it out, when a group arrived with a small chocolate cake and entered my flat regaling me with "Happy Birthday." Of course, I had already prepared a Bastille Day-themed dessert (shortcakes covered with toppings mimicking the colors of the tricoleur), but I don't think anyone complained about there being extra cake for one to let them eat.
Of course, after a few hours, everyone went home. As I paced around my apartment, picking up party detritus, I started to contemplate what I had accomplished over the past year and how many things remain to be done. Completing my dissertation and securing employment for the next academic year were important preliminary steps, but there are still book proposals, articles, and job applications to complete.
Otherwise, who knows where I will end up by the time my 32nd birthday rolls around? Whatever happens, I'll keep you posted. For now though, enjoy the rest of your weekend. I'll see you on the Internet.
