Well, it's happened.
As I sit here and write this, I'm looking out over the inky, black expanse that is the Pacific Ocean. I'm writing this in Pepperdine University's coffeee lounge/computer lab, waiting for tomorrow when my academic career begins after a four-year haitus.
Daunting, I think. But I'm still looking forward to it. I have a pretty open schedule -- classes on Monday, Wednesday and Thrusday with teaching repsonsibilities on Tuesday and Thursday. I think I can manage, but is school still the same as when I left it? I guess I'll find out soon.
The drive out here was an interesting 2400-mile trek. I was alone after a friend bagged out (for understandable reasons, I guess), so I had a lot of time to think about stuff. I had time, but that doesn't mean I did much of it or came to any fascinating conclusions.
I found a great substitute for thinking -- books on CD. Listen to the BBC radio-play of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as David McCullogh's biography of John Adams. Those two gems pretty much ate up the whole trip. I'm thankful.
Got to LA last Tuesday and had a warm reunion with friend and grad-school colleague Mike J, who's taken it upon himself to drum into my knotty head the entire layout of greater LA. Another daunting prospect, but I'm learning.
Saw a free Guided By Voices show at a street fair in Hipsterville (Echo Park, Silver Lake) last night. Met Mike's friends, who have all welcomed me with open arms. Saw Dennis Haskins of TV's Saved By The Bell (yes, again!) at a karaoke bar in Burbank. Apparently he sang "Play That Funky Music, White Boy."
It's been exciting. More later.