  Well, my trip continues and it continues to include a great deal of alcohol and intellectual conversation. Things I have realized: 1. The time has come for me to be proactive about things like organizing people to do conference panels, an essay collection, etc.
Waiting around for others to do it is why so many of us - in spite of stellar degrees and minds, etc.- have had such trouble establishing ourselves in the academy. The academy sucks, but if we're going to be academics we need to make sure people notice that we're on the scene. 2. I think Lancelot really believes that we will live happily ever after someday. I know that this will not happen. I do not want this to happen. This is a problem. 3. I think I'm being accidentally monogamous with Rhett. This, too, is a problem. 4. It is very difficult to drink to excess every night of the week when one is no longer 19 years old. More when I'm back stateside, Tiff 
