One afternoon, I was talking to my friend Erik Parens and he referred to an idea he had. When I remarked that it was a great idea, he responded, “Yes, it’s in the book I’m not writing.” What a great phase: the book I’m not writing. I laughed and asked him his current excuse for not writing, and I realized we all always have a current excuse. That’s when I decided to add my “current addiction” and “current excuse” to my site.

So, for the sake of history (yes, I mean that ironically), here’s a running list of my addictions and excuses. Honestly, I’m putting this up to remind my fellow guilty academics that it’s normal to be distracted and obsessed. Well, normal for us.

August, 2008:

Addiction: our back porch

Excuse: so much basil in the garden

September, 2008:

Addiction: Sarah Palin

Excuse: Sarah Palin

Early October, 2008:

Addiction: the weather

Excuse: gotta rake

Late October, 2008:

Addiction: Comic Nurse

Excuse: the canoe’s on the car

Early November, 2008:

Addiction: fivethirtyeight.com

Excuse: “Once the election is over...”

Late November, 2008:

Addiction: academic freedom

Excuse: academic responsibility

Early December, 2008:

Addiction: “Dulce et decorum est” @ 6.6 mph

Excuse: no more room in the freezer

Mid-December, 2008:

Addiction: Time without Consequence

Excuse: time with consequence

January, 2009:

Addiction:  true democracy (see White House)

Excuse: Amtrak (don’t even ask)

February, 2009:

Addiction:    email vacations

Excuse: Treacle, our new pet rat

March, 2009:

Addiction:  grapefruits and hot peppers

Excuse: Actually reading actually takes a long time

April, 2009:

Addiction:  G-scale trains and dwarf evergreens

Excuse: I’m just so busy looking for a good excuse

May, 2009:

Addiction: ever longer evenings

Excuse: ever shorter nights

June, 2009:

Addiction: fresh cilantro from my herb garden

Excuse: been working on this site following a crash

July, 2009:

Addiction: summer fruits

Excuse: plums go with everything

August, 2009:

Addiction: swimming, everywhere

Excuse: a warm laptop really hurts on a sunburned lap

September, 2009:

Addiction: fresh office supplies

Excuse: the teachable moment around Caster Semenya

October, 2009:

Addiction: cashmere I can’t afford

Excuse: I’m writing a book. And I’m cold.

To read about my mystique, click here.

To see a running list of new pages on this site, click here.

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Addictions and Excuses