We are wrapping up extra time in the first half of my career as a professor. And the whistle is about to blow any moment.

Since it’s World Cup time, I thought I would start with a soccer analogy.  

As someone who loves to watch the occasional soccer match, especially during the World Cup, but didn’t grow up playing the sport, I find how they keep time interesting.  They have a clock and they let it run.  When it gets to 45 minutes, they stop for half time.  And start again until it gets to 90.  They don’t stop the clock for anything.  At the end of half, they just add a couple of extra minutes to account for lost time.  Even if there was extra time in the first period they restart the clock at 45 minutes. Which leads to the very odd situation of having two different 46th minutes.  One before halftime and one after.  ???????

Really interesting things happen in the extra time.  It’s usually an exciting time because everything is coming to a head.

Well, I start my sabbatical tonight. And it’s feeling a little bit like the first half is just coming to an end and we are in extra time this summer.  (FYI, I will work like a dog over sabbatical and it will not be like halftime. It’s just how I feel right now.).  

And I just scored a GGGGGGOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting, it’s been one of the more exciting times of my career. I’ve been having so much fun with my job this summer. We’ve got a number of exciting grant proposals out this month alone. I have a Physics Today article coming out this month and I have had just about the most amazing summer teaching possible.  My students this summer were absolutely amazing!  Each and every one of them.  I can’t tell you a summer where I have felt this happy with a group of students as I do this summer. Each and every one of them is a gem.  (Though I am in the middle of grading their finals right now so …)

Damn I love what I do!

At the same time, I need to regroup man!  I am so happy for halftime! I am drained!