Humanities as Vocation

Swoop looking over a city square in Prague.

Greetings! Below is a link to the current episode of Public scholarship postcards. The topic is Humanities as a Vocation. I teach an introduction to the Humanities course. Some of you are probably thinking the question I am often asked, what do you mean by humanities? Learn how our college mascot, Swoop, is part of the answer and more by listening to the podcast.

Enjoy the human experience. Run.

Tom

Long Live The Streak!

Greetings! In my opinion, the team at Northside Hospital rank alongside the best. I received great care from kind and thorough professionals yesterday. My procedure went exceedingly well. Afterwards, I experienced no real pain at all. That holds true this morning. That is a gift and I am Thankful!

Even though I feel great, I took caution and completed my daily exercise using the lowest setting on our Elliptical. The Streak has been in preserved! I can’t foresee any reason this situation will cause an interruption. I worried a lot the hernia and the surgery. I believe there was good reason for that. I realize I am fortunate in so many ways. Among them, I have immediate access to high caliber healthcare, wonderful friends, family and coworkers who have been incredibly supportive. As always, Shannan shined. I am overwhelmingly blessed to have such a loving, considerate and fantastic life partner.

Thank you all!

Tom

Preserving The Streak

Greetings! I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed and oral surgery as an adult. That’s more than I wanted, and quite enough for me. Nonetheless, today I’m scheduled for out-patient hernia surgery. The last couple of weeks haven’t been that bad. I haven’t really been in pain, so I completed some light resistance workouts, a number of 3-mile runs, but mostly I kept to low impact cardio. Of course, I didn’t change my dietary habits, so I gained weight like it was magic.

The medical professionals keep making a lot to do about post-op pain. I must say I’ve be overwhelmed at how hard they have pushed the high-power pain medication and I haven’t even had the procedure. I feel certain I can get through this without opioids. That’s a purely personal position. I understand the role they play in recovery.

For me, the greater issue will be finding a meaningful way to exercise for thirty minutes tomorrow and the immediate days following without having a negative impact on the corrective work of the surgery. At present, The Streak is 21 years and 53 days old. Preserving The Streak is important to me. I will appreciate it if you will send your positive thoughts in my direction.

Find A Way. Exercise.

Tom

Iconic Lips

Greetings! This Public Scholarship Postcard podcast will look at lips and pop culture.  Our quick trip across time will make mention of the super celebrity, Marilyn Monroe, America’s great Pop Artist, Andy Warhol, legends in the music industry, The Rolling Stones, the cult classic movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and a couple examples of everyday mixed media. 

Click the link below to hear the entire podcast.

Listen. Run.

Tom