Farewell To Friday Night Lights

Well, after delaying the inevitable, I have completed the the fifth and final season of Friday Night Lights. A time I knew was to come eventually, as stated in my farewell ode to the one and only season of Lights Out, has indeed come, and the feeling that I have is one of anger, joy, and sadness.

DP devotees already know about my strange addiction to the Friday Night Lights platforms – book, movie, and television show. I love all three platforms, the sayings, the mottos, the dialogue, the morals, and all of the subliminal messages and underlying messages of American life the three presented. Heck, the current DP design is based off of Friday Night Lights!

So yes, I am addicted. And because of that love and raw emotional connection the stories of each platform has with me, my first emotion is that of anger. It is very upsetting to watch a program as great as FNL (An Emmy Award Winning Series) along with the cult-like following that fought for the show every season despite a poor slot (ironically on Friday Nights), continue to defy being cancelled season after season before eventually having to call it quits. Yet, networks continue to run “trial” shows like The Voice and numerous mind-numbing types of reality shows (Looking right at you NBC!).

Dear Son, Big Fan of the Kid Turning Seven

---7 Years Old --- Dear Son, It’s been a while since I’ve dropped a few thoughts. Forgive me, I’ve just been watching. Just observing. Taking it all in. Trying to be a good dad. I’m punching the keys today from one of your martial arts practices. It’s your second with “the big kids” and also the second time I’ve found myself watching from the sidelines with anxiety, with pride, and with likely my biggest fandom for you yet in this space. My feelings are much more than you playing baseball or coaching you in basketball. Your disposition is different. Your excellence is different in this space. With martial arts, you stay diligent with the process. Respectful. Working hard. Getting better. In competition with and respecting the older kids you are training with. That’s what I’ve enjoyed. It encapsulates everything you’ve grown into thus far. Still empathetic as ever, but adding an element of self-ambition and drive - something I’ve prided myself on - and to see you mature into this m...

Working in Higher Ed, Lately

"Working in higher education must be interesting these days, huh?" That question was posed to me by several people who recently learned that I worked in higher education. The recent discourse around the industry and field has certainly shifted in narrative and the overall feel within it. I recently wrapped up my fourteenth (!!) academic year. It's remarkable to think that I've been serving students and following a passion for this long. This is especially the case considering the rising turnover, the documented yearly burnout, and the increasing exodus from the field. And, yup, there is that whole enrollment cliff combined with the politics that are more present than ever on college campuses. So yeah, higher education is weird right now. Very weird. Some quick thoughts : IS IT TIME? Yes, I have thought about leaving the field several times. Especially, over the last few years. COVID didn't really bother me, but it's safe to say that the world of higher edu...

Quick Ponder: Living for Your Kids

Many, are willing to die for their kids. Few, are committed to live for their kids.

Dome Pondering

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