En Paris

Bonjour! Once again, I'll resist the temptation to apologize for not being a more dedicated blogger and keeping my (albeit very few) followers up to speed on my thoughts (such as they are) and movements. But I do have one major update on the latter: I'm in Paris, and for the month. It's something I had been thinking about since last year, when my research leave got the official nod from administration. Why Paris? Well, the short answer is "why not?" Truthfully - and I know this is going to probably sound ridiculous and privileged, especially given that I have an entire year where I don't have to drag my ass to work every morning - I feel this trip is a bit of a necessity for me. I was beginning to get into something of a rut and becoming "stale" with both work and life in general. I needed some disruption to my routine, and being in Paris by myself for the month will surely provide such disruption.

That said, I still plan on following a basic routine over the next four weeks. (Well, less so this week as I officially took it as a vacation week.) I'm hoping to research and write in the mornings over coffee and croissants at the flat, go for a jog in the early afternoon, and then the rest of the day will be for myself. I can deviate somewhat from that rigid schedule if need be, but that's going to be the general pattern. Thankfully, with deadlines looming, it will provide the necessary motivation to do my work (deadline panic is good for that) - and hopefully being in Paris will provide the proper stimulus to allow the writing to flourish. Wishful thinking? Let's hope not!

Anyway I do hope to be a more productive writer on this site over the coming weeks. I'll probably need the company, after all!