And Lo! The Facebook is dead.

This morning, at 8:05AM my facebook account died the death after nearly 6 years of life. I do not mourn its passing. Something that consumes so much time and effort, yet produces so little seems to be beyond my ability to reconcile to myself.

Here sit I, in my office at UT, land of the Ivory Towers, drinking my energy drink after a night of little sleep. Do you ever have those? It isn't because of anything in particular (well, the dog woke me up at a point and the fan clicked) but usually I can sleep. Not last night. I just laid there and let my mind wander, let my thoughts take flight. Those can be fun nights, when you're not sure if you're dreaming or awake. I like those. I can imagine things not yet come to pass, especially I wonder about the future. Over the weekend, when we were camping at Lake Buchanan, Alex and I walked past a building that was as quintessentially Texas as they come: pier and beam, 10' wide porch all the way around, and a small house, likely around 1100 sq. ft. We talked, and she agreed, that something about that size is what we hope for. That, a barn, stable, workshop, smithy, and guest cottage on about 30-50 acres. Imagine that. Wouldn't it be heaven? Maybe not for all of you, but in my time and life, I've really, truly come to love the land I come from. I would happily spend the rest of my days on it, stewarding it. There are few things I enjoy more than outdoor activities. Thanks to my lovely wife, I've been fishing more again lately, as those of you who've known me the longest will remember: I adore fishing.

There is something very relaxing in the repetition, very fulfilling in the catch, and something merciful in removing the hook and releasing a fish who is not yet old enough to be eaten. The appreciation of nourishing one's self with those that are. I think it provides a reflection on life we could all appreciate.

In a way I never knew would happen, I can remember when I developed a love for those things regarding the land and nature. I was 10. We had just bought a ranch in Bosque County, and I reveled in the new opportunities there: woods full of deer and rabbit to hunt, ponds full of bass and catfish, and so many things to explore. I could run the deer trails by heart and feel, and often, in my dreams, I am still running them, tracking. I continue to feel that way every time I am on the land, no matter where. I suppose, in some ways, that is why Alex and I are looking to move back there. When I took her to walk the countryside near where I lived, she fell in love with it in an instant. That made me happier than I rightly know how to say.

So, that being said, I am looking forward to the prospect of becoming a Texas history teacher in public schools, as that is the direction I'm thinking of. I enjoy teaching, and an academic schedule. I'd like to give something back and teach kids a little something about the state that I love.

In general, I must say, I continue to enjoy the directions that my life is tacking toward. I am excited about what the future holds for the first time in a long time.