There's good news and there's bad news.

Post by **wilson** » January 11th, 2010, 10:08 am

OK, so I've been AWOL for about 2 months now...sorry about that. I hate to have just disappeared, but so it goes sometimes.
Anyway, with regard to this thread's title, the good news is the following: I passed comps officially on Dec. 4. For the following three weeks, I pretty much did nothing, save a burst of two or three days' activity when I got my syllabus all fleshed out and my course website up and running. Right after Christmas, I got back in the saddle and started writing lectures. I'm so excited about teaching I can barely sit straight. Among my several beloved professional pursuits, it is the one that most makes me feel like I'm doing what I was put on Earth to do. I also have a feeling that, since I just worked so hard to learn a whole bunch of stuff, I may as well keep working hard and use it. It's the first time in my life I can truly speak of professional fulfillment.
Lastly, as several of you have noticed on Facebook, I have taken up with a fun, sweet, beautiful woman. We've spent a ton of time doing things like playing Rummikub (no, seriously, Tilly...we really do play a bunch of Rummikub) on the couch while I cook for her, which sounds boring, but it's been balls cold here lately (kind of like everywhere else), and you can't just automatically do boring shit with anyone. She was cool enough to double date with a good friend of mine and his fiancee at Monster Jam this past Saturday. Hockey game this coming Thursday. It's funny how the company of a good woman gets you out doing the things you always bullshit about doing but never follow through on.
OK, now for the bad news...
She's a tar heel. Yeah. Born and raised in Bellwood, NC, a map dot with not even a traffic light, it's sort of a natural choice for her. But it still sucks.
That said, there is good in her. I've felt it. I can save her. I can turn her to the good side. I have to try.
While she and her mother root for the heels, her dad is a Duke fan, and her brother went to NC State. She also admitted to me on Saturday (as we watched the Duke game with pitchers before Monster Jam) that she could probably root for Duke as long as they're not playing carolina or Wake.
She's really sort of a soft tar heel...not rabid in any sense, doesn't see many of their games, has never been to a game. But as trivial as it all really is, it's something that does need to be addressed, and I've sort of made it known. I told her on Saturday that sports are the one thing most likely to make my show my (figurative) ass, and that I will never root for the heels under any circumstances whatsoever. I've also basically told her that if she chooses to root for the heels, then with regard to any Duke-carolina tilt, our best course of action is simply not to discuss it. She snuck in one snide comment on Saturday (albeit a particularly incendiary one, calling K "ratface"), and I didn't get ugly, but I did sort of firmly reply, "I'm serious. You really don't wanna start that." About 12 hours later, she agreed to be my gal, so I suppose I haven't freaked her out yet, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't about 5% worried that I really could do so at some point.
So anyway, that's the long and the short of it.

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » January 11th, 2010, 10:13 am

Thanks much for the update, Wilson. Great to hear all the good news..and even if she is a heel you can make it work. Ask DukePA about that. Congrats on completing all of your exams, hope to see you in Section 21 soon, chatbot misses you.

We look forward to giving your girl an intervention at a future brunchgate.

DukeUsul · Post by **DukeUsul** » January 11th, 2010, 10:28 am

Awesome. Great to know everything is going well!

The saddest part of you being out of the loop so long is that you missed my great rendering of you enjoying a quiet evening at home. I forgot what exactly we were talking about, but it involved this:

TillyGalore · Post by **TillyGalore** » January 11th, 2010, 10:49 am

I had to look up rummikub as I'd never heard of it before, it looks interesting.

So glad all is well in Wilson's world. Congratulations on your comps and your new lady friend. Hope you're able to convert her as it does sound like she can be converted to cheer for the proper blue.

TillyGalore · Post by **TillyGalore** » January 11th, 2010, 10:50 am

DukeUsul wrote:Awesome. Great to know everything is going well!

The saddest part of you being out of the loop so long is that you missed my great rendering of you enjoying a quiet evening at home. I forgot what exactly we were talking about, but it involved this:

DukeUsul, thank you for reposting the pic. I needed a good chuckle.

Post by **wilson** » January 11th, 2010, 10:56 am

DukeUsul wrote:Awesome. Great to know everything is going well!

The saddest part of you being out of the loop so long is that you missed my great rendering of you enjoying a quiet evening at home. I forgot what exactly we were talking about, but it involved this:

Yep, that's about right.
Speaking of, I'm not sure I ever told y'all this, but I came home right after the Maryland game and put my pirate ship together. It now sits on my dresser. I have added five additional pirates and a collection of weapons (pistols, muskets, another cannon) to the ship, as a real pirate ship would have been small but slightly overmanned and armed to the teeth. I have dubbed the vessel the HMS Insanity (crazietalk...insanity...you get it).

Post by **wilson** » January 11th, 2010, 10:57 am

TillyGalore wrote:I had to look up rummikub as I'd never heard of it before, it looks interesting.

We've played a fair amount of tiddlywinks too. ;)

TillyGalore · Post by **TillyGalore** » January 11th, 2010, 11:04 am

wilson wrote:
TillyGalore wrote:I had to look up rummikub as I'd never heard of it before, it looks interesting.
We've played a fair amount of tiddlywinks too. ;)

I didn't read that.

bjornolf · Post by **bjornolf** » January 11th, 2010, 11:15 am

Take her to a game at Cameron. If that doesn't turn her, nothing will. ;) Good litmus test.

Miles · Post by **Miles** » January 11th, 2010, 11:23 am

Congratulations on all fronts wilson! It's good to have you back.

As for spending your quality time with a UNC fan, I can tell you that I'm not the only Duke fan who has fallen for a Carolina fan, and we're not the only ones on CTN! I love Duke basketball and I love a Carolina fan. Our love for our teams and each other can and do coexist quite nicely. I find it helps if I just focus on loving my team, rather than hating hers; which is probably a good way to live your life anyway.

Now get your ass up to Charlotte son! Bring your gal too.

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » January 11th, 2010, 11:29 am

Congrats on the good news.
Sorry about the bad news.

What IS it about you? First a UK type, now a Tar Hole?

Sending vibes.

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » January 11th, 2010, 11:32 am

Is she into NASCAR?

Devil in the Blue Dress · Post by **Devil in the Blue Dress** » January 11th, 2010, 11:36 am

What you've described in the recent developments in your life just demonstrates the yin yang nature of life. I think Miles and bjornolf gave the best advice should you be inclined to consider their suggestions. Enjoy! Life's too short to mess around with conflict!

OZZIE4DUKE · Post by **OZZIE4DUKE** » January 11th, 2010, 11:52 am

Congrats on all the good news!

And the bad news, too.

Her family sounds a lot like my son-in-law's, the man about to become the father of my soon to be born granddaughter. His dad is a carolina fan, his maternal grandparents are Duke fans, his uncles are carolina fans. And he's mostly a carolina fan (he went to East Tennessee State University), but my daughter's overwhelming zeal/Cameron Crazieness for Duke dwarf's his feelings for the heels. And he has twice played trumpet in the Duke Alumni Pep Band for games in Cameron. I'll eventually get him on our side!

cl15876 · Post by **cl15876** » January 11th, 2010, 12:04 pm

Miles wrote:Congratulations on all fronts wilson! It's good to have you back. ... I find it helps if I just focus on loving my team, rather than hating hers; which is probably a good way to live your life anyway. ...

Not to be too redundant, but good to see you back and congrats on the comps and your new friend!

I 2nd that last comment Miles, good words Santa killer! ;)

Ima Facultiwyfe · Post by **Ima Facultiwyfe** » January 11th, 2010, 1:16 pm

Oh Wilson! How great to hear good news. Let's all just wallow in it. As for the not-so-good news, it's hard to find a rose garden without some thorns. Our family is made up of a combination of loyalties, too. Over the years we've learned how to handle it. We just can't watch our games together, that's all.

Have fun.
Love, Ima

Very Duke Blue · Post by **Very Duke Blue** » January 11th, 2010, 2:34 pm

congrats on your comps wilson. you must bring your girlfriend to a brunchgate this fall. so happy to hear your life is going well.

devildeac · Post by **devildeac** » January 11th, 2010, 5:20 pm

wilson wrote:
DukeUsul wrote:Awesome. Great to know everything is going well!

The saddest part of you being out of the loop so long is that you missed my great rendering of you enjoying a quiet evening at home. I forgot what exactly we were talking about, but it involved this:
Yep, that's about right.
Speaking of, I'm not sure I ever told y'all this, but I came home right after the Maryland game and put my pirate ship together. It now sits on my dresser. I have added five additional pirates and a collection of weapons (pistols, muskets, another cannon) to the ship, as a real pirate ship would have been small but slightly overmanned and armed to the teeth. I have dubbed the vessel the HMS Insanity (crazietalk...insanity...you get it).

Now you need a few Somalians to man the decks...

AAARRRR

Welcome back.

Now, start catching up on all the GOOD reading you have been missing.

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » January 11th, 2010, 7:35 pm

Clarification: she didn't actually go to Chapaheeya, did she?

And what's the deal with her support of Wake? is there ANY reasoning behind that?

Post by **wilson** » January 11th, 2010, 7:38 pm

Lavabe wrote:Clarification: she didn't actually go to Chapaheeya, did she?

And what's the deal with her support of Wake? is there ANY reasoning behind that?

She did not go to carolina. She went to Wingate (south of Charlotte), where she played tennis. And she says she just likes Wake, basically because they're the Little Engine that Does.

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