One or two of you out there—you know who you are—put yourselves through reading my musings on a daily basis.I haven’t missed a post in nearly a decade, but travel always complicates things.Yes, it’s that time of year again—I’m on my way to AAR/SBL.The American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting is the trade show of the guild.This year we’re meeting in San Diego, California.The hope of many of us is that it’ll be sunny and warm.Last year, of course, I missed the conference for the first time, exchanging the Denver Hilton for a night on the floor of Newark’s Liberty Airport.This year I’m flying out of a different venue—one where egress is possible in the case of snow.
I always like to post a reminder to the faithful few that normal service on this blog may be interrupted.One never knows what might happen when away from the regular routine.And three time zones will surely wreak havoc with circadian rhythms that haven’t yet caught up with the end of Daylight Saving Time.Or is it the beginning of Daylight Saving Time?It makes no difference, because it lead to lack of normal sleep, no matter what we call it.In any case, San Diego may make usual posting unusual.At the very least it’ll be a few hours off.I’ve become a creature of habit, posting my thoughts between six and seven on weekdays.On weekends I’m up just as early, but I give the web a chance to sleep in.
These annual meetings are exhausting when you go on behalf of a publisher.Unlike the leisurely experience of a paying customer, you don’t get to go back to your room for a nap, or even to sleep in.Every year colleagues ask me to receptions but I decline because every day is a school day.And I have appointments from 8:30 until 6:30 daily.Sometimes even later.You, my gentle reader, have been given advance notice.I’ll try to continue my daily chronicle of life inside this particular head as thousands of scholars of religion mill about, wondering about the answers to the big questions.Right now the big question is whether I’ve packed everything I’ll need.I’ll gain three hours on the way out, but I have to leave them at the desk when I get back.Along the way I’ll scatter posts like breadcrumbs to help me find my way home.
