I’m all about a pork chop and a dirty house

With apologies to Sleater-Kinney I’ve decided to start blogging. I’ve been considering doing so for a while. There were a few reasons I haven’t done so earlier. I’ve been really busy of late, and I’ll be even busier in the future. Second, I’m an academic, a scientist and about to go on the job market, and it would seem like a smart idea to not, well, have any opinions. It’s sorta like a voluntary version of the Hatch Act. It’s always seemed best to maintain neutrality. Third, I’m a transsexual woman. Granted, as someone who’s transitioned during her tenure as a graduate student, pretty much everyone in my field who doesn’t know my history can easily find out. Still, despite the fact that I’m unashamed of who I am, it’s still a lot of baggage to have anyone be able to google my past.

What changed?

Well, for one thing, it’s been a rough week. I’m kinda cranky. And frankly, if I don’t contribute something to the public dialog, the knot in my shoulder is going to keep growing.

I’m not terribly worried about people worrying about this being a waste of my time. Yep, I’ve got a thesis to write. And yes, my first-born will be here any day now (which should lead to an abrupt changing in my posting patterns). But it struck me while I was on an 8 hour, weekday excursion for a 15-minute doctor’s appointment (let’s just say that my health care is subsidized by governments in neighboring states, which is a bit strange, since I’m a state employee), that maybe blogging isn’t such a big drain. If my employer is going to put me in a position of not being able to use the doctor’s office 1/2 mile from my office, I’m not going to feel guilty about spending a few hours on the weekend, off the clock, blogging and relieving stress while I watch college football.

Oh, and about the whole having my opinions generate criticism of my abilities as a scholar? That’s been done. And speaking about not constantly advertising the facts that I’m queer, The Washington Post has some thoughts. I’d hate to disappoint the WaPo. And obviously, it’s right– I mean, it’s on the internet, right?