Yesterday was very, very busy, but also very productive. I have to confess that I honestly did not want to take the time to come to this meeting for a variety of reasons. First, the timing of this meeting is really awful for me, personally. This coming weekend is the Dublin Irish Festival and having to take four days out of my schedule ahead of the biggest gig of the year for Aisling is a real pain. Second, I've felt disconnected for the past couple of years and really didn't think I would be comfortable back in the thick of things. Third, I've been away from home way too much this year already.
Thus, I had a lousy attitude going in, but the first day of the meeting was a tonic of sorts. I had some fantastic conversations, received some invitations to do seminar visits, plus the start of a new collaboration. All those things are what these meetings are about, plus getting to sit in on some great talks and see where the cutting edge in my field is at the moment.
So, let that be a lesson to be learned - just do it!
One of the highlights from yesterday was a talk given by Noel Holmgren of the New York Botanical Garden. He presented an overview and history of the Intermountain Flora and I truly enjoyed seeing the slides of Art Cronquist, Art Holmgren, Jim Reveal and Noel and Pat in the field, plus the amazing landscapes of the intermountain flora region. It's such a fantastic project that was conceived seven decades ago.
ps - the scenery here isn't hard on the eyes, either.
andi -- you have come to a cross-roads in your life; be gentle with yourself, watch your health, and let go of all that was the past.
ReplyDeleteask for guidance of when to hold on and when to let go ... and have faith in what you are feeling!
Thank you for the input. Things are actually going well here, and I think this meeting was good for me. It feels right, and there are good things to come from what has happened here in the past couple of days.
ReplyDeleteHi, are there any mycological societies in Ireland (where I live)? Can't seem to find one through Internet searches. Recently visited the Basque Country where they really take these things seriously and most kids (even city ones) have been out picking them at some time in their lives.
ReplyDeleteD
There's a Northern Ireland Fungi Group: http://www.nifg.org.uk/home.htm
ReplyDeletealso, British Mycological Society:
http://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/
I suspect someone in either of these organizations could tell you if there's a local group that may be of interest to you.