Outside it is gray and rainy.  Blue peeks out from behind some large white clouds.  I am here at my desk, staring at a page called “Blog.”

 

I’ve known I wanted to write a blog, but now that I’m here in the blog world, I find I’m not sure what I want to say.  In fact, I’ve twice made the same typo, writing “Blob” instead of “Blog.”  That gives a hint about the clarity of my thoughts.  But if there is one thing I know, it is that I want to be able to communicate with others, and this blog is my avenue for doing so.

 

I’m used to teaching, to discussing, to reflecting, to problem solving.  I have done that with students and with colleagues, both at the University and in the community.  Now that I’m retired (more on that word later...), I don’t have the same forums for communication.  My plan is to use this blog as a place to continue and expand on the thinking I’ve previously done in classrooms, clinics, and offices.

 

But I don’t consider this blog--or my life now--just an extension of my life at the University.  After all, this is “From Tower to Trenches,” not just “In the (Ivory) Tower.”  So first up for discussion is, What do I mean by “Tower to Trenches”?  What are the trenches, and what is this “real world”?