It's Not You; It's Me

Stay with me. This is part end-of-the-year musing and part important announcement.

This has been quite a year for me.

• On the frivolous side, I took trips to Texas, Washington, D.C., New York, Georgia, China, Taiwan, North Carolina, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Logan, UT (more on that in a minute).
• I attended the following plays, ranging from Broadway to very local: Memphis, Newsies, Porgy and Bess, a Mandy Patinkin concert (not a play, but I'm counting it because Mandy Patinkin. He said, "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father. Prepare to die!" at the end of the show), In the Heights, the 39 Steps, the Secret Garden, Arsenic and Old Lace, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Little Shop of Horrors, and Spitfire Grill. 
• I attended nine college football games, including every BYU home game, two Utah State games (we'll get there in a minute) and my first ever college bowl game. It's a good thing I like football because those games represent many hours of driving and sitting that I will never get back.
• I bought a camera, took an introductory photography class, and by my count, have taken over 2,000 pictures since May. There are only about three of them that I am actually proud of.

On the professional side, I've had some things published that I'm pretty proud of; I've started a research project that I am very excited about; and, oh yeah

I am leaving BYU.

I haven't talked too much about it on this blog, out of respect to my employer/alma mater, and as an act of self-preservation, but I've been consumed by looking for a job for the better part of this last year, ever since BYU decided not to hire me for the position they had open last year. Another position is currently open at BYU (because, again, they didn't hire me), for which I would have interviewed if I hadn't found another job.

However, week before Christmas, I was offered a job at Utah State University, which means I will be leaving BYU in August, which is something I wouldn't have thought I would be saying at the beginning of this year. However, I am very excited for my new job, which has accounted for the numerous trips to Logan to check out the mid-singles ward and the football team (and, no, for you football fans, I didn't know Gary Andersen would be leaving when I accepted the job, but I am still optimistic about the Aggies next season. And, of course, I am always foolishly optimistic about the Cougars. That will never change).

And while I will always be a BYU fan at heart, and I have had many important relationships at BYU that will continue (after all, I'll only be moving 2 hours away), leaving the institution feels a little like a breakup. It's the right thing for me at this point in my life, but I can't say it doesn't still hurt a little.

It's not working. I'm going in a different direction. I'd like to see other people. It's not you; it's me. We are never, ever, ever getting back together.

Most likely.

Happy 2013 everyone! I have a feeling it's going to be a good one.