Should I list my academic credentials? Blah blah blah… You can find that boring stuff here: www.scott-schaefer.net

How about a road trip story instead? It was the summer of 1991, and I had just passed my PhD qualifying exams… Months of hard work, finally over! I had a green 1988 Ford Ranger pickup with an extended bed and a camper shell, a foam mattress, a sleeping bag, and just enough gas money. And what didn’t I have? A girlfriend, a job, a pet, or any responsibilities. That’s the way to travel.

So I took off east…. for the Great Baseball and Rush Odyssey of 1991.

Twins, Brewers, White Sox, Indians, Pirates, Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Expos, Blue Jays, Tigers, Reds, Orioles, day off for long drive, then Cardinals and Royals…. Whew! 16 stadiums in 15 cities in 17 days. I remember sitting at an I-70 rest area near Frederick MD with my Street and Smith’s and Rand McNally — yes, kids, that’s how we used to do it — trying to find a way to squeeze Atlanta in… Couldn’t make it work!

And the Rush part? The Canadian Prog Rock trio — the Holy Triumverate, from “I Love You, Man” — released their 14th studio album, “Roll the Bones,” in early September. I picked up a cassette at the Sam Goody in Harrisburg, PA, and set what must have been a record for consecutive solo listens to a rock cassette tape.