So spouse and I spent our lunch yesterday making fact finding lists. I think we have decided that getting some more industry experience, particularly in a hot, new area, would actually probably make him more employable in academia - especially if he is able to adjunct while he does that (a good possibility). One of the things that we like a lot about our present life is the academic schedule. Yes, we work like fools when school is in session - 12-15 hour days sometimes. But I get just about all of my research done in the confines of the academic year. It's hell, but in the summer, we can get by with 3 or 4 hours a day 3 or 4 days a week, and it's great. We take the girls hiking and camping. We go on long walks and pick berries and sweet corn and get whatever looks interesting at the farmer's market and figure out how to cook it. We talk (well, Spouse and Offspring and I do) about oxidation and civil liberties and cultures who eat bugs. The girls won't be young forever, and we so treasure this time.
So, to find out:
*See if friend at university near New School knows of any adjunct opportunities
*See if doing contract industry work 9 months a year is a real possibility (a cursory search of careerbuilder suggests yes, but we'd like something more definite
*See about school and childcare quality (I've started on this)
*See if we'd still be able to do the opportunity that took us to China this year if we switched schools (program is run out of Spouse's current department)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Details
So I wrote Saturday's post based on an e-mail from the person saying he needed to call me to make an offer. I just got off the phone with him. It's a great offer. Really great. More money. Come in at a higher rank. It's not perfect (nothing is!), but I really think I could do very, very well there.
On the flip side, Spouse is getting increasingly nervous, which I understand.
I don't think there is likely to be any way of using this to leverage PrettyGood, as the story is now that everything that happened was what should have happened, and I am lucky to be here.
NewU is pretty small, and not in a position to help out Spouse.
D*mmit.
On the flip side, Spouse is getting increasingly nervous, which I understand.
I don't think there is likely to be any way of using this to leverage PrettyGood, as the story is now that everything that happened was what should have happened, and I am lucky to be here.
NewU is pretty small, and not in a position to help out Spouse.
D*mmit.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
But in good news
I got the job.
Spouse and I are deciding if it's worth uprooting the kids and him leaving his job to take it (probably a return to industry for him).
More to come.
Spouse and I are deciding if it's worth uprooting the kids and him leaving his job to take it (probably a return to industry for him).
More to come.
Friday, March 26, 2010
So freakin frustrating!
Conference deadline coming up fast.
Worst classes, hands down, that I have had in 9 years. Seriously worried that I will have massive failures on the department final. And they don't give a d*mn. I can't help you if you don't give a d*mn, people!
Offspring is super stressed out by school, as we have high-stakes testing coming in the next week or so.
Bun is extra clingy, too.
And now, I have a student who is supposed to be doing an internship overseas, that he has had lined up for 6 months, that it looks like he will not be able to do because someone in HR at the basket factory decided the paperwork is "too hard."
Urgh!
Worst classes, hands down, that I have had in 9 years. Seriously worried that I will have massive failures on the department final. And they don't give a d*mn. I can't help you if you don't give a d*mn, people!
Offspring is super stressed out by school, as we have high-stakes testing coming in the next week or so.
Bun is extra clingy, too.
And now, I have a student who is supposed to be doing an internship overseas, that he has had lined up for 6 months, that it looks like he will not be able to do because someone in HR at the basket factory decided the paperwork is "too hard."
Urgh!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Office supplies
LIke many academics (and readers of this blog, I suspect) I have an affinity for office supplies. I find the start of a new semester enticing, in part because it means a trip to OfficeMax or Staples for the ritual purchasing of grading pens, highlighters and the like. Secretly, I think it is the promise that having these things will cause me to somehow feel more on top of things as the semester moves through.
I have difficulty understanding people who don't have and use office supplies with an appropriate amount of respect.
For example, my many, many students who do not staple their papers. This is bad enough, but when they, instead, fold down the corners of their papers, it makes my life much harder, and, I think, makes me tougher on the paper because I am irritated.
My students are so bad this semester, that I have started not taking their work if it is not stapled, instead sending them down the hall to the department office where we have a stapler. I'm such a bitch. But seriously, when I was in college, I spent $1 on my own little stapler that lived in my book bag and it was not a big deal. They appear to cost $3 now, but are much cuter (fun colors!) and come with 1000 staples, which should be enough for your entire college career.
Another example is the frakkin white board markers. We have dry erase boards in all of our classrooms, and depending on the semester, I have increasing difficulty in finding markers. It all comes down to who else teaches in the room. There's one professor with whom I commonly share a room who has the marker bashing gene. There's another who has it also, but he is usually in a different room from me. I guess when you are a guy teaching basketweaving, you have to display your higher than average levels of testosterone somehow, and for both them, this is by writing very "enthusiastically" as if you want to use that poor little felt tip to actually engrave your words of basketweaving wisdom into the board. Sadly, the felt tip rarely cooperates, and instead, frays to something resembling a string mop, which is no longer suitable for marking legibly.
Then there's the adjuncts who have retired as basketweavers 10-15 years ago. They come in to make copies and curse at the tops of their lungs about how complicated the machine is (that goodness it is only once a week!). They still use acetate overheads (anyone remember those?), although we do have computer projection and even a document camera. They LEAVE THE FRAKKIN MARKERS UNCAPPED. Now, Sidney Rosenthal invented the magic marker type pen in the 1950s, so most of these folks should have had 50+ years to get used to the fact that you have to put the top back on. My three year old knows that.
I bring my own (something else to get at Staples!), but I still resent them for it.
I have difficulty understanding people who don't have and use office supplies with an appropriate amount of respect.
For example, my many, many students who do not staple their papers. This is bad enough, but when they, instead, fold down the corners of their papers, it makes my life much harder, and, I think, makes me tougher on the paper because I am irritated.
My students are so bad this semester, that I have started not taking their work if it is not stapled, instead sending them down the hall to the department office where we have a stapler. I'm such a bitch. But seriously, when I was in college, I spent $1 on my own little stapler that lived in my book bag and it was not a big deal. They appear to cost $3 now, but are much cuter (fun colors!) and come with 1000 staples, which should be enough for your entire college career.
Another example is the frakkin white board markers. We have dry erase boards in all of our classrooms, and depending on the semester, I have increasing difficulty in finding markers. It all comes down to who else teaches in the room. There's one professor with whom I commonly share a room who has the marker bashing gene. There's another who has it also, but he is usually in a different room from me. I guess when you are a guy teaching basketweaving, you have to display your higher than average levels of testosterone somehow, and for both them, this is by writing very "enthusiastically" as if you want to use that poor little felt tip to actually engrave your words of basketweaving wisdom into the board. Sadly, the felt tip rarely cooperates, and instead, frays to something resembling a string mop, which is no longer suitable for marking legibly.
Then there's the adjuncts who have retired as basketweavers 10-15 years ago. They come in to make copies and curse at the tops of their lungs about how complicated the machine is (that goodness it is only once a week!). They still use acetate overheads (anyone remember those?), although we do have computer projection and even a document camera. They LEAVE THE FRAKKIN MARKERS UNCAPPED. Now, Sidney Rosenthal invented the magic marker type pen in the 1950s, so most of these folks should have had 50+ years to get used to the fact that you have to put the top back on. My three year old knows that.
I bring my own (something else to get at Staples!), but I still resent them for it.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Questions part 3
Sad to say, my german Great grandmother never made potato dumplings, so I don't know how either : (
She made a mean sauerbraten with red cabbage, german noodles and apple turnovers, though.
I am working on this fundamental basketweaving workshop that I am teaching to everyone's students but my own that has turned into a complete trainwreck this week, as well as really, really, really, really wanting to get another of the 3 remaining papers out the door today. In between, I have a visiting incoming grad student as well as open house at Offspring's school where they tell you "everything you need to know about jr. high," which ends 30 minutes before the second basketweaving workshop.
I have lab help hours for my modern techniques class for two hours this afternoon, and should have a lot of attendance, since many of my students didn't manage to finish last week's lab.
Plus, I am teaching a new basketweaving technique that I haven't done myself in about 2 years, so I'll need a refresher on that.
***Anyone out there have a background in Ed Psych? If so, please e-mail me. We're having an issue with Offspring that I really need some advice on.
She made a mean sauerbraten with red cabbage, german noodles and apple turnovers, though.
I am working on this fundamental basketweaving workshop that I am teaching to everyone's students but my own that has turned into a complete trainwreck this week, as well as really, really, really, really wanting to get another of the 3 remaining papers out the door today. In between, I have a visiting incoming grad student as well as open house at Offspring's school where they tell you "everything you need to know about jr. high," which ends 30 minutes before the second basketweaving workshop.
I have lab help hours for my modern techniques class for two hours this afternoon, and should have a lot of attendance, since many of my students didn't manage to finish last week's lab.
Plus, I am teaching a new basketweaving technique that I haven't done myself in about 2 years, so I'll need a refresher on that.
***Anyone out there have a background in Ed Psych? If so, please e-mail me. We're having an issue with Offspring that I really need some advice on.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Questions part 2
Pad Thai recipes - I don't have one. But I have spent a lot of time in Thailand and if there's one thing I can tell you about Thai food, it is that everyone is expected to doctor stuff to their own liking. Any place that you eat will have a condiments counter with cilantro, lime wedges, fish sauce, sugar, peppers in vinegar, etc. One of the places we like to eat, I swear their pad thai sauce was ketchup, fish sauce and lime. If it were me, I'd get one of those pad thai kit things, and a bottle of fish sauce (a little goes a long way, but it is what gives Thai food its funky umami taste), since you probably have most of the other things. I'd get some bean sprouts and peanuts, since those are often in the kits. Or I'd go to Pei Wei.
Taking students on trips: It depends on the length and difficulty of the trip, as well as the maturity of the students. When I took 10 students to Africa as a part of a bigger university trip, they collected everyone's passports when we arrived so the kids wouldn't use them, and we had coordination meetings for both the team leaders and (separately) the individual teams to make sure everyone went where they were supposed to, did what they were supposed to, and returned when they were supposed to.
But if you are taking students to something simpler like a domestic workshop or conference, for undergrads, I might hold their plane tickets, etc. if they are not experienced travelers. It is important, I think to make sure that expectations are clearly laid out both before you go and regularly during the trip (strongly recommend daily meetings). This is things like how many sessions they are expected to attend all the way to "we don't oversleep on this kind of trip." It sometimes takes a little "Come to Jesus" meeting for a student to get them in line with the expectations. Do this sooner than later. One other thing - helicopter parents will be concerned and can make trouble for you. Plan for this and give students materials (like itinerary, transportation schedules, etc.) to share with home.
Hog farming - I would need a specific question!
Taking students on trips: It depends on the length and difficulty of the trip, as well as the maturity of the students. When I took 10 students to Africa as a part of a bigger university trip, they collected everyone's passports when we arrived so the kids wouldn't use them, and we had coordination meetings for both the team leaders and (separately) the individual teams to make sure everyone went where they were supposed to, did what they were supposed to, and returned when they were supposed to.
But if you are taking students to something simpler like a domestic workshop or conference, for undergrads, I might hold their plane tickets, etc. if they are not experienced travelers. It is important, I think to make sure that expectations are clearly laid out both before you go and regularly during the trip (strongly recommend daily meetings). This is things like how many sessions they are expected to attend all the way to "we don't oversleep on this kind of trip." It sometimes takes a little "Come to Jesus" meeting for a student to get them in line with the expectations. Do this sooner than later. One other thing - helicopter parents will be concerned and can make trouble for you. Plan for this and give students materials (like itinerary, transportation schedules, etc.) to share with home.
Hog farming - I would need a specific question!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Questions part 1
1. We have the toiletries problem when we fly, all the time, because we are too cheap to check bags. I bought some refillable travel bottles at SuperMegaLoMart for $.99 each, and I put the girls' no tears shampoo and conditioner in those. You have to double plastic bag them, though, because they do tend to leak. For things that you are going to use up on the trip (I'm looking at you, sunscreen!), if at all possible, I just buy it there.
2. We only have 3 colors of socks that regularly get worn in the house, plus dressy socks for the girls. A few years ago, we threw out or donated every sock we owned, and started fresh. It only cost about $20 and now all white socks, brown socks and black socks in the house match. It makes laundry day very easy. If you are averse to this, my Dad bought a big pack of safety pins, and he pins his socks when they go into the laundry.
3. Hmmmm. Coveting. Well, that seems similar to my "other" Lenten thing (which I am SUCKING at, btw), and involves basically trying to change your midset about something. I don't generally have a lot of trouble with wanting a lot of stuff. But I did read a good piece of advice in an old Heloise book of my grandmother's. Figure out your per-hour income. Then, before you make a purchase, think about if it is worth X hours of your job time (or the bread winner for your house) in order to have this item. If you make a good salary, sometimes things are relatively inexpensive anyway, so you have to decide based on other factors. I tend to think about environmental impact (what did it take to get that McDonald's toy's oil out of the ground, refined, turned into plastic, shipped overseas for manufacturing, shipped back and is all of that worth it for a little Darth Vader or whatever) or about the social impact. For example, we make more money than a lot of families in our rural suburb. We could spend more money on clothes for our kids than we do. We choose not to because a) it might make other people feel bad and b) it gives our children a view on the world that is not really in line with our values. This may be more philosophical than you are looking for.
2. We only have 3 colors of socks that regularly get worn in the house, plus dressy socks for the girls. A few years ago, we threw out or donated every sock we owned, and started fresh. It only cost about $20 and now all white socks, brown socks and black socks in the house match. It makes laundry day very easy. If you are averse to this, my Dad bought a big pack of safety pins, and he pins his socks when they go into the laundry.
3. Hmmmm. Coveting. Well, that seems similar to my "other" Lenten thing (which I am SUCKING at, btw), and involves basically trying to change your midset about something. I don't generally have a lot of trouble with wanting a lot of stuff. But I did read a good piece of advice in an old Heloise book of my grandmother's. Figure out your per-hour income. Then, before you make a purchase, think about if it is worth X hours of your job time (or the bread winner for your house) in order to have this item. If you make a good salary, sometimes things are relatively inexpensive anyway, so you have to decide based on other factors. I tend to think about environmental impact (what did it take to get that McDonald's toy's oil out of the ground, refined, turned into plastic, shipped overseas for manufacturing, shipped back and is all of that worth it for a little Darth Vader or whatever) or about the social impact. For example, we make more money than a lot of families in our rural suburb. We could spend more money on clothes for our kids than we do. We choose not to because a) it might make other people feel bad and b) it gives our children a view on the world that is not really in line with our values. This may be more philosophical than you are looking for.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
If you aren't going to believe me, don't ask for my opinion
So I did a drive-by evaluation on my grad student who is teaching his own class last night (2-1/2 hours!). He's self-reported having a bit of trouble, so first I had him visit my class, you know, to be all dialogic.
So his class wasn't perfect. He had some time management issues (but I'm really the only one who knew that because he threw in an emergency activity that we had talked about. He doesn't project a great aura of confidence, which means that it takes a few minutes to redirect student attention when he switches topics.
But he has a great one-on-one rapport with the students (better than I do, what with the scaryness and all : ) ) and when they were doing some group work, I listened in a bit and found that they are demonstrating that they do get the concepts of the class. Although perfect delivery is nice, as long as the students are learning, that's what really matters.
But then I got home last night and got the following e-mail: I am so sorry. That was the worst class I have ever had.
I had already talked to him a bit, but he's still feeling so low, and I feel really badly for him.
I guess I'll wait a little while and then try to talk with him again...
So his class wasn't perfect. He had some time management issues (but I'm really the only one who knew that because he threw in an emergency activity that we had talked about. He doesn't project a great aura of confidence, which means that it takes a few minutes to redirect student attention when he switches topics.
But he has a great one-on-one rapport with the students (better than I do, what with the scaryness and all : ) ) and when they were doing some group work, I listened in a bit and found that they are demonstrating that they do get the concepts of the class. Although perfect delivery is nice, as long as the students are learning, that's what really matters.
But then I got home last night and got the following e-mail: I am so sorry. That was the worst class I have ever had.
I had already talked to him a bit, but he's still feeling so low, and I feel really badly for him.
I guess I'll wait a little while and then try to talk with him again...
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Mommyprof answers your questions
It's that time again. I will entertain questions this week on the following topics:
1. Packing
2. Any of the seven deadly sins
3. German or Thai food
4. How all our socks always match on laundry day
5. Car trips
6. Hog farming
7. Taking students on short-term trips
1. Packing
2. Any of the seven deadly sins
3. German or Thai food
4. How all our socks always match on laundry day
5. Car trips
6. Hog farming
7. Taking students on short-term trips
Monday, March 15, 2010
A little breathing room
My grad student successfully defended (whew!). I've been on lots of committees, and since basketweaving programs often have a project option, I've guided a lot of projects, but this was my first formal thesis. I was pretty hard on the student for getting ready, making him go through the limitations of his study pretty exhaustively, so he was more in the position of listening to the other members of the committee try to be encouraging, which is much better than listening to them trying to take you down a peg. The outside member he picked is a methodologist in an allied field, so I was glad it went that way.
Yay!
But, there was more evidence for the I am scary files. I let the other people on the committee ask their questions first, and then I said I had a few. Our defenses are open, so two of the other grad students were sitting in, one for support and the other because he'll be doing the same thing a year from now. When I said I had a few questions, they both drew in breath, and I'm pretty sure one of them quietly said "Uh oh." He handled the questions well, so no worries, but boo!
Yay!
But, there was more evidence for the I am scary files. I let the other people on the committee ask their questions first, and then I said I had a few. Our defenses are open, so two of the other grad students were sitting in, one for support and the other because he'll be doing the same thing a year from now. When I said I had a few questions, they both drew in breath, and I'm pretty sure one of them quietly said "Uh oh." He handled the questions well, so no worries, but boo!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Odds and ends from Spring Break
We took the week off and went to Southern California for Spring Break last week. It was not really a trip I wanted to make, given the crapload of work I have to get done in the next two weeks (thesis defense, 4 (!) paper deadlines, teaching a completely new basket technique that I am not entirely sure of how to do myself, etc.), but it was a pretty good time. We did the Southern Cali Citypass, so it was 5 theme park days in a row, which was pretty tiring.
A few odds and ends:
* We ran into someone we know from here in MidSized City at Disney Land, thus definitively proving that it is, in fact, a small world after all.
* Spouse and I talked about the future some. Topics of conversation included him going back into industry, me going back into industry and me going to law school.
* We met my brother-in-law and his family there. SIL is pregnant with their third, so it's the last time they will be able to get away like this for a while. SIL is falling more and more into the "self worth defined by perfect parenting" mold, which is kind of depressing to see (especially since it is a beautiful day outside, but Bun is in here watching a movie since I am working on the crapload and need our wireless).
* She went ballistic when her 3-year-old daughter tried to get a drink out of a DisneyLand water fountain, telling her water fountains are nasty and that she should never touch them. I don't understand this at all.
* We spent a day at Universal Studios, Hollywood, which was really great - much better than I expected.
* We also spent a day at Seaworld. We have been there before, and it was kind of sad to see how the Shamu show has changed. They still found a kid who would say they wanted to be a whale trainer, though.
A few odds and ends:
* We ran into someone we know from here in MidSized City at Disney Land, thus definitively proving that it is, in fact, a small world after all.
* Spouse and I talked about the future some. Topics of conversation included him going back into industry, me going back into industry and me going to law school.
* We met my brother-in-law and his family there. SIL is pregnant with their third, so it's the last time they will be able to get away like this for a while. SIL is falling more and more into the "self worth defined by perfect parenting" mold, which is kind of depressing to see (especially since it is a beautiful day outside, but Bun is in here watching a movie since I am working on the crapload and need our wireless).
* She went ballistic when her 3-year-old daughter tried to get a drink out of a DisneyLand water fountain, telling her water fountains are nasty and that she should never touch them. I don't understand this at all.
* We spent a day at Universal Studios, Hollywood, which was really great - much better than I expected.
* We also spent a day at Seaworld. We have been there before, and it was kind of sad to see how the Shamu show has changed. They still found a kid who would say they wanted to be a whale trainer, though.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
And more
So I got an e-mail from the dean at the place I interviewed telling me I didn't get it. But, they were able to add a late search to replace someone who is leaving, and did I want to be considered for that?
The odd thing is that I am in the R & D end of basketry, but the person they are replacing is in the public service end, which I really don't have any training or experience in. So I don't seem like a suitable replacement, at all.
I said sure, but obviously, I am not holding my breath. Even if I got it, Spouse hasn't heard anything, at all, from the 5 schools in the same area to which he applied. Not even a "Yo, we got your application." Isn't that weird?
The odd thing is that I am in the R & D end of basketry, but the person they are replacing is in the public service end, which I really don't have any training or experience in. So I don't seem like a suitable replacement, at all.
I said sure, but obviously, I am not holding my breath. Even if I got it, Spouse hasn't heard anything, at all, from the 5 schools in the same area to which he applied. Not even a "Yo, we got your application." Isn't that weird?
Sunday, March 07, 2010
We're out of touch; I'm out of time
Sorry I've been quiet (yeah, I know, it's not like I have a loyal following waiting with bated breath for my next words of wisdom...)
It's a combination of a really busy week (took grad students to a conference in another state, and now we are on Spring Break) and just not having much to say. Still haven't heard from that school, which I think means that their first choice turned them down, and I was vying for second or third and came up third.
But I have been realizing that I really don't think Spouse and I will be able to leave PrettyGood. That's the subject of the post in my head, which isn't finished because Spouse and I haven't discussed it in depth yet, but basically, Spouse's career is rocking the house right now, after many slow years. He got a big grant. He got a paper published in a major outlet. He's becoming more important to his department, seemingly by the second. I can't see making him settle on something lesser just so I can try again, without a guarantee of success.
This realization hurts. A lot. I don't see a way that it is going to be resolvable in the near term, and quite possibly the long-term future. I am trying to find ways to not be really bitter about everything, and I am coming up short, which displeases me, since I feel like I am a failure, and may also have a serious character flaw.
It's not a final decision, but I think it is the way things will turn out.
It's a combination of a really busy week (took grad students to a conference in another state, and now we are on Spring Break) and just not having much to say. Still haven't heard from that school, which I think means that their first choice turned them down, and I was vying for second or third and came up third.
But I have been realizing that I really don't think Spouse and I will be able to leave PrettyGood. That's the subject of the post in my head, which isn't finished because Spouse and I haven't discussed it in depth yet, but basically, Spouse's career is rocking the house right now, after many slow years. He got a big grant. He got a paper published in a major outlet. He's becoming more important to his department, seemingly by the second. I can't see making him settle on something lesser just so I can try again, without a guarantee of success.
This realization hurts. A lot. I don't see a way that it is going to be resolvable in the near term, and quite possibly the long-term future. I am trying to find ways to not be really bitter about everything, and I am coming up short, which displeases me, since I feel like I am a failure, and may also have a serious character flaw.
It's not a final decision, but I think it is the way things will turn out.
Monday, March 01, 2010
So Spouse and I had a deal
about how he was supposed to remind me, whenever I get this crazy idea about singing by myself in public, that it's not a good idea.
He didn't. It wasn't.
In other news, apparently both the Prof. girls are turning heads among the fine young gentlemen in mid-sized city and environs.
According to Bun's Sunday School teacher, she was sitting next to another tot during snack time, when the young sir decided to lean over and plant one on her, right on the lips.
"Sir," she asked, "Did you just kiss Bun?" Bun answered "Yes, he did, and it was DISGUSTING!"
He didn't. It wasn't.
In other news, apparently both the Prof. girls are turning heads among the fine young gentlemen in mid-sized city and environs.
According to Bun's Sunday School teacher, she was sitting next to another tot during snack time, when the young sir decided to lean over and plant one on her, right on the lips.
"Sir," she asked, "Did you just kiss Bun?" Bun answered "Yes, he did, and it was DISGUSTING!"
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