bad omens.

I am attempting to pack a small bag for two days in a warm place. I am failing miserably.

Things are not looking good for mid-January travel to colder climes... I should probably start packing for it now.

HOW CAN I POSSIBLY CHOOSE ONE PAIR OF SHOES FOR SO MANY ACTIVITIES? I'm having an existential crisis.

Computing

There was an outlet under my seat on my cross-country flight this weekend. Since when did those get installed? A real grounded outlet!

Unfortunately it was the also first time that I has absolutely no need or desire to charge anything inflight.

I don't know why,

But for some reason, the following phrase really bothers me. (in reference to having introduced myself via email but not met in person yet...)

Nice to "meet" you. 


I don' t know WHY. But it makes me feel weird. Why is this something everyone thinks they have to say?

Strange.

Easting on the job

I'd like to start an open discussion on campus catering. Usually I am partial to Bon Appetit but today they really let me down. At Penn I really enjoyed Insomnia Cookies - I mean who doesn't love a warm cookie at anytime?

Other favorites I should look out for?

Northwest winning

Won $5 in Oregon but lost in Washington. Can't say I'm surprised.

seriously?

$33.45 in tolls to drive to New Jersey and back. Are you kidding me? And when did the GW bridge start costing 12 DOLLARS?!


Somebody's gotta stop New Jersey before it gets any more out of hand.

Adventures in FacultyLand

I feel enlightened... I think I just had my own study abroad experience. Two days of immersion in the world of faculty at a small public college may have forever altered my view of this job.

Highlights:

-Constant talk of faculty politics and union negotiating
-The Wednesday morning "breakfast club" with four faculty ladies, at which they chatted about everything from pumpkin pancakes to transgender coppermining in the Levant
-More talk of unions and senates and contracts
-A lengthy discussion of college sports and who has what athletes in what classes
-A post-breakfast-club birdwatching walk ("see that through the mist? That's Atlantic City!" and "oh, it's just a yellowrump.")
-pet ducks.