Thursday, March 12, 2009
Same Bat-time, new Bat-station
I've decided to wind down this blog as I prepare to move back to central Oregon. Fear not, I'll still have a blogging presence, just at a newer and spiffier location, so be sure to bookmark this: http://dmeddish.wordpress.com. I promise to keep this new blog updated more often, since it looks like free time is something I'm going to have tons of in the short term.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The die is cast
I officially tendered notice today. March 31st will be my last day here at WSU, and then, it's back to central Oregon.
I'm certainly picking an awesome time to quit a job with health bennies to return to the land of 12% unemployment, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.
I'm certainly picking an awesome time to quit a job with health bennies to return to the land of 12% unemployment, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Announcing the Cheryl L. Harper Memorial Award
I've been wanting to do something in Cheryl's memory that would be lasting and honor her memory. I considered a donation to the American Cancer Society, and while that's a worthy cause, anything I could contribute would really only be a eye dropper in the ocean.
Cheryl's two great passions in life were archaeology and the University of Oregon, so I got in touch with UO and we are now officially in the process of creating the Cheryl L. Harper Memorial Award, which will go to a graduate student in the Anthropology department who is intends to pursue a career in archaeology. An account is being set up through the UO Foundation that will pay out a yearly sum to a deserving student, and it won't be chump change, either. Conservatively, this should hopefully pay out about $1,000 per year, and in these economic times, that's nothing to sneeze at.
I can think of no better way to honor Cheryl and keep her memory alive.
I'm just getting the paperwork started on this, but I know there are several people who would be interested in contributing to this fund, so keep watching this space for additional details.
Cheryl's two great passions in life were archaeology and the University of Oregon, so I got in touch with UO and we are now officially in the process of creating the Cheryl L. Harper Memorial Award, which will go to a graduate student in the Anthropology department who is intends to pursue a career in archaeology. An account is being set up through the UO Foundation that will pay out a yearly sum to a deserving student, and it won't be chump change, either. Conservatively, this should hopefully pay out about $1,000 per year, and in these economic times, that's nothing to sneeze at.
I can think of no better way to honor Cheryl and keep her memory alive.
I'm just getting the paperwork started on this, but I know there are several people who would be interested in contributing to this fund, so keep watching this space for additional details.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
All quiet on the western front
On the bright side, our department may not be subject to massive layoffs. Then again, I don't plan on being here much longer...yes, I've planned the most perfect time to quit a job with health insurance to move to a place where even in the best of times finding decent work is nigh-impossible, but if the past year has taught me anything, it's that you need to be where you'll be happy, and the rest will fall into place.
I think last Valentine's Day was the last big holiday Cheryl and I were able to enjoy together. This one wasn't too bad. Lots of World of Warcraft, then Vanessa and I went to the Oregon State/Washington State game, and lo and behold, the scrappy Beavers pulled out a stunning upset. For one brief moment, all was right with the world.
For what blog readers remain, I'll probably have some big announcements in the following days, so watch this space!
I think last Valentine's Day was the last big holiday Cheryl and I were able to enjoy together. This one wasn't too bad. Lots of World of Warcraft, then Vanessa and I went to the Oregon State/Washington State game, and lo and behold, the scrappy Beavers pulled out a stunning upset. For one brief moment, all was right with the world.
For what blog readers remain, I'll probably have some big announcements in the following days, so watch this space!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Your quasi-weekly blog update
Yeah, I should write more. You'd be amazed how much time World of Warcraft takes, and, besides, not much to write about.
Well, a few things of note: one of the students who I provide service for is a would-be cook, and he clued me and Tim; friend, co-worker and fellow member of the Sweet-Jesus-Do-I-Hate-Pullman Cub, about a French cooking class taught in Moscow by an actual honest-to-goodness French chef. What the hell a French chef is doing here is another story, but tomorrow I get to go learn how to make duck l'orange and potatoes au daphine. OM NOM NOM.
Finally got the Subaru sold! Only took three month longer than I thought, and I didn't get quite what I wanted for it, but at this point, I just wanted it gone, one less thing to worry about moving.
Took the kitties to the vet last week, and they got clean bills of health. According to their records, Samantha is 17(!) this year. Samantha does not behave like a 17-year-old cat. She still tears around this place like a banshee and has remarkably good muscle tone. Sure, she's showing some signs of age, like speckled eyes and has only a handful of teeth left, but you'd think this cat was a decade younger. Devons, supposedly, will live upwards of 20, so hopefully The Stinkus still has a few good years left in her.
Speaking of which, I am now being climbed on and shoulder is being demanded, and since typing with a handful of cat is difficult at best...
Well, a few things of note: one of the students who I provide service for is a would-be cook, and he clued me and Tim; friend, co-worker and fellow member of the Sweet-Jesus-Do-I-Hate-Pullman Cub, about a French cooking class taught in Moscow by an actual honest-to-goodness French chef. What the hell a French chef is doing here is another story, but tomorrow I get to go learn how to make duck l'orange and potatoes au daphine. OM NOM NOM.
Finally got the Subaru sold! Only took three month longer than I thought, and I didn't get quite what I wanted for it, but at this point, I just wanted it gone, one less thing to worry about moving.
Took the kitties to the vet last week, and they got clean bills of health. According to their records, Samantha is 17(!) this year. Samantha does not behave like a 17-year-old cat. She still tears around this place like a banshee and has remarkably good muscle tone. Sure, she's showing some signs of age, like speckled eyes and has only a handful of teeth left, but you'd think this cat was a decade younger. Devons, supposedly, will live upwards of 20, so hopefully The Stinkus still has a few good years left in her.
Speaking of which, I am now being climbed on and shoulder is being demanded, and since typing with a handful of cat is difficult at best...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Bullet points in lieu of a longer update
Figured I might as well pound out a quick update while I wait for the latest update to World of Warcraft to download. Yes, it's official, I've been sucked into that game, but it given me something to do on evenings and weekends other than watch TV and get depressed.
Watched a bit of the inauguration on the internets at work. Obama's got a tough road ahead of him, but I am so thankful that after the last eight years, it's so nice to have actual grown-ups in charge, ya know?
Thought I finally had a buyer for the Subaru but the guy backed out at the last minute. Bastage.
Move-wise, unless some other job comes up, I think Spring Break, which is around St. Paddy's Day in these parts, will be the target date for escaping this place. I'm tempted to stick around until Mom's Weekend - Huey Lewis & The News is playing up here, and, dear God, I remember seeing them when I was in high school. Nostalgia versus the horrors of aging, I'll have to make a tough decision there...
Watched a bit of the inauguration on the internets at work. Obama's got a tough road ahead of him, but I am so thankful that after the last eight years, it's so nice to have actual grown-ups in charge, ya know?
Thought I finally had a buyer for the Subaru but the guy backed out at the last minute. Bastage.
Move-wise, unless some other job comes up, I think Spring Break, which is around St. Paddy's Day in these parts, will be the target date for escaping this place. I'm tempted to stick around until Mom's Weekend - Huey Lewis & The News is playing up here, and, dear God, I remember seeing them when I was in high school. Nostalgia versus the horrors of aging, I'll have to make a tough decision there...
Monday, January 12, 2009
No news is...no news
So, I interviewed last week for that job at COCC I desperately want. I mean, come on, I've wanted to work for COCC for-ever, and with my background with students with disabilities, I'm obviously perfect - of course, Idiot Dave here, while coming armed with lots of question to ask the interviewers, forgot to include "So, when do you expect to be making a decision?" D'oh! So I've been anxiously sitting by the phone waiting for a call from the 541 area code...waiting...I suppose I'll give them a phone call later today just to check on my status, not to seem desperate or anything...
It's a surprisingly slow Monday here at work. It's the first day of classes here at WSU, and we're normally swamped with students, but so far it's quiet...perhaps too quiet.
I'll keep y'all updated should I hear anything.
UPDATE: I didn't get the job :(
While I understand they were very impressed with me, one of the other applicants had been doing the exact same job at another community college for nine years.
On the as-bright-as-I-can-make-it side, the SSD director did make it clear that she is still very interested in bring me in in some sort of Assistive Technology position, should the funds become available...whenever that might be.
Might as well start stumping for the next COCC bond measure.
I'm bummed, and will no doubt be getting my drink on tonight, but it could be worse, I suppose. I at least have a job at present, and assuming I still move down to Bend this spring, I'll have nicer weather to do it in. So I got that going for me. I'll take what I can get, I 'spose.
It's a surprisingly slow Monday here at work. It's the first day of classes here at WSU, and we're normally swamped with students, but so far it's quiet...perhaps too quiet.
I'll keep y'all updated should I hear anything.
UPDATE: I didn't get the job :(
While I understand they were very impressed with me, one of the other applicants had been doing the exact same job at another community college for nine years.
On the as-bright-as-I-can-make-it side, the SSD director did make it clear that she is still very interested in bring me in in some sort of Assistive Technology position, should the funds become available...whenever that might be.
Might as well start stumping for the next COCC bond measure.
I'm bummed, and will no doubt be getting my drink on tonight, but it could be worse, I suppose. I at least have a job at present, and assuming I still move down to Bend this spring, I'll have nicer weather to do it in. So I got that going for me. I'll take what I can get, I 'spose.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The return of the Al Franken Decade
Old-time SNL watchers might get that reference (otherwise, I have once again managed to date myself), but political junkies such as Cheryl and yours truly got a tidbit of good/interesting news, as it appears that satirist/comedian/writer Al Franken has prevailed to become the newest senator out of the wacky state of Minnesota.
Cheryl and I were big fans of his writing (although, in all honesty, his last book wasn't that funny; you could tell he was gearing up for the Senate run back then), and he should at least liven up the Senate a bit. And make Bill O'Reilly's head a-splode, which is also a plus.
The unexpected foot of snow we got last night - yes, one foot, twelve inches - has resulted in the cancellation of school, so I get to stay home and work on leveling up my World of Warcraft dudes. I can think of worse things to do. Hopefully, the snow won't be an issue tomorrow, as I'm scheduled to fly down to Bend for that job interview. So as much as I love snow...please come back later.
Cheryl and I were big fans of his writing (although, in all honesty, his last book wasn't that funny; you could tell he was gearing up for the Senate run back then), and he should at least liven up the Senate a bit. And make Bill O'Reilly's head a-splode, which is also a plus.
The unexpected foot of snow we got last night - yes, one foot, twelve inches - has resulted in the cancellation of school, so I get to stay home and work on leveling up my World of Warcraft dudes. I can think of worse things to do. Hopefully, the snow won't be an issue tomorrow, as I'm scheduled to fly down to Bend for that job interview. So as much as I love snow...please come back later.
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