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.

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!

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...