3-13-09

These bushes by the side or our house died over the winter. The neighborhood is giving away some bushes that need to be removed for a highway being built near the entrance, so Dan cut the dead ones down. We have hired a company to dig up the good ones and plant them here. I hope they live.

Today I got a rejection from Vermont and found out that the Kentucky job is not a done deal. It's scary. I may not get a job offer after all this work.

Not such a good Friday the 13th.

3-12-09

I am so frustrated today. I have issues. Many many issues. Igor FAXed me this smiley face so I could test out our new FAX machine just in case somebody somewhere wants to offer me a job and get an offer letter in my hands pronto. That doesn't seem to be happening. Frustrated.

At least I have a smiley from Ian to encourage me to keep my chin up.

My mom arrives tomorrow. That will help. And I get to see Aza again on Sunday. That will help too. Photos of smiling actual faces to follow.

3-11-09

Squirt is working hard on an 8-step Rube Goldberg project that must include electricity. A motor spins that copper coil which a marble rolls down, falls into the funnel, down a tube, hits a button which releases a catapult throwing a metal ball into the bucket thing on the right. Then the ball falls onto a see-saw. I don't know what will happen next. He has made this out of junk he found around the house, stuff he bought from Lowes and Radio Shack, and has done all the work by himself. He has used the table saw and other power tools, and most importantly- his brain. He mostly works on this in the middle of the night, which is his usual study time. We heard hammering at 4am last night, power tools the night before. It's his first real engineering design project and I'm very proud of him. The fact that it was due on Monday doesn't seem to bother him as much as it bothers his parents. I just hope he gets it to school before the end of the week. A photo of the final contraption will follow!

3-10-09

We went for a walk this evening and the sunset was beautiful. I'm glad I had my iPhone along for a quick snapshot. It's Tuesday and I have all week to finish my defense presentation, edits to a paper I got accepted to a journal, and the presentation I'm giving next week in New Orleans. Yes folks, you get to see photos of New Orleans next week!

The entrance to our neighborhood is being ripped apart because a road is going through. See the tall bushes in the back? We are allowed to take them. We are hiring a landscaping company to dig them up and move them to our yard for us next week. I hope they're still there. First come first served.

3-8-09

Aza came home this weekend. It was GREAT to see her! We took her out to her favorite restaurant on our downtown mall. They are replacing all the bricks on the mall. It's going to look nice when it's all done. I took the day off and didn't work hardly at all this weekend.

3-6-09

This little shopping area is in a town nearby, Skaneateles. We could have moved there 23 years ago, as Dan was interested in a job there right out of college. Dan took this picture. Quaint and small town. I think we would have liked it.

We had a walking tour of campus with a woman who knows her stuff. This was after my teaching presentation and after all the interview meetings were over. Dan came with and we got to see and learn about all the unique buildings on campus. This is the music building. It was the second or third building on campus. Here is the stained glass inside. See on the right where the horses and carriages would pull up to let people out? The building is made of sandstone- I remember that. We flew home today. Taking different flights, I got in earlier and was really tired out.

3-5-09

Today my interview at Syracuse began. It was a warmish early spring day and my research talk went very well. Over half the attendees were engineering faculty, always a good sign. This is Hendricks Chapel, which bears a striking resemblance to our Rotunda here at UVA.

I thought the campus was so very pretty. We also had a tour with a real estate agent today and the houses nearby- within walking distance- are cute and inexpensive and architecturally interesting.

This is a view from our hotel room window. We are staying at the Sheraton. You can see the Hall of Languages, the big Dome, and the (what do they call it?) big castle building on the right. It's the music building. In the foreground is a building designed by I.M. Pei. I think I'm spelling that right.

3-4-09

The Hall of Languages, the first building constructed on Syracuse's
Campus. I arrived today and was pleasantly surprised by my
surroundings. Dinner at a fancy restaurant in Armory Square.

3-3-09

Happy square root day! The snow is still on the ground. Squirt didn't have school again. I got a job offer! It's not official yet, but it was verbally offered. Pretty pretty pretttttty cool.

3-2-09

This is my dissertation. I made six copies- one for me and five for my committee members. I turned it in today!

It snowed last night- so pretty. Squirt had off school so he went snowboarding. I'm resting up for my next adventure- Syracuse University!

3-1-09

First day of March. I felt well after spending all day in bed yesterday. I spent 12 hours writing and am now reading over my dissertation in preparation for printing off 5 copies to be delivered tomorrow. It's snowing outside!

2-28-09

We had so much trouble getting home, it was almost like a comedy
except we weren't laughing. Delayed flights, no supper, migraine,
arrival in Richmond at 2 am, getting stopped by state trooper at
2:30am on deserted highway for going 72, then arriving home at last at
4am to find dog pee on the hardwood floor. I thought I would be
writing all day but have hardly left the bed.

2-27-09

Today we had the day to ourselves and the first thing we did was go on
a tour of the Ben & Jerry's factory. They wouldn't allow pictures
inside. They had an accident with the ice cream and it was all over.
Pretty funny until one kid on the tour barfed.

This is the Ben and Jerry's Bus

Then we went to visit Richmond, Vermont where there is a Round Church.

And Montpelier, the capital of Vermont.

This is Church Street in Burlington, a larger version of our downtown mall.

2-26-09

Here I am in Burlington, Vermont for my interview at the University of Vermont. Beautiful campus, beautiful town.
This is the north view from the Old Mill Tower. You can see the tower that has "bells" that "chime". They are actually loud speakers.

This is the east view from the Old Mill Tower. On the right you can see the Waterman Building which houses the College of Education.

This is a view of Lake Champlain from the education school. Interview going great!

2-25-09

This is the bed and breakfast where we stayed in Burlington, Vermont.
This evening was dinner and a meeting with the search committee. We
ate at a French bistro on Church Street which is their version of the
downtown mall but bigger and better in some ways.

2-23-09

I flew home today. Left early in the morning. Mom made me toast and coffee and gave me a nectarine for the drive to the Atlanta airport. Her crew came to work and Jason moved these beautiful flowers from the kitchen to the foyer. I said goodbye and hit the road. Came home exhausted and slept... ate... played around... and now am getting ready for bed. Tomorrow I have to prepare for my Vermont interview.

2-22-09

My sisters left today. I would have left too but I messed up my ticket and had to stay an extra day. No problem. These are orchids that K and J gave Mom. Beautiful.

2-21-09

Happy birthday, Mom. You look great and we sure enjoyed your party!

2-20-09

Today Mom turned 75. My sisters and I met at the Atlanta airport and rented a car and drove "home." Here is K in her old bedroom reading one of her high school yearbooks. It's so wonderful to be with my sisters back home again.

2-17-09

Just goofing off with the camera and a switch. Quiz: Is the switch in the "on" or "off" position? OK, Aza, I'm counting on you.....

2-16-09

It's February, and you know what THAT means... Girl Scout Cookies! I think I ate a whole box of Thin Mints while finishing up my dissertation.

2-15-09

First sign of spring- forsythia blooming in Charlottesville. I spotted it today while on a walk near Grounds. The groundhog must have predicted that spring was right around the corner!

2-14-09

The best chocolate in the world is made right here and my sweet husband bought us a huge box of it for Valentines' Day. We are going to savor them together. Earl Gray is the best flavor. It's the striped one. He hand picked all our favorite dark chocolates. I made shrimp and grits with greens for dinner- mmmm it was a delicious day.

2-13-09

Happy Birthday Squirt! 18 years old today.
This is my blooming flower. My college roommate gave me the bulb several years ago and I finally got it to bloom again.