More Observations on the Way to Work

So now while driving to work a wild turkey flew across the road. The day before I saw one along the road while stopped at a light. Often when I see something about creating habitat for animals and birds in cities, I think if we create anymore, the people will have to move out!

One of our TV stations ran a story today about a coyote who has created a den for her pups right near the intersection of Highways 35W and 694.

Observations on the way to work

Today I worked at home all morning and then came to work for a retirement celebration this afternoon at which I must speak for 1.5 minutes. Really worth expending 30 minutes of driving and carbon load!

I saw a bank along the road well in bloom with dandelions. It brought back a memory. In the programs I do in May in Poland, I see the same thing. One volunteer said, "Oh, they have them, too." I laughed and said, "Where do you think ours came from?" It's amazing sometime how ethnocentric Americans can be!

And I noticed a car that passed me had a bumper sticker that said: Impeach Obama! First time I've seen that. It only made me think he must be doing something right.

Addendum: Later in the day I attended a reception for those retiring this year from the University. One of the speakers said, "you know you are doing something right when you make someone angry when doing public policy work."

See the new heading on the blog

Per direction, I've changed the heading on my blog to make certain everyone knows what I say here are my ideas, not those of the Fulbright Program nor the U. S. Department of State!

Adventures Chapter 2

I got an e-mail with more news today about the Fulbright Award. This comes with huge attachment of everything you need to know, from the health forms that must be filled out -- but hurrah, not any sooner than six months before leaving, so that can wait until I return from Poland--to the details of the Fly America Act. There's another part I have to go read a bit more carefully. The idea is that I can send any books, journal articles, etc. to Hungary via diplomatic bag with the post office. I think I'll find something to send for the sheer novelty of being able to send something via diplomatic bag. It's not everyday one can do that.

Drinking Adventures

I love black currant juice and have looked high and low for it in the United States. Sometimes I find a hint of it mixed with other juices, but no straight black currant juice. Tonight I was walking through the grocery store and there it was. It was ridiculously expensive, but I had to try it. Oh, it tastes just right. On the bottle it explains our country outlawed black currants for 100 years. That does make it hard to find black currant juice. The whole story may be found at www.currantC.com
Happy reading

News of Adventure

I'm thrilled beyond belief! I got an e-mail advising me that I have a received a Fulbright Teaching Fellowship and will be going to Pecs, Hungary next year for five months. If the schedule continues just like this year, I'll be leaving about January 25 and returning sometime towards the end of June! The official letter is in the mail!

Happy Adventure

I went to get my nails done today, and got the happy news that my technician, Natasha, passed her citizenship exam yesterday. She filed for citizenship in the summer of 2001 and has been waiting ever since for her file to rise to the top. About two months ago she got the word to go for her fingerprints, and then got the exam appointment for yesterday. Now she is waiting for the letter to come with the date for the naturalization ceremony. I'm sure many do not realize how long some immigrants and refugees wait for citizenship.

Remembering Adventures

I posted a new photo on my blog in the effort to keep the spring time mood. No tulips here yet, but things are beginning to come out of the ground. For sure, I've got to do a little gardening this weekend, cleaning up old stems and making a place for the new green. (Oh, good the forecast for the weekend is rain-- I may be saved!) But meanwhile here's a memory of spring. I took this photo at Reymontowka, near Siedlc, Poland while there in May, 2006.

Changing Adventures

My best adventures lately have been changing adventures. I will end a 3 year term as Department Chair at the end of this academic year. I am ending a 6 year term as Chair of Admissions at the end of this academic year as well. I'm ending a 2 year term as IFO College Covenor and member of the IFO Council (faculty governance work) at the end of this academic year. I will have to end a 2 year term as a member of the University Assessment Committee because a large share of this group's work is done in January, and I have a sabbatical for second semester next year.

I've taken on being the faculty representative on the committee planning the inauguaration of our new University president on October 2. While some on this committee have done this multiple times, this will be my one and only time for such an adventure.

It feels good to be getting to the end of the line on some jobs that are much more thankless than rewarding.

Joyous Adventure

Today I participated in the oral defense for our first doctoral student. We gave her exemplary marks on all evaluation aspects. I remembered how I was greeted after my oral defense, so I did the same, asking "Dr V***" to please come back. She told me the nicest thing recently at the poster session. She had a good project in mind, when something else was proposed. I don't remember doing this, but she said my advice was to follow her passion, so she did, and now on the other side of this big project, she is glad she did that.

April Fool's Adventures

For the past few days we have been getting a lot of rain. This morning -- SNOW flakes again. Temperatures only in the 40s. Spring is still not here!