Summer!
Here I am on the penultimate day of June, 2009, musing about the end of my first year as Dean, and wondering what ever possessed me to give up my beautiful, wonderful, summers off!
St Patrick's Day
When I was much younger (in college) I drank green beer on Saint Patrick's Day. On St. Pat's Day at P & G's in New Paltz in 1966 I met a man to whom I would later become engaged, and then break off the engagement three years later. Hard to believe that I'm remembering a day 43 years ago, telling stories about a man who is now dead.
On a brighter note, since I'm half Irish, I wish everyone a happy St. Pat's-cabbage but no cornbeef for us vegetarians!
On a brighter note, since I'm half Irish, I wish everyone a happy St. Pat's-cabbage but no cornbeef for us vegetarians!
Oh My God I'm 61
Yes, it's true my birthday was January 25th. For my 60th Anne and I had a 60-60 party-we held it in early January, sort of between our two birthdays (Anne's birthday is November 2).
But 61, now that's another whole story. Lunch at Crabtree's Kittle House in Chappaqua, dinner at the Ocean House in Croton - two of my favorite Westchester restaurants. Can you tell that I basically am eating my way through my - gulp - seventh decade!?!
Well, the end of my 61st year, the beginning of my 62nd, consider the alternative. I can't get "will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64" out of my mind. I never thought I'd be 64, and here I am 61. I never thought I'd die, I just thought I wouldn't get old-how's that for cognitive dissonance!
Happy birthday fellow Aquarians!
But 61, now that's another whole story. Lunch at Crabtree's Kittle House in Chappaqua, dinner at the Ocean House in Croton - two of my favorite Westchester restaurants. Can you tell that I basically am eating my way through my - gulp - seventh decade!?!
Well, the end of my 61st year, the beginning of my 62nd, consider the alternative. I can't get "will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64" out of my mind. I never thought I'd be 64, and here I am 61. I never thought I'd die, I just thought I wouldn't get old-how's that for cognitive dissonance!
Happy birthday fellow Aquarians!
Reflections on MLK, Jr Day and Life in General
How's that for a pretentious post title! But I am really enjoying being home, which is a rare event lately, and I'm getting so much out of Jennifer Louden's virtual retreat and tomorrow the new America begins.
Now if I could just take all of this with me and move into my "regular" life with the calm, confidence and contentment that I've received from four days on virtual retreat (even though Friday was more of a "crash" day).
And being somewhat snowed in is great-I don't feel like I have to do anything, go anywhere or even shower until our book group meeting tonight.
Now if I could just take all of this with me and move into my "regular" life with the calm, confidence and contentment that I've received from four days on virtual retreat (even though Friday was more of a "crash" day).
And being somewhat snowed in is great-I don't feel like I have to do anything, go anywhere or even shower until our book group meeting tonight.
Snow Day!
almost. An ice storm, with a delayed opening, which is almost as good.
When I was a lowly professor, I didn't go back until the week before school started. Now that I'm an exalted dean, I get to go back on January 5th. Lucky me.
And I never realized how well I used the time between the semesters. My offices (all four-home, New York, White Plains and Pleasantville) could use some attention, my checkbook hasn't been balanced in months, I'm behind on my reading, I'm only getting to the gym once a week-I could go on but it would sound like I'm complaining.
So here's an unusual New Year's resolution-find a work/life balance! I realize now that for me there is no such thing-I'm either working too much or I'm not working at all. And I like it that way. And that's what I really like about being a college professor-intense periods of work, intense periods of play.
Happy 2009 everyone! Enjoy the snow day!
When I was a lowly professor, I didn't go back until the week before school started. Now that I'm an exalted dean, I get to go back on January 5th. Lucky me.
And I never realized how well I used the time between the semesters. My offices (all four-home, New York, White Plains and Pleasantville) could use some attention, my checkbook hasn't been balanced in months, I'm behind on my reading, I'm only getting to the gym once a week-I could go on but it would sound like I'm complaining.
So here's an unusual New Year's resolution-find a work/life balance! I realize now that for me there is no such thing-I'm either working too much or I'm not working at all. And I like it that way. And that's what I really like about being a college professor-intense periods of work, intense periods of play.
Happy 2009 everyone! Enjoy the snow day!
Thanksgiving!
We're in Vermont, at Smuggler's Notch Resort, having a fabulous Thanksgiving vacation. And it would have been more fabulous if my Uncle John hadn't died on Thanksgiving morning. We'll be driving home tomorrow anyway which is a good thing because the funeral is on Tuesday, with viewings on Sunday and Monday.
I loved my Uncle John. He was my mother's younger (and only!) brother. He's the one in the wheel chair in the picture I posted when Aunt Mary died. When he was younger they called him Brother to distinguish him from my grandfather, I guess, who was also John. [Note: I learned at Uncle John's funeral that he was actually John Henry Devine, Jr. ] He and Aunt Carol took us to the park once while they were dating-who would want to take their nieces on a date!
He came to my PhD graduation ceremony in 1995. That's 13 years ago-he was in better health, as was Ruth. The five of us went out for lunch afterwards. Jerry's gone now, and so is John.
I called too late to speak with him. I called to wish him a happy Thanksgiving and my cousin Rick told me that Uncle John had died about an hour before I called. Gini spoke with him on Wednesday and she said that he sounded bad. He was slurring his words-I guess the brain cancer had spread. He told Gini that he was dying but that we shouldn't feel sad-he had had a good life.
Sleep peacefully, Uncle John. At last you are pain free.
I loved my Uncle John. He was my mother's younger (and only!) brother. He's the one in the wheel chair in the picture I posted when Aunt Mary died. When he was younger they called him Brother to distinguish him from my grandfather, I guess, who was also John. [Note: I learned at Uncle John's funeral that he was actually John Henry Devine, Jr. ] He and Aunt Carol took us to the park once while they were dating-who would want to take their nieces on a date!
He came to my PhD graduation ceremony in 1995. That's 13 years ago-he was in better health, as was Ruth. The five of us went out for lunch afterwards. Jerry's gone now, and so is John.
I called too late to speak with him. I called to wish him a happy Thanksgiving and my cousin Rick told me that Uncle John had died about an hour before I called. Gini spoke with him on Wednesday and she said that he sounded bad. He was slurring his words-I guess the brain cancer had spread. He told Gini that he was dying but that we shouldn't feel sad-he had had a good life.
Sleep peacefully, Uncle John. At last you are pain free.
Thanksgiving! Already?
We're heading off to Vermont in about 2 hours-it's 6:30 AM here in Ossining, New York.
I'm ready for a nice quiet vacation. It's snowing in Jeffersonville, VT at Smuggler's Notch. We've packed our snowshoes and travel Scrabble, so we're ready for it all!
Plus a few mysteries and David Allen's three CD set for how to conduct a Weekly Review (shout out to Meggin, thanks!)
That should keep me busy and out of trouble.
Happy Thanksgiving, one and all. In spite of the global meltdown we have so much to be thankful for. I'm taking Brother David's book, Gratefulness The Heart of Prayer to remind me.
I'm ready for a nice quiet vacation. It's snowing in Jeffersonville, VT at Smuggler's Notch. We've packed our snowshoes and travel Scrabble, so we're ready for it all!
Plus a few mysteries and David Allen's three CD set for how to conduct a Weekly Review (shout out to Meggin, thanks!)
That should keep me busy and out of trouble.
Happy Thanksgiving, one and all. In spite of the global meltdown we have so much to be thankful for. I'm taking Brother David's book, Gratefulness The Heart of Prayer to remind me.
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