A Quick Update - Nothin' Fancy

Rusty has been gone for two weeks already! Where has the time gone. He is enjoying getting to know the bay area again and reconnecting with old friends and coworkers. The new job sounds terrific but there is still lots to learn and, as always, a short time frame to master everything. I'm often very jealous of the mild temperatures he reports as the south continues to swelter in the high nineties with severe humidity. There is nothing like burning your hands on the steering wheel of the car as your partner asks you to send out more warm clothing.

Speaking of irony, my school continues to shrink in population as the entire district deals with unprecedented growth. An unanticipated consequence of opening new schools and shifting students is that some schools suffer from a temporary reduction in student numbers. That means reducing staff members and less money for the bells and whistles. Although staff members have been reduced, we have been able to place everyone somewhere in the district. I'm fortunate that my staff is supportive and that I'm afforded a certain amount of trust based on four years of building relationships. There is certainly nothing like trial by fire for a new principal. I've learned immeasurable amounts in a short period. Mistakes? Tons! But then again, morale continues to be at a high level, students are learning, and the building is standing, so everything is going well.

In the past few months, university work has been on the back burner. This move is certainly not helping me get stuff done but labor day weekend is the kick off for a renewed commitment to moving things along. I'm hoping to defend a proposal in the next few months, then start my data collection. I'm sure my dissertation chair will be happy.

I'm putting the house on the market soon. Maybe next week. I've been very busy getting screens fixed, closets cleaned out, stuff to sell put on Craig's List, etc. All the things to make this place as marketable as possible. Of course the house is decorated well (my people are genetically predisposed to coordinate colors and to make efficient use of space), and the pergola we built is a real selling point (not to mention the flawless fence). I'm sure we will sell in a reasonable timeframe.

As for a social life, well not much on that front until some of these big issues are resolved. Art, a good friend, has been dragging me to the Kodiak's Rugby practices. (see the website: http://www.kodiaksrfc.org/index.html) It is primarily a gay rugby league but not exclusively. It is also a great way to be reminded how out of shape I really am. After Thursday's practice, every muscle in my body ached. I'm enjoying the camaraderie, the really super nice guys and the sport is really fun. Right now I may not have time to fit another thing in, but really need the stress relief provided.

Saturday, September 2nd, Noon Eastern Standard Time, was the official beginning of Dove Hunting Season. How does a pacifist with an aversion to guns know this? My friends Scott and Gina invited me to the farm for dove hunting. I admit, at times I felt a little like Harry Whittington (the campaign contributor Dick Cheney prefers to hunt), as the guys with guns all stood on the perimeter of the field firing into the air at small, fast moving birds. In fact, Gina's brother Eugene was there. He teaches at my school (small world hiring him and then finding out he is the brother to Gina - thankfully he is a strong teacher and on his way to being a master teacher). All I could picture was the headlines in the Raleigh News and Observer announcing "Local Teacher Shoots Principal in Dove Hunting Accident". No such headline was necessary.

I didn't really enjoy the killing of slow moving fowl (not that anyone in our party hit anything while I was there) but hunting was very relaxing. The primary allure is sitting in a field with cows and horses surrounding you on a rare summer day when the temperature is in the mid eighties, the humidity is at a minimum and the sky is, for the first time in months, an authentic shade of Carolina Blue. Another allure is spending time with Gina and Scott. A couple with that rare combination of southern hospitality (an infinite capacity for compassion and kindness) and a somewhat Bohemian spirit (not bound by the restrictive confines of southern tradition). So, thanks go to Gina and Scott (and entire family) for hospitality and an opportunity to say I've been dove hunting.

So, as a final note, here is a list of songs that have made me smile lately:

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole on the album Alone in IZ World - This Hawaiian rendition is played by a huge guy on a ukulele. I've heard it in some commercial. This song reminds me of 7th grade summer school ukulele class. That statement alone explains alot.

"Life On Mars?" by Seu Jorge on the album The Life Aquatic - Relaxing, beautiful. This is the type of song that makes me regret learning German instead of Portegeuse.

"Half Acre" and "We'll Meet Along the Way" both by Hem - Very folkie group having a tendency toward that folk singer whininess. But these two songs melt my butter.

Feel free to comment on all or nothing!

Enjoy.