"Where is the Summer Going?"

So much going on, it is hard to post, which may be why I am not. I almost don't know where to begin.

I am still sorting through the Australia pictures and a trip report is long overdue.

I have this wonderful series of pictures of a robin's nest and the eggs hatching. Haven't even downloaded those from my camera.

I am waiting for my daughter's friend to email her cell picture of the bear the two stumbled upon in our yard, feasting on the bird feeders.

Tons of stuff to write about.

I will try.

In the meantime, I perused the Chronicle of Higher Education today. CHE released a study of the best colleges and universities to work for. There were probably 20 different parameters, from compensation to retirement, to professional support, to facilities..... Consistently on the list was Stanford U. Would love to teach there someday. There is a position in my area, but I suspect, like the guys (and I do mean guys) who teach at University of Vermont and University of Colorado, I will have to wait for a retirement cause no one in their right mind would voluntarily leave those places.

I also was impressed by how often Cornell appeared on the list. Mentioned in almost every category, except work/life balance & job satisfaction. Lot's of resources and compensation, but like many ivys, high stress. University of Michigan made regular appearances. A surprising name in numerous categories: State University of New York at Buffalo. Although, it would take lots of job incentives to get someone to live there so maybe the listing does make sense.

Of course I can sit here and comment on institutions like this from the comfort of my secure position. How quickly one forgets applying for ANY job that seems remotely relevant, prepared to move just about anywhere. Well, almost anywhere, I did turn down an interview offer at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. I think the reasons are self-evident, although maybe premature as living near oil refineries might might mean cheaper gas.

I also remember a phone interview with Berry College. I though it went exceedingly well as measured by the fact my children in the background were successfully bribed with candy and never interrupted. I was confident of a campus interview, but alas it never came. I found out later that they called my references and my adviser in his enthusiasm to talk about what a hard worker I was, explained how I had progressed through all my graduate studies and research assistantships while raising two young children as a SINGLE PARENT. Check out the Berry College overview, mission and history on their website and you will get a sense why they were NOT impressed.