**Leaving on a Jet Plane**

Not to any place as exotic as someone I know, but instead for work - or for a job interview, to be more precise. A mere 10 hours on a plane - well, actually, three planes - and I am not even leaving the country. Instead this is an out-of-the-way place so I have to fly to Cincinnati, then Philadelphia and then to the Finger Lakes.

First rule: carry on luggage as the odds of it being misplaced are tripled on this trip before one even considers the part of Murphy's Law guiding all things that can go wrong on a job interview.

I have clothes (cause I went out and bought them), but am still working on the presentation I have to make. So why am I blogging, I ask myself rhetorically?

**Okay last videos, but you gotta admit**

JOSS IS AMAZING!









And in this one she is 16 years old


And yes it was her in Eragon.

**All Things Canadian. Including the Shatner**

And the Shatner's version



I love him.

**T-minus 5 days**

Off to interview for the job next week. Have to do a 30 minute presentation on research. SInce I have been making documentaries and nonprofit videos for the last 2 years, I will have to come up with something. Quick. But first, a crapload of grading.

**Does this count as a publication for tenure?**

If so, I want to be an anthropologist.

**Yeah, well I STILL want an iPhone**

**Yippee**

Last day of teaching. ALMOST as good as going to Mexico. But not quite.

**More travels**

Finally got around to the world map. Not so impressive. Never been to Mexico LIKE SOME PERSON I KNOW who is departing imminently. With a guy.

I hope in the next year to add Australia, New Zealand and somewhere in the far east or South Pacific. And then there is the baffling fact that I never take my friend up on regular invitations to spend some time in Nigeria and the environs of west Africa. What is that about?




create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

**Of Course, If You Know Me**

The gap in this map makes perfect sense if you know me. I would love to see Alaska and Hawaii, and I imagine I will go to those "other" states just so I can finish the map. But I won't enjoy it.



create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

**Whoa**

So I posted Thursday in a panic about this Friday's phone interview for a job I almost didn't apply for.

I recceived what I must admit was sage advice as I started comtemplating all the insane fall-out from accepting such a position. I. This advice? Don't speculate on all the possibilities and implications of taking this job, don't feel immediately overwhelmed at the albeit remote possibility that you would actually pack everything you own and move 4,000 miles. No, this wise person said, just focus on one step at a time. First, just focus on the phone interview.

So I did. I didn't think about anything else. A friend helped prep me with by asking questions I would likely be asked and then critiqued my answers. I studied the institution. I learned all I could about the members of the committee who would be interviewing me. I had everything laid out on a table because my interview was at 6:30 AM. I woke up an hour early, ate breakfast, drank coffee and I was r-e-a-d-y. Thought about nothing else.

And the interview seemed to go fine. I don't think I made any major mistakes. Asked a few questions, but not all that I had. Then I cleaned up the house in anticipation of weekend company and did what any sane person would do on May 4th: hit the first day of the REI spring sale. Actually I had a longstanding trip to Costco with my neighbor. It just so happens that there is a Costco near an REI. How convenient. I bought a belt, trail runnings shoes and a shirt. Still have not used all of my dividend. But while thinking that when it comes down to it, all one really needs in the world is at REI, my cell rings. Not a local area code. I pick up. It was the search committee's administrative assistant. I have been invited for an on site interview.

I am going to go.... but pushed the interview off two weeks. I better not like this place, because I have no idea how I can close up obligations here, sell a house and move on such short notice. Damn you job openings.

**Oh Dear**

I submitted the application last Friday. Received notification of its receipt on Tuesday afternoon. Received an email this morning requesting that a phone interview be scheduled for Friday morning.

My head is spinning. Advice for a phone interview, welcome. Now.