RBOC: School Daze

• The semester officially starts next week which means this is the week o'meetings.  Monday I had my first committee meeting.  Tuesday we had our full day faculty retreat.  Today was: the Chancellor addressing the faculty and staff (State of the University); an awards ceremony (where I officially received my Teaching Excellence Award); and then a school-wide faculty assembly.  Tomorrow I host my first orientation as the Doctoral Program Coordinator. Friday I have a lunch meeting with students.
• In addition to meetings, one of our doctoral students is taking his comps and part of my new responsibilities is proctoring the exam.  It is not a lot of work but requires me running across campus several times a day.
• I really appreciate getting the teaching award and everyone's heartfelt congratulations but standing on stage in front of the entire university while my merits were read was really painful and stressful for me.  
• I also had to dress appropriately and now have blisters on my feet.
• I ended the day with a pedicure and felt much better about it all.
• I spent last week moving into my new office across campus.  I've moved in with two of my favorite colleagues.  We went "shopping" at the university surplus warehouse and picked up some cool furniture for our offices and the main reception area of our suite.
• Except for hanging my prints, everything is unpacked and fixed up.  I haven't had much chance to actually WORK in my new office, but I'm enjoying it immensely. 
• b and I are continuing to get up every morning and workout at the gym.  This, and the fact that I already have a reservation at the beach for Fall Break, may be the only things that keep me sane.
• There is much drama going on at the university, school and department levels this year.  It is all about changes in leadership and structure and much of it is tied to an upcoming budget crisis.  
• Most people really don't do change well and academics, in particular, make it a point to resist change on principle.