a real job

So now, I guess I finally have a real job. (And a pretty cool shirt, thanks kt.) I have been working pretty hard for a while now, so I don't think it will be all that different. Still, I feel a little ambivalent about the whole thing, for a lot of reasons. I found a great article in the NY Times that expresses some of how I feel.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24labor-t.html?ref=magazine

Basically, in the long academic tradition of skepticism, or self-doubt (call if what you will), I am not positive that what I am doing is what I REALLY want to do, or will be most beneficial to society. (I really want to do something that I feel is beneficial to soceity.) Or is even necessarily the best match for my talents, interests, proclivities. Of course, I think a healthy measure of skepticism about the value of academia is a good thing to have as an academic. You should be able to make a case for your relevance to society, and I can make that case in a dozen different ways, but that still doesn't really answer the other questions.

the Maine part of the trip

Was also lovely. Saw Israel and Cailin on Monday morning. (Thanks for coming into the city to see me, btw.) Went to Muji for Bekah, but they didn't have what she wanted. And since I took my chances and waited until they opened at 11, I barely made my flight. On the subway, I met a guy from Hawaii in NY for a conference on global warming and indigenous peoples. Got into Maine at 2 or so, rented a car and saw a little state park on the coast. Lots of little islands offshore, vary calm water. Prepared for my presentation, took a walk around campus, and got to bed at a decent hour and then didn't fall asleep until 3:30 am. Still, everything went well. My jobtalk, teaching demonstration, interviews. I really like the college, my colleagues, the town. Here is a pictures are of the college.

Here is one of of the falls and the mill, one of which is no longer running. While I was still in Utah, on my way home, I found out they were offering me the job. Everything so far has met or exceeded my expectations, and so I am pretty excited about the whole thing.

family house tour

So last week, I visited New York and had a fabulous time hanging out with enoch and amy. I was there on Sunday, so we went to church, went on a walk through the woods. Here's a picture of their house from across the pond.

We also went by the house they put an offer on. Here are a few pictures of it. It seems like it is in a really nice location, and is well laid out.


Then on the way home, I missed my flight, had to spend another 10 hours in the Maine airport. Then I made it to Utah and had to spend the night, but got to see Tony and Sienna. Sienna and I went hiking to Stewart Falls. She drove me by some houses they were looking at close by. It was fun to visit everyone in their new environments and hear about new plans.

Maine

So I am going to Maine on Tuesday to interview for another job. Everything I have heard about Maine makes me think I am really going to like it. The job and department seem ideal. I'll let you know how it goes. Btw, Bekah's birthday is tomorrow. Maybe I'll put up a birthday post tomorrow.