Today I turned down a one-year position in one of the state colleges. It was a tough call, and I worried it (like a dog worries a sock) almost up until the moment I made the call. But I feel relieved now - and we are on a path towards being back in New England.
A celebratory lunch at spoonriver (nice food, but we do as well at home; elegant interior; fun to eat outside on the "terrace" aka sidewalk). Dinner with one of our fellow grads, who successfully defended her diss this morning. Oh, and the house is fully hot-watered again.
I feel much calmer than yesterday. But all this decision-making has set me back about a week with my writing schedule. I probably can't totally make it up - but I'll have to try.
I have about a week to decide between a fulltime (but contract) position in MN (barely within commuting distance)and a parttime job that will provide no health insurance and not enough money to live on, in my adopted hometown (also a terrible commute).
I vacillate by the hour. There are a lot of non-career factors: the chance to be closer to family and friends after 5 years away; living in our own home again (and not throwing away the capital gains exclusion upon sale); not having to deal this summer with either the rental market or the sale of the house out there.
I guess the question is, what weight do these non-career factors play? I'm not all clawing my way to the top of the academic ladder (it's a little tiny ladder with infinite gradations that interest only the people on the rungs) but on the other hand I don't want to do anything so colossally stupid that I'll be bumped off the climb altogether.
It's cold and rainy today, and feels the more so because it was so hot and sunny yesterday. (Not complaining, just noticing.)
I was in the mood to work on a recipe for Polish beetroot soup. Here's what I have so far, with some notes about how to make it better. I like beets A LOT but they are high in oxalates, which B is trying to avoid.
Saute a small chopped onion in olive oil. (I used a large onion, and I thought there was too much onion). Really cook the onion down; don't be in a hurry to finish and eat. (I was!)
Drain a can of beets (I use the sliced ones), reserving the liquid. Chop the beets (you can do this inside the can, which reduces the risk of beet stains everywhere).
Add to sauted onions: 2 C chicken broth (I'm going to try beef broth next time), 1 C water, reserved beet liquid, and chopped beets. Simmer for awhile.
Thicken with a paste made of: 1 T flour; 1 T sugar; 1 T fresh lemon juice; 1 T red wine vinegar (I think balsamic is too dark in color); and 1 T of red wine (optional).
Season with 1/2 t dill weed, white pepper. Salt to taste. Serves 2.
It's not like what we had in Poland, but it's very good - very warming and healthful-feeling. Would be nice with a plateful of mushroom pierogi sauted up with bacon bits....
It's hard to believe we've been back from Poland only 8 days. In that time: graduation ceremony, two job interviews by phone, a flurry of activity relating to a part-time job I've been offered (and a sussing out of other possibilities in that area), graduation parties, chatting with everyone in my family, the possibility of a new-ish car (now evaporated).
And, I've managed to write the introductory chapter for my dissertation.
Wow. It didn't even feel that hectic! Our sleep schedules are still disturbed, though. This is the first time ever that on returning from European travel I didn't instantly readjust to US time. I am still going to bed at 9:30 or 10, and waking up around 4 or 5. Mornings are so nice in spring, I'm not complaining.
In addition to reading more things by the Language God Steven Pinker, here are some other books about language I'd probably enjoy (in my copious spare time):
When you catch an adjective, kill it: the parts of speech, for better and/or worse. Ben Yagoda.
The fight for English: how the language pundits ate, shot, and left. David Crystal.
I think they are both 2006.
...a trip to the hospital. No worries, we are both totally fine. Brian has some pretty bad blisters, though. Through the miracle that is the internet, he took pictures of his foot, emailed them to his doc in Mpls, then skyped there and talked to the doc while they were both looking at the pix. (How totally cool is THAT bit of e-medicine!?!?)
The doc thought they might be infected and recommended a particular antibiotic. We went over to one of the local pharmacies (they are everywhere) and she told us she couldn't fill it without a prescription, but recommended, on the holiday, that we try a clinic on a particular street, and wrote down the street name. (No clinic name or street number).
We looked it up on the map, took the tram over there, found a building with ambulances in front, and walked into a sort of lobby of the wounded. No one at the reception desk, not clear what to do next. So we waited, and every so often a man in a red uniform came out and seemed to be doing some triage of the arrivals. He didn't speak English, but when he got to us and heard our opening remarks he motioned that it would be a couple of minutes, and then a red-uniformed woman came out and heard our tale in English.
B was nowhere near as badly off as the bunch with casts and bruises and crutches and slings, but they took us in soon afterwards and an English-speaking doctor heard the story, asked for B's passport (which we didn't have) but shrugged, accepted a US drivers license, wrote the scrip, and sent us off. No cost.
We filled it easily - about 8 USD for a 7 day supply. Poland rocks, Polish medicine rocks. Why can't this happen in the US? No paperwork, no endless queues, just getting the job done one patient at a time.
...when I am back home:
Take showers that last for more than 2 minutes.
Sit for indefinite periods in a comfy armchair or sofa.
Put the heat on if the apartment is cold.
Curl up with more than one pillow.
Drink gigantic cups of Dunkin Donuts coffee.
Speak English everywhere, all the time.
Are Americans the kings of personal comfort, or what???