as I mentioned before in another post, there is a conflation between the expected, obligatory, and optional elements that can be the first stumbling building block in the NMH experience. (with that being said.... should I mention that I am still very excited about my job.)
However, while reveling in my nascent knowledge of the particulars, I have to remind myself that the there is a balance in the process.
Here's some highlights since my last post.
1. Triumph Show.
2 weeks ago (in mid October) was my first trip back to New Jersey since moving out here in August.
For those that may or may not know, I have a solo exhibition opening up this week on Tuesday, at Triumph Brewery in downtown Princeton. Much of the culmination of my existence was to make sure I had enough paintings to fill the space. I was balancing and racing to get things done, essentially, though by the time I was to hang the show, I was rather efficient (with help from Sam, Alex and Pam). I think it looks good, actually. I'm proud of myself I was able to get that accomplished - also, I'm in a faculty group exhibition coming up here at NMH for the month of December. (...more on that later! but great inspiration to get some work done.)
2. Midterms.
this happened not too long ago, but I felt like it needed to be brought up because it was basically crazy. In the culture of an NMH Faculty, midterm week = progress reports, which are these paragraphs that get sent home to parents regarding their child in your class. Even if one doesn't have a midterm in the class, they still get one. on the upside for me, I teach a class that 99% of kids enjoy, (with the exception of 1 or 2.) the downside for me is that I have about 48 students, which is insane when you think about all the reports that goes with it. Midterm week ended with parent/teacher conferences, and I just remember sitting there in my classroom having parents float in and out in 10 minute intervals, sort of like speed dating. Interesting experience.
3. NMH Dance Off
There are intramurals every Friday here, and usually teams are sorted by dorm. This week's was a Dance-Off. Between having dorm duty the night before and helping the boys choreograph, to finally seeing them win. this video and picture really says it all. enjoy!
4. Becoming a Legal Mass-hole.
I took the plunge and got license plates here during the fall break, which had actually been less painful than I thought it would be. sure, it took tons of paperwork. but take a look at the before/after! I have received some questions on whether or not the license plates had any reasoning behind them. okay. Yes, I picked the fish and wildlife charity. It was better than supporting the Patriots. Massachusetts has lame plates. I think that's all that really needs to be said on the matter.
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| Before. |
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| After. |
Though, I do have one thing to say... no matter where you are, there is certainly an element of 'protocol' and red tape one must deal with the ensure all the details are considered. I personally think Massachusetts takes it a little far. Getting my license should have been not a huge deal - the state confiscates the old state license... and then instead of a NEW license (which you receive in the mail in about a week's time), you get a piece of paper that has all your information on it that reads "not used for identification." Okay. so I'm not buying beer for a week. fine. but then you're expected to get your car inspected within 7 days. I am sorry. I don't even have the time to consider getting it inspected, much less doing it. Then after 14 days I finally pull into a station (I'm driving illegally at this point having gone over the 7 day grace period.) and fail because of my headlight (idiot deer I hit about a year ago cracked my headlight). no extension. So you basically don't even get rewarded or recognized that you at least TRIED to get it inspected. bullshit. What the state is trying to say that you pull away to either go to a garage/body shop or back home and either way it is illegal for you to be on the road. what the hell kind of sense does that even make?
Ok. so 4 days later, I finally get my life together and get my headlight repaired. and I'll just rant about this because I can. Dodge makes their cars in the most ass-backwards way, where the mechanic basically has to take off the bumper and wheel in order to replace the light. labor costs through the roof. shoot me. and then they inspect it. oh, Ms. Scott? Yeah you're failing because your steering has a bit of a vibration in it. We will have to replace the whole system, which will take about 4 hours and $500 later. (aka: no other state in the nation gives a flying shit about a situation like this, but you happen to be in one that has nothing else going on so we'll just mention this so you have more to deal with.) OH and you're still going to drive home illegally, so don't get pulled over.
ugggghhhh.
5. Running.
Maybe out of boredom. Maybe in my last ditch attempt to fit into my old jeans. Or because of the annual Pie Race* that NMH hosts in November. I somehow, somewhere took up running. I started to not only enjoy it but actually am pretty good at it. And today, of all days, on Halloween I enrolled myself and wifey, Teryl, to run a 5k. in a costume. I literally didn't have something until about 10 minutes before we left, but I decided on Rosie the Riveter, and Teryl went as "Zoro's Girlfriend".
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| We made friends with a guy who dressed like a Hooter's girl. |
My goal is to do more races. By the way, the Pie Race is about a 4 mile stretch around the school where if you clock a certain time (averaging about a 10 minute mile) you get a pie. Not sure what kind of pie. but does it matter? It's a freakin pie! That's reason enough. and even if I don't win a pie this year, I can at least try to race without walking and say to my inner fat kid "HEY IDIOT. look what I just did." and then maybe I'll write a letter to Ms. Totten (creepy gym teacher) who probably thought I was an epic fail at gym and say, yeah take a bite out of this. Obviously, I've just never done this before. in my 26 years of existence, I have always been that lazy kid who hates competition, who was forced to do PE, and never thought I'd actually try to do anything in that realm. part of me still hates all those fast idiots that lapped people at the 5k today. Look dude, don't show off. Embrace that there's a fat kid who has never done this before. and you're passing them. like the old days. I wonder no matter how much you're advised to not compare people, if you still do that naturally, as human nature. either way. I'm a fat kid who runs now.
6. Going Abroad.
the idea of this is pending. but the topic itself causes me so much excitement I wanted to at least mention it. NMH has a bunch of abroad programs that run for 2 weeks during our allocated spring break time. There are 8 different trips going this year, (I can't remember them all, but I know S. Korea, Argentina, Australia, Kazakhstan, Italy, British Isles, India...) and my roommate, Rosey and I have basically tried to get as involved in making sure we could be considered as faculty chaperones on any of these trips. We should know by Christmas. We actually made a promotional video where we advertised ourselves in different parts of the world so the committee could see how 'natural' it is. Not sure how awesome they found it, but I'll guess we'll find out.
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| this is us in Argentina. |
7. Classes.
Classes are great. still going strong. Not much to report on that front, really, but this is for serious why I work here. This is the core of why I love my job. (though the cafeteria workers all dressing like bloody corpses on Halloween is a close 2nd.) Swimming will start soon - 2 weeks roughly - and I will be the JV coach. Maybe that will be fun, though in all reality, I haven't even really wrapped my head around that yet. I think of the time I was on swim team in high school and Coach Hand was like the beacon of authority. yeaaaah. if only I could aspire to be like that. I'd be the coach that is totally cool with people coming late. Oh, it's fine, Sally, remember next time! I need to train more on how to be a hard-ass.
So. with that being said. I'll have to be updating sooner or later, since my opening at Triumph is this week. I am actually having the department chair babysit my classes this Wednesday! after class Tuesday, I will be driving back to New Jersey, and staying until Wednesday about lunch time. If you're around and still reading at this point, let's hope we are connecting then.
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| this is what my morning commute looks like. |
