Classes don’t start until next week, but the madness has already begun. Of the many types of jobs I’ve had, academia stands alone as one that truly sucks up your life. The understanding is that it’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle. And at a small school like the one I’m starting at, one is immediately socialized into the all-consuming institution like a new family (or cult?) member.
My week so far has included a full-day orientation, a full-day retreat, and tonight I have a dinner at the Provost’s office. On Saturday, there is a cocktail reception at the President’s house, and Sunday night, a matriculation ceremony to welcome the freshmen. Then, finally, once I’m totally exhausted, classes start on Monday. Yes, on Labor Day. Don’t get me started.
And the invitations are not just for me – spouses and partners are invited to most of these events as well. I’d like to minimize the demands I place on Scott for these things, and I have some desire to keep my private life separate from work, but I also appreciate that he will keep me company at these anxiety inducing events. He’s being a very good sport about it.
On the one hand, it is nice to be so thoroughly welcomed. I’m in a new place, and these events have provided me the opportunity to meet and be social with many more people that I would have met otherwise. On the other hand, this is the type of week that makes me wish I had a regular job.
We decided that Sunday was a good time for a fieldtrip into town… Ashland is feeling a little small, so Scott and I went downtown with Kathy and Vance to see some new sites. We did the canal walk, which is a long meandering trail through downtown Richmond along the Haxall Canal and the James River. I held us up with my camera as I took about 150 pictures, to end up with a couple that I liked, including the one that I turned into the new banner above.
Near the end of the Canal Walk, we came upon the Civil War museum, and near there, a foot bridge over the river that had quotes from the three days in 1865 when Richmond fell to the Union Army. It’s an interesting place to observe the tensions of commemoration in the South (a topic on which Kathy is much more of an expert). The quotes included those of Confederate leaders and freed slaves, as though the city is still not sure how it feels about its own history.
Or, to quote Drive By Truckers, “Such is the duality of the Southern thing.”
Now that I’ve wooed Scott with artwork, I’m back to cooking again. It is really nice to have someone to cook with and for. It’s one of the fun things we do together.
Last night, I tried recreating a meal that I had at a now-defunct Richmond German-Italian Restaurant. It had a long German name, which I will translate as “pork chop with apples, onions, and blue cheese.”
I got the pork chops at the local farmers market from a new vendor from the county. I pan-sauteed them in a bit of olive oil, just to brown them, and then added some minced shallots and white wine until that was evaporated. Then I added some water just to braise it for about 10 minutes until they were cooked. Then, they came out of the pan and onto a plate, and I threw apple slices and red onions into the pan juices and cooked those until tender.
Then I spooned the apple/onion mixture on top of the pork chops and crumbled some blue cheese on top.
It turned out pretty good, but then how can you go wrong with those ingredients?
Scott liked his welcome home present – he even posted a picture of it on his blog today.
Today’s an exciting day, as I’m waiting for Scott to trek from Baltimore to here in his well-aged truck. He’s looking forward to being a couch potato for a few days to recover from his adventures. I’ve got a pretty neat welcome home present for him (that I’ll post about it after he’s here).
In the meantime, let me catch up. My trip up north was fantastic and included the following activities:
-Chili’s with Brianna, yippee!
-A day long work meeting (yeah, not so exciting) on Long Island
-The post-nuptials celebration for Kristen and Matt
-and lots of hanging out with people I love and miss a lot.
I even took out my camera for the picnic and for a brief photo sojourn around Northampton. My favorite set of pics was at the picnic. Kelly arranged a photo of a bunch of us all jumping, and this got my dear friends Maddy and Morgan into jumping mood. I set my camera on burst shooting and let them fly. Here are my favorites:
I’m still in the middle of a crazy couple of weeks – home for three days between two trips of almost a week each. Didn’t even really have time for groceries, which is why the only food news I have is that I found the perfect frozen pizza. Palermo’s Primo Thin Crust. Don’t judge me.
Last week, I had the opportunity to enjoy Baltimore again with Scott. We went to a couple of our favorite restaurants, hung out on land and boat, watched the Ravens beat the Patriots (ah, the pre-season), rescued Scott’s pickup truck (twice!), and found a tenant for one of his apartments. I recommend seeing his blog for the full story, since he tells it better. Whew.
And when I returned to Virginia, I met another neighbor who introduced himself and said, “So, you moved here from New York?” And I’ve had Virginia plates on my car for the last three weeks. I think my mailman is spreading the news.
Okay, I have to finish laundry now so I can leave town again tomorrow. More after I get back!
This morning, I ran some errands, including stopping at the grocery. I went to the office in the back to get a credit slip for my groceries, and was greeted by name by the store owner. My postal carrier was standing next to her and he said, “Hey, I’ve got some mail for you today!” And proceeded to tell me that my neighbor two doors down was moving. (This, I knew already from the neighbor.)
I feel like I’m living in a Thornton Wilder play. Still finding it charming, though it may soon border on creepy.
