wonderful video

Below are two links (part 1 and 2) of a speech given by an abortion survivor. Well worth your time to watch (about 16 minutes).

Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKrW7vP8W00

Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8B1nKGIAeg

I won!

Today at our University Day, I was one of the lucky winners of the drawing they have! The prize package is not one of the really fancy ones, but it is still very cool to have won one of the 17 prize packages out of the hundreds of people that were there! It includes a dozen cupcakes (yes, I will only be eating one--maybe two--and bringing the rest to the faculty room), some Beaver sticky notes, black and orange malt balls (bleh--my music staff will like those, too), stainless steel Beaver water bottle, Beaver travel coffee mug, Beaver canvas bag, Beaver ice bucket, and a couple of Beaver orange peelers (the campaign is "orange rewards"). AND $100 towards "orange rewards," which means $100 to any of the dining services on campus. I think this just may be my year's supply of coffee...

change is fun, right?

Well, I already "knew" this, but reality is always more stark. Here is a letter I got yesterday in my box:

As we discussed last spring, I'm officially giving you notice that your fixed term appointment will terminate as of June 15, 2011. We have discussed the reasons for doing this, and of course I'll be happy to discuss it further.

Please be aware that we have been exceedingly pleased with your hard work, the effectiveness of your teaching, your collegiality and your commitment to the department's various missions. And, you should also know that I will be more than pleased to write you a letter of recommendation for any future job searches that you may undertake.

Thank you for your wonderful contributions to the music department.

Sincerely,

XX XX, chair

So, I'm officially out of a job after this year. If they end up not finding someone to replace me for next year, they probably will hire me back but most likely without a salary. I don't want to do that. So, I may be looking for a job next year in Oregon. I need to work this year and next in Oregon in order to get five years, which means I can take my retirement with me. I'm a little nervous now that it is more "real," but not worried, thankfully. Change is fun, isn't it? I'm actually excited for the future--nervous, but excited.

transformed bathroom

I've decided this year that I would finally move into my condo. Yes, I've lived here two years, but now that I'm fairly sure I will be here hopefully two more years, I decided to finally make some changes. Last weekend's project: the bathroom. Oh, so much better!

Before & After

The color is gray with a beige undertone. I bought a new towel bar and hook (behind the door) and am still deciding on the curtains. I'm liking it! I now have to get out of improve-your-property mode since it's NOT my property!

There was one casualty of the paint. The already-cracked lid couldn't even take a little of my weight... My nice landlord did replace it for me, though!