Love

What a super day. A lie in Mum's super comfortable bed with a plethora of down pillows. I enjoyed every cushy bit of feathery goodness. My down pillows at home have been banned because they make Craig wheeze...and I do miss them.
Then we wandered down to Starbucks for a delicious latte and then into Waitrose which is full of such yummy looking food. Bought some beet and horseradish soup for lunch and it was fab.
Then down to see mum's new neighborhood and peek into her new house. We have an appointment to see it for real on Monday. After that I boarded my train to York and three hours later, here I am. I am booked in to my cute little b&b. I got settled and wandered out to explore the neighborhood. Small streets with terraced brick houses. I couldn't resist Tony's Plaice which I happened upon just as Friday night 'fry time' was starting... a nice piece of haddock and chips -- delicious. They had signage up claiming that fish and chips is better for you than other fast food, burgers and chips etc. I decided to believe them.

Full Circle

Today is a super special day. Besides being Canada Day....I am no longer Co-Chair of my department. Yay!!!!!! Last night I dreamt that I got stuck on public transport two separate times each time with one of my least favorite colleagues who proceeded to tell me how much they hated my leadership and how relieved they were that it was over. In another weird dream scene, my most difficult colleague passed me in a speedo announcing that the new chair had suggested she join the swim team (I didn't know we had one) and how great that was that she had taken a personal interest in her extra-curricular development. I just kept thinking that seeing this person in a speedo was not improving my mood one bit.
I started this blog because of becoming chair; but no fear, I don't plan to end it. So stay tuned for continuing sporadic updates.

Summer Seminar

Another wonderful seminar for chairs done and dusted. For this one I got to travel to a new (for me) destination, Eugene Oregon. The sun is out today and it is beautiful. Yesterday I visited their Saturday market which was like entering a time warp. Booth after booth of tie dye and leather goods.... Absolutely gorgeous produce, artisanal cheeses, flowers to die for. It was fantastic. I wish I could have bought armfuls of the basil to take home.
Now I am at the tiny airport which is staffed by the nicest people I have ever seen working at an airport. Bought one of those mini packets of motrin and the cashier immediately offered me her scissors because "those packages can be really difficult to open." My favorite though was the college student at security whose luggage consisted of a large clear plastic bag filled with a paltry few items and a skateboard.
Next week I will be at the other summer seminar in Nashville. Craig deigns to join me and will spend his days going from pawn shop to pawn shop checking out hocked music gear.

Yulia's diplomatic take on soap issue

Dear Student,

That might be an issue. I honestly do not know. All the detergent that my mother uses has a strong perfume smell. Maybe there is something for sensitive skin.

I would bring some detergent with you for the first time before we can find something for you. I guess if you feel that you run out of the detergent and you cannot find anything else that you can use, you can ask your mam to ship you more, but keep in mind that it takes a 6 weeks for a parcel to get to Krasnoyarsk from the States.

In the worst case scenario you can buy baby soap and wash clothes with that by hand.

Yulia

Russia, part umpteenth

Student wants to know:
"Hey, I just realized that I forgot to mention on my housing form that I have sensitive skin: meaning that I can only use laundry detergent that is free & clear of all perfumes & dyes. Does that matter? I was going to bring my own laundry detergent to make it easier, but Julia Mikhailova said that the internal baggage weight for the airlines is only about 44lbs/20kg, and I don't want my luggage to be overweight...sorry about not putting it on the housing form...is the laundry detergent thing going to be an issue at all in Russia? because, if anything, I can have my mom ship me some of our laundry detergent once we get the address where i'm staying..."


Tempted to respond: "Everything is an issue in Russia."
But probably need to be a little less abrupt.


Can  you tell that I am beyond the end of my rope with this program. Today is the day we find out if the students will actually be able to get visas... if not, I may not be responsible for my actions.

Graduation pictures

Enjoying the bbq on the back deck.

 Cupcakes made by Catherine and Keziah. Keziah comes from the sort of family that owns a cupcake display thingy. Isn't it awesome. Alison, I'm talking to you!

Catherine, Todd, Sam and Gina who babysat them for years. Saved my single mom life every Wednesday night. And stayed with them for a week when Craig and I went to Hawaii in 2007.

graduation

Today was Catherine's graduation. Hard to believe (cliche) and yet so needed. She is ready to move on to the next phase of life. After the party we hosted ended, headed out to the garage to see if we have low profile chairs for the Sheryl Crow concert on Sunday.
Pic of me in my chair. With new hair cut. Probably should have washed and styled it, but between making kebabs and pasta salad and hemming Catherine's dress...