Incremental Movement

My, how time flies when you're doing too much. It's that time of year when most of us are just too darn busy. In our house one of us is giving finals, another is taking them. 6YO is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus and watching every holiday special that has ever been made. Add to that the recent - and stressful - closing on our lot in Canada and, whew, that's pretty much why each time I think I'll sit down and write something I haven't.

So, what's happening? I'm dreading all of the work that we have to do in the next two months to get the house ready to go on the market and I'm dreading what the market will hold. I decided to teach an overload in Spring term to make some extra cash so that will mean more work. But, it's on-line so that's great both in terms of energy and experience. I've been communicating with a couple of folks at UNB and, at a minimum, I will have dual-sponsorship as a Visiting Scholar, with office space, etc. I won't know until May or June whether I'll get any money. There's also a position to which I will be applying, though that's a long shot. Then, there's the house we hope to build...

I've decided - after much insanity with emails to and from the realtor, builder, etc. - to go back to F'ton in January. Email is great, but some things just need to be hammered out face to face. Plus, I can meet with the guys at UNB and take care of some things like opening a bank account, etc. This, of course, is all dependent on the weather.

So, here's what coming down the pike -
January - Travel to Tucson for RDW's celebration of life
January - Travel to Fredericton, as above
February - Stay put, get the semester up and running
March - Travel to Toronto! Put house on the market.
April - Travel to Portland, OR for a conference and possibly Vancouver*
May - Travel to Fredericton for a conference and final move arrangements
June - Move to Fredericton?
July - Hopefully spend Canada Day in Fredericton, New Brunswick!

* I won't know about Vancouver until after the semester begins. With all the goings-on I may not be able to be gone that long.

So much for reducing my carbon footprint on the earth. That's five round trip flights. Ugh.

BTW, check out Consumer Consequences for a game about your impact on the earth. Or, this one which is shorter and less graphic intensive.

And, to continue veering off "topic" - was there a topic? - if you are fighting consumerism you might enjoy a new documentary/docucomedy, "What Would Jesus Buy?" I'm teaching a class on affluenza/consumption so a group of us went to see it last weekend. It's by Morgan Spurlock, the guy who did "Super Size Me!"

Speaking of consumption... As 6YO has been watching the holiday programs we've recorded he's had pretty much his first "heavy" exposure to commercials. Until now he's really seen only DVDs, PBS Kids, and the infrequent Disney program. We put a block on the Disney Channel when he discovered it and got into Zack and Cody, etc. Anyway, we've decided to put the televisions away on 1 January. Yup. We're going to try to go cold turkey and see how things go. I figure this is the best time. This morning's New York Times has a piece that is highlighted with, "Because of the writers’ strike, networks’ schedules will be filled with repeats or reality programs come January." Perfect timing!

Well, P is busy in the kitchen making corncakes with cotija cheese. Yum. I'm off! More as it happens.