The Wonders of the Day-Job

[rolanni]

A while back, the college announced that it would be supplying of the academic departments with Krueger Pod Machines. As you might imagine, I was Pretty Excited to hear that we were going to be getting a Pod Machine, but it turns out -- no, not that kind of pod.

I didn't lose all of my enthusiasm for this project, though, because the Pod Machine was represented as being a single-shot, no muss, no fuss, no-gross-(grossGROSS)-coffeepot-to-try-to-wash-out-in-the-woefully-inadequate-sink-in-the-ladies-restroom. Wow, I thought, I can drink coffee at work again without threatening my immune system or having to put on boots, snow hat and parka and walk over to the campus deli for a $4 cup o'joe.

Now, I'm looking at this thing, and at the Pods, and -- it seems to me that the machine operates by superheating the water in the reservoir, then blasting it through the plastic pod that holds the coffee, and into my cup -- do I have this right? Meaning that melted plastic gets into my coffee?

I'm not seeing this as a Better Alternative to the pot with the green hair growing in the bottom.

In other news, the Immediate Bosses think it would be very good if I did not mention to The Distant Boss over in Admin that I write and publish books. They think he'd do Something Rash, and asked me, specifically, to excise something bearing on my writing from my self-evaluation for last year. I didn't do that, because TDB hadn't asked me for my self-eval and the new rules seemed to indicate that the only folks who cared about such things were the Immediate Bosses. Today, however, the penny dropped, TDB asked for a copy of my self-evaluation.

Now, I usually allow myself to be guided by the Immediate Bosses on matters of college politics, on account of they've survived here a whole lot longer than I hope to have to. But! This piece of advice felt...wrong. I thought about it for a Really Long Time, and finally did do as they had suggested. I still feel bad about it, which probably means it was the wrong thing to do, but there you are.

In other news, the package UPS swears was delivered here at the end of June remains undiscovered, and the vendor, not completely unreasonably, wants their money.

Lunchtime's over. How's by y'all?

Comments

[malkingrey.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, what is it that the Immediate Bosses fear that the Distant Boss is going to do if he finds out that you're an actively published writer? Try to get rid of you for having ideas above your station?

[djonn]

Only thing I can think of is that Distant Boss might be the sort who would freak at the possibility that the published (gasp!) books might have Sex! and Violence! in them which would Corrupt Impressionable Young Minds.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

...books might have Sex! and Violence! in them...

And in the case of Duainfey, at least, he would be correct in his supposition.

which would Corrupt Impressionable Young Minds.

If he thinks this, however, he hasn't been over to the college bookstore.

[sethb.livejournal.com]

Or ever known a college student. "My book can't corrupt them; if they can understand it, they can't be corrupted any further."

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

My question exactly.

Our program's computer tech is also a published writer and award winning screen writer. She is intelligent, has an ability to communicate well and beats the socks off the rest of the school's tech folks. Knowing school bureaucrats well, I still cannot understand why your Immediate Bosses don't want anyone to know you write. Because they can't?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

The Immediate Bosses have been pretty wonderful, actually. It seems to be a legitimate concern about TDB, who they know and I don't. So, personal history and knowledge is in play, which is why I finally did excise that paragraph.

...and still feel lousy about it.

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

oh! It just seems so odd in an academic environment that someone would be so insecure (?? or whatever) that you being a writer would be a cause for concern. TDB seems as wacko as my "beloved" Dean.

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

Have you worked in an academic environment??

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

For 30 years now, I'm actually a Professor of Computer Animation.

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

OK. No insecure academics in that area? Possibly I have not comprehended well.

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

We are artists and academics, so, do you want the Venn diagram of interconnected insecurities and neurosis? For the most part until you get to a certain level of administration there is an understanding and appreciation of creative endeavor. I was unclear about the level of TDB. Still insecurities but not to the point where someone must hide what they are doing.

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

One gathers that they fear evidence of A Second Career (ahem) would lead the Distant Boss to believe that the college is not, as it of course ought to be, first in my affections, and therefore be Moved to Scrutinize my work in order to prove a lack of 150% effort.

Ghod knows, that's the sort of grief I really don't need, so I appreciate the concern of the Immediate Bosses.

Also, I gather that I'm something of an embarrassment to the department. One of my faculty members related a story of being waylaid (waylain?) by a colleague in another department who wanted to talk to him about the fact that a secretary had more published books than most of the faculty members.

...which I would submit isn't exactly the secretary's fault, but it's that sort of attitude that has consistently gotten me in trouble throughout my working life...

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

This last bit was my first thought -- ACK! Competitor!

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

wanted to talk to him about the fact that a secretary had more published books than most of the faculty members.

I thought the standard response to that was "Well, they're only science fiction, after all." Or shouldn't I be so cynical?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Science Fiction is now Cool in academia.

...be afraid...

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Ah. I got my English degree when SF and comic books were in the same category of pop culture, with approximately the same degree of (dis)respect.

[scaleslea.livejournal.com]

Be afraid when the college starts teaching a class based on themes found in your books.

... and still doesn't know that you work there.

Doc

[sethb.livejournal.com]

The fun part starts when a student quotes her, and the teacher marks it wrong.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Having had one of my books taught in a college-level SF/F course, my first advice: "Run away!"

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Or...

1) attempt to dragoon her into free lunchtime lectures and whatnot?

2) show her his ... well, how can I say this? The little book he's been working on forever, and just maybe she could take a look and make some suggestions? Just this once, you know, as a favor?

3) purchase a complete set of the works and read them to see if they reflect well on the image of the university

I'm sure I can come up with more possibilities, if you like.