Why I Love my Job

I think I've mentioned before that I work for a college. It's the same college where I went to school. I just came here and, well, never left. It wasn't that I didn't *try* to leave, it just worked out that I got a job here. But I am so glad I did.

The best years of my life were spent here as a student. It's where I made most of the friends I still have, it's where I met my husband, it's where I really think I became the person I am today. I love being able to walk around campus, where nostalgia lies around every corner. Sometimes I'll go into a building or walk down a certain sidewalk and the memories come flooding back.....I love that. Not everyone is so lucky to work in a place they love so much.

When I got the job, I remember telling a friend of mine who had been my roommate in college. Her reply was, "You can't stay there forever. You have to enter the *real world* at some point." I have come to the conclusion that is not true. I don't want to be part of the *real world* (whatever that means--and yes, working in academia is much different than working in some corporate job....I know that now.) So I choose to stay here. Everyone talks so much about how hard the "real world" is....so why not stay here? It's safe and cozy here and they do give me a paycheck to be here, after all. So why not? Who needs the "real world" anyway?

Domo arigato, Kiddo Roboto

Japanese researchers have built a robot that acts like toddler to use in studying child development:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/06/08/toddler.robot.ap/index.html

I have a few questions about this, not the least of which is: why not study real, live children to learn about child development?

And how realistic is this thing? Does it run away from you, laughing and saying "NO!" when you try to get it to comply with your instructions? Does it throw stuff, especially stuff that is not intended for throwing? Does it dramatically lay down in the floor and wail if it can't have yet another puch of Finding Nemo Fruit Snacks? Does it insist on watching the same episode of "Little Einsteins" or "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" over and over ad nauseum? Does it pick its nose and hand you the boogers? (which, though gross, is better than eating them...) Does it fight and kick and scream getting into the bathtub, but then fight and kick and scream when it's time to get out?

No? Well, then....IMO, it does not act like a toddler. Those scientsts need to get back to the drawing board.

I have a confession to make...

I hate flip-flops. There, I said it. I work on a college campus and everywhere I go, no matter what time of year it is, I see flip-flops. Girls wear nice skirts....with flip-flops. A boy will be dressed to the nines from the ankle up, but his shoes? Flip-flops. No matter what some 19-year-old will tell you, flip-flops are not appropriate footwear for every situation. Even if they have sequins and sparkles....they're still flip-flops. Sure, they're great to wear to the beach or when you're just bumming around the house. But when did they become such a staple of so many people's wardrobes? I see these kids wearing flip-flops in the dead of winter--sweaters and gloves on with flip-flops. Maybe you wouldn't be quite so cold if you had something on your feet!

I don't even think flip-flops are very comfortable. I've tried to wear them--I really have. As a Parrothead, it is part of the "uniform." But I hate them. I hate the way that thong part feels in between my toes. It hurts and I can never get used to it. So I choose to wear other, more comfortable sandals...in the summer.....and not when I'm wearing my Sunday best.

I was in a department store one day a few months ago. Standing in line to check out, a teenage girl was with her mom. The mom commented that some socks were on sale and asked if the girl would like to take a look at them. The girl rolled her eyes, heaved a big sigh, and said, "Mom.....I don't *wear* socks." Don't wear socks? Who doesn't need socks? Even if you do wear flip-flops most of the time, don't your feet ever get cold? Don't you ever feel the need to cover them? Are we destined to become a sock-less society? I certainly hope not. That's not the kind of world I want my child to grow up in.

May the Force Be With You

Last Friday marked the 30th anniversary of the release of "Star Wars." My husband is a big-time "Star Wars" geek and I suppose a little of that has rubbed off on me. I don't have anywhere near the knowledge of the trivia of the films that he does, nor can I recite ALL the lines from the original trilogy like he can, but I do enjoy watching the movies.

So to pay tribute to this anniversary, I would like to share something I found:
Everything I Need to Know in Life I Learned from Watching "Star Wars"

I thought this was very funny and a lot of it rings true for me.