Another new academic year begins
I chuckle when I think about how easily I adapted to the academic calendar and lifestyle. Aren’t I the mad consultant who would somehow squeeze 18 billable hours into one day?
So this week after a summer of leisure with my highly retired husband I am back on campus, doing my professor thing!
I didn’t have a huge list of criteria when I went on the academic job market after finishing my doctorate. I really just wanted a beautiful, small campus to call my own. I cannot believe this will be my 11th year at Whitworth University! I have spent WAY more time here than anywhere else in my 42 professional years.
On a morning like this I am so thankful for this (third and final) career and also for this special place. And double shout out to my colleagues on the grounds crew who keep this campus utterly pristine all year long!
That's my building. My office is on the 3rd floor in the back right-hand corner, overlooking our "quad".
Another look at my little building, vantage point from the lot I typically park in.
One of our campus' notable features are probably close to a hundred gorgeous hanging flower baskets lining our walks. They (along with small towns in Montana, where these baskets are also prevalent) are the inspiration behind us always having hanging baskets on our wraparound porch at home. Studying these setups is also how we learned about the importance of having automatic drip irrigation installed.
I talked to the head groundsman a few weeks ago, and he is going to let me add my hanging basket order to the Whitworth one that will be placed in mid-December. He will help me choose both contents and fertilizer that will grow best in our "under-eave" location (doesn't get the direct sunlight that most of these petunia baskets do.)
