A dream come true

Well, today I was told by my Chair and Associate Chair that they want me to "act more like a prima dona." Choose what I want to do and then tell them that I won't do anything else. Apparently, I've outdone myself by taking on so many jobs and trying to give 1000% to everything. It hasn't gone unnoticed, but I'm so burned out that I can hardly think academically any more.

When they asked me what I wanted to do, I told them that I'm really an ivory tower dwelling curmudgeon at heart. "I want to go up to my tower and be left alone so I can read and write to my heart's content. I want to do my research and teach. That's what I went into this field to do."

"Then that's what we want you to do. We need you to be doing that in our department and we're going to be sure that's what happens as far as it lies with us."

The upshot is that I don't have to be director of clinical training in the fall (YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I don't have to set up a medical family therapy certificate next year (YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I get to teach, write, direct dissertations, and conduct my research. And for now, I get to play for four weeks. My vacation started today at 1:30. I celebrated by going to Lowe's and buying a gas dryer and storage racks to mount inside my pantry door. Oh yes, and ceiling fans with 60-inch blades on them. We are going to have a veritable whirlwind when we turn on these puppies.

Looking around this house there is so much to do that it leaves me almost breathless. The girls are coming for the weekend and we are in boxes and with a dirty carpet. Not to mention, the dishwasher isn't installed yet and neither is the microwave oven. But we are happy and I'm going to be a prima dona somehow, after all.

Wow.