Looking Good In Greenville

So we're here in Greenville now. My puny body has taken a beating, while Amanda is still going strong, cleaning, fixing the place up, etc. And all the while she's filled with pity for me, because I'm so old and tired. The cats have recovered from their drugging (they were a bit wobbly yesterday), the dog likes the walks we've been on, and Amanda, of course, thinks the place is just great.

I heard from the chair of USCS, who may offer two sections. Sweet. Damn sweet, in fact -- now we can afford to be here. We've been driving around a bit (to set up the cable modem -- sweet speedy access), and we really like the place. Our neighbors seem friendly enough, with two kids and a very cute cocker spaniel. The apartment looks like it'll be big enough to get everything in, including the stuff we bought that we had to have for here. Along with the cable modem we got a cable TV package, so it's like a vidiot's delight around here. I'm sure that Amanda will be all over the web and the tube when I head for Richmond again and GSP.

Speaking of GSP, now I see what they meant about the necessity for people skills and diplomacy in the position. I've been answering emails for hours, writing to potential scholars and their parents, telling many of them that, no, what they wish to do can't be done within the parameters of the program. It's not a pleasant thing, but it's necessary. Maybe soon I'll get good at it.

Mike and Mig are coming down for the weekend. Mike's now a PhD; he defended a month or so ago and marched two weeks ago.

OK, trundling off to my trundle bed, a happy camper for the first time in a long time.

Big Job Search

To begin, let me say that I've stayed away from the blog for a while because I have been so filled with anger and frustration about EKU, my situation there, and how it has been treated.

See, there I go again, because I can't get this off of my mind.

Now the rubber hits the road, and I'm deep into a job search. I just got back from Greenville, where I set up some things at Greenville Tech and at Converse College. I'm waiting to see if I can be of any use at USC Spartanburg. But it's getting late, and I'm not feeling as secure as I need to, so I've started to apply for tech writing jobs. I know this is a slippery slope -- the money is so good that's it's hard to give it up (again) to go back into teaching.

I've been through it before, but it bears repeating -- this place won't take the issue seriously, won't do anything more than give lip service to this, until good people leave. As long as the administration can say that "we're studying the matter" or "we know that this is a problem," and do nothing except wring their hands and complain that they have no money, they will continue to promulgate this structure that says you're worth more with no experience than you are with tenure and promotion and service to the institution.

There are things that break my heart about this, beyond the fact that I love this place and this job, but have to leave it.

Anyhow, all of the headaches and things I'll be glad to leave behind aside, Greenville is a nice place. Amanda loves it, so even if I hated it, it would be OK. But I like it too. It's far more diverse than Richmond (which isn't saying much). The cost of living is close (about a 5% increase), and the cultural opportunities are overwhelming. The weather is better, the landscape is gorgeous (there's a reason why Asheville was the retreat of New York's monied set), and we're just a couple hours from the beach. All that's worth a little belt tightening.

OK, more GSP work tomorrow. Maybe a better outlook on the future. Maybe a better set of thoughts about EKU.