Since 2010, I’ve been the main organizer for an in-person orientation that the iSchool where I teach puts on for new graduate students beginning the online program. A few years ago, one of my colleagues who is retiring this summer, started to say that Bootcamp ruins the summer, and she’s right, and this year, the 10th Bootcamp, seems even busier than usual. I looked around for past posts referring to it, got a few quotes:
From 2015, It’s that time of year again ….
The deeps of summer, when I just want to hang out on the porch and read and drink iced coffee in shorts and flip flops. Or even – dare I say it – go on vacation, like everyone else. But instead, I am swamped with work, 28 students in internships to supervise via an online course, and another 26 to be welcomed, and taught, at the new students bootcamp in two weeks, so syllabi to write, course assignments to figure out, and oh yea, lectures and exercises. [in 2019 I have 43 students in internships]
From 2014, No vacation summer
Oh, and looky here, here’s post from 2010, the first Bootcamp.
In 2013 Rach was here the weekend before, and we got a pedi.
In the rest of life, the AC finally got fixed – it needed a new motor, and when they came to install a week ago Monday when the weather was lovely and cool, one of the bolts that holds the motor in broke off while the installer was installing it. He ordered a new one, and it finally really got fixed the following Friday, when at least Mark was home to let them in. Hope I don’t have to pay for two service calls on account of the busted bolt.
One of the reasons this year is busier than ever is we’re hiring a new associate director (remember I said a colleague was retiring) – the public job talks start tomorrow. I applied, but only made it to the pool of 11 for first phone interviews, and not the pool of 5 for 2nd phoners, nor the pool of 4 who are coming in person, starting tomorrow. Which is all fine, but gave me thoughts, similar to what I was thinking when watching the mayoral debates, that it sure seems like the “I’ll figure it out, I’ve done this before”, style of us Boomers is becoming quite passé vs. the “I had a workshop on that, and here’re the guidelines”, Gen X and millennial style. But even more it just made me think that I guess I’m just not the upper admin type. I’ve never really managed anybody but myself, and do tend to figure it out as I go along.
Our crazy expensive garage remodel job starts Bootcamp Monday. We cleaned out the garage Saturday, and Sunday morning I moved the compost. It’s wasn’t that bad. Lots of the little stickers that come on fruits & veggies that you always think you get off, and I learned that pistachio shells do not break down. But lots of nice black dirt. Made me feel a bit like Will Allen (though I know he has been discredited a bit at this point; I still think he’s pretty great) – I made dirt.
I made a few things to practice for my upcoming cooking class in August. Julia’s zucchini rice gratin, Tian de Courgettes au Riz, that’s from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, vol. 2, that I actually own, but also online all over the place now. I also made a version of sort of deconstructed scalloped tomatoes from Deborah Madison, tomatoes sliced, laid in a shallow dish and baked with a little cream, and a few torn basil leaves, then eaten spooned over buttered toast. That will make a dandy appetizer for the class.
Some friends got a table for Concerts on the Square last week – Beatles night – and I made cherry cheesecake. This is the last piece that I ate for dinner after I got home from the Atwood Summerfest on Sunday. I biked over there in the heat and bought two beers to fill my Festyland cup – maybe that why the cheesecake looks a little blurry.
Tonight I made the summer sandwich for dinner – it was good, but I think I sliced the onions too thick.
And of course lots and lots of stuff with zucchini. I made these on Sunday and the mini-muffins were so cute, I made more with banana on Monday night, and took a half/half box of zucchini and banana minis to work Tuesday.
And pantry meal today was chicken drumsticks, scrambled eggs with cheese and zucchini and peppers and onions, roasted potatoes, banana blueberry smoothies, and fresh strawberries – a last minute addition when the Caesar salad kits I thought would be OK on Monday were actually too slimy to serve on Tuesday.