Get some sleep! That is really key to beating the incipient cold.

I'm on my way to bed right this very minute!

Good health to us all.

Wow! Ok. So. A few weeks back, while I was on staycation, an email went out that our Dean was stepping down, and going on sabbatical. I just had a two hour meeting with one of the connected faculty members, and learned what it was all about! (the meeting wasn't supposed to be about that. The actual topic of the meeting was the last 25 minutes or so. He was in a very gossipy mood, and I was not stopping him, since I never get inside info here).

It seems he was offered to step down before being fired. He was found at fault for some egregious things. That has happened twice before. The first person just quit and didn't press charges. The second person took a "bribe" with a huge pay increase and new job on the other side of campus. What annoys me, since he stepped down, there is no formal blemish. Which means, he can easily do this somewhere else, and they would be none the wiser at hiring.

Since our Chancellor went to The Ohio State, our Provost was promoted to Chancellor, and they are holding off hiring a Dean for our school, until they have hired a Chancellor. So we have an interim Dean that everyone loves. It was announced, it would be a long interim process. The interim dean has been faculty here for 30 years. Has been chair for 2 of the 4 departments. He had a little Dean/Staff meeting, to assure us all is good, and thank us for being the backbone for the school of the arts, yadda yadda yadda. After that meeting, it felt like Umbridge was out, and Dumbledore was in. We finally have someone in charge that can speak! And seems educated! And has empathy! Personality! And doesn't come off as an inarticulate used car salesman!

That being said. It seems there is a new day dawning. Let's see what happens. Finally, a change that folks won't bitch and moan about. (the dean was not loved by anyone!).

And school starts next week! Yippee.

OK, I saw this and immediately thought of Jilli. There's a site for representations of people of color in European art history (largely to refute those who say there weren't any). One person wrote in to ask:

Hi, I am very impressed with your blog, and would like your input on something. I am running a Vampire game set in Hungary 1 year before the Mongolian invasion. I was wondering what other ethnicities would be present in the area?

you’re doing a game about VAMPIRES

But you need to fact check “other ethnicities”?

… ethnicities….other than vampire?

Today's teefury offerings may be relevant to some people's interests: voila!

How to Train Your Dragon 2 is at the dollar movie. I was going to see it tomorrow, but the uncomfortable squirming in the back of my head is telling me that it's still too soon. Ah, well, that's why DVDs were invented. Plus I got the DVD of Winter Soldier, so I can watch that and do freeze frames on Angsty Bucky scenes.

I saw the wonderful vw today, and then worked at the library bookstore tonight. All in all a very good day. Though, I forgot to leave an outside light on when I left this morning, and when I came home it was already completely dark out.

For me, today was one. of. those. days.

For the first time in the company's 15 year history, a dog died during a walk.

The walker is shattered. I'm not sure how he will go on. The owner is in such deep shock, I don't think she even knows what she is saying and the woman who hit the dog is hysterical.

It's one of those moments you see in the movies that ends up wreaking havoc in all directions.

As the fixer, it's for me to hold everyone both in my heart and in my hands. I've been present for everyone and at the same time, feel that no matter what I do, it won't be enough.

The little dog pooped on a wide meridian and when the walker bent down to pick it up, she stepped behind him and wiggled out of her harness. He didn't feel anything and when he stood up, he looked around and she was already running into the street.

Thankfully, it was instantaneous but, oh my. There just isn't enough broken heart to cover this.

The company owner and I went to visit the couple. Thankfully, I did all the talking and was able to express how deeply sorry we are.

It's weird. The dog normally wears a collar...had done for the whole time we have cared for her. Apparently, last night, she had a bath, and the owners didn't replace the collar. The harness was attached to the leash, on the usual hook.

So. sad.

Plus I got the DVD of Winter Soldier, so I can watch that and do freeze frames on Angsty Bucky scenes.

That's the default pause, right?

Oh that a so sad. I'm very sorry.

We scanned a found Golden today and it didn't have a chip. I am sincerely hoping it's back home. It was well loved and had just been flawlessly groomed so I'm hopeful.