Between a Rock and a Hard Place

So there is this rock in front of my building and, quite frankly, I have no idea why it is there. There is no plaque, no distinguishing features, nothing to indicate why a person would want to put this thing on a pedestal and display it. And, let's be honest, it isn't really adding anything to an already ugly building (I work in a building which has the aesthetic value of something Mike Brady would have designed).

Over the weekend, someone went a little crazy with the safety paint on the stairs, but, thankfully, someone also added a smiley face to the rock. On a side note, I like the idea of tripping on the stairs because you were blinded by the fluorescent safety paint. But I digress.

I needed the smiley face today. I have been shot down by over TEN professors, who clearly want no part of chairing my thesis defense. I am asking for 1 hour and they're giving me nothing. You are all my witness – when I am a big pooh-bah professor, I promise to make time for the little people and chair their damn defenses. I would normally take the approach that the defense has to take place, but now I am not so sure. How brilliant would that be to have everything done and f**k up because I didn't get a chair?

Comments

[mick]

I hope it works out. I thought this sort of adminstrivia would kill me before I finished. Somehow it all worked out (at least I think it did, it isn't all over yet and won't be for a couple of months). I still haven't worked out how I got it all done though so I can't really give any useful advice.

[Chris]

Here's a thought. Could you just send out a mass email to all the profs? Well that's what I would do of course, if you're trying to be really formal, probably not the best way.

As I was reading the bottom part of your post, after the picture, the "fluorescent safety paint" seemed to start moving. Someone needs to make sure they get the point across and put "Watch Your Step" on the tops of each step. Just a thought. :)

Chris

[ursula]

how cute!

[SLAC Public Affairs]

I have the historical significance of the rock if you want to hear it. In a nut shell...It's an inside joke to a retiree.