I'm baaaaaaack!!

And boy oh boy, am I glad to be home! Not only did my family miss me (oooh, coming-back-home hugs are the best!), but my students and co-workers did, too. I should leave more often! A dear friend of mine, Dr. Bonnie Woodbery (English prof), wrote a "story" about my absence ... here's an excerpt:

Dateline: April 18, 2007: TU Suffers from Nojen Syndrome

TU Officials late today confirmed that much of the TU student body, staff,and faculty are suffering from the little known Nojen syndrome. The outbreak began on Monday when several students after going to Student SupportServices reported feeling "glum" and "blue." In fact, several students were taken to the ER at Archbold after actually turning blue from over exposure to what we have now confirmed is the worst outbreak of Nojen in the entire southeastern region.

This little known syndrome is caused by the absence of "Jennifer" in the environment. Once gone from the environment, a general malaise, depression,and feeling of low-self esteem besets all the people in the vicinity, in this case the population of TU. When interviewed after suffering so badly from the blues that she had to go to the ER for happy pills, a faculty member, asking to be identified only as "B" reported that this was absolutely the worst case of Nojen that she has experienced in her four years at TU. She also said that several students had simply walked out of classes, eyes glazed over, repeating, "Where is Jennifer?" "Where is Jennifer?" as a sort of mantra. A psychologist on the scene remarked on the low levels of joke e-mail found after testing various subject's computers."With such low levels, few can make it through the day," Dr.D. is reported to have stated.Only those immune from Nojen have remained working on the TU campus.

One such stalwart older gentleman felt that many were simply using Nojen as an excuse to slack off their usual work load. "It's a pity," he said, "that TU has so many who seem to thrive on the odd joke. It's certainly no way to run a business."

Another employee who was planning on leaving simply said that now there was no way she would ever leave TU, not after suffering her worst bout of Nojen ever. She stated that "a day without 'Jennifer' is a day without a laugh, and what afterall is a day then?" Lady, we could not agree more!!

With friends like this ... and the best damn hugs found below the Mason-Dixon line ... I feel purty darn good. Like I said ... I should go out of town more often!!!