The room that will be my office at Northwestern is being renovated (in anticipation of my arrival? I'm not sure.) The only part over which I was given input was the choice of paint colors, and then only from the neutral palette. One of my options, though, was called "Marilyn's Dress." I started at Wisconsin in January 2001, which means I'm now in my seventh year post-Ph.D., and so the idea of picking a color that was a reference to Seven Year Itch was so amusing to me that I chose that on those grounds alone.
I haven't decided whether or to what extent I'm going to do up my office with the magnets, science toys, mobiles, and Magic 8-balls like I did at Madison. (A couple people at Madison were fond of bringing visitors by my office when giving tours, with the assessments including "It's sort of like a pediatrician's office" and "It's sort of like a county fair.") On the one hand, I'm more grown-up now. On the other hand, I've thought there might be some virtue on straightaway getting a high calibration on the eccentric-o-meter. An extra digit on the other hand is also that, back when I was in Madison, I had this nagging worry that my office might be perceived as being juvenile and this could adversely affect my tenure; now, I have this nagging worry that it might be perceived as juvenile and, and, eh, so what?
5 comments:
On the one hand, I'm more grown-up now.
This made me laugh. But then again, I didn't really know you then so how could I possibly know? (I'm not sure I see that much difference compared to the 1993 you, but I didn't know you that well then either.)
high calibration on the eccentric-o-meter
As if you have to do much extra to achieve that!
and, and, eh, so what?
Show-off!;-)
The toy collection in my office could use additions if you decide to opt out. Plus I should branch out and allow my turtles to have some non-turtle friends.
I do think campus could use a few more offices with fun elements of the sort though so I recommend keeping the style.
PS. I'm confused. Isn't Tuesday just beginning? Then why am I commenting on a Wednesday post? You've skipped days before and survived just fine, why return to this system?
toys!
Go eccentric. Having a grown-up office is for the birds.
My office at my new job is not giving me a choice not to be eccentric: the walls are bright, puke green. I actually really like it, but the secretary was very apologetic about it when I visited last week. I guess they couldn't get approval to paint over it this summer, or something. So I say, just go for crazy.
Hmm...
what would Charles Moskos do ??
:)
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