a thoughtful web.
Good ideas and conversation. No ads, no tracking.   Login or Take a Tour!
comment by OftenBen
OftenBen  ·  2772 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pubski: April 26, 2017

It's Concert Week!

Come Friday I'll be singing the Missa Solemnis again, this time with the Toledo Symphony under Maestro Sanderling. The first rehearsal with the orchestra went well last night, though they don't have the same panache and ease with the music as the Ann Arbor Symphony.

Work is work. The coordinating center for one of my studies is way behind in paying my unit for the work we've done, and the resulting budget hole has me on reduced hours until they pay up. I've been told in no uncertain terms that nobody else is going to be making getting paid on time a priority, so that's now been added to my now much smaller plate. It's bothersome that there is such a lax attitude towards this stuff on both ends. It bugs me that the coordinating center isn't invested enough in the project to make sure that we get our operating funds. It bugs me that my time is institutionally low value because of the relatively small number of letters after my name. I am getting 'compensated' in other ways. My perks maintain even if my hours dip. I have a stack of letters of recommendation and a list of high value professional references as long as my arm.

Despite my griping, I'm trying to come at this from a place of gratitude. My problem-set is very interesting, and is composed of things that are not actively threatening my health, safety, and security. I have been given a lot, and now have the responsibility of fitting the pieces together in a way that makes sense to me, and I'm doing that.