Ten

November 16, 1998

I think I've managed to catch the flu. I felt fine when I woke up this morning, but an hour later when I arrived at work I started to feel achy. After another hour at work I was feeling lousy. It was right about then that Jean showed up. She had been to the doctor's office this morning to drink something that sounds to me like over sugary Tang for some kind of blood test. We'll get the results next Monday when we go for our next monthly appointment. Jean was stopping by on her way back to her office with a banana and two bagels. All that food helped me get through the morning.

At eleven o'clock I went to the WebTech meeting. Two of the five couldn't make it this morning, so Bill and Kim and I decided to have an abbreviated meeting. I had plenty to say about everything, it seemed, and the meeting ended up lasting its fully allotted hour. Ahem.

Around 1:30 I went to the coffee shop here on campus in the hope I'd wake up for the rest of the day. As I was just about finished putting the cream in my coffee, I realized the person who sold me the coffee had been talking to me for apparently some time. I attempted to acknowledge whatever she'd been saying as if I'd been there all along, then I retreated back to my office.

Ten years ago today was my first day of work at the University. It's been an interesting time. I've worked in four areas: Boatwright Memorial Library (88-90), the Campus Post Office (90-93), the Registrar's Office (93-98), and now Information Services. I can truly say that everywhere I've worked it has been a pleasure. I know many people who go to their jobs every day not caring or even hating what they do. For me it's always been fun.

Since coming to work at Richmond, I've been in nineteen plays (Nicholas Nickelby and Sunday in the Park with George were my two favorite plays), and taken seven classes (two still incomplete). I started an e-mail discussion group devoted to John Milton that today has more than 500 members. The Milton web site averages just under 200 visitors a day. And last and best, I married Jean just a year after starting at Richmond (more on this on Wednesday).

It's been a good decade, and I look forward to the coming years. Hopefully we'll find a way for Jean to get out of insurance so she can come work on campus somewhere too. The University of Richmond is a charmed place.

I have no idea what the weather was like today, except that it didn't rain, snow or hail. The temperature here seems to be in the low 60's these days, but when I'm sick I don't notice things like the sky.

Watching: Will and Grace; Dateline