In the movie Avatar our hero gets lost in the space between his 2 worlds - the familiar world of what we might call reality, and the Pandoran world of the Navi, the native people with whom he spends time with in the form of his avatar. He struggles to keep them separate, and to know where his loyalties and priorities lie. Both are real in their separate ways, and both compete as being the one and only "reality" in his mind.
In Des World things have moved into a similar sort of 2 world separation. I live in the reality of life at WSM and the commuting to Salem world there for at least another week or 2, chasing WSM projects and thinking about how to land WSM orders, but also now focusing on the BRUKS world where I will be spending my time in the very near future. It helps that the companies are so different, and the products are so different. And it helps that my 4+ years at BRI were good years as far as I was concerned.
I have given my notice at WSM, but only to the president. I wrote a very direct and clear 2 page letter describing why I was leaving, which he and I discussed on Friday, and will again tomorrow. He said he wanted time to digest it. My leaving is essentially a secret at this point, as he tries to find a way to convince me to stay. In the notice of resignation I suggested a short list of activities I can perform over the next couple of weeks, which I have been doing here at home, and that I can pursue this week in Salem. Next week is a question as far as I am concerned - Will I go to Salem or stay home? I would prefer to stay home. The president of WSM is now talking with the President of BRI about the change, which I hope results in forestalling any possible legal action. Mark and Steve have been business friends in the past, so I hope this works out well.
What ever happened to the WSU job? Yes, an excellent question. I interviewed on Sept. 27, 2 + weeks ago now, and I have heard absolutely nothing from them or about the results of the interview process. As far as I know they are still mulling over their options, or talking to the other candidates, or doing nothing at all. I will send a note to the Search Committee Chair this week withdrawing my name from consideration. I would have liked to have been be asked, but apparently time outside of the University behaves differently than time inside. This is another reason that I don't think this would have been a good fit for me. I still burn a candle against the possibility of an actual university-level teaching job someday, but a Program Directorship in Hardwood Biofuels is not in my future, despite the convenience it represented.
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