Quick! Where is the Anti-Negativity Spray?

As noted in earlier blogs, I'm not a big fan of 'The Negative'. Too much energy by far too many people is spent on the details of the cloud without even registering that it has a silver lining. This leaves very little energy to develop ways of dispersing what clouds there may legitimately be.

This leads me to the latest developments in my academic department. Like universities everywhere, space has been, and no doubt will continue to be, a pressing issue. No one has enough, or certainly enough of the best quality, and no one likes to give up/share what they do have. We all seem to end up 'making do' however and still are highly productive.

In a nutshell, after years of wrangling, offices are moving. Fairly quickly too - which in a bureaucracy this size is a feat in and of itself. But when did decision-making and doing things quickly become something to be suspicious about? To see as disrespectful, as disappointing, as a 'forced move of displaced persons'. Yipes. You got what you wanted - a move that integrates far-flung units into more proximate space. Is it perfect? No - but then again what ever is? But this boat is leaving the dock - get on board and make the best of it or you WILL be left on shore. The time is now to think about the future and what we need to move forward, positively.

Personally, when I'm next shopping for mosquito spray I'm going to be looking for the anti-negativity spray too. We need a frikkin' case! Or better yet - a new unit fashion statement (see picture) - The Anti-Negativity Helmet!! Check it out (it's for real!) at: www.merchco-online.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=643

Apparently my twin is a 5'6" English woman

This really happened today - again! There are two tenured women in my department (yeah...2!...we are sooo progressive!). I am one of them. I am above average height for a woman (6') and well --- not even close to petite. I wear glasses, and I'm REALLY Canadian. I wear multiple rings and regularly change the colour of my hair. My colleague, research partner and friend is the aforementioned Englishwomen of normal height, complete with plummy English public school accent. No glasses. Wears suits regularly. Me, not so much. And we are regularly called by each other's names. When we are apart, AND when we are both there together.

Happened today in a department council meeting - for the millionth time. We were on opposite sides of the conference table. No way you could not tell us apart, unless you are frikkin' Helen Keller. Or - apparently - a male academic.

Now I suppose I should be understanding - I mean really. Female. Associate Professor. Same discipline. Clearly interchangeable. Why should I expect more? (grrrrrrrr)

At the meeting we both laughed  - after an audible groan and knowing look at each other (the "Can you believe one of the boys did it AGAIN!" look). One of our more aware male colleagues picked up on our mood right away and kept the joke going with a lovely note of sarcasm in his voice ..."Yeah, they are twins - like Twins, the movie. Not that you look like them...but...".

 I decided to announce that for the remainder of the meeting I would speak in a bad Austrian accent.