role complication, but not really role conflict

the department retreat went well enough to declare victory, i think, at least until the notes are typed up. i now commence two days of new chair school at the minnversity, starting wednesday at 8am. this will put me in an ever-deeper deficit for returning emails and phone calls, but provide information about budgets and curricula matters that suddenly loom very large on my personal radar.

after the chair's orientation wraps up thursday, i've been asked to attend an orientation for new faculty at 4. after that, i'd scheduled some unadulterated fun: a state fair spectacular featuring the flaming lips, sonic youth, and the magic numbers. i learned recently, however, that the concert conflicts with an important football event for the lad thursday night that i really must attend. this is the big fall "chemical" meeting in which the lads get anti-drug instruction and warnings and, most importantly, take pictures with their parents.

pictures with teenagers are extremely hard to come by, so i'm definitely cool with missing the numbers. plus, i've seen sonic youth a few times already, so i could be late for the inspired noodling of mr. moore, mr. ranaldo, and their bandmates. but i'd hate to miss the lips' magnificent show -- especially not in a venue that also features fried cheese curds.

i'll need to run around a bit, but should make make it to every event. i'm just not sure how to dress. if i dress as the responsible new chair, i'll look like a dork for the football parents. yet the mounds view football jersey would be inappropriate for the minnversity meetings and could only be worn ironically for the evening. as for the lips' show, a giant bunny or gorilla costume seems to be the only answer. i'll just make sure to pop the head off before we snap the football pictures.