Andy's Goodbye

Here's a soon to be prize-winning film that my great friend Andy Burkhardt prepared for me as a going away present.

In his email Andy wrote: "As a send off, I figured I would use my emerging technology skills to create a going away video for Scudder. It doesn’t equal the as yet to be completed “Nostradamus Cycle,” and is basically all of Gary’s catchphrases thrown into 90 seconds, but I think it captures Gary well. Moreover, I think that my directorial style is rather similar to one Frank Capra. Hopefully I see most of you at trivia this evening. Our team name is going to be “Ernest and the Shackletons.”"

I especially like his envisioning of my friend and colleague Steve Wehmeyer.

New Campus

I'll take a quick break from running around like a lunatic to post a quick picture and include a link to the new Abu Dhabi campus of Zayed University where I'll be housed (at least academically) for the next year. We're down to one week before I take off. Next Thursday afternoon I fly out from Burlington to JRK to Doha, Qatar and then the short final hop to Abu Dhabi. I'm exhausted just thinking about it - and, of course, instead of tackling the million and one chores I have to deal with I'm blogging and ordering movies off Amazon. I've figured out that I won't be able to stream moves through Netflix in the UAE and I need movies. Here's a picture of the new brand new campus and a link to a virtual tour.

Retirement of Bohemian Rhapsody

Before I get around to posting more substantial direct travel stories on this blog once I land in Abu Dhabi (and I actually have a departure date now - 2 September) I should finish up with my local tales of life in Vermont. This one relates to what will undoubtedly go down as my greatest contribution to world intellectual improvement: the official retirement of the execrable Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody. One night at the St. John's Club we were having a deeply philosophical discussion of best and worst songs of all-time, including accepting nominations in the entertaining category of most overrated song of all time. While all of my answers were, of course, the correct ones, I was still impressed/amused by the choices of the other Gentlemen of Excellence in attendance. When discussing overrated songs I threw out my choice of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. Now, it may seem like a strange choice, I made it because I remember seeing VH1 or some such silly source naming it the second greatest rock song of all-time. I was not completely serious in my choice, mainly because I don't know if I even would accept it as a rock song, and it certainly wouldn't begin to compare to songs by the Beatles (who are doubtless the most over-rated group of all-time). Still, I passionately defended the choice, mainly because it annoyed my good friend and travelling companion Sandy Zale to no end. Through a process that I'm not sure I remember clearly or could ever explain we determined to decide the fate of Bohemian Rhapsody the only fair way possible: through a dart game. Sandy, through a bit of double knavery worthy of me, immediately chose Mike Lange (the best dart-thrower of the Gentlemen of Excellence) as his partner, leaving me with my great friend Cinse as a partner and defender of all that is holy. That said, Cinse, by her own admission, is not a great dart-thrower - although she makes up for any directional shortcomings with enthusiasm. Somehow, mainly, I suspect, because God was on our side, we played the game of our life and trounced the heavily favored Team America (for some reason Cinse and I had chosen to call our team the Czech Republic). At the very end we had only to throw a double 16 to finish out the game. Cinse, maybe slightly worse for wear, told me with complete sincerity that she could not throw a double 16. I told her not worry about it, and just throw a triple 16 instead - which she proceeded to do on the next throw. So, Bohemian Rhapsody was officially retired and cannot be sung or discussed in polite company again. I can now retire with peace of mind. Sandy, as is his wont, refuses to agree with the utterly fair results of the contest and will toss in lines from the song (such as "it doesn't really matter, to me") at the most inappropriate times, which is why he is continually on probation.

Lake Monsters

With the move to Abu Dhabi hanging over me a big part of this summer has been devoted to spending time with friends and doing what I love. This helps to explain the epic trips to Oklahoma and New Orleans. I've also made a real concerted effort to get out and see my friends closer to home. Naturally, some of that related to going to as many Vermont Lake Monsters games as possible. I have such a child-like love of the game, and few things make me happier than sitting in the stands at Centennial Field watching the Lake Monsters play. Because it is short season A (less than half the number of games of a major league season) there is no way that you'll know any of the players (although it is exciting to see some of them pop up years later in the bigs). Occasionally you'll recognize an ex-player as a manger ("hey, didn't that guy used to be the utility infielder for the Cubs?") or the son of an ex-major leaguer. The best night is the annual 25 cent hot dog night, which always leads to epic gormanderie. The field itself is great and, as the picture of the sign indicates, quite a few famous players have graced the field over the years. That said, it's in a fairly dilapidated state and every year the fear is that it is the last for our beloved Lake Monsters (the figure thrown around to bring the field up to standards is $3 million, and nobody has that kind of money). And then, miraculously, at the end of the season it's always announced that they're coming back. This year they've moved from the Nationals system to the Oakland A's, and they're actually a pretty good team this year. Here is a picture of one of recent games, featuring Andy Burkhardt, Mike Lange and Erik Esckilsen. Go Lake Monsters!

Moving Day

While I can't claim to be in the twlight of my youth (to borrow a line from Ryan Adams), I guess I'm not too old for new adventures - and the first step in this adventure was moving out of the Q. I can't believe how quickly the last year flew by, and Sunday brought an end to my time as faculty in residence at Quarry Hill. It actually was a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be, and I enjoyed spending time with the freshmen. While I'm not due to fly out to Abu Dhabi for a couple weeks (if it is ever organized, that is) I did have to be out of the Q by this last weekend. As always, the redoubtable Gentlemen of Excellence stepped up to help me move - thanks to Bob Mayer, Andy Burkhardt, Original Mike Lange, False Mike Kelly, Steve Wehmeyer and Craig Pepin. I had far more help than my motley collection of belongings called for, and I actually contacted folks and told them not to come, but they would not be deterred (which means they are either true friends or desperately wanted to get me out of the state). It took less than a half-hour to unload the apartment, with the exception of the hours that Mike Lange and I spent driving to Jericho (to unload boxes at Cyndi Brandenburg's house) and Wilder (to return things to my sister Lisa). I devoted a couple hours to finishing up on Sunday night, but now I'm out and on to new things. Next stop, sort of, Abu Dhabi. Oh, and the excellent Andy Burkhardt insisted that I entrust my 35 year old Fran Tarkenton jersey to him to root on the Vikings at our traditional Sundays at Ruben James. Hopefully he'll have better luck with it than I ever did.

Many Goodbyes

I've really been remiss in blogging lately, mainly because of the mad rush in trying to get the trip to Abu Dhabi organized. If I ever get my flight scheduled I'll consider it a good day. Last Tuesday morning I woke up to an email from Zayed asking me if I liked my itinerary for Sunday's flight - that is, the Sunday following five days after the email. I managed to convince them that it was not a particularly good idea, especially since the week before they had decided that I was flying on 30 August. Now I think we're back to 30 August, but who really knows. Still, I am always happy with small victories, so having more time actually gives me the chance to try and get fairly organized. In addition to moving out of the Q (more on that later) I've also devoted time to planning my classes and setting up online bill payment and packing, etc. I've really been touched by how many folks seem genuinely upset/moved by the thought of me moving away, even if it is probably only for a year. Many of my friends have taken me out for dinner and/or drinks, and it has been, while more than a touch bittersweet, wonderful. Here are a few pictures from a going away soiree that my great friend Wes threw for me at his condo down on the lake. He really outdid himself, including his mysterious box of presents. Wes hired me at Champlain over eleven years ago and we've always remained very close. I'm missing everyone already.