Although I have praised UCLA’s decision to be three separate music departments, sometimes it’s a pain in the butt. Take, for instance, our new terrific core class. There are six musicianship sections, divided by their musical abilities. On Tuesday I discovered that there are actually 18 sections. Each of the six sections has three subsections dependent upon their department. So, while AJ Racy was lecturing on trance and ecstacy in music, yours truly got to sit outside the lecture hall, enrolling students into their damn sections. “What department are you? What section are you in? What is your PTE number? Uh, ok, let me find it. Ok, here it is. Now what it your student ID” and I had to do that 90 times. Sheesh. As Monty Python says: MY BRAIN HURTS.
As it has been the beginning of classes (yes, we begin later than most), there are constant fires burning everywhere that the Chair gets to put out. After Monday and Tuesday I was emotionally exhausted. I have decided to take Wednesdays off and work from home to get me through the week.
Yesterday I caught up on zillions of overdue emails, creating committees, and making reports. Today, I go from 10 am through 8 pm. Friday is our first faculty meeting, and I have to do our taxes this weekend.
I flash forward to my retirement and won’t miss busy times like this. I think about being a composer and wonder how in the past I’ve composed a musical or a film score while teaching and being chair. I guess that where there’s a will, there’s a way. I look forward to a bit less busyness.
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