Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Shuffle off to Buffalo


Feel free to press play and listen to the song as you read this post, since there's no video to go along with it.

We have finally resolved the last hurdle to accepting the teaching position I was offered at Trocaire College in Buffalo, NY. So it looks like we're officially moving! The job will start mid-August. I will be initially working on developing an Associate's Degree program in Human Resources, including getting approvals, getting it accredited, and writing course syllabi. Depending on how long that takes, I would start actually teaching classes in either January or next August.

I'm sure we'll need helping packing up, so we'll keep you posted as it draws closer and our moving dates get set. And if anyone has any leads on apartments to rent in the Buffalo area, let us know.

(minor tangent ahead)

A number of years ago, when I was playing shows as a solo singer/songwriter, I played a show in Alexandria, VA with Seth Horan, another solo singer/songwriter. He had previously recorded and toured as the bass player for Vertical Horizon. He was initially from Buffalo, and wrote a song about the city, entitled "Anonymity." Here are some of the lyrics:
  • Why live where no one wants to be? / There's nothing left here to discover, and nobody I'd want to discover me.
  • Everyone's tomorrow looks the same as yesterday / In a city meant for nothing more than anonymity.
  • Everybody's days are filled with animosity / And never meant for any more than anonymity.
Our initial introduction to Buffalo when we visited for the interview was pretty similar to these sentiments. But hopefully we'll find more in Buffalo than meets the eye originally and end up having a great experience.

(end tangent)

Anybody who wants to visit us in Buffalo is certainly welcome. We've got the Buffalo Bills (NFL) - now with the additional entertainment of Terrell Owens, Buffalo Sabres (NHL), and Buffalo Bisons (a minor-league MLB team). Niagara Falls is a mere 30 minutes away (make sure you have your passport if you want to go over to the Canadian side), Toronto is less than two hours away, and - for all you Mormons (or those interested in Mormon history) out there - Palmyra is only 90 minutes away. So there's plenty to keep you busy.

Anyway, there's our big news! We will keep you posted as this all develops.

(a Lawrence Welk version - just for you, Deid!)

6 comments:

Sara said...

I've been there lots of times! It's not far at all from London. You'll get the chance to go to TONS of concerts living there. That makes it worth it.

Nikkala said...

Call it denial, but we aren't going to believe you are leaving until you are gone.

kim edvarchuk said...

Congrats on the decision. I'm sure its relief to finally know what you guys will be doing but I think its too far away!

Audrey Seymour said...

WOW WOO WOO! Big deal mister! Cool. We're definitly sad to see you go and we hope Buffalo is not as dead and sad as the lyrics portray. But I am sure you'll make it fun (or you can always come back either way)

Chelsey said...

Congratulations! We're excited to have you back on the East Coast. :)

ctt said...

Woo Hoo, Dr. Hartwell on his way! Congratulations on this next great adventure. Love the lunch idea!