So it turns out my department is putting me up for both Excellence in Teaching by a University Lecturer and Excellence in Research by a University Lecturer this year.
The cynical part of me thinks a) of course, the one year there's not a big in person ceremony -- although that was last year as well, and b) yes, I've been around long enough and it's my turn. Also, note I am not competing with tenured/tenure track faculty for these awards; it's for us NTT also-rans.
The idealistic part of me is just thrilled for the recognition.
The pragmatic part of me says yes! Because I am applying for promotion to Senior University Lecturer (which is mostly an honorific, with a small pay bump) for next fall, and either or both of these awards should make it difficult for them to deny me.
Of course, I'm also trying to get the first 30 or so pages of my manuscript revised to submit to my local Mystery Writers of America chapter's mentoring program, which has to be done by the end of the month, and while I've been working on it, spring break is rushing past.
So my cousin's daughter got married last year and it ended up being a small group attending and the rest of us beaming in via Facebook Live for the ceremony. The reception is this coming June. Except . . . rather than in Maryland (where her parents live and the wedding was originally scheduled) or Chicago (where the couple lives and where the small actual wedding was held), it will be in Des Moines, Iowa.
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