Mr. Chicken is up north today, performing in front of an audience that holds our fate in its hands.
He left yesterday with a sheaf of papers and a nervous smile. His garment bag held his best suit and we saw him off with kisses and hugs.
On, Wisconsin!
His interview is taking place this morning. He’ll teach and show off his PowerPoint prowess, and, if I know my husband, charm the pants off every woman in the room.
I have every confidence in this man. He has the skills, the knowledge and the educational pedigree to land this job. But competition is fierce and academia is fickle. And frankly, I never thought I’d say this, but I really want to move to Wisconsin.
Not because I hate Chambana. Not because our house is suddenly springing leaks in the ceiling. Not because I can’t get a decent bagel.
No. I fear, in fact, that bagels will be ever more scare were we to wind up in that small Wisconsin hamlet. No, I want to move to Wisconsin because if we don’t, we won’t have a job.
No one will let us lose our house or starve. But Christ in a sidecar, I’m 37 years old! Too old to get bailed out. Too old not to have a savings account. Too old to go without health insurance (see: bum knee).
We need this to go well. We need this to erase the bad luck of the past few weeks. We need this to make life safe and secure for our precious children.
I hugged my husband good-bye yesterday morning and with all the strength of our love, I whispered in his ear:
You can do this. We can do this. You’re going to be great.
Today, as I march through the hours until he arrives home minding our babies and tending to my chores, I chant my own prayer.
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin.
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ah, i remember this litany well. one that had me hoping to live in a town i couldn’t BELIEVE i was hoping to live in. and it’s been fine. you make your own life in a place.
good luck, mr. c.!
Chanting for you here in Trinidad!!!
I’ll be sending really good vibes your way today!
*HUGS*
Sending positive energy your way. I hope everything goes well. Keep us posted!
Best of luck! I’m chanting along with you from here in Ontario.
fingers crossed
Here’s hoping you’ll be a cheesehead soon!
Positive thoughts flowing north for you both. And, if he is at the University of Wisconsin… I have a cousin and her husband who are both profs there with two small kids, that I could send your way to help in the acclimatization.
My husband is at the same place in his career as yours. He went to Virginia and came home with a no. He still has to go to Alaska (please, no) and Indiana (ugh), but I’m with you. A job is a job is a job.
‘Tis true. I’ll send you a cheesehead if he gets it! And some cheese!
Best of luck to your family!!
Just remember where ever you go, keep blogging. For my sake, cause I’m selfish and I love your writing. =)
Right there with you. I am laid-off as of May 29 and my husband’s company borrows money to make payroll every month. It is scary out there! I don’t know about Wisconsin though… They’re like a whole new world! (Kidding, I live in Minneapolis, we always laugh at Wisconsin and Iowa. Like everyone else, we don’t even think about the Dakotas!)
Praying for you and your family. I agree with Harley, keep blogging, please
Good Luck! I am chanting here as well. We just moved from Champaign to Albuquerque a little over 5 months ago! The change was dramatic but overall good!
i am married to an asst prof here and i grew up around academia. you are right- academia is fickle! i TOTALLY understand just wanting to be SOMEWHERE. although chambana is not my favorite place, i appreciate that my husband is part of a highly ranked program and i have learned to like living here. i will keep my fingers crossed for your husband’s interview. it’s great your husband has a good educational background but also that people like him as a person. that really goes a long way!
I’ll whisper it from the West; sending all the mojo I can muster.
Best of luck to your husband!! Chambana seems so long ago for me. I hated it fiercely when I lived there but these days I look back to the taxing 8 minute commutes and sigh in regret.
That Thai restaurant that opened in downtown Urbana, the Asian restaurants in that undergradey strip (what was it called again? Old Town?) in Champaign, Borders and copious amounts of alcohol made those 3 years go a little faster.
Then again, I also gained 30 lbs. living there!
a little more chanting coming from the Cleveland area.
hoping and chanting for you, love!
We did our best to stay here, near my family, after my husband left his company in the fall of 2007 and now? well, if we have to move, so be it. A job is a job is a job and part of getting older is realizing that we have to make it work. I’m routing for you. Wisonsin is lovely, really, you’ll love it!
I have the best readers. Ever. Period.
Thank you all so much for the moral support on this nerve-wracking day.
I live in Wisconsin! Born and raised.
If I had any pull, I’d call whoever and tell them to give your hubs the job!
I’m crossing my fingers for you.
I hope he gets the job!!!!
Oh man- I’m rooting for you. The academic job market kicked my butt this year, so I’d be happy to see someone do well.
I hope it goes well!!!
If it IS Madison, don’t worry about the location. It’s a great place, and the summers are beautiful. I’ve been here for the last five years.
Best of luck.
And about that cheese… yeah, it’s true.
http://www.carrvalleycheese.com/
Where, oh where in WI?
thinking of you, babe
I’m sending you lots of Wisconsin mojo! There are so many good schools here – our state will be lucky to have you!
Oh, friend, I believe in this chapter. And you.
Fierce hugs and well-wishes.
Have you heard anything yet from the powers that be in Wisconsin???? Fingers and toes are crossed.
It will work out. Because it has to work out.
I have faith in both of you.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
How did it go? Am crossing all fingers, toes, etc. for you guys….