signs of life

spring must be right around the corner.

1. dairy queen unboarded itself and is serving blizzards.
2. crocuses have started poking up.
3. white kids are going sockless in sandals around campus.

the dean knows my name and asked me to have lunch with him. he asked me this after a fellowship talk by an architectural historian whom i was on a panel with about seven years ago. i was pleased to see her, and to learn how her work has progressed. i hope she gets the position; she would contribute to the training of the students in very interesting ways.

i spent the morning at a session with a senior teacher, an honored and honorable professor who spoke for a while about a pretty wonderful program he has gradually built. since 1990, he has been collaborating with michigan students and michigan prisoners. i wonder how he has the stamina.

i am having dinner tonight with some pals. here's the menu that the host emailed earlier this week:

antipasi baked stuffed brie shaved fennel and haricot vert salad with mustard vin slow roasted salmon three onion gratin sauted spinach with red pepper and garlic carmalized pineapple polenta cake w/ ice cream