*sigh*
This month has been exhausting. The closing took place on the building where Joe's had his studio for more than 15 years, and almost overnight--although the tenants still remain in it--the place took on the look of a ghost town. The lights in the hallways began to go dark, the parking lot is being dug up, the heat is gone from the halls (and it's been bone-chilling outside) and packing boxes are sprouting in every corner. Talk about depressing. We've been unable to do much, because Joe's been uncharacteristically busy, with call after call and deadline after deadline. As well, he has an exhibition, "Double Vision" which opens next Saturday. So we've had to print, mount and frame pictures in between. I've been only intermittently helpful, because I have classes all day Monday, Wednesday and Friday. And what classes they are, too: two groups of disinterested students, whose demeanor ranges from the absolute blank, to the bored and hung-over, to the hyper "why can't we have fun all the time" Middle School variety. *sigh* So we've been dragging ourselves home night after night, exhausted. There is a pile of paperwork on the table that is mounting, with no time to deal with it (mostly endless communication from the estate lawyers, who will not be finished with their work until I'm dead and buried). We're also fixing up and painting the basement, partly because we will no doubt be bringing home studio stuff to put there.
Yesterday, to top things off, we had a cryptic message from the Registrar at Goucher, whom I've been bugging for a graduation letter for Jon since early January. Apparently, at Goucher, when dealing with something as inconsequential as the lives and futures of their students, they like to operate at a nice, leisurely pace. So there's been no action on his file for two months. But yesterday's phone call said there was a "discrepancy" in his major (she gave the wrong major, natch!), and he had to call right away. They have, it seems, moved the goal posts yet again, and are demanding that he take yet another PS course before they will bestow him their honored diploma. Jon is furious, and we are, too. Here it is, mid-March, with the semester half gone. He was assured by his actual advisor that he had all the requisite courses and credits for graduation. If they haven't made a paperwork error (the wrong major and also the wrong advisor--someone who didn't even know him), there's no chance of his taking the course this semester. They have no summer school, and there's no way he'll go back for yet a SIXTH year to that place. (While we've been waiting for them to get their act together to acknowledge that he'd graduated, he's been joking that they were delaying because they were busy searching for a way to charge him yet more money. Apparently, he wasn't far from the mark). The irony to me is the line on their web site, asking "Why are Goucher students so happy?" Beats me..... As parents, we have received nothing from Goucher for at least two years (except bills, of course, and the occasional letter asking for donations). When we do try to call the school, we never get to talk to an actual person, but rather get a recording with the voice of some breathless little girl, asking us to leave a message. I teach at a public university with 25,000 students, and somehow or other the advisors, department chairs and administration manage to keep the students on track vis a vis requirements, and keep the parents informed of something besides the balance due. But this is too much to ask from a tiny school like Goucher.
We'll deal with that this coming week. Up until now, at Jon's request, we have kept a very low profile with Goucher. But over $100,000 and five years later, we've had enough. Jon sent me a three-part email exchange he'd received from the school, and the lack of knowledge it reveals was just stunning. Who are they, anyway, FEMA?
Anyway, today is Saturday, the sun is shining, it's warm and bright, and I'm determined to be happy. So smile, everyone!
Yesterday, to top things off, we had a cryptic message from the Registrar at Goucher, whom I've been bugging for a graduation letter for Jon since early January. Apparently, at Goucher, when dealing with something as inconsequential as the lives and futures of their students, they like to operate at a nice, leisurely pace. So there's been no action on his file for two months. But yesterday's phone call said there was a "discrepancy" in his major (she gave the wrong major, natch!), and he had to call right away. They have, it seems, moved the goal posts yet again, and are demanding that he take yet another PS course before they will bestow him their honored diploma. Jon is furious, and we are, too. Here it is, mid-March, with the semester half gone. He was assured by his actual advisor that he had all the requisite courses and credits for graduation. If they haven't made a paperwork error (the wrong major and also the wrong advisor--someone who didn't even know him), there's no chance of his taking the course this semester. They have no summer school, and there's no way he'll go back for yet a SIXTH year to that place. (While we've been waiting for them to get their act together to acknowledge that he'd graduated, he's been joking that they were delaying because they were busy searching for a way to charge him yet more money. Apparently, he wasn't far from the mark). The irony to me is the line on their web site, asking "Why are Goucher students so happy?" Beats me..... As parents, we have received nothing from Goucher for at least two years (except bills, of course, and the occasional letter asking for donations). When we do try to call the school, we never get to talk to an actual person, but rather get a recording with the voice of some breathless little girl, asking us to leave a message. I teach at a public university with 25,000 students, and somehow or other the advisors, department chairs and administration manage to keep the students on track vis a vis requirements, and keep the parents informed of something besides the balance due. But this is too much to ask from a tiny school like Goucher.
We'll deal with that this coming week. Up until now, at Jon's request, we have kept a very low profile with Goucher. But over $100,000 and five years later, we've had enough. Jon sent me a three-part email exchange he'd received from the school, and the lack of knowledge it reveals was just stunning. Who are they, anyway, FEMA?
Anyway, today is Saturday, the sun is shining, it's warm and bright, and I'm determined to be happy. So smile, everyone!