I learned of this audio/video mash-up on radio station KINK FM in Portland. I love the (rather haunting) lyrics to the Snow Patrol song, which I’ve included below...

Chasing Cars + Every Breath You Take = Every Car You Chase

Chasing Cars

We’ll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don’t need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don’t quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They’re not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we’re told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that’s bursting into life

Let’s waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we’re told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that’s bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes
They’re all I can see

I don’t know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things
Will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I’m a big fan of the First Amendment. So finally, after a lifetime of thinking about it, last year I sent in my money to the ACLU and became a card-carrying member. Actually, it wasn’t long after I wrote a blog entry here entitled “Freedom of Speech” that I decided to sign up.

The reason I mention this now is that, quite recently, the topic of free speech entered my life as it pertains to this website. To wit, I have received the feedback that I might want to re-think my decision to discuss my job-search activities on these pages.

Upon hearing this person’s opinion, I admit to feeling mildly embarrassed…and well as somewhat stunned by the unexpected criticism. My initial reaction was to think “ohmygod, I must be f%*#ing up!” I also began wondering if I was, perhaps, unintentionally sabotaging my search for a new position. I immediately reacted to this individual’s viewpoint by un-publishing several recent posts that mentioned my job hunt and some experiences I had had during my travels.

However, in the past few days, I’ve been thinking a lot about my reactivity, and have re-read (several times) the posts I am now hiding from view. And, you know what? I actually think they’re pretty harmless. In these entries, I have talked mostly about myself (which is, after all, what I do here), about the exhausting nature and uncertainty of the job-search process (this is a secret?), and offered up some personal observations of events that have happened while I’ve been on the road.

IMHO, I’ve not harmed any person or organization. And, when I’ve tried to have a little fun by talking about the peculiarity of some things I’ve encountered along the way, I’ve taken care to leave unidentified the person(s) or group(s) involved.

It was quite some time ago now (in “First Do No Harm”) that I addressed the whole area of blogger ethics, examining my own behavior and motivations in publishing this work. At that time I specifically discussed my personal philosophy, including “ …[having] no outright intention of embarrassing, attacking, angering or hurting” anyone. And, really, let me reiterate: I certainly have no agenda to offend, attack or harm anybody here, including myself.

I hope that you, having found your way to this obscure little corner of virtual reality, will remain open-minded enough to allow me this minor self-indulgence (existing wholly apart from my professional existence) called TechnoMonk’s Musings.

This last week involved two out-of-state interview trips: activity that is extremely exhausting! There’s just so little left of me that my blog-life is suffering tremendously. I apologize.

I appreciate it immensely that you keep checking back to see if there’s another new posting here. Yes, eventually, there always is.

The trip to Kentfield, California, last Friday seemed to unfold quite positively. I have a good feeling about the College of Marin and the possibilities of taking on a position there. Of course, with any job-search activity, the word to the wise is: expect the unexpected. Rarely does the process go entirely smoothly. I anxiously await news from the south.

I must mention: there was a glitch in the travel on Friday. My plan was to fly to San Francisco, take a shuttle up to Kentfield (north of the city, across the Golden Gate Bridge), then do the reverse process following the afternoon of interviewing. It all seemed so easy. (Well, it was to be a long day of travel and stress, but other than that…) The fly in the ointment turned out to be the shuttle service: an outfit called Marin Door to Door. They have a good, and confidence-inspiring, website and telephone-message system. When I called to book the reservation, the person on the phone seemed quite competent, knowledgeable, and accommodating. They called me the night before to confirm my ride from campus to the airport in the evening. (I had been instructed to call them upon my arrival at the airport for pickup.)

Ah, but when I did arrive at SFO, things started to totally unravel. They had typed in the wrong flight number for my flight, and although they had recorded the correct arrival time, they chose to believe their erroneous information regarding flight number and insisted that they weren’t expecting me until two hours later. When I patiently explained that the error was on their part, that I had indeed arrived exactly when I said I would, the gentleman (HA!) became quite agitated. This started a series of several contentious phone calls that lasted until I was finally picked up, almost exactly two hours later than I had requested. The process involved us shouting at each other over the phone at one point, including the flat-out admonition to me that I should be more careful about giving them the correct information when making a reservation!

The experience also involved a driver from the airport to campus that spoke no English. None. Consequently, I had very little confidence that I was going to end up in the right city, much less the specific campus I had requested. He was able to punch the college’s address into his GPS device (I think), but quickly got lost. Somehow, within minutes of us heading north on the freeway, we were off onto surface streets, turned around, and headed south toward San Jose. I know the way to San Jose, and it’s not in the direction of Kentfield! But could I communicate this to my driver? No way. All he could say was, “sorry, no Englais.”

Somehow, we made it. However, the entire scenario was repeated coming home as well, and involved, at this juncture, another company representative hanging up on me as I was calling to inquire about the status of my ride during my evening commute.

Next time: I’ll rent a car.

I know, I know…this blog appears to be languishing. I have to blame it on my job-search life! I’m in the process of preparing for three trips, and this involves quite a collection of chores! The only things I’m writing lately are not all that bloggable. However, if you want to check out a short biographical piece I was asked to create for the Community College of Vermont this week, read on…

Greetings, all! My name is Jim Arnold and I’m a finalist for the Dean of Academic Affairs position here at CCV. I have been asked to provide a short biographical sketch containing information I want the CCV community to know about me. So, here goes…

I have, at various points in my life, been a chemist, a photographer, a counselor, and a college/university administrator. I have always been a student (of life, primarily) and, during some periods, a teacher. Education has always been at the center of my life and one of my most dearly-held values.

I have a fairly diverse academic background, having started out with degrees in chemistry (B.S. from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire; M.S. from Oregon State University). After some time working professionally as a chemist, I transitioned my interest in art and photography into a career as a full-time professional photographer. However, I ultimately returned to school, having developed an interest in the helping professions. After earning an M.S. in counseling (also from Oregon State University), I was a counselor & trainer in a job-training/social-service agency and then directed a student support services program in the student affairs division at a small regional university campus in Oregon (a state where I’ve spent most of my adult life). After a couple of years back in higher education, I knew that this is where I was meant to be; I moved to Bloomington, Indiana, to pursue a Ph.D. in higher education administration (at Indiana University). Since receiving that degree, I have been a full-time academic administrator: first for nine years with the Oregon University System Chancellor’s Office (Academic Affairs Division), then, for the last three years, holding appointments as an academic dean at two of Oregon’s community colleges (Dean of Science & Technology at Mt. Hood Community College, and of Math, Science & Liberal Arts at Umpqua Community College).

I’ve served as a part-time instructor in colleges and universities, and as a trainer in social service settings. I have taught general chemistry, organic chemistry, computer applications, communication skills, entrepreneurship principles, job-search and customer-service skills, and research methods. Although I have always enjoyed my time in the classroom, I believe that my true calling is to provide counsel, leadership and advocacy in other ways, particularly as an academic administrator.

I am attracted to CCV and Vermont because of the state’s progressive reputation, a quality that drew me to Oregon a long time ago. Further, I have a desire to find a position that provides the potential for me to make a difference in the lives of students and faculty statewide. I have applied for the position of Dean of Academic Affairs here at CCV because I believe it to be a perfect match for my training, experience and skills. I have been a visible and effective academic leader in Oregon for the last 12 years, working both in central administration for the university system then as a direct supervisor of large and diverse faculty groups on two community college campuses. The Dean of Academic Affairs position here at CCV would allow me to draw upon both the campus and system-wide perspectives I have gained during this time.

I have a long history of being able to bring groups of individuals together who possess competing value systems and interests. I am a team-builder and a leader who not only values but practices effective communication with those I work with. When asked recently about how I “inspire collaboration” within the context of my leadership style, I replied by speaking to these categories:

Involvement. I strive to make each group (program, department, division, college) a “team.” I support an environment where the attitude is “everyone is in this together.” I get team members together, face-to-face, to talk about the direction of the group or organization as well as their areas of concern.

Delegation. In involving others in the work to be done, I delegate responsibility and tasks by asking others for their help. And, once an assignment is handed off, I am available for support, guidance, coaching and/or mentorship as much (or as little) as the individual needs me to be.

Respect. I demonstrate genuine respect for each person, for their talents and abilities, for their diverse viewpoints, and what they offer to their team. I listen.

Caring. I demonstrate, though my actions and words, my caring for each person in the organization. I invite conversation, I pay attention, I encourage, and I cheer-lead.

Trust. I assume that everybody is here to do their best. I trust everyone to do that. I trust that my colleagues are honest with me, as they can trust me to be honest with them.

Support. I lead a department or division or college by offering my support. I am here to help make people’s lives easier, not more complicated.

Communication. I utilize my communication skills, both written and oral, to keep my colleagues informed and up-to-date. As much as possible, I operate on a “no surprises” rule, so that decisions or actions do not take anyone around me off-guard. I aim to make each human interaction one in which I am totally present. I listen carefully to the stories of others. I pay attention to who they are, what they need, and how I can help.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can during my short time here in Vermont.