Curtin Call

Yes, yes, yes!  Finally!  It is Friday!  Yay!  Yay!  Yay!

The week that wouldn’t end is finally wrapping up!  This place has
been a ghost town all week.  I was seriously hoping to bail out
early today but, of course, “the boss” is coming up with all sorts of
last minute things that need doing before he leaves for India for the
better part of the next two months!

Oh, well!  At least I have a three day weekend to look forward to! 

Happy New Year to all – may it be happy, healthy and prosperous!

How can a four day work week l-a-a-a-s-s-s-t-t-t  s-o-o-o-o-o  l-o-o-o-n-n-n-g-g-g?  And it’s only Thursday!?!?!?

I can only hope that the upcoming three day weekend lasts half as long as this week has seemed!

There.  I said it! 

I’ve learned a lot about diversity over the past several years that I
have worked at one of the most prestigious universities in this fine
country.  It’s been some time now since I’ve used the words “Merry
Christmas” – these were replaced long ago by “Happy Holidays”. 
However, now, I find myself asking myself “Why?”

Now, I inquire before ordering food for meetings as to any dietary
restrictions, so that I can be certain to satisfy any requests for
vegetarian, kosher, etc.  I have a sign hanging on my door that
states that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transexual folks “are welcome
here”. 

I work with a very diverse group of folks and am thankful for everyday
that I interact with and learn from them. 

I am accepting of all good folks (bad ones, please stay away!) – regardless of race, religion, sexual preference, etc. 

Which is why, I again, find myself asking “Why?  Why can’t I wish
someone a Merry Christmas?”  That is and always has been a part of
my culture.  How can we expect our future generations to be
diverse and acceptable of all people, regardless of race, religion,
sexual preference, etc when all of a sudden, we are not “allowed” to
use the term “Merry Christmas”?

Nope, I’m not buying it any more!  From now on, when I meet you in
the hallway, or at the mall, or walking down the street, I will wish
you a “Merry Christmas”.  If you do not celebrate that particular
holiday, please do not take offense.  If you celebrate Hannukah,
Kwanza, or any other holiday, please just let me know as I would love
the opportunity to wish you a “Happy Hannukah”, a “Happy
Kwanza” or I’ll just say “Happy _______” and you can fill in the blank!

So, I’ll leave you with this:

“Merry Christmas to all!  And to all, a good night!”

… will you see two of the major roads closed down so
that elephants can get from their train to the Boston Garden for the
Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Elephants on Mass Ave

Elephants on Memorial Drive (with Boston in the background)

This is an exciting event at MIT every
year!  The streets are lined with young and old alike to see the
elephant march!  For another view, click the title – this a shot
from 2004 with the much talked about Stata Center at MIT in the
background.

As mentioned previously, I received a digital camera for my birthday
nearly 6 months ago!  I was so very proud of myself when I got the
photos from the camera to the computer (using iPhoto) but had not been
able to get them from the “picture” section of my blog to the home
page.  Well, my sweet friend, Molly, was kind enough to come over
and show me how to post photos (see prior post) and now I am so very
excited.  Stay tuned for  additional postings!

I am also using Firefox as my browser which means that I can now edit my text (i.e. bold, underlined, italicized, change text color and even change background color.)

Gee, this technology stuff is great.  I keep this up and I’m going
to have to come up with a new “Who am I?” for the sidebar!