"C.Vitae Finally"

Hello Friends

The Bailey Post has been silent too long. The reason why I haven't posted in a month is simply that my life went from a crawl to full throttle in less than 2 weeks about a month ago. Specifically, I began taking 2 classes at Hunter College in midtown Manhattan.  I am taking Art in America: 1700 to 1900 and American Political Thought. The Political Thought class is an area I have wanted to study for some time and the art class fills in a gap in my previous studies.

The bigger news is the fact that I was hired to teach at Lehman College in West Bronx, NY. I believe it was providential and maybe you will too after I tell you how I got this job. I came back from my California trip even more restless to do something meaningful (my theme song for the last 2 years) and my son said to me one day "dad I think you can get a job teaching English in college with your background and credentials, just not teach full time without a Phd". So I decided to try and land an adjunct (part-time) position for second semester or in the event I ended up somewhere else maybe a job there. I spent a full week getting my resume and cover letter (now called c.vitae) together.

I asked Austin one weekend if I should mail them out now (the new semester was starting in 3 days) or wait until December. He said to send them now and follow up with an e-mail in December. So, I mailed out my C. Vitae’s on Monday Aug. 26. I got a call on Wednesday Aug 28 from Lehman saying they had a last minute section open up. It opened up the very hour my resume landed on the Department Chairs desk.  I went in the next day and was hired.  I teach Mon.-Wed. from 2:00-3:15. My office hour is Wednesday 3:30-4:30. I share an office with 2 other professors. One is full time and one is an adjunct.

Lehman is a four year college with a full range of undergraduate and graduate programs. It’s an older beautiful campus (I included some pictures). I take the 4 train from Manhattan straight to Kingsbridge Road, and walk 3 blocks to Lehman College. Carman Hall is the first building I come to on the campus. 

The English Department takes up all the third floor of Carman Hall.  My office and classroom are all located on the same floor. The funny part is this, I have gone back to the old blackboard and chalk. (see pic)

My friends, I needed this. Doers have to do. There is plenty of time for the rocking chair on the porch and I will know when that time comes for me. My other blessing is I am teaching the same course at Lehman that Austin and Rebecca teach at Hunter. We get together and talk shop. Talk shop with my kids for God's sake!

I hope I get picked up for second semester but for now “I'm doing” and happy.

I hope to get The Bailey Post back humming along real soon.