I'm a geek

Well, today I finally figured out that I deserve to be in a Ph.D. program. We were assigned a text to read in class that is pretty rare. The professor couldn't order it because it has gone out of print, but he still wanted us to write a five page response on the material for Tuesday's class.

Everybody scoured the internet, but there are only a few copies available. We all searched Amazon.com, Abebooks.com, Borders, and even eBay. I think there were five copies total. Some people decided to place a rush order it, but--being poor--I couldn't pay the $30 the websites were asking, nor did I think the copies would arrive in time for Tuesday's class.

So, I felt a sudden urge to hunt down a text on my own. Sharing is fine and all, but when I read I like to make notes all over the page. For some reason I just can't take notes on a separate piece of paper. I knew our library didn't have it, but I decided to check some of the other local colleges. Luckily, I kept my password for the University of Pittsburgh library archives from when I taught in Bradford. I searched Pitt's network of libraries and found the ellusive book in the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown library. This was just a pure fluke; not even Carnegie Mellon had this book. I jumped into the car at drove fifty miles to Johnstown to find my Holy Grail. I yanked the book off the shelf, made photocopies of the pages I needed, told the librarian "thanks," and rode off into the sunset.

I wasn't until I got back that I had the following revelation: as an undergrad, and even as a masters student, a road trip would consist of going someplace fun. I got the same thrill hunting down a rare book that I used to get making a trip to Toronto to watch a baseball game. What has happened to me?

I'll take that degree now, Mr. IUP President.

Yikes.