NEXT POST | »

A Visit to Princeton

April 1st, 2009

I went to Princeton today for a visit of sorts. I just may have back-doored my way into the place without even applying (…and for my next trick, I will stumble upon cold fusion while looking for the Tylenol…), and I thought I should see if I’d actually like to go there. First, I meet with a very upstanding man, head of the department, studies anger in zebras or something like that, trims his beard, runs most days, eats salads. Probably stretches before bed. We have a pleasant conversation, mostly about me, and I leave him smiling to go talk with a slightly older gent, gray hair, World Wildlife Federation vest, drinking tea out of a recyclable thermal mug. He is the head of something even bigger. Perhaps a dean? It’s unclear. But, what is clear, is that he adores woodland creatures. Adores. I have barely sat down in his plush red office chair, when he offers, unsolicited, “And the thing is, I carve these cute little animals out of wood.” I blink at him. Then, remembering myself, I begin to smile encouragingly. One might argue, idiotically. “Oh, really?” I say. Silly me: I thought we were about to talk about graduation requirements. Instead, he pulls out one of these little smoothly whittled joys, completed with jeweled eye and giddily shows it to me. Then he starts telling me how he travels all over the world with these things, taking pictures with them both domestically and abroad. I am told later this man is a genius. When he handed me the homemade CD complete with pictures of his carved treasures posing near various flora and fauna as well as well-known international landmarks (“yours to keep”), I remained skeptical, however.

I did get free lunch out of the day.

Jewelly-eyed, hand-whittled creatures.  In some sort of stare-down with a snapping turtle.
Exhibit A: Jewelly-eyed, hand-whittled creatures. In some sort of stare-down with a snapping turtle.

Fiji?

Fiji?