Monday, September 21, 2009

He Can't Get No Respect



A few random scenes from the last few weeks.

Dentist: So, how many credit hours are you taking this semester?
Ryan: Um, I'm actually teaching a couple of graduate courses.
Dentist: Oh.  Sorry.
Ryan: It's okay.  Happens all the time.

Me: Do you know what dad's job is?
Max: What?
Me: He's a professor.
Max: HE IS?

Lady sitting next to us at the little league baseball field: So what brought you guys all the way out here?
Me: Ryan's job.  He's a professor at [undisclosed university].
Lady: Oh, neat!  I have a friend who works at [undisclosed university] too!
Me and Ryan: Really?
Lady: Yeah, but he's not a teacher.  He's like a really important researcher.  Like, really important.  He does a lot of grant work.

Christian: My new gym teacher is pretty cool.  And he does what you do, Dad.
Ryan: Really?  What do you mean?
Christian: He teaches at [another undisclosed university].
Me: As in, he's a professor?
Christian: Well, I don't think he teaches.  I think he just sort of helps out there.  He's a volunteer, I think.

Ryan: I had a really great research idea this morning.
Me: Oh really?  What?
Ryan: Well, you know how there's a disconnect between researchers and clinicians?  How the critique of researchers is that clinicians don't use enough empirical science, they just rely on subjective judgement?
Me: Uh-huh.
Ryan: Well, I was just thinking that in the grant I'm working on, we could blah blah blah blah statistical regression blah blah blah blah blah blah coding individual dyads blah blah blah and then we could show that blah blah blah blah blah blah reliable statistical model blah blah blah then collect data blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah and show that blah blah blah blah.  And I think it would really work because blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
Me: That is a great idea.
Ryan: You think?
Me: I do.
Ryan: Why are you smiling?
Me: I'm not.
Ryan: Yes, you are.  Why are you smiling?

17 comments:

Erin said...

That last one is such a page out of my book! Every time my husband starts talking law I just go to my happy place...and nod and smile the whole time. :)

Lindy-Lou said...

You have a very special man.

Katie said...

I laughed out loud at the last comment. I used to think I was smart, then my husband tried to explain med school stuff to me. I smile, nod, & "try" to follow along.

Dede said...

Love it! Something I really like about Ryan is he is so brillant and amazing at what he does, but he doesn't flaunt it. I don't think anyone would ever know of his many, many accomplishments if you didn't tell us. What a great trait to have!

Leslie said...

THAT is a REALLY great idea for research! He should totally do that!

tiburon said...

My favorite?

Me: Do you know what dad's job is?
Max: What?
Me: He's a professor.
Max: HE IS?

LOVE IT! My kids all think that Adam is a miner.

Angie said...

That made me giggle. It reminds me of Kelli referring to him as "little Ryan".

Mia said...

In ten years Ryan will be glad that he is still getting mistaken for a student! My kids have no idea what their dad does, and my understanding of his actual job isn't much better.

Jesse C said...

I respect you Ryan.

Alyssa said...

wait, Ryain is a professor? Way to go :)

Tiffany said...

1. You made me laugh out loud at work.
2. I love that Ryan still wants to be a professor even with these types of comments...
3. I love the way you can write so sarcastically about him, and still make it sound like you're head over heels for the guy!
4. I got my winning CD in the mail yesterday. Made me laugh to see from "Tiffany", to "Tiffany"!! LOVE IT!

shannon p. said...

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one not listening while my husband talks about work...nod and smile!

Anonymous said...

Too funny, I can just picture that all going down!!!!

Love and Miss you guys!

heidi b

Becky said...

Aww. I respect you Ryan. Especially when I try to put Erik in the chair and realize that I am not qualified nor have enough authority to do it. You are the man! Such a great picture, btw.

Artax said...

Fun. And good luck to Ryan with that grant....

KimmyGoat said...

I finally asked my professor/husband at another undisclosed university to give me a short paragraph on his research so I can explain to others what exactly he does.

For what's it worth, I saw the words "statistics." That's my husband's discipline! He'll be so excited that I recognize that from your post! It's like we have PhD's by osmosis!

Omgirl said...

Thank goodness my husband's techinical work talk is limited to "I can't believe they printed these menus on 90 lb letter stock with Papyrus font." At least I sort of get it (though you wouldn't believe how sick I am of him critiqueing menus every time we go out!)

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