Midterm Review - oops....

Some of my friends are currently going through the waiting period of either tenure or midterm review. It looks like a very unfun process - even when it goes well. Since I had a baby in my first semester, I requested that my tenure clock be stopped for a year, which was approved in 2007. According to the revised schedule I did not have to turn in my midterm portfolio in October 2008 but rather October 2009. But somewhere in the process of reviewing the midterm portfolios this year someone noticed that mine was missing. The logical conclusion would be that I have found work elsewhere and will be leaving the university or that I should be terminated. In times of tough budgets, that would actually be good news for the university. But I neither wish to leave nor wish for my contract to be terminated. I simply have another six months before I have to turn in my portfolio due to the extension. Somehow the records for this disappeared. This would all be fairly easily clear-up-able if I had actually taken parental leave or medical leave at which point the extension would have been automatic. But since I did not, I had to get special permission. It seems to me that when you are dumb enough to not take parental and medical leave, you should get the extra year for sure. But oh well.... In any case, the absence of the approval form caused quite the panic. It was eventually found and we can now all stay calm until October when I actually have to turn in my Midterm Portfolio. And then the waiting can begin.... The waiting is what gets to me. I am a control-freak and when I cannot control the situation, I go insane. So, next year and then the year when my tenure portfolio is being reviewed should be an interesting emotional roller-coaster. My grand master plan is to be the Resident Director for the Freiburg Program during the year my tenure portfolio is being reviewed, so that I am simply not here to watch the silence. It would also allow my son to complete first grade in Germany, which would be really cool and it would keep my mom busy who would be at the beginning of her retirement. It just would be an overall great plan. Except for the fact that I don't have seniority for the position. Oops, again....