Some Days You’Re the Pigeon. Some Days You’Re the Statue. Part 2: More Droppings: Comic Confessions of a College President

By Dr. Roger C. Andersen

Twenty years ago, The Humor Project published Rogers first book, Some Days Youre The Pigeon. Some Days Youre the Statue. By sharing his own true stories, Roger invites us in turn to be able to laugh at ourselvesand to learn something about ourselves as humor beings along the way. He has a wonderful gift in helping us see the humor in the little things in life. My hope is that this book will also inspire you to look for the humor in your own (sometimes serious) reality. Rogers stories suggest that we can move from a grim and bear it mentality to a grin and share it orientation.
Dr. Joel Goodman; director of The Humor Project, Inc.

Are you someone who

Has ever been hit by a pigeon (literally or figuratively)?
Feels like the statue today?
Takes your job seriously but would like to take yourself lightly?
Likes to laugh?
Ever says, Someday, well laugh about this!

If you answered, Yes, to any of the above, then this book is for you!

More Droppings is the much anticipated sequel to the 1994 jest-selling Some Days Youre The Pigeon. Some Days Youre the Statue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Aug 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781489702708

Dr. Roger C. Andersen

Dr. Roger C. Andersen has served as president of six colleges in the past forty years. He holds a doctorate in higher education administration and a master’s and bachelor degree in mathematics. He lives with his wife, Mary, and their miniature Austrian Shepherd, Austin, in Roseville, California.

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Copyright © 2014 Dr. Roger C. Andersen.

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Note that the author has tried to recollect and recreate events, locales and conversations from his memories of them during the past 40 years. In order to protect and maintain their anonymity, in some instances the author has changed the names and identifying details to protect the privacy of individuals.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-0269-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-0270-8 (e)

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 9/16/2014

TABLE OF DROPPINGS

Author’s Note

Foreword

An Opening Pigeon & Status Anecdote

CHAPTER 1 Commencement Capers

CHAPTER 2 Strange Student Encounters

CHAPTER 3 Job Candidate Interview Disasters

CHAPTER 4 Bizarre Endings

CHAPTER 5 Most Embarrassing Statue Moments

CHAPTER 6 Inspirational Insights

CHAPTER 7 A Blast from the Past!

CHAPTER 8 Jest Desserts!

A Closing Pigeon & Status Anecdote

About The Author

The Humor Project, Inc. & Dr. Joel Goodman

AUTHOR’S NOTE

In 1994 The HUMOR Project (Saratoga Springs, New York) published my first book, Some Days You’re the Pigeon. Some Days You’re the Statue.

It has taken me only twenty years to write Pigeon 2 - as my new book has come to be known!

In my career, I have served as a college president for six colleges as well as a regional vice president and chief operating officer overseeing 10 and 12 schools. I have experienced a diverse, multitude of stranger-than-true happenings that are funny, zany, weird, bizarre, and inspirational.

Almost every night when I would come home from work, my wife would greet me with the same question, Was it a Pigeon day or a Statue day?

Thankfully I have had many more Pigeon days than Statue days during the forty years that I have had the pleasure to serve in higher education.

I regard myself truly blessed with both an excellent memory and a great sense of humor. I hope you enjoy these stories based on my personal and professional experiences with more than fifty colleges, hundreds of faculty and staff, and thousands of students.

Dr. Roger C. Andersen

FOREWORD

By

Dr. Joel Goodman

Director, The HUMOR Project, Inc.

Saratoga Springs, New York

I had the pleasure of meeting Roger Andersen when he served as President of Adirondack Community College (now called SUNY Adirondack) in Queensbury, New York. It is refreshing to see someone who is a successful professional in a position of respect and authority and who takes his job seriously – but also has the ability to take life lightly. Roger shows that it’s possible to be a serious professional without falling into professional solemnity.

Twenty years ago, The HUMOR Project published Roger’s first book, Some Days You’re The Pigeon. Some Days You’re the Statue. His 1994 book took the reader on a delightful journey – giving you a bird’s (or pigeon’s) eye view of the statue of limitations – the humorous human condition. Drawing on his own real-life experiences, Roger put into practice Steve Allen’s notion that Nothing is quite as funny as the unintended humor of reality.

In both Pigeon 1 and his new book, Pigeon 2: More Droppings, Roger’s anecdotes, observations, and stories reflect the wisdom of Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, who said, If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for us to learn to laugh at ourselves.

By sharing his own true stores – funny, zany, weird, and inspirational – Roger invites us in turn to be able to laugh at ourselves – and to learn something about ourselves as humor beings along the way. He has a wonderful gift in helping us see the humor in the little things in life. Being able to see humor in the small moments is an important life skill– because when you add up the little humor moments, it can make a big difference.

My hope is that this book will also inspire you to look for the humor in your own (sometimes serious) reality. This is especially important in a world filled with the pigeons of stress and burn-out which dump on many people every day. Roger’s stories suggest that we can move from a grim and bear it mentality to a grin and share it orientation.

Roger’s overall philosophy has been to look for the humor in every situation – no matter how stressful or challenging it may be. He recognizes that humor breaks down barriers and bonds people in a unique and personal way.

Comedian Steve Allen once offered the classic formula: Tragedy + Time = Comedy.

I know that many of Roger’s stories that come across as funny now must have been quite stressful at the time they happened in his many leadership positions. Thank goodness he (and all of us) can look in the rear view mirror of time and realize that there is humor and laughter now present to replace the tragedy of the past.

I hope this book can make a delightful difference in your life and that it’s