Well, things have been moving along. They've been busy, busy, busy to be honest, which is no excuse but helps to explain why it's been almost a month since my last post. I am happy to put March behind me, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the weather! It was a stressful but mostly successful month... in no particular order:
1. I went home to see my mom and try to help her start cleaning out her house. That was mostly good... because she is doing much better than she was over Christmas. Because she is doing better she is less enthused about moving out of the house, though, so there's been a bit of a stall in that process. It helped, though- at least now I know the current situation a bit better. Mum and Gemi are mostly happy and good which is all I can hope for. While home I got to see a good friend before her great trek West. I was really happy about that too.
2. I presented part of my dissertation at a big conference. It was a big stress, but in the end it turned out really well. It was nice to see people again... all my old coworkers and friends from my professional group. I planned a social event/dinner which was mostly successful. Mostly. I am glad to be done with that! I have definitely done my service to this group and I am looking forward to having a less active role in the future. Well, let's just say I am planning to take a break from having such an active role.
3. The conference reminded me that time is passing, though, and my plans for future are still up in the air. Friends are getting jobs and things and I know I will have to figure out what works for me based on my progress. My current job looks like it will continue for the time being and may be moving toward a more full-fledged situation. Key word there is MAY. We'll see. It was busy trying to keep all the work going smoothly this month given everything else that was going on, but I mostly managed! My classes seem to be successful and I think people are noticing how much I put into them. All of this may (or may not) have a bearing on my future at this university. We'll see. I'm tired of saying "we'll see" but at the same time I realize that it's good to have possibilities and hope...
4. I finished Chapter 4 of my dissertation. Whew. That was a big push. Way more difficult than it should have been. Just three more chapters to go!
The undercurrent then, is anxiety. Is everything going OK? Am I doing enough? What's going to happen? Just a nice little dose of it! Keeping things moving along, keeping me on my toes, keeping me ready for the next thing. You know.
I am excited about April. Here are my hopes for the coming month:
1. Finish Chapter 6. Somehow I have to do that before Chapter 5. Maybe I'll even get a good amount of Ch. 5 done, too...
2. Enjoy some warmer weather. It has been raining, raining, raining here. We need to see the sun!
Tonight we are going to visit TMH's family for Easter. I am so looking forward to it. TMH has been working really long hours and I am so glad he has a day off. Easter with his folks has become a bit of a tradition for us and I have realized how much more fun it is now with our little niece. Egg hunts and egg dying and all that fun stuff! Bring on April.
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Pack Mule
All is well. I have a second to breathe now so I thought I'd post an update.
I forget about how crazy this program is. I know, I know, I said it already. Part of it is that it's a lot of work. A lot of mental activity. A lot for the students and for the instructors. That part I understand: it's an intensive summer school get-ready-for-grad-school-and-be-overwhelmed kind of deal. I get it. You are supposed to be exhausted. What I don't get is the logistical ridiculousness. That is the stuff that makes us all want to pull our hair out. Last minute changes, room changes, buildings we can't get into, lack of necessary equipment, new books that no one can find, new students that come out of nowhere, etc. To say you have to be flexible is an understatement. But the icing on the cake is that they don't give us anywhere to put anything. Not a table, not a chair, not a desk, not even a corner cubby, nook of ANY kind. Not one place to put ANYTHING. And no, we can't leave anything in our classrooms, because that would make too much sense. Plus, we are constantly getting reminded to watch our belongings. Summer school is like a gold mine for thieves, as you might imagine, given the abundance of naive, rich kids and all of their expensive toys. So I have to carry everything (all these ridiculous books we need, student work, lesson plans, copies of class material, a laptop so the students can do presentations and we can get online in the classrooms- I mean, really, the "best university in the world" can't put some equipment in their classrooms? And I should carry it all with me? I even had the roof leaking in my classroom yesterday. Literally dripping water on the table. Seriously? The students just kind of looked at me. Hey, I never said it was the best university in the world, and the roof is hardly my responsibility). There are three of us in this boat. You should see us: three pack mules, stooped lower everyday. My two compatriots are more professional at this than I am (that is, they are used to having no office, ever) and have wheely bags, like stewardesses. It's fun to watch them navigate the cobblestones with laptop bags and purses around their necks. I just have one enormous bag and my laptop bag. The constant rain makes the picture even more entertaining. And should I mention our need to ride public transportation? (which is an adventure all by itself, and may merit another blog post soon. CRAZY crazy crazy people ride the bus, you know- I am not used to city life, yet). Oh well. I need to come up with some kind of solution: my back hurts already!
But such complaining aside, things are good. My class is great, the students are motivated, and I am having fun. My partner teachers are nice, responsible and easy to work with. Yippee! It's Week 2 now so there is a bit more time and things are getting smoother. But I can breathe a huge sigh of relief. I am going to make it!
Things were even more chaotic last week because we had house guests, the first in our new place. Everything went well though; I think even my cat was happy to have them. TMH's sister and little daughter were here and we had a fantastic time! Little B is so much fun, and I have to say that TMH and I have really embraced being Aunt and Uncle. It's pretty cool. B is super advanced for her age (she's already potty trained, and can speak in full sentences, and she's not even two!) I will say, though, there is nothing like spending a weekend with an almost two-year old to make you realize how much work kids are!
Anyway, that's my update. We're excited because it's a short week. TMH and I are looking forward to a relaxing but festive long weekend.... and maybe the sun will even come out? Please?
I forget about how crazy this program is. I know, I know, I said it already. Part of it is that it's a lot of work. A lot of mental activity. A lot for the students and for the instructors. That part I understand: it's an intensive summer school get-ready-for-grad-school-and-be-overwhelmed kind of deal. I get it. You are supposed to be exhausted. What I don't get is the logistical ridiculousness. That is the stuff that makes us all want to pull our hair out. Last minute changes, room changes, buildings we can't get into, lack of necessary equipment, new books that no one can find, new students that come out of nowhere, etc. To say you have to be flexible is an understatement. But the icing on the cake is that they don't give us anywhere to put anything. Not a table, not a chair, not a desk, not even a corner cubby, nook of ANY kind. Not one place to put ANYTHING. And no, we can't leave anything in our classrooms, because that would make too much sense. Plus, we are constantly getting reminded to watch our belongings. Summer school is like a gold mine for thieves, as you might imagine, given the abundance of naive, rich kids and all of their expensive toys. So I have to carry everything (all these ridiculous books we need, student work, lesson plans, copies of class material, a laptop so the students can do presentations and we can get online in the classrooms- I mean, really, the "best university in the world" can't put some equipment in their classrooms? And I should carry it all with me? I even had the roof leaking in my classroom yesterday. Literally dripping water on the table. Seriously? The students just kind of looked at me. Hey, I never said it was the best university in the world, and the roof is hardly my responsibility). There are three of us in this boat. You should see us: three pack mules, stooped lower everyday. My two compatriots are more professional at this than I am (that is, they are used to having no office, ever) and have wheely bags, like stewardesses. It's fun to watch them navigate the cobblestones with laptop bags and purses around their necks. I just have one enormous bag and my laptop bag. The constant rain makes the picture even more entertaining. And should I mention our need to ride public transportation? (which is an adventure all by itself, and may merit another blog post soon. CRAZY crazy crazy people ride the bus, you know- I am not used to city life, yet). Oh well. I need to come up with some kind of solution: my back hurts already!
But such complaining aside, things are good. My class is great, the students are motivated, and I am having fun. My partner teachers are nice, responsible and easy to work with. Yippee! It's Week 2 now so there is a bit more time and things are getting smoother. But I can breathe a huge sigh of relief. I am going to make it!
Things were even more chaotic last week because we had house guests, the first in our new place. Everything went well though; I think even my cat was happy to have them. TMH's sister and little daughter were here and we had a fantastic time! Little B is so much fun, and I have to say that TMH and I have really embraced being Aunt and Uncle. It's pretty cool. B is super advanced for her age (she's already potty trained, and can speak in full sentences, and she's not even two!) I will say, though, there is nothing like spending a weekend with an almost two-year old to make you realize how much work kids are!
Anyway, that's my update. We're excited because it's a short week. TMH and I are looking forward to a relaxing but festive long weekend.... and maybe the sun will even come out? Please?
Monday, June 22, 2009
Keep it bowlin'
Well, it's another rainy Monday. Must I complain about the weather? Anyone who lives anywhere near the East coast must know what I'm talking about so I won't go there in full force. I'll just say that we miss the sun.
TMH and I had a good weekend, though I felt a bit cheated because I had to work on Saturday from 9:00-2:00. That was the end of orientation. The rest of Saturday we took as a fun day (we needed it, and fun we had) and then yesterday we worked around the house all day. Our apartment is really shaping up! We have an added incentive to get things together: TMH's sister and little niece B are coming to visit this week. Yay! We are very excited to see them and show them around. I just hope the sun might decide to come out while they're here, but I guess we'll have to take what we can get.
Today is my last real day of relative freedom, if all goes well, I should say. Instructor orientation is done, students arrived and tested on the weekend and should be put into classes today. Some time late this afternoon I should get my official class assignment and find out who my partner teacher is, etc, so we can hit the ground running bright and early tomorrow. (We teach our own classes but also have a workshop with another class/teacher several times a week. I have learned that who you get matched with is a key part of summer happiness, because you have to work together so closely... so far I've been lucky so let's just assume my luck will hold...) We received an ominous email yesterday that fewer students than expected have arrived.... so people are a little worried. I think I should be safe because grad students are still coming to grad school (I think) but those who teach a more general population may have reason to fear. I guess we'll see in due time... there is nothing I can do about it so there is no point in worrying either way. Let me repeat that to myself a few times.
I have high hopes for the day: dissertation work (gotta get a good schedule set up before classes start), errands, more cleaning and organizing, laundry, and cooking (I have to do some domestic things in preparation for not having much time). Well, and of course, a good class and partner teacher assignment
And on that note I explain the title of this post, which I must credit to my friend E (thanks for sharing!):
June 22, 2009 Urban Word of the Day
TMH and I had a good weekend, though I felt a bit cheated because I had to work on Saturday from 9:00-2:00. That was the end of orientation. The rest of Saturday we took as a fun day (we needed it, and fun we had) and then yesterday we worked around the house all day. Our apartment is really shaping up! We have an added incentive to get things together: TMH's sister and little niece B are coming to visit this week. Yay! We are very excited to see them and show them around. I just hope the sun might decide to come out while they're here, but I guess we'll have to take what we can get.
Today is my last real day of relative freedom, if all goes well, I should say. Instructor orientation is done, students arrived and tested on the weekend and should be put into classes today. Some time late this afternoon I should get my official class assignment and find out who my partner teacher is, etc, so we can hit the ground running bright and early tomorrow. (We teach our own classes but also have a workshop with another class/teacher several times a week. I have learned that who you get matched with is a key part of summer happiness, because you have to work together so closely... so far I've been lucky so let's just assume my luck will hold...) We received an ominous email yesterday that fewer students than expected have arrived.... so people are a little worried. I think I should be safe because grad students are still coming to grad school (I think) but those who teach a more general population may have reason to fear. I guess we'll see in due time... there is nothing I can do about it so there is no point in worrying either way. Let me repeat that to myself a few times.
I have high hopes for the day: dissertation work (gotta get a good schedule set up before classes start), errands, more cleaning and organizing, laundry, and cooking (I have to do some domestic things in preparation for not having much time). Well, and of course, a good class and partner teacher assignment
And on that note I explain the title of this post, which I must credit to my friend E (thanks for sharing!):
June 22, 2009 Urban Word of the Day
According to Creed from "The Office", "Everyone likes bowling, so this is a phrase for when you want to tell someone to stay positive. For example, if someone tells you they lost their job, you can just tell them to keep it bowlin’ and that’ll cheer them up."
Hey, keep it bowlin', buddy. So, keep it bowlin', everyone!
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