Ok, Now I Should Figure Out a Routine

I had an unexpectedly fun Memorial Day weekend. My friend Justin came into town and we went golfing and to the Wine Fest and to Chopes. It was a really good time. Just like old times; somethings don't change...even when you kind of want them to.

It's interesting how friends can be like family. People revert back to the roles they have in friendships, even if they haven't been in those roles in years. I find myself always in the role of the baby of my family and I fulfill a certain role with my oldest friends, although I don't know what the name of it is. And I don't really have that same role in my life now, so it is weird.

Anyhoo, today is the day I am going to start to get busy. I took a week off of exercise, so I gotta get back to that. I need to write some papers for Computers and Writing. I am not going anywhere for a month, so I have a month to get stuff done. Yay me.

Summer Job

So yeah, I have a summer job. Two actually. The bigger one has me working at the College of Agriculture working on a grant and whatever else needs writing. I've never written a grant before, so this is pretty exciting. I may also get some class credit for doing it. Or internship...whatever happens to work out. And if everything goes well, I could have this summer job, every summer.

The one downside is that it is full-time - 40 hours a week. I was kind of looking forward to some time off this summer. But now I am looking forward to an iPhone. I am going to get one in July when my current contract runs out and this job allows me to pay for that without worries. This job allows me to pay for everything without worries. Or eventually it will. University payroll systems suck. I have no idea when I will get paid.

It's been weird being out of school. I feel anxious over nothing. I probably feel anxious because I really have nothing to feel anxious about. A friend said that during the school year there is always so much drama that during the summer we probably have to create our own drama in our head. I hope I get over it.

Tomorrow I head to Phoenix to see Flight of the Conchords. Then when I get back, no effing around, I have to work on some conference papers. I also need to find flights to the conference and back to Michigan.

Ahh, summer time.

Summer is in Sight

By this time next week, I'll be free of school...kinda...for a little while.

One class is done. One is practically done - I have a draft of a final paper and I have to meet with someone to workshop it, but the hard part, I am going to believe is over. This weekend I have to do a final project for my third class. It shouldn't be hard, just time-consuming.

Then of course, the grading of my students final reflective essays, but that's easy too and I have a whole week to get that done.

Then once school is done, I can take maybe a week off and then I have to write up some papers for Computers and Writing. One is pretty much done, but the other one needs to start, and before I can start, I need to have an idea.

The rest of my summer...well...I have learned to not make plans until summer is actually here. I was going to take a class and decided not to. I didn't think I was going to have a job, but now I apparently do. I was asked to work in the Writing Center for the second summer session. I am pretty excited about it; the center is only open limitedly and they asked me to do it.

So it looks as though my summer may be planned before it even starts. But at least it'll be less stressful.

Dirty Feet

Yes, I have them. I have dirty feet all the time. I can spend as much time as I want in the shower washing them, SCRUBBING them actually, but as soon as I get out of the shower, they are dirty again.

The problem is that I live in the desert, which is dusty and dirty. Every surface out here is covered in dirt. I wear flip flops and they get covered in dirt. The other day I came home and even the tops of my feet were BLACK.

It's gross. I totally admit to that. But my choice is either dirty feet or cold feet in the snow.

I take dirty feet.

Feeling Guilty

I feel guilty all the time. Why, you ask? I feel like I never do enough work, like no matter how much I work, I could always do more.

This weekend for example. Friday, I ended up having to go to campus to get some paperwork for the Computers and Writing Conference signed. So I was there for a while. While I waited I got a letter written about working in the Design Center instead of the Writing Center. After I got home I got reading done and started a final paper...got about 3 pages written.

Saturday I was a little hung over from Friday night and was having lunch with Jen, and then I decided to work out and by the time that was done, it was pretty much ready for me to go to my friend Patti's for dinner. Short story, long...I didn't do any work on Saturday.

On Sunday I finished a draft of my online portfolio, revised the letter for the Design Center, did some reading and research for a paper. But I still feel like I should've done more and still feel a little bad that I didn't do anything on Saturday.

Deep down, I know I get a lot of stuff done and a day of not doing anything isn't the worst thing in the world, but I always feel so bad. I wish I could work past this. I'll have to put it on one of my lists of things to get done.

Check it...

I created my own ice cream flavor

You can do it to here

Uh-Uh-Uh

I've been experiencing some l'esprit d'escalier lately. I've been throwing up some words that make little sense and then later think of a much better comeback. It's not a hostile situation or anything; I actually really, really like this person who keeps teasing me. It's just, I which I could think on my feet and be really witty right away...not later as I am laying in bed trying to go to sleep.

Sleep, which has been alluding me a little this week. I think I am slightly stressed about all the things that have to be done in the next couple of weeks. I feel pretty on top of things, but maybe my lack of sleep is telling me that I am not and I should devote more time to work.  

I don't know...I can only work so much in a day.

55 mph winds today. Please keep your fingers crossed that I don't blow away.

Nearing the End

I am in a weird place right now. I have a ton of work to do, but none of it needs to been done immediately. So working a little bit on the big stuff doesn't seem like I've been really working, but I have. I've written two pages of a 15-18 page paper due during finals week and I started my template for my online portfolio. Could probably be doing more, but a little bit is better than nothing.

I'm just going to keep telling myself that to feel better. 

I've been eating like a crazy person. Today I am going to try to detox from shit food by making and then eating Tabouli. About the only thing saving my ass is the fact that I've been back to exercising nearly every day. 

Well, I am off to read about online pedagogy. 

I Know Why People Don't Want to Go to the Dr.

Miserable from a sinus infection, I went to the Dr. today to get some antibiotics so I can kick this thing. 

I was told I drink too much and was then reminded that I am fat.

I am livid. I am not deluded and think I am skinny,  I know I need to lose weight. But they don't ever ask questions that lead them to find out that I have actually lost around 50 lbs in the past few years, that I exercise 3-4 times a week (way more than the average person), I drink a ton of water, and while I don't eat well all the time, I try to eat the right things. But I'm fat, so of course they assume I don't do these things. I could've told them I wear a smaller jean size than the average woman.

And I do drink a little too much. But I drink less than A LOT of people I know. Besides, I answered their questions honestly. People probably drink more, but lie about it. 

So I can see why people don't want to go the dr. A simple visit turns into a rundown of everything that is wrong with a person. This actually makes me want to eat and drink right now.

I want to tell you about the Grand Canyon, but I am too pissed right now. Just know that everything I saw was grand, amazing and looked fake because it was so beautiful.  If you haven't been, I suggest that you go, but don't get too close to the edge...people do fall to their deaths that way.

Hope you all had a better start to your day than I did.

You Can Always Rely on Post Secret

This week there was a small graduate school theme.

This one is not very me. I think adding uppers to theory would make me crazy.

This one I do get. I feel incompetent all the time now.

Semester

This semester is turning into quite possibly, the longest semester ever. It feels like we are in week 17, rather than nine. Thankfully spring break is right around the corner, although once it is done, I will have even more work than I could ever imagine.

Speaking of spring break, I am heading to the Grand Canyon. I have never been before so I am psyched. I am sure it is going to be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I will make sure to take a bunch of pictures so you can live the experience through me.

Don't say I never did anything for ya

Tomorrow night I am going to hear Salman Rushdie speak. I really have no expectations about it, but the little I know about Rushie, it's bound to be interesting.

My Love for Will Ferrell Never Fades...

BAT FIGHT with Will Ferrell from Will Ferrell

Today

Was the first great class I taught of the semester. It reminded me of why I liked teaching in the first place. Just remind of this moment when I go back to complaining about what jerks they are.

Pop Culture Conference

I want to give you all so many details about the conference, but I am feeling like a shit, and overloaded with annotated bibliography stuff, so my memories are blurry.

I know I did present a paper and I was told it went well. I was just happy to get it over with and not make a total ass out of myself.

I had a great time with Murph and Co. I drank way too much, but I wanted to, so it was worth it.

I saw some really great panels. A good one about Mad Men, a great one about teaching with Web 2.o, a great one about Twitter, an interesting one where I might find some interesting research possibilities to apply to new media.

I got to go to a Borders and a Trader Joe.

I went to Old Towne and the botanical gardens in order to feel touristy. 

But I ended up sick. Actually it started the morning I left, but I must have willed myself through it because as soon as I got home I felt like I wanted to die. 

Today, I feel a little less like dying. So it's all good I guess.

I am going to finish the Twilight series tonight. I don't know...I liked the first book, but these last two have been trying my patience. I am not happy that these books are teaching girls to be weak and stupid and that men will fall all over for them.

Until next time...

Celebrity Super Bowl

As many of you know, I am an awards show junkie. Tomorrow is the creme de la creme of award shows...the Academy Awards aka the Oscars. I love watching the Oscars. I love it when there are surprises, but then I get mad when people I hate (i.e. George Clooney) wins. 

This year there is a small snag though. I haven't really seen any of the movies and well, I just don't care who wins or loses. 

But I do love me some Hugh Jackman, who is hosting, and it's would feel weird to know the show is on, but not watch it.  I think it'll still be good.

I'll twitter as the festivities go on, in case you need any updates.

Facebook

I love Facebook. I really do. 

But sometimes I get requests from people that I went to high school with and I have no recollection of them. Sometimes I think they got married and have a new last name and if I saw a picture I would remember them. Nope, that is not always the case. I literally can't remember them. But I friend them anyway out of guilt.

And recently someone I know on Facebook used their status update as a place to help their children sell cookies or whatever. I thought, "Wow, I can't even come to Facebook without dealing with that." Our online spaces are giving our face-to-face spaces a run for their money.

Glad It's Thursday, Will Like Tomorrow Better

I am tired and a little hungover. I don't know why, I didn't drink that much last night. Maybe it's dealing with students. I kicked one of them out today for texting. The policy is in my syllabus.

Uh ... students.

So, Lost is on fire this season. Not one bad episode. I love the heartwarming reunion between Jin and Sawyer last night. I ALWAYS love it when Ben freaks out. It makes me so happy. I was surprised to see Charlotte die so quickly. I wasn't sad though. She managed to squeak out some good information in her final moments. But there goes my theory on Faraday being her father. I guess my new theory is that Ben is her father. But really, now that she's dead, does it really matter?

Who I really want to learn about is Miles. I think he is the guy from Dharma Iniative's videos son. Sometimes I think I am grasping at straws when I think about Lost. But I can't stop. What am I going to do when the show is over?

Everyone's been having crazy weather this week. Murph ... did you see a tornado? Laura and PTT... did you have some warm weather? We had really cold weather, for here anyway. And the windy season has started. I can't ride my bike when it is really windy. Someone I know saw a girl get literally blown off her bike the other day. I don't want that to be me. I am older now and my body doesn't heal like it used to.

Hence my hangover today.

Blah.

My Apologies

For being a sucky blogger at the moment. I am crazy busy right now. But I thought I would share a few things about what's going on...

I am totally digging Lost this season. It has been awesome. I knew Jin wasn't dead, but it never occurred to me that, of course, we would see Danielle again.

Speaking of Lost, I am in the process of writing my paper for Pop Culture conference. It feels as though it is going slow.

Speaking of writing papers, I also have to revise my qualifying portfolio.

Last night I had flipping awesome green chile cheeseburger.

Later today I am going to eat a chicken fajita burrito.

I loved the movie Man on Wire. It is a documentary about the guy who walked a tightrope between the twin towers. I can't say enough about it. You can watch it on Netflix. It is available to watch instantly.

And I don't understand why people on Post Secret want to hate on New Mexico. They should just leave. We all hate them anyway.

Ciao Bellas and Bellos!

Oh No

I just noticed my first defined wrinkle.

Someone Wants to Leave!?!?

I saw this on Post Secret today.

I wanted to come back, hard to believe there are those who want to leave.