Time Out

Today was my first official day of freedom after a hell of a semester. I’ve had a nagging at the back of my head that I need to be DOING something. Apparently I’m not recovered from the last few weeks that were nothing but papers and projects. I did however update my resume and submit it to the NODA internship program. Tomorrow I’m getting an oil change and wrapping gifts.

Are you all wondering what I have planned for the next three weeks? A whole lot of not much. I will probably try to visit friends that I haven’t seen in a while, I also need to work on a cross-stitch project and finish a couple books. I’m also going to be covering some shifts at the Northeastern Student Center to earn a few bucks since all the undergrads that work there are gone for the next three weeks.

 

Thanksgiving Redux

I would have posted sooner, but I’ve had so much work due this week (and next, but I haven’t started thinking about that yet). wtbrosie and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for my family and her friend. I think it went pretty well, although we STILL have leftovers. If we do this again next year, I’ll make sure to start cooking the turkey sooner, and will have people show up a little later–I was pretty anxious about trying to ensure my parents and uncle were entertained, even though I know that I really don’t need to worry, it’s not like they would have been doing anything different at home.

Friday, wtbrosie was lucky enough to get out of work super early, so we were on the road to New Jersey by 6pm–her brother and future sister-in-law (whom we were staying with) weren’t even in bed yet!! Saturday morning was the drive to Baltimore for dinner with her other brother and the family; I was super happy they had roast beef instead of turkey! That evening we made the ride back up to Jersey to stay with her sister, who didn’t go to dinner, and to cut a few hours off the ride home Sunday. Sunday was seeing the kids and then into the car to try and get home at a reasonable time–8 hours later, we were finally home, even before I would have been home from class!

I will say I’m happy we have the bigger car, and I’m taking ginger pills before I travel; they make the trip a lot more comfortable.

 

Summer Planning

I want to do a study abroad class this summer–it’s been a HUGE thing for me since I found out about the opportunity to do so through this program. However, I’m looking at spending about 5000 to do so.

I found out about a program that will take me to New Zealand for about half the cost if I’m doing it for CEU’s instead of credits–not that I’d actually take that option–but they are already full.

So, do I hold off a year and apply for a summer internship that will give me about $3000-5000 for the summer or go on one of the other study abroad trips (England or Rome)?

 

Life Goes On

So I suck at blogging every day…but I’m still blogging a lot more than I usually do! This past weekend I was writing a research paper for my Student Development class, and have another (thankfully much smaller!!) paper due in my Financial Affairs class on Thursday. Luckily for me, I have tomorrow totally off, which is not unusual, but I ALSO have Wednesday off from class, so will be home and working on the paper as of about 2pm. Yes, I’ll do some work on it tomorrow…but I’m making mac and cheese (my first time making it not from a box!) and hanging with D tomorrow night, so can only get so much done. I’m just really stressed out and overtired…

I also want to spend some time tomorrow cleaning since we’re having people over this weekend and I don’t want us running around all stressed out on Saturday morning.

 

Here and Now

Yet another skipped day of NaBloPoMo. So school and work have sucked up my life–I’m kind of looking forward to next semester, since I’ve heard a rumor that we’re in class 4 days instead of three. Sounds like it may suck, but I can spread my work hours out over more days and actually have more ability to create balance in the Force. I’m also praying for an assistantship–anyone have suggestions on which Theoi to supplicate in particular?

I’m surprisingly becoming more spiritual lately. Maybe some of it has to do with the fact that in my Counseling Theory class we’ve been discussing theories that are a little more spiritual in nature. Or maybe it’s that the student development theory I’ve decided to write a research paper on for Monday is faith-based (maybe I chose that theory becasue I’m being drawn in a more spiritual direction?). I have one shrine I actively worship at, another that I see every day when I leave or come home (I need to figure out a way of incorporating the ‘Guardians’ –what I am collectively calling the Deities that guard the boundaries of the home) into my daily worship), and am in the process of creating a shrine to Asklepios and Hygeia (Gods of Medicine and Health) with help from wtbrosie. Not really sure where it’s coming from, but I think I like it.

 

Us vs. The Neighbor

So, how should we go about convincing our neighbor that it’s NOT a good idea to allow his dog to think my backyard is it’s personal toilet? I know me–if I go over there, I’m going to get all upset, wind up opening my mouth and do no good. I AM going to put my camera by the bedroom window so I can take pics of the dog every morning since my room looks out over the backyard.

Well, I’m off to a meeting for a class project, then printing off articles for the research paper due Monday. I’m kinda glad I have no plans during the day Friday, and that wtbrosie is working her part-time job on Saturday morning–I’ll have time to get the paper done, I hope

 

This and That and Those

GODS I am so bad about blogging lately. I’ve had no time whatsoever these last few weeks with school, work, going to New Jersey last weekend, and 2 conferences this week.

I’m enjoying work, although my direct supervisor could be called scatter-brained. But, she’s never around, so I get quite a bit of down-time when I’m in the office. I really haven’t done too much yet, at least in my mind. But, it’s still a new position and I’m still getting used to everything, so it’s also slow-going.

School is kind of overwhelming. Readings and papers and projects are just piling up. I’m trying to decide if I want to go to the ACPA (American College Personnel Association) convention that’s going to be in Boston this March. I went to the local conference Friday, and felt kind of out of place, but it was a good learning experience, and I know it’s good to get involved with professional orgs. I just don’t know if going to these thing will ever truly be advantageous to me because I’m so bad at networking and getting to know people. Hell, even at the Girl Scout learning conference I went to yesterday, although Girl Scouts is a comfort zone for me, and I know what I’m talking about and actually involved (unlike with higher ed), I feel awkward and like I don’t really belong. It’s a huge dilemma to be honest.

 

Courses Ahoy!

This semester I’m taking 4 classes: College Student Development, Vocational Ed & Career Development, Counseling Theory and Financial Aspect of Higher Education. Out of them the only one I’m really not that keen on is Career Development–the prof is rather boring and disorganized, and the subject matter is less than interesting.

The other three however, are really interesting. I feel like Student Development is getting off to a fairly slow start, but I’ve had on less session than the other classes, and we’ve pretty much not ‘learned’ anything; we’ve been mostly focused on discussing the group projects that will be the culmination of the course. Counseling Theory is just fascinating in that I really enjoy learning about therapy and theories and whatnot–it’s the basis for choosing this program over some of the others. Financial Aspects may be my favorite as of right now. First of all, it’s taught by Mr. Feeny. Also, it’s an extremely ‘real’ class–we’re discussing the actual workings of a college, how finances affect everything, etc. I think I’m enjoying it so much because it’s the class I have the most experience in, having been involved with a university on a more financial level than most of, if not all, the other members of my cohort.

The only bad thing so far is that I don’t have a job yet. I’ve applied to a couple of assistantships, but haven’t been hired. I’m not giving up, and should be able to make it financially for the semester, but I do need something in the near future. If the job I just applied to with Girl Scouts doesn’t pan out, I’ll go to Yankee Candle.

 

And Even More Settling

I officially begin week #3 of classes tonight. I’ve been pretty busy with classes and Ellie stuff and apartment stuff, so I’ve been super-duper neglectful of blogging, or much of anything except Facebook and PackRat lately. I’m loving living here, and we’re really pulling things together. I have class tonight, but am spending tomorrow putting away the rest of my stuff, doing laundry, cleaning the apartment (it’s Fall Cleaning time!!), and general domestic stuff. I’ll also spend some time playing catch-up with my reading since I was waiting for one book to arrive via mail, and for my refund to come in before buying the rest of them. I’m also pretty busy with Girl Scout stuff and trying to find an assistantship or other job to make a little bit of income.

 

Settling In

We’ve gotten to the point of moving in where we’re decorating. We’ve got some pictures up and are slowly distributing our other stuff around. I’m also working on organizing since I have free time lately.

Only one of my classes has posted to Blackboard and I’m kinda pissed about it. I want to buy as many of my books online as possible because, quite frankly, I’m broke. And cheap.

Girl Scouts–I’m not sure if it’s doing to be a good thing or if it’s going to slowly kill me. Hopefully it’s only because we are just starting out for the new year. I don’t even have a troop and I’m already running raged! I just need to figure out some stuff, prioritize and realize that I don’t have to do everything myself.