Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
One week...
It's been a hectic past month. As a run-down...
*Previously posted situation was remedied by me holding strong, and said actor complaining until there was no time left to complain. Wore on my nerves some, but all good things require patience. Or something like that.
*Work hired me a new boss, and he's pretty fantastic. So much so, that I swear he's got a white horse somewhere that he used to get to town. Let's leave it at that.
*I received my first University of Missouri IRB approval, modified my survey, sent it out, received over 1000 respondents, and closed it. Now just waiting to find time at work to clean the data...
*Data related, I've officially run my first minor chunk of syntax (7+ lines) with no errors. If that doesn't mean anything to you, just be proud of me...I sure am!
*I took a huge step couple weeks ago. I'm real proud of that one too.
*The BF may be getting a new job--keep your fingers crossed on that one for the next few weeks. It could cause a little heart aching for a while if he leaves town, but could call for much heart rejoicing in the future. PLUS, it means I might actually get to move back to a college town...(crazy, I know)
*Experienced my first Black Friday (and Cyber Sunday/Monday) shopping, and it was very successful! Joint purchase with the BF to get a new Xbox and Kinect (which I've played once...), new comforter, shoes! and the complete HP collection.
*Finished up one class for the semester--thank goodness! Now, if I can just make it through the next week, I'll be set for the semester! I mean, I only have a 8-10 page research paper to polish (due tomorrow), a strong working outline/start to a 12-15 page policy paper (outline due tomorrow), a weekly response paper (due tomorrow) and a final next week.
And with fully realizing all of that is due tomorrow, I'm out! Promise, if I can make it through this week, my posts will be much more fun and regular!
*Previously posted situation was remedied by me holding strong, and said actor complaining until there was no time left to complain. Wore on my nerves some, but all good things require patience. Or something like that.
*Work hired me a new boss, and he's pretty fantastic. So much so, that I swear he's got a white horse somewhere that he used to get to town. Let's leave it at that.
*I received my first University of Missouri IRB approval, modified my survey, sent it out, received over 1000 respondents, and closed it. Now just waiting to find time at work to clean the data...
*Data related, I've officially run my first minor chunk of syntax (7+ lines) with no errors. If that doesn't mean anything to you, just be proud of me...I sure am!
*I took a huge step couple weeks ago. I'm real proud of that one too.
*The BF may be getting a new job--keep your fingers crossed on that one for the next few weeks. It could cause a little heart aching for a while if he leaves town, but could call for much heart rejoicing in the future. PLUS, it means I might actually get to move back to a college town...(crazy, I know)
*Experienced my first Black Friday (and Cyber Sunday/Monday) shopping, and it was very successful! Joint purchase with the BF to get a new Xbox and Kinect (which I've played once...), new comforter, shoes! and the complete HP collection.
*Finished up one class for the semester--thank goodness! Now, if I can just make it through the next week, I'll be set for the semester! I mean, I only have a 8-10 page research paper to polish (due tomorrow), a strong working outline/start to a 12-15 page policy paper (outline due tomorrow), a weekly response paper (due tomorrow) and a final next week.
And with fully realizing all of that is due tomorrow, I'm out! Promise, if I can make it through this week, my posts will be much more fun and regular!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
What to say...
I've tried to make this blog a more up-beat, thankful-for-my-life space. And while it's not hard to do (I have been blessed to have so much to be thankful and grateful for), this one is a little venting. I don't necessarily need advice; I know how I will act, and what I think, but I just need to get a little of it out...
Mainly, because I'm at a loss for words. I'm in a situation where I know what the "best" action would be, but the main actor doesn't want to take that action. It's not life or death (hopefully, at least); it's a matter of dealing with a possible problem now, or waiting 6 months, or longer, to deal with it. I understand it's a scary situation, but even if I was scared to death, it's hard for me to think I wouldn't act. It's not my decision to make; it's not my life. They are aware of my opinions, and that I will support them in whatever they decide.
I believe they are trying to get me to say the magic words "don't do it" and I refuse to say them. I've tried humor to change the subject, sympathy to support their decision...but in these moments, when this actor comes to me and doesn't want to act, I'm at a loss of words.
Mainly, because I'm at a loss for words. I'm in a situation where I know what the "best" action would be, but the main actor doesn't want to take that action. It's not life or death (hopefully, at least); it's a matter of dealing with a possible problem now, or waiting 6 months, or longer, to deal with it. I understand it's a scary situation, but even if I was scared to death, it's hard for me to think I wouldn't act. It's not my decision to make; it's not my life. They are aware of my opinions, and that I will support them in whatever they decide.
I believe they are trying to get me to say the magic words "don't do it" and I refuse to say them. I've tried humor to change the subject, sympathy to support their decision...but in these moments, when this actor comes to me and doesn't want to act, I'm at a loss of words.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
TILT
TILT?
Responses from people I admire (or are affiliated with people I admire, I don't know who runs the account) but have never actually met. Mizzou is usually pretty good, but a response from the US Women's National team twitter account? Made. My. Night.
Responses from people I admire (or are affiliated with people I admire, I don't know who runs the account) but have never actually met. Mizzou is usually pretty good, but a response from the US Women's National team twitter account? Made. My. Night.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Blogger App!
In honor of the new blogger app, I will be attempting to copy some of my more creative friends! Starting with TILT!
Not kidding, even with the acronym written out, it took me FOREVER to figure out that TILT stood for Things I Love Thursdays. I'm not always the brightest, apparently...
But now that it's easier to blog (i.e., from my phone) maybe I'll be able to keep up...
Today's TILT is:
Carmel Lattes
Massages, specifically,
Ciera
Good Thursday indeed!!
Not kidding, even with the acronym written out, it took me FOREVER to figure out that TILT stood for Things I Love Thursdays. I'm not always the brightest, apparently...
But now that it's easier to blog (i.e., from my phone) maybe I'll be able to keep up...
Today's TILT is:
Carmel Lattes
Massages, specifically,
Ciera
Good Thursday indeed!!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Love, Labor, Learning & Loyalty
Love. Labor. Learning. Loyalty.
In the Fall of 2008, those were just four words to me. They grew with significance over the next year and a half as I began to walk a new path, and found a new family. My time I spent with my new sisters was most of the best moments of the last three years of my college career. But, sad to say, even when I graduated those for words were basically still just words to me. Yes, they mean more to me then than they had when I signed my bid card a year earlier. But they never meant so much to me as they did this weekend.
I don't know if it was being back in a house where I only knew 1/4 of the girls, or if it was because I was the only one from my graduating class there. Maybe it was the pure joy on the older sisters faces when they saw me, or the way the younger ones looked at me like I was a special alum; someone to look up to. Maybe it was during the transition between days; when they needed direction and wanted to help, and they came and asked what they could do. Maybe it was the pure tears and love I saw in each of their faces as I looked around during the Preference Ceremony. But as we sang those four words, I found myself dropping out. It's hard to sing when crying.
I wasn't crying because I was supposed to, or because I knew every single girl in that room by name and personality. I was crying because I didn't. Because three years ago, I was that girl sitting in the chair, watching a group of amazing older women invite me into their life and sisterhood. I was crying because there were only 13 other girls in that room with me that were there for that night three years ago. And I was crying because the girls lined up around the room were not a chapter I recognized.
This women in the room with me were strong women. They had worked hard to transform an ordinary, ill-planned house into a beautiful home, with a facelift each night. They had worked together to overcome confusion, quietly and with respect. These were girls who didn't need to scream to get the group quiet, didn't need to use a chant or biting comments. They simply put a crescent into the air, and the voices disappeared. And when it was time to have fun, they slid off the heels, and did a choreographed two-step in the foyer, and a conga line through the formal room. They greeted each other with a smile, and I could see the bond they had with each other. And I was proud beyond words.
Towards the end of Preference Day, I stopped sitting in on the ceremonies. It wasn't my place to bawl each party; I was just that old person in the corner most times. In the next to last party I found myself in the hallway when the slideshow started, and I was drawn to this picture as the same song played that I had heard at my first night being introduced to Gamma Phi Beta.
Talk about coming home! I'll admit, there have been multiple times I have been worried sick about what would come to my beloved chapter that so many of us worked hard to keep going. Even so much to be worried that I may not be able to come back to it someday. It seemed that every time something good happened, it was followed by three blows to knock us back. After spending a weekend with the ladies I did, I'm incredibly happy to say that I left Springfield without a doubt in my mind about these girls.
They love each other and Gamma Phi Beta and they worked hard to make this weekend a good one. We've learned from the many mistakes the past few years, and we're still going--stronger than ever! This weekend I'm proud of the girls of Delta Nu for truly showing me what four little words can mean...
In the Fall of 2008, those were just four words to me. They grew with significance over the next year and a half as I began to walk a new path, and found a new family. My time I spent with my new sisters was most of the best moments of the last three years of my college career. But, sad to say, even when I graduated those for words were basically still just words to me. Yes, they mean more to me then than they had when I signed my bid card a year earlier. But they never meant so much to me as they did this weekend.
I don't know if it was being back in a house where I only knew 1/4 of the girls, or if it was because I was the only one from my graduating class there. Maybe it was the pure joy on the older sisters faces when they saw me, or the way the younger ones looked at me like I was a special alum; someone to look up to. Maybe it was during the transition between days; when they needed direction and wanted to help, and they came and asked what they could do. Maybe it was the pure tears and love I saw in each of their faces as I looked around during the Preference Ceremony. But as we sang those four words, I found myself dropping out. It's hard to sing when crying.
I wasn't crying because I was supposed to, or because I knew every single girl in that room by name and personality. I was crying because I didn't. Because three years ago, I was that girl sitting in the chair, watching a group of amazing older women invite me into their life and sisterhood. I was crying because there were only 13 other girls in that room with me that were there for that night three years ago. And I was crying because the girls lined up around the room were not a chapter I recognized.
This women in the room with me were strong women. They had worked hard to transform an ordinary, ill-planned house into a beautiful home, with a facelift each night. They had worked together to overcome confusion, quietly and with respect. These were girls who didn't need to scream to get the group quiet, didn't need to use a chant or biting comments. They simply put a crescent into the air, and the voices disappeared. And when it was time to have fun, they slid off the heels, and did a choreographed two-step in the foyer, and a conga line through the formal room. They greeted each other with a smile, and I could see the bond they had with each other. And I was proud beyond words.
Towards the end of Preference Day, I stopped sitting in on the ceremonies. It wasn't my place to bawl each party; I was just that old person in the corner most times. In the next to last party I found myself in the hallway when the slideshow started, and I was drawn to this picture as the same song played that I had heard at my first night being introduced to Gamma Phi Beta.
Talk about coming home! I'll admit, there have been multiple times I have been worried sick about what would come to my beloved chapter that so many of us worked hard to keep going. Even so much to be worried that I may not be able to come back to it someday. It seemed that every time something good happened, it was followed by three blows to knock us back. After spending a weekend with the ladies I did, I'm incredibly happy to say that I left Springfield without a doubt in my mind about these girls.
They love each other and Gamma Phi Beta and they worked hard to make this weekend a good one. We've learned from the many mistakes the past few years, and we're still going--stronger than ever! This weekend I'm proud of the girls of Delta Nu for truly showing me what four little words can mean...
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Payday!
Today was payday. Which means yet another round of budgeting, paying bills, and attempting to find the perfect plan for the next month of spending. This probably isn't fun for most people, but I actually enjoy planning and trying to figure out how to best spend my money.
Today was also the last day of my Drumline auditions for my high schoolers...which means I now have another week of thinking and planning before the next rehearsal next week. And an awkward face to face lunch/coffee with my two section leaders so I can be open/honest/confrontational/awkward. Should be interesting...
Other than that, that's almost all I have on my mind. Except not really. Except really for the whole world to know. :) Sorry!
Today was also the last day of my Drumline auditions for my high schoolers...which means I now have another week of thinking and planning before the next rehearsal next week. And an awkward face to face lunch/coffee with my two section leaders so I can be open/honest/confrontational/awkward. Should be interesting...
Other than that, that's almost all I have on my mind. Except not really. Except really for the whole world to know. :) Sorry!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Hold...Sip...Sip...Sigh...
That was the end of the breathing warm-up I led nearly every day for a month as I was subbing. In for so many counts, out for so many counts, repeat; and at the end they had to hold their breath, sip in and hold it, sip in more and then hold it until I told them to let it out.
As previously mentioned, my June has seemed a little like that. (Including being sick when I couldn't breathe, and Pilates today when I forgot to breathe often). This is just a happy post to say that I'm still holding my breath, but there was that little bit of a relief today (a sip, if you will). And I'm looking forward to many future sips...
As previously mentioned, my June has seemed a little like that. (Including being sick when I couldn't breathe, and Pilates today when I forgot to breathe often). This is just a happy post to say that I'm still holding my breath, but there was that little bit of a relief today (a sip, if you will). And I'm looking forward to many future sips...
Monday, June 13, 2011
...and then came June
Don't get me wrong, my six months of happiness did not fade, and my life didn't suddenly start to suck or anything...but it's been a long week.
June 1 I started my new Evaluation/Research Graduate Assistantship position. For anyone who was at all involved in Student Affairs in Missouri, I'm the GRA for Partners in Prevention--you know, the group that tries to get college kids to not act like idiots (yes, there's a state-wide group for that). We send out the pamphlets in the Summer Welcome program packet, give out free things on campus, and attempt to raise awareness of risky behaviors (and many, many, MANY other things). It's completely grant-funded (which is awesome), is paying for my tuition (also awesome) and health insurance starting in August (doubly awesome). Not to mention, it will be similar to what I think I want to do once I graduate--work with evaluation/research of non-profits/programs/agencies/public policies--so that's a plus.
So far, it's not going to bad. I'm a little overwhelmed in that I'm nervous that I'm slow, but I have to keep reminding myself that everyone I'm working with has been there longer than I am, and actually knows the information off the top of their head because they've been working with it longer than two weeks. But I'm competitive, and don't like to not be excellent at things, so it's taking some getting used to...
Last week was a roller coaster of life--most of which cannot yet be told to the great wide world (sorry, stay tuned). But there were definite dips and highs, and I hope that the next few months contain more highs than lows--but I guess that's all you can really ask for out of life anyway. I also spent 4.5 days of my life laying on the couch/in bed with the deathly summer cold (it was miserable!) which was a low also because my older brother (that I get to see once a year) was in town from Arizona--and I was sick the whole time. Our "hanging out" consisted of the family dinner the first night, him sitting and watching TV with me for a bit the next, and a quick drive by to say goodbye on his last day. It's just disappointing to be looking forward to his visit, only to be too miserable to leave the house...
But again, if I can have more positives than negatives in the next little bit, I won't complain too much. Especially if the bf and I get to make it out to visit him soon--or visit Vegas with the whole family...
June 1 I started my new Evaluation/Research Graduate Assistantship position. For anyone who was at all involved in Student Affairs in Missouri, I'm the GRA for Partners in Prevention--you know, the group that tries to get college kids to not act like idiots (yes, there's a state-wide group for that). We send out the pamphlets in the Summer Welcome program packet, give out free things on campus, and attempt to raise awareness of risky behaviors (and many, many, MANY other things). It's completely grant-funded (which is awesome), is paying for my tuition (also awesome) and health insurance starting in August (doubly awesome). Not to mention, it will be similar to what I think I want to do once I graduate--work with evaluation/research of non-profits/programs/agencies/public policies--so that's a plus.
So far, it's not going to bad. I'm a little overwhelmed in that I'm nervous that I'm slow, but I have to keep reminding myself that everyone I'm working with has been there longer than I am, and actually knows the information off the top of their head because they've been working with it longer than two weeks. But I'm competitive, and don't like to not be excellent at things, so it's taking some getting used to...
Last week was a roller coaster of life--most of which cannot yet be told to the great wide world (sorry, stay tuned). But there were definite dips and highs, and I hope that the next few months contain more highs than lows--but I guess that's all you can really ask for out of life anyway. I also spent 4.5 days of my life laying on the couch/in bed with the deathly summer cold (it was miserable!) which was a low also because my older brother (that I get to see once a year) was in town from Arizona--and I was sick the whole time. Our "hanging out" consisted of the family dinner the first night, him sitting and watching TV with me for a bit the next, and a quick drive by to say goodbye on his last day. It's just disappointing to be looking forward to his visit, only to be too miserable to leave the house...
But again, if I can have more positives than negatives in the next little bit, I won't complain too much. Especially if the bf and I get to make it out to visit him soon--or visit Vegas with the whole family...
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Six Months of Happiness
Looking back at this, I realize I haven't updated in nearly six months. Shame on me! I'd like to pretend the six months were just so packed and busy that I didn't have time, but really, they were just a little apathetic. However, from these six months, the things I am most grateful for (and remember) include:
*Fantastic Christmas/Birthday with the family and friends
*Wonderful working weekend in Springfield (including the large amount of cash I made, and have yet to spend!)
*Andrew's new apartment--and it being better than the old one (minus the small bathroom)
*Free trip to Miami!! (South Beach, even!)
*Free graduate tuition...
*Getting paid to do what I think I'll love (...in addition to the free tuition)
*Getting an Internship at the Capitol--and finishing said internship
*Did I mention my Graduate Research Assistant position and free tuition?
*Summer
*Grades (minus not being happy about my B in economics)
*Health care subsidized by my GRA position
and many, many, MANY, more things, I'm sure. I have been truly blessed the past few months. I can't wait to see what my summer and GRA position holds for me!!
*Fantastic Christmas/Birthday with the family and friends
*Wonderful working weekend in Springfield (including the large amount of cash I made, and have yet to spend!)
*Andrew's new apartment--and it being better than the old one (minus the small bathroom)
*Free trip to Miami!! (South Beach, even!)
*Free graduate tuition...
*Getting paid to do what I think I'll love (...in addition to the free tuition)
*Getting an Internship at the Capitol--and finishing said internship
*Did I mention my Graduate Research Assistant position and free tuition?
*Summer
*Grades (minus not being happy about my B in economics)
*Health care subsidized by my GRA position
and many, many, MANY, more things, I'm sure. I have been truly blessed the past few months. I can't wait to see what my summer and GRA position holds for me!!
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