How many hurricanes can one survive in a year’s time???!

It really could have been a lot worse.  Really.  Considering
what the people of Gulfport, Biloxi, and New Orleans endured, I am very
fortunate.  However, Katrina was no laughing matter for me or for
a lot of people in Tuscaloosa.

Scott and I went to a friend’s house yesterday afternoon after we lost
power (around 4 or so).  We played cards for a while, made some
dinner and just hung out.  Then the power went out and the storm
got pretty nasty.  The winds were whipping around pretty hard and
as much as we wanted to, we knew we couldn’t leave.  Around 10 or
so we decided to brave it back to the house.  There was already
some unbelievable damage (I’ll try to post pics when there is power
again…we’re currently in Scott’s office so that we can actually get
stuff done) and the power was out for much of the drive.  When we
got home, my car was under what was left of the carport.  Luckily
it didn’t sustain any major damage (just some scratches and a bent
antenna), but it was still not what I wanted to see.  We decided
to sleep in the hall (since it was a good central location), but the
A/C had been off for over 6 hours, and it was hot and muggy.
Needless to say, between the stress of the car being banged up, the
scary winds, and the stifling heat, I did not sleep well at all.
I took a nap this afternoon (still no power) and it only served to make
me more tired.  Luckily the hot water heater is gas, so I was able
to take a nice shower, even if I couldn’t dry my hair.  As of yet,
there is still no power and the damage in some places is
horrible.  There are some homes near the University that are
totally obliterated by large, old trees and there are power lines down
everywhere.  It will be a while before things are back to normal.

The Quad had trees and branches everywhere and that stretch of
University Blvd. was totally obstructed.  We went to Target this
morning and they were running on generators.  It was all very,
very odd. I felt like I shouldn’t be in there. We thought about getting
a hotel room but they are (of course) all booked up all over
town.  I don’t know what I’ll do if the power is still off
tonight.  It’s definitely too hot to sleep, and I actually need to
be somewhat well rested tomorrow since I’m teaching in the afternoon
and my class is tomorrow evening.  I’ve finished most all of the
reading and it was so incredibly dense.  I may re-read everything
tomorrow before class and write more notes/questions so that I can
somewhat intelligently participate in the discussion.  I’m
wondering if my professor can even make it to class since she lives
about an hour west of here and they sustained even more damage than we
did.  I may try to e-mail her, but if things are really bad she
may not be able to access it.  I’m sure if she cancels class
she’ll call or something.

It sucks, but in the end, I really lucked out…

This should prove to be an interesting week.  There is still no
definitive answer to the question “Are classes cancelled?”  I
can’t see how they can possibly
justify not doing so, but with the university, you never know.
Every freaking county, city, and private school in the area is
closed.  University of West Alabama is closed.  I don’t teach
today (we rely on the city/county schools for scheduling, so if they’re
out, we’re off).  My class tonight is at 6 and I have a feeling I
won’t want to be anywhere but home tonight.  I’m going to try to
knock out some laundry and see if my refund check is in so that I can
buy some small necessities and fill up my gas tank (not a bad idea for
anyone, really, since gas is now >$70/barrel).

I woke up this morning feeling like ass because I went to a party last
night and had just a tad to drink (3 or 4 glasses of wine and a few
beers).  It was a good time and I met the (in)famous Cousin Bill
(my friend Merrily’s cousin) who was in from D.C. for the weekend. He
was a lot of fun and kept telling me about how he made passes at Scott
and that Scott resisted.  I could tell Scott was really
uncomfortable but I found it hilarious.  I told Bill (probably not
too soberly) “Dude….I sooooo
don’t blame you!!!”  And he kept saying “Y’all are the perfect
couple… when’s the wedding? I give really nice gifts!”  and then
proceeded to show us the silver Tiffany bowl he gave Merrily for a
wedding present, I guess to show us he wasn’t kidding.  He was
flamboyant and so much fun!

I was also somewhat sad because I’m worried about the people of NOLA,
esp. the ones currently trapped in the Superdome (with its failing
roof).  Scott and I are supposed to go the weekend of the 9th but
if there’s a lot of damage that might not happen.  We’ll have to
get in touch w/ the B&B to see what will happen.  I do hope
they’re ok and that there isn’t a catastrophic amount of damage.
I guess I should also worry about my own ass considering we’re on the
east edge of the storm (the nasty side).  I find it odd that
there’s a greater risk of damage and less local media coverage.
After Emily and Dennis, I think they’re worried about being the boy
crying wolf.  Still, I’m expecting some nastiness tonight.

I need to dry my hair and get to going before things get scary.  Everyone please stay safe!!!

I am really hoping that my financial woes get solved to-day.
I called up to the Ed. Res. office and apparently they hadn’t submitted
my tuition waiver yet, so I gave them the number of someone in student
receivables to call and talk to.  I hope that actually happened,
because otherwise it will be Monday or Tuesday before I see anything.
At least I have a little bit of money to get me through the
weekend.  I have (luckily) sold a couple of books on eBay, but
that’s not going to pay for my books now.

Last night Scott, Utz, Ted (a friend of ours) and I went out to Benkei,
a Japanese steak place in town.  The service was fucking
atrocious.  We got there at 7:15 or so and didn’t get our food
until after 8.  And we were sooo hungry when we arrived.
They were waiting for our table to fill, so the last two people to get
there ate almost immediately.  After we finished I dropped off
Scott and hung out with the guys for a while.  They gave me a lot
of academic advice, which I think will be really helpful.  It’s
nice to have friends that are in a position to help out and give
advice.  They strongly urged me to stake a claim in the GTA office
and to actually spend some time in there, even if I’m doing my own
work.  There was a lot of “what to expect” advice as well.
It was really nice.

Today I’m going in to check out the office, buy printer paper and a few
miscellaneous school supplies, teach a lesson (if she even shows up…)
and then I’m going to the pool.  I also need to run to the post
office to mail off a book that I sold.  I don’t think going to the
gym is in the cards for me, which is fine.  Yoga last night was
plenty exerting.  I really feel like it’s making a difference in
my body, so it’s something I’m sticking with for sure.

Although she looked happy, there was sadness in her eyes…

Class last night went pretty well, and even better, got out
early.  I really wasn’t able to appreciate how long a 3 hour class
feels until we got out an hour early.  I’m going to have to bring
a snack/some coffee with me because by 7:00 I was yawning.  I
actually was in bed around 10 last night.  Lame.  I think
this class will be interesting (it’s a 600-level class on feminist
perspectives on research) and won’t be an impossible amount of
work.  I’ll have 5 short papers due throughout the semester
(basically abstracts of articles I’ve read) and then a research design
project (15-18 pages) due at the end of the semester.  Basically I
have to design a dissertation without actually writing it.  I feel
at a slight disadvantage because there are people in the class already
writing dissertations, but I think this will be a valuable experience
for me.

This morning I had to be at Holy Spirit (local Catholic school) to
observe a Kindermusik class for pre-kindergarteners.  It was
actually a lot of fun.  I’ll be teaching the same class at another
location and my boss thought it would be good for me observe before I
started teaching.  There was a really cute little girl who seemed
to aspire to be my Siamese twin.  I’ve found that there’s always
one in every group that I’ve observed so far.  It’s flattering to
be liked by someone, I suppose.  After I finished at H.S. I met my
friend Selma for lunch and then dropped her off for class. My car’s A/C
is currently on the fritz and it’s possibly the worst time for that.
Once you pay your car off, that’s when hell breaks loose.   I have
to roll all my windows down and bear with it until I have the
time/money to get it fixed.  Right now I’d say money is that
biggest issue, since people can’t seem to get their shit together so
that I get my money.  I am b-r-o-k-e right now.  Badly.
I have maybe less than $100 to my name.  I can’t even buy my books
until the money comes in.  Argh.

I am doing laundry to get my yoga clothes washed before my class at
5:15.  I really look forward to yoga and my goal is to go
3x/week.  We’ll see if that actually happens.

I’m getting really sick of people who aren’t adult/responsible enough to make simple plans and then follow through with them. This chick has major issues, to say the least. She whines about not having money and wanting to avoid going out to eat (to lose weight), then turns right around and goes out to eat with every one of her friends but me (and to places that seriously undermine both of her intentions). And she also (most annoyingly) posts what she’s eaten every single day on her LJ. Like anyone cares…I’ve been tempted to be sort of ugly about it and say something like, “If you’re trying to lose weight, I wouldn’t eat stuff like that.” I think at this point, the negatives of being friends with her outweigh the positives and I should just phase her out of my life. I’m pretty good friends with her sister, but that’s because she has her act together and I feel that I can maintain my friendship with her without having to be friends with the other. I think having friends like her poisons my life and I need to be more proactive about maintaining friendships with the people who mutually work with me. I have a lot of friends who do call me and make the effort, and I end up neglecting them while I go chasing after friends who aren’t worth my time. I’m hoping this is just a part of becoming a full-fledged adult.

Today is my first day of classes and I’m admittedly somewhat nervous. I know I’m probably among the youngest, if not the youngest. I don’t feel like I have anything to prove, but being different is always a bit awkward. I don’t know anyone in my program, and no one knows me. I hope that my transition is smooth. I also hope my freaking money comes in so that I can do fun things like pay bills and my share of the household expenses. And pay my aunt back so that my mom gets off my case. And buy a new desk since mine broke during the move (I haven’t had a desk in like 3 weeks!). I will just keep checking my account until I see something good.

Today I taught two lessons and they both went really well. I feel so bad for them because it’s after school, and I know how it is to have to concentrate for half an hour after sitting in a classroom for 8 hours a day. The second student is a 7 year old boy who always has to bring a “friend” to his lesson. Last week it was a stuffed crocodile named (creatively) “Crocky” This week it was a paper dog named Yappers. Towards the end of his lesson I played a new piece for him before he took it home to work on. He was sitting next to me and suddenly just leaned over on me and grabbed my arm. It was soooo cute! It feels good to know that my students like me and that I’m a good teacher. I think this job will be good for me during the school year. It’s surprisingly stress-relieving.

The Rec is now overrun with all these fucking freshmen. Rather than ’splode with rage, I laugh to myself and say “Your ass won’t even remember this place in two months.” It’s always like that at the beginning of the semester: everyone and their dog goes to the Rec and swears that it will become a habit. Riiiiiiight. Thirty pounds and 6 months later we find that it didn’t quite pan out. I always look forward to October and February because that seems to mark the exodus from the Rec so the rest of us are left to workout in peace. Today I tried doing some weights but it was so ridiculous that I just retreated to a corner upstairs and did pushups and situps until my muscles burned. Maybe I’ll pick a better time to go tomorrow and get in some more serious weight training. I’m trying to work up to 25 lbs on bicep curls and I’m nowhere near that yet (I’m currently doing 12.5’s). I’d also love to go to yoga because my back has been stiff all day. I’ve felt a lot better in general since the beginning of my Rec habit.

Tomorrow I have Kindermusik classes to observe and then possibly lunch with my former advisor. I did some errands today and found out that my refund check (the big one) “might” be in by the end of the week. Ugh. It sorta sucks not having money but hopefully that’ll only last a few more days.

I had such an awesome weekend…I really wanted to take full advantage
of my last weekend of freedom.  Saturday morning I got up
relatively early and had a great workout.  I then went to B’ham to
meet Rashmee and Mark at P.F. Chang’s and to go shopping.  I ended
up with lots of good deals (including this kick-ass shirt from the Gap)
and bought enough stuff to get me started for the semester,
clothes-wise.  I am definitely holding off on buying “fall”
clothes until the weather cools off significantly.  By then it’s
on sale anyways, so I don’t see the point in paying full price for
something I’m not wearing for at least another month or two.
After I finished my shopping I went to Vestavia to go to a
cookout.  The host was one of Scott’s students from last year and
I had such a good time, even if things were initially awkward because I
didn’t know anyone.  I left at 9:30 to go pick up a friend from
the airport and then I drove back to Tuscaloosa.  I got in a
little before midnight and was tired, but sort of jacked up.  Even
still, I woke up really freaking early Sunday (before 7:30) and did
nothing for a couple of hours.  Then Scott and I went to Pier One
and Target to get stuff for the house.  I didn’t buy a whole lot,
but Scott bought some awesome paper lanterns and it’s really done a lot
for the decor.  There are big red ones in the den and then a
string of small lanterns and a medium sized blue one in the
bedroom.  I really want some plants and a papasan chair, but those
will definitely have to wait.

Today I have two lessons to teach, so I will have plenty of time to go
to the gym.  I have lunch tomorrow with my old advisor and then
Wednesday classes start.  I am so glad that this summer is
over.  I have never been so bored in all my life.

OK, maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem

My whole outlook has changed so much in 24 hours.  I had a meeting
today with a guy in the Ed Research dept. and we finalized all the
paperwork for my admission and my assistantship.  Not only am I
keeping my assistantship, but it appears I have it for the entire
academic year and it’s more generous than what I had anticipated.
It was such a relief.  Everything is squared away and I’m really
hoping that my money falls through by the end of the month, if not next
week.  When that happens I can take care of a lot of stuff, and
that will feel so good.  I’m hoping to stick a substantial amount
in savings and pay off my credit card.  Then I will have a living
wage (for the first time ever) and I will have an easier time sticking
to my budget.  I’ll be working 20 hours a week with my GRA
position and then I’ll have another 5.5 hours with my music
stuff.  That will leave (I hope) plenty of time for Heather to be
a good student (i.e. doing the readings, writing papers, etc.)  I
really think that if I work hard enough I can swing at least a 3.7, if
not a 4.0.  I think having a few loads taken off my chest will
make me happier and more productive.  I won’t worry about money
anymore, I won’t hate my job, and I hopefully won’t hate my academic
work.  I don’t have to worry about SoM shit anymore.
Ahhh…I feel better already.

I made a quick trip to Target today and found some incredible
deals.  I bought a pink polo shirt for $2.48 and I found a cute
plastic shower caddy (to leave in my gym locker) for 99 cents.  I
also bought another tube of my signature lip color (Sonia Kashuk Sheer
Diva), though that wasn’t an incredible deal.  My 3:30 student was
(again) a no-show.  Not
cool.  I am beginning to resent her and I’m beginning to resent my
boss for not addressing the situation.  I sure hope I get paid
regardless, because I show up at least 10-15 minutes early and I stayed
until a little after 3:45.  I managed to do some practicing (just
scales and etudes) but it would have been nice to get a call or
something apologizing.  How f-ing inconsiderate.

I should probably go shower since I smell awful and I’m going out in
less than an hour.  I will look forward to days when I only need
one shower.

Things are as bad as they seem…

I got really curious and e-mailed my former advisor to see if she had
received my form and when she had sent it in.  Her response? “Oh,
I must have misplaced it…”  WTF?!  You don’t just go
misplacing things like that.  Then I get an e-mail from my current
advisor telling me that coming straight out of a bachelor’s degree, I
should enroll in the master’s program and then transfer over to the
Ph.D. program in a year or so.  OK…that’s not so bad.  But
I do have to go over there today and fill out a bunch of paperwork to
get things going.  I will have a couple classes that won’t make
the transfer over to the Ph.D. program, but I can always use summer
semesters to make up for lost time.  I’d ideally like to still be
done in 4 years, although classes will only occupy 2-3 of those years
and then the rest will be dissertation (and I don’t have to be
physically here for that).

Yesterday I spent over three hours at the pool getting sun and hanging
out.  It was needed, and I actually have just a bit of color on me
today. Don’t anyone get their hopes up for a bronzed beauty now.
I do the best I can.  I also went to the Rec for a short workout
(I was starving and didn’t have the energy for more than 20
minutes).  I then went home, cooked dinner (corn-jalapeno pancakes
and black bean tostadas), and then Scott and I decided to go rent a
movie.  We rented Amelie.  We got it home and it wouldn’t advance past the second
scene, not even when we went frame-by-frame.  So I went back to
the store and complained and grabbed our second choice.  Also
incredibly scratched.  Grrr.  Now I have a $4.27 credit on my
account, but I wanted a movie, damnit!  Instead we watched some
King of the Hill episodes that Scott had in a boxed set.  I
looooove that show!

OK, time to go do some laundry, go work out, go take care of paperwork,
and then pick up Scott for lunch.  It’s veggie casserole day at
Manna Grocery.  Yummmmmm