May 18, 2008

As usual, the end of the semester was hectic for me; ergo, I didn’t have anything interesting to blog about.

On Monday, I went to my usual running group. I biked there (3 miles one-way), ran 3 miles, and then biked home. I was really proud of myself for pushing my limits, and surprisingly, I didn’t get too exhausted. My ride home was very rewarding, and the other runners were super impressed with me for biking there and back. I felt pretty bad-ass!

Last Tuesday, I put an ad in the T News for my car, and by Friday evening, I had a verbal agreement with someone to buy the car. By Saturday afternoon, I had the money in hand and had dropped the car to the buyer. It feels awesome to have that behind me! I ended up selling it for $300 than I was asking, but I don’t feel ripped off. The car did have some minor issues, and I really was tired of driving it all over Creation to show it to potential buyers. I wasn’t nearly as sad to see it go as I thought I would be. As I become more comfortable with the scooter, I feel like it’s my real transportation, and I know I have the Civic if I ever need a car. It will be interesting to see how we live as a one-car family.

This and that November 20, 2007

On Saturday, I managed to replace my wiper blades. They hadn’t been replaced since Election Day, 2004. I wish I were kidding. Those suckers were so warped and disgusting (much like Election Day 2004, I might add) and my windshield was never clean as a result. I was proud enough, but then when my lovely husband admitted that he’d never changed his own wiper blades (at the ripe old age of 35), I felt even more smug. Now if only I knew how to replace the rear brake pads…I also did quite a lot of work towards cleaning out my car and making it look presentable. When you’re a busy grad student, the last thing you care about is how your car looks. I removed my Jump sticker that was peeling off, attempted to remove my faded “Fermez Le Bush” sticker to no avail, and Windexed every glass surface on both sides. Brubeck left slobber tracks all over the interior of the back windows, and I felt it was high time to take care of that.

This week will prove to be a lazy one for me. I am debating not coming to work tomorrow, simply because I don’t have classes and I know no one will be dumb enough to roll up in here the day before Thanksgiving. As great as it is to only have to work 20 hours a week and for the most part take care of my own work, I’m not too fond of the fact that it’s always about 90 degrees in here and that I have to constantly be on CGS alert. Any excuse I have to not come to work is a good one in my book.

I recently got into the blog Behind the Counter, a hilarious account of what it’s like to work at WalMart (or, “The House of Wal”). The author recently quit her his job there and is now doing a blog called 21 Minutes, which is equally hilarious and definitely worth reading.  My particular favorites from both blogs are entries about “howler monkeys” (loud, unruly children) and WOACA (Women Of A Certain Age…middle- or upper middle- class middle-aged women who just try too hard and have an inflated sense of entitlement..you know the type).

One my professors wants me to do an independent study with him next semester to do some additional work on my study and put a more cognitive/self-regulation spin on my research questions. If everything goes according to plan, by this time next year, I’ll have at least one publication. He was highly complimentary of the two presentations I’ve given in his class so far and I think he really believes in me. Sometimes I get really down about the small things in life, and then something like this happens to pick me back up again. We all need a reminder about why it is we do what we do, and this particular incident was mine.

September 2, 2007

Just when I thought that everything was going pretty much OK…

Scott and I took our cars in this morning for tire rotations and oil changes. They found that my tie rods were basically broken, and that repairing them would be over $400. As much a we hate putting money into a car that isn’t worth anything, we’re going to have to do it. Worse yet, they can get the part until Tuesday, so they can’t fix it until Wednesday, and I won’t be able to pick up the car until Thursday.

Fuck.

My birthday weekend July 16, 2007

Thursday morning my Nana called me to wish me a happy birthday…2 days early. What bothered me is that she acted as if she absolutely knew that my birthday was that day. I didn’t have the heart to tell her otherwise.

Scott and I had been talking about getting an HDTV for a few weeks (pretty much since we got back from the honeymoon), but we hesistate to spend that kind of money on a TV. Call it frugalness, call it bourgeoise guilt, but to us it just seemed kind of…wrong. But right at the same time. All of our TVs in the house were 10 or more years old, and one of them was essentially non-functioning. It was a freecycle TV from a friend, and it had video problems, so you had to run it through the VCR to see any picture.  Our other TV was a 13″ TV/VCR combo that’s seen better days. Thursday afternoon, we finally talked it out and decided that we still really wanted one. There was a deal going at Sam’s for a 32″ Phillips, and it was an unbelievable deal. Even at Sears on sale, it was at least $200 more everywhere else. We brought it home and have been just hooked ever since. I’m actually somewhat concerned that we will gain weight and get out of shape from watching TV so much more now….which leads me to something else.

My friend Robin has talked me into training for a half-marathon. I will probably start training later this month or early next, once I buy new running shoes. I have extraordinarily flat feet, and I need a lot of support to keep my feet from pronating. It really stresses your knees and ankles out a lot, and I’d rather not cause myself serious pain. I haven’t run regularly since I was a freshman in college. This should be interesting.

My birthday party on Saturday was a lot of fun. It was a French themed party (since it was also Bastille Day) and I think people actually liked it. We made quiche, ratatouille, Brie en croute (Brie wrapped in buttered phyllo dough and baked), and then put out some fresh blueberries, Manchego and Monterey Jack cheeses, and marinated olives. We had about 10 people there and we really enjoyed ourselves. Scott is now convinced that having people over is fun, so we may be doing more of that in the future.

Yesterday was lazy, other than a couple of hours where I worked on some transcriptions that I was hired to do. For now, I’m charging $60 per tape hour, but as word spreads, I may start charging $80. I’m trying to get through as many tapes as possible in 2 weeks’ time, because the extra money would be nice. We fixed my A/C, and next up is replacing my radiator tank, since it’s pretty much busted. Thus far I’ve not had problems with overheating, but I’m concerned about what leaking coolant will do to my engine. We’ve revived discussions of buying me a new car, but I don’t realistically see that happening for at least another 3-6 months. Sigh. I’ve been eyeing 1999-2001 Honda CR-Vs. I realize they’re sport utility vehicles, but their mileage is still excellent, and I can get one in pretty good shape for around $6K. We have no idea where we’ll move next, and spending a lot of money on a new car just doesn’t seem smart.

I’m beginning the first of 2 full weeks left at this job. Both bosses are gone today, and I don’t anticipate doing jack shit.

What was I thinking? June 14, 2006

As helpful as it will be, I think taking two online stats classes this summer was a mistake. Whoa. I did well in basic stats and I have a decent knowledge of how to use SPSS, but I feel so incredibly lost. Luckily the online lectures and handouts are pretty helpful, but I think I messed up the assignment that I just submitted this morning. It’s not due until tomorrow night, so maybe she’ll be nice and let me turn in the correct assignment. If not, I’ll just use it as my drop grade. I have another assignment due later this week and then another one due next week. Luckily the higher level class that I’m taking isn’t too difficult and only has three assignments to turn in, not to mention that neither class requires discussion or a final exam. Definitely ideal for my situation since the last thing I want to do at 5:00 is go to class for 3 hours!

I spent an hour at WalMart last night trying to get two new tires put on my car. Needless to say, I still have the same four tires. I saw two people there who said they had dropped their car off over two hours before and still had not seen progress on their cars. I grabbed my keys and took my car back home. No way in hell was I going to wait 2+ hours for tires, especially when the only reason I went there is because they quoted me an awesome price on tires (that ended up being complete bullshit because they quoted the wrong size tires and the ones I needed ended up being $20 more each). I should know better than to go to WalMart for anything. That place is a disgrace to capitalism.

Boss 1 isn’t here yet (big surprise) and Boss 2 has gone home for a nap. Do you think I’m being productive? Ha!

March 2, 2006

So I’m just now getting around to fixing my brakes, since I found out last month they needed some work, but didn’t quite have an extra $200 floating around. The dealership should be calling me in the next hour or so and they’ll come get me. I’m hoping it’s about what they said it would be and not some ridiculous amount (a la last month). At first I was worried that I wouldn’t get stuff done today, but then I checked on WebCT and found out tonight’s class is cancelled. I really couldn’t be happier, considering I’m sick, I have stuff to do, and there was a discrepancy about the readings. When I get my car back I may run out to do some quick shopping (there’s a skirt at Parisian I want and I need to find what I’m getting my mom for her birthday). I’m really proud of myself for sticking to my budget and not spending beyond my means. Balancing my checkbook on a regular basis really seems to help, because I’m more aware of what I’m spending and how much I spend. Sometimes reality hurts, but if it keeps me from overdrawing, I’m all for it.

January 13, 2006

Ahhh, happy Friday the 13th. Today should be good since 1) I’m
scheduled for a massage sometime today (I think 10 am) 2) I don’t teach
today and 3) I have my French film class later on this afternoon. I
lost my appointment card for my massage, but I remember it being on the
13th because we joked about it. However I haven’t the faintest idea
what time it is. Ooops. I guess it’s what I get for overzealously
cleaning out my car at the end of last semester. I would have washed it
today, but the rain took care of that. I’m not going to bother
vacuuming until the weather clears up because no doubt I’ll track in a
bunch of wet leaves and pine needles. I think I may wear my striped
Wellies knockoffs today, just because I really haven’t worn them much,
except to take the puppy out in the morning.

Last night Scott and I had a “talk” about what I mentioned a couple
entries back. At first I wasn’t going to talk because I didn’t feel
like getting into it and I didn’t want to talk when I was mad because I
would say something rash. I held myself together very, very well and
told him (without making accusations or blanket generalizations) that
he was not doing a good job of making me a priority in his life and
that he needed to take more responsibility in general. He was at the
office literally from 8 yesterday morning until around 9:30/10 last
night, with a brief break to meet me for Lai Lai. I know he had a lot
to do, but some of it (I felt) was a bit superfluous because he’s still
caught in the paranoia of contract renewal. He feels like he has to
devote an inordinate amount of time to his class prep and will spend
hours working on a simple PowerPoint presentation (which I could do in
like 20 minutes). It’s not like I think he shouldn’t devote time and
effort to his job. Far from it. I just feel like he’s being too
obsessive in all the wrong places and it will only serve to drive him
crazy. Another thing I noted, along the lines of responsibility, is
that when he’s inordinately busy and I’m not, I try to do a bit more
around the house, since it only makes sense. He, however, does not do
the same when the situation reverses. I said, perhaps a bit snidely,
that I was not working on a Ph.D. simply to end up someone’s little
“housewife.” He tends to get tunnel vision when he gets busy and I’m
not the kind of person who’s going to just leave something for someone
else to do out of principle. However, this also means I take on a lot
more than is fair. Another thing I mentioned is that he will talk at
great lengths about what goes on at work with little regard for what
goes on with me at school and at work, and it made me feel like he
didn’t find my work to be very important.  I really, really hope
he makes an effort, and I hope I can not think about it too much.

Weekend Recap April 10, 2005

I have done a lot this weekend, though it doesn’t really feel like it. My teaching in Demopolis went well, which I’m sure is due to the fact that I had A LOT of absences this week. I think some of the kids just forgot about lessons, and as much as I hate to say it, I’m so glad they did. I think I’m burned out. Already. Not good. Sometimes the thought of driving to work (not just on Fridays, but any day) really makes me just want to cry or something. I just don’t see myself going anywhere with it and I feel like I could make a heck of a lot more money doing something else. I’m always broke by the end of the month. It makes me sad that I work so hard but in the end I have very little to show for it. I hope whatever I get for the summer pays well.
I’m trying to write this stupid 20th century paper. Very slow going. Part of me just says, “F*ck it, I’ll turn it in a couple days late,” but all that means is that I’ll procrastinate until Wednesday night and try to frantically finish it. So I may as well do it now. Sigh. I also need to think about my Form and Analysis paper and my Symphonic Lit paper. And get cracking on my part for Chamber music since I have our recital next Tuesday. And update my resume so that I can drop it by the Talent Tree office to get me a jiz-ob for the summer. And get my freaking headlight replaced so that I can see when I drive at night. It looks like this week is going to suck, at least until Wednesday afternoon. Then things will be slightly less hairy.