A Description

How I feel about some of my obligations right now:

Stir crazy:  Used to refer to anyone who becomes restless or anxious from feeling trapped and even somewhat claustrophobic in an environment...perceived to be more static and unengaging than can any longer continue to hold interest, meaning, and value to and for them... Could be classified as a more specific form of boredom, but combined with elevated and often increasing levels of anxiety, frustration, agitation, [and] fidgeting...the longer the unengaging non-stimulating environment is persisted in... Has a similar meaning to cabin fever, plus the urge to engage and attempt doing anything perceived to be even slightly more constructive and productive, given the extreme limitations of the environment, even if plainly destructive, than doing nothing at all.

I guess that happens when they replace and displace you 4 weeks earlier than they should.

Great Minds Think Alike

Today I met with three kindergarten boys. 

It only took me a minute to realize that we all happened to be wearing blue shirts.

This afternoon I went to work.

I soon became aware that all three of my female coworkers were dressed in green.

It's only slightly comforting to know that

my brain works more like a 5-year old boy than a middle-aged woman.

Validation

Today I was feeling pretty grumpy.  I was tired, I had a kink in my neck, and I just wanted the day to be over. 

But once I got to work, things started to get a little better.  I have so much to do that I don't have the time or energy to focus on myself and my pity.  

And then a cute student sent me an email saying I was the best academic advisor ever. 

After I read that, I had a great day.

Five Things I Learned at Staff Meeting Yesterday

1. Any type of knit clothing should really be worn with a bra underneath it.  And if it is a knit dress--a short one without leggings--a slip should be worn as well.  It is NOT pretty if these two items have been ignored.  Underwears are essential.
2. It takes 7 countries to make 15.2 oz of Minute Maid apple juice: USA, Argentina, Austria, Chile, China, Germany, and Turkey.
3. If someone shows me a video that has fast and ZOOMING cinematography and then tells me to make sure I read all the words, I am going to get motion sickness and feel like I am about to puke.
4. When you have 3 piercings in your right ear, and only one in your left, don't wear a matching set of earrings.  Wear a hoop in your left and then 3 different studs in your right.  It makes you look wild and unpredictable...especially at 60+ years old.
5. 4 hours is really too long for me to sit still.

The Tuesday Drudge, Part XIII

Today really has been a drudge. 

I have been stressed, depressed, and rather frenzied. 

I had to scramble to finish a school assignment,

I turned in a project that I was far from satisfied with,

And I received a horrifying glimpse of what fall semester is going to look like.

It just hasn't been the greatest day.

But I heard this song this morning and I remembered that I liked it.

It helped to brighten my day just a little.

  

The best part of today?

The in-class potluck.

I love my classmates.  I'm going to miss them.

Living and Dying

My sister asked me the other day if I was dying.

She wondered why I was in such a hurry to cross things off of my Life List.

I told her it was because I need things to blog about.

Plus, there is so much to do in life: why not get started now?

However, Life is about to end--

Because working 40 hours and interning 15 hours a week is going to be death.

Wishing and Hoping and Thinking and Praying

Keith's family invited me to go to Disney World

with them in a couple of months. 

I really, really, really want to go. 

So the question is:

How do I convince work to give me time off during our busiest time?

The (not so) Tuesday Drudge, Part X

Today the Prophet returned to the School of Prophets.

Not only did he get thronged by a bunch of pre-teens,

he also sang us a song.

I tell you, there is nothing like a Man of God gustily singing

"A Utah Man am I"!

Got to love President Monson!

Ki-yi!!!

Getting Ready for My Close-up

A rather irate and irrational student came into my office today.  She was upset because, due to uncompleted requirements, she was no longer eligible for a scholarship.  Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything to help her.  I was out of scholarships and the deadline had past.  But still, she was not happy.

This particular scholarship program is run by the government.  Of course there are going to be snafus and things aren't always going to work right, but this student was convinced that her problems were because of the program, not because of a failure on her part.

"This PR is ridiculous.  Things should not be run this way!"

"Who can I talk to?  I will take this as far as it goes!"

And my favorite:

"I have a friend who is a producer for CNN," she said.  "He thinks that there could be a story here."

Good golly girl!  It's only a $1000!!

After I told her I could do no more and refused to give out any more information, she ended by saying,

"Well, just so you know, Jill, you have now earned a black mark against you.  I really hope this doesn't impact your future.  It could really hurt you."

A threat?!  She threatened me?!  Seriously?!  Who does this girl think she is?! 

She said goodbye, I wished her good day, she walked out, and I went to tell my coworkers because, really, it was a little funny and a tad bit ridiculous.

I just hope the CNN story is a good one--I wouldn't want it to tarnish my reputation or anything.

Wilted

Today my work supervisor told me that I looked a little wilted. 

Nice.

She then continued to tell me to sleep in and come in late tomorrow.

Super nice.

I guess wilted is a good thing.

The Tuesday Drudge, Part V

I was having a perfectly lovely day.  I had no student appointments, my phone was silent, my emails in order, my office was warm, and I was able to get a lot of stuff done in the quiet of the morning. 

But then, all that changed....

My phone started ringing and wouldn't stop, I had to walk across campus, sit through three hours of pointless training, walk back across campus, I lost all viable tissue in my face due to the cold, neglected my email, had 20 students all at once come clamoring for their tuition reimbursements, and said good-bye to getting anything else done for the day.  Then I had to go to school, take a test that I had not prepared for, and am now I'm sitting through the remaining 4 hours of torturous lecture and discussion. 

Bleh.

Southern Exposure

The first thing I did when I got to work this morning was open the blinds. 

I did this for two reasons:

1)  The sun was shining and it was beautiful outside, and

2)  I finally have an office with WINDOWS!!!!

I'm moving up in the world.

I've Always Been a Bit Indecisive

So, I've basically been handed a new job within my department on a silver platter.  It means a little more money, a bit more flexibility, an office with a door, and would look awesome on my resume.  The downside is that it is more work, less down time, and probably a lot more stressful.  Should I do it?

Fifteen Minutes to Freedom

This has been the LONGEST week ever.

It seems to have taken forever to get from Monday to Friday. 

Maybe it has been long because it is gorgeous outside and I am stuck in my office.

Or perhaps it is because all I do at work is boring data entry.

It could be that I have a ton of homework to do and it is stressing me out,

Or simply that it is the middle of summer and I need break.

But mostly I think is because a boy is coming to visit me in less than 18 hours.

Wahoo!

Revision Needed

Dear Place of Employment,

You are an educational institution--

You promote learning and research, and are on the cutting edge.

Why, then, am I still using Microsoft 2003?

From,

Me,

whose fancy .docx graduate school notes aren't converting well

P.S.  And while you're at it, why don't you update my hourly wage too?

Defeated by the Copy Machine

I am tired. I got home from Canada Monday night, slept through my alarm yesterday, had 8 hours of work and 5 hours of class, slept with an achy ear for the second night in a row, and am a bit worn out, albeit 11:30 in the morning. I guess it is what happens when you go out of the country and have late nights and early mornings. But it was fun--five wonderful days of no school, no work, no stress, and, of course, lots of boy. I'll tell you about it later, once I upload my pictures--the few pictures I remembered to take. I guess my mind was on other things...

Only two more weeks of school left! Wahoo! Well, I should say, only two more weeks until the end spring semester. Unfortunately, the end of spring semester in two weeks means summer semester starts in three. No rest for the weary. There is just too much to do.

I fought a ferocious battle with the printer this morning. It took me an hour--1 HOUR--to print addresses on 100 envelopes. The bypass tray was having issues. Lots of issues. Or maybe it was me who was having issues... Whatever the reason, it really should not take an hour to print 100 envelopes.

Can I go back to Canada now?

POST EDIT: I just spent another 45 minutes tackling the copy machine. Apparently it needs some maintenance. It's flashing lights and refusing to turn off. They say it could be a paper jam, yet I see no paper. And it is beginning to smell funny... Good thing this day is almost over.

My Schnoz in the Spring

Spring

=

Allergies

=

Lots of sneezing

=

Lots of nose blowing

=

The occasional bloody nose

=

A student with impeccable timing trying to talk to me

as I mop up the mess on my face,

totally ignoring the fact that I am bleeding profusely

Does anyone else notice something wrong with this equation?

Six Little Words

One of our instructors had her students write Six-Word Memoirs. In six words, they had to capture the story of their lives. My favorites:

I earned these stretch marks, baby!

Seen the world--all 7 continents.

Chocolate and icecream: always the answer.

I thought this was really cool idea and wondered what I would say about my own life. I came up with this:

Always ready for a new adventure.

And let me tell you, I have a feeling the next adventure is going to be BIG!! But that's another six words for another day.

Using only six words, how would you sum up your own life?

A Hostage Situation

We've established that I am a nice person. Terribly nice. Yet, sometimes it isn't by choice. Sometimes niceness is forced upon me.

Take, for example, the student who came into my office around 3:00 this afternoon. He plows in the door, bringing his BIKE with him, and flashed me a smile.

"I have a huge favor," he says.
"Sure, what can I help you with?" Remember, it is my job to be nice and helpful.
"Can I leave this here? I forgot my lock today. And look, I'll put it here and it won't be in the way, and there aren't chairs over there, and the door still opens, so it is okay. Thanks. Bye."

All I got out of him before he ran away was that he'd be back in an hour. One hour. I ddin't want to, but I can handle bike babysitting for an hour. And I can't just move it outside--it might get stolen if I do. That wouldn't be nice. And I'm a nice person. Whether I want to be or not.

The student was right: the bike wasn't it the way, but it was annoying. Just sitting there, staring at me, defying my rights and authority. Why can't I just be rude and say no? But then, I never really said yes...

Two hours later the bike still sat there and no student had come back to claim it. So I went home, and locked the bike in my office. Ha! I hope the kid had to walk home! I hope it was a long, miserable walk, all uphill. That will teach him to leave his bike in my office, to walk all over me and my niceness!

Now the question is, what do I do with the bike? Do I leave it in my office? If he doesn't come back by, oh let's say 9:00 tomorrow morning, can I ditch it outside and let whatever happens to it happen without feeling guilty about it? Better yet, anyone want a free bike? I know where to find one. And finders keepers, losers weepers, right?

POST EDIT: When I got to work on Friday, the bike was gone. Someone must have taken pity on the poor kid and opened my office for him. It was too bad, too, because I really wanted him to have to walk home.

Blinded By Charm?

Today a coworker asked if the water delivery guy was flirting with me.

Someone else asked me the same question last week.

I just thought he was being friendly.

What am I missing? I just don't see it...