First day of teaching

Today I met both of my classes for the first time and things went well. I really like my doctoral seminar class --it's a great group of students who are really interested in the topic. I'm going to look forward to this group each week. My other class was fine...except for the mob outside the door hoping to get a seat...even though I've had a sign on my door for a week saying the course was closed. # of seats = # of butts--can't change that math.

In other news...I will be flying over the big bond in less than 48 hours. I'm so not ready or willing for this trip..but it is going to happen anyway. At least the paper I'm presenting is done.....still need to make a flashy powerpoint to show of my less than stellar findings.

Sleepy statgirl needs some ZZZZzzzzzz........

T minus 1....

Until the official beginning of the academic year...in terms of contract anyway since classes do not begin for another week. However, there are students swarming back into town and onto campus....Target and Walmsrt and no longer safe places to shop. Tomorrow is the first meeting o' the year. Did I mention how much I love to go to meetings?

Today was a day o' questions: "What classes should I take?" " How long do I have to make up my incomplete?" "What books are we using?" "What do you want to teach in the Spring?" "Do you want a website for your courses?" "Can I get into class X which is closed?"

Meanwhile in my world, I spend the morning on the phone trying to track down a location which would get me foreign currency in less than 2 weeks---sometimes I forget I am not living in a large city. Clearly I put off this task too long..but finally found a bank that could help me out. Not that this issue is taken care of and I also found my passport (took an hour and half ) all the little details are ready for the trip across the ocean. Unfortunately the major issue ---finishing the paper I am going to present--is not yet complete. Will be spending some long hours this weekend working on that issue.

Oh, and syllabi need to be finished (actually just updated as I plan no major overhauls for courses I have taught before). Trying to figure out what my students will be doing/reading while I am away.

Need a little relaxation this evening.....before it all begins.

Home again

Arrived home today around 2:30 and actually completed a couple of errands this afternoon before discovering that a local restaurant has half price appetizers and drinks. The best news of all is that the temperature here is 8 degrees lower and the humidity is half what it was in undergrad city. Sat outside on the patio at the restaurant!!

Had a great time with MrBig....will see him again in just 4 weeks. Meanwhile, I may hyperventilate thinking about all the things that must be completed during that time period.

MrBig and the Fortune Cookie

Yesterday was my first full day back in undergrad city. MrBig and I went out for Chinese at lunch. We opened up our fortune cookies and, of course applied the requisite "in bed" wording at the end of the fortunes. Frustrated because the 'in bed' rule just didn't work at all for my fortune, I looked up at MrBig from who had lost all color in his face.

His fortune: “Look around yourself. Your answer is nearby.”

And then, turn the paper over for your chinese lesson; his word was 'boyfriend'.

You can't make this shit up.

Inside Statgirl's Studio

As seen chez Dr. Crazy:

1. What is your favorite word? chantilly (French--whipped cream)--the word looks pretty, sounds pretty, and tastes good...what more could you want?

2. What is your least favorite word? The "C" word..hate the sound of it.

3. What turns you on? Intelligence and sense of humor

4. What turns you off? detachment (ironic since some have probably used the word to describe me)

5. What is your favorite curse word? I'm not really a user of curse words...but if I get really angry the most likely to fly is "fuck"

6. What sound or noise do you love? Rain

7. What sound or noise do you hate? Sirens

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Architectual Engineer

9. What profession would you not like to attempt? Counseling Psychologist

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Kick back, have a martini and enjoy the afterlife.

Dogs, Undergrad City, and Life as a solo girl

Back to undergrad city last night with a stop on the way to visit GB and DA. Actually, mainly to see the office dog who has cancer; she is on good pain meds now and if you didn't know she was sick you wouldn't be able to tell (well, except for the vomit when the pain meds upset her tummy). This is a huge improvement over 4 weeks ago when GB and DA thought she was in her last days. Too many tears during that trip to old city. Even though it may have been the last time I will see office dog, it wasn't as sad to say good-bye because she was doing so much better. We take our cues from the pet and she is looking good.

Upon arrival in undergrad city, I was greeted by 2 more dogs---who I am sure will be very happy that I am staying home with them today while MrBig goes to work. I'm experienced at mid-day doggie naps and find it to be a perfect working environment. It doesn't contribute to productivity much; however it does remind me of kindergarten days and afternoon nap time.

In other news related to MrBig: we have plans for the next 3 months to see each other for few days here and there. We have been talking about holidays as well. Solo girl that I am, surprisingly thinking into the future isn't scaring me that much. Maybe it is because I know that he lives several hundred miles away. However, I think that even if we lived in the same location this time it wouldn't be making me run. Maybe this time we will get it right; and we just were not meant to be together in our twenties. It's hard to figure out which one of us has changed more; however other times I look at MrBig and think to myself that we haven't changed at all. I don't know for certain about MrBig but I know that in my twenties, I wasn't meant to be with anyone, just couldn't do it... but not for lack of trying. If anyone had had a chance back then it would have been MrBig but I didn't let anyone get that chance.

Have I changed that much now that I am in my thirties? In some ways, I am a completely different person. The career goals or grad school goals that were convenient excuses 10 years ago to stay out of relationships (or even good excuses to use to get out of a relationship once I was in it) are gone. I'm doing what I love, no dreams or wishes to change that. But have I become such a solo girl that there isn't any room for someone else? MrBig kind of takes up a lot of space. I'm not sure yet and one of the nice things is that I'm not getting any pressure to decide that right now because MrBig has some similar questions about himself as well. So where does that leave us? ....spending some time together and enjoying each others company and for right now the fact that we live hundreds of miles apart isn't the issue du jour. I'm looking forward to the next 4 days of life in undergrad city. More updates and thoughts to follow....

Confession

I only stepped out of my house once this entire weekend. I arrive home on Friday afternoon around 4:30 and since then I have been inside...mostly in my PJ's sitting in front of the television and playing games on my laptop. Pathetic, I know, but required hiding from the world. It's all going to start going again very soon.

My one trip outside was to take the trash out today-I was productive inside: cleaned out the fridge, the litter box--all things that had to go outside. Also did some laundry today--so what had to be done got done and I am ready for the week. Only 2 days in the office and then off to undergrad city to see MrBig.

August! How did that happen?!

Don't go away summer (well except for the heat and humidity). I don't want to go back to school. I'm not ready. There is more fun, relaxing and sleeping to be done.

Slowly the school year stuff has been creeping back into my life...conference proposals and papers to write, syllabi to plan, etc.

But, I have one last getaway to visit MrBig for a few days...if I can just finish up a few things before I go. Things with MrBig are going well via email and phone calls.