happy valentine's day.. and stuff.. today is one of those days that throws being in a long distance relationship into sharp relief. we watched a movie 'together' (knocked up, which i don't think either of us particularly enjoyed), but beyond that... i find myself just thinking a lot about how nice last weekend was, and looking forward to next time. *sigh*
anyhow.. also pressing in my thoughts is the NIU shooting. we were just talking yesterday morning about how college shootings are something to keep as a 'back burner fear'.. in order to keep our sanity and not feel terrified at work. NIU is awfully close to here, and i think we're going to be dealing with some after-effects from this. there have already been emails going out about making counseling available to our students, and i think i will be in close contact with my RAs to see if anyone needs anything. it's going to take a little bit of self-talk to keep focused for a while i think. and also, i'm on duty, so if anyone really needs anything, i get to be first response. heh heh..
i find myself wondering how Virginia Tech folks are doing with this. seeing all this stuff in the news.. will it cause flashbacks? are they going to offer extra counseling on campus? every time there is a big college news item, both my academic and empathetic interests are piqued and i find myself with a million questions; not all of which i really even want the answers to.
anyhow.. i was really sick last week, and i'm not healthy yet. so i'm going to go curl up and talk about the stupid movie for a while, and then get some sleep.
2.04.2008
i am.. really.. quite sick. i've been hovering at a 100 degree temp since i woke up this morning (shivering, under a down-filled blanket), with coughs and chills and sore throat.. good fun.
except for the part where it's not.
something about me getting fevers, is that my skin gets really sensitive. and by really sensitive i mean it pretty much hurts to wear clothing. and while i enjoy being naked as much as the next person, not wearing clothes causes some trouble with other temperature regulation things, which really doesn't make things much better. especially when i am supposed to be working. can't really be nekkid in my office - it's so cold in there i'd probably get pneumonia on top of everything else.
anyhow, the adventures with the new car have continued. i went to transfer my old plates/registration, and first of all, i have to give kudos to the DMV guy. he was the coolest DMV guy i've ever had to work with, so that was really helpful. the way the registration thing is supposed to work: i bought my car in WI, so have to pay the difference in tax between WI and IL. well, i got there, and showed him my bill of sale, only to realize that i was never charged WI state vehicle tax. so the difference, instead of being between 5.1% and 6.25%, was 0% to 6.25%. the grand total: $968 to the IL Dept. of Revenue. all. at. once.
thank god i had money in my checking account (yes, mr. klumb, b/c of the $500 from the old car. thanks for at least letting me keep it for a little while ;) ).
anyhow, after i got over my initial shock, i decided to look at this positively - it's a grand they can't charge me interest on in my payments. i revealed this to the DMV guy and he said: 'wow, you are a glass full type of person'.. my response: 'at this point, the glass better be filled with something sparkly and alcoholic' which made the guy laugh, which made me laugh, which took some of the edge off.
i have to start making payments soon. that should be a whooolllllee 'nother adventure!
except for the part where it's not.
something about me getting fevers, is that my skin gets really sensitive. and by really sensitive i mean it pretty much hurts to wear clothing. and while i enjoy being naked as much as the next person, not wearing clothes causes some trouble with other temperature regulation things, which really doesn't make things much better. especially when i am supposed to be working. can't really be nekkid in my office - it's so cold in there i'd probably get pneumonia on top of everything else.
anyhow, the adventures with the new car have continued. i went to transfer my old plates/registration, and first of all, i have to give kudos to the DMV guy. he was the coolest DMV guy i've ever had to work with, so that was really helpful. the way the registration thing is supposed to work: i bought my car in WI, so have to pay the difference in tax between WI and IL. well, i got there, and showed him my bill of sale, only to realize that i was never charged WI state vehicle tax. so the difference, instead of being between 5.1% and 6.25%, was 0% to 6.25%. the grand total: $968 to the IL Dept. of Revenue. all. at. once.
thank god i had money in my checking account (yes, mr. klumb, b/c of the $500 from the old car. thanks for at least letting me keep it for a little while ;) ).
anyhow, after i got over my initial shock, i decided to look at this positively - it's a grand they can't charge me interest on in my payments. i revealed this to the DMV guy and he said: 'wow, you are a glass full type of person'.. my response: 'at this point, the glass better be filled with something sparkly and alcoholic' which made the guy laugh, which made me laugh, which took some of the edge off.
i have to start making payments soon. that should be a whooolllllee 'nother adventure!
1.12.2008
happy new years, happy holidays and all that jazz.. wow has a lot been going on!
i completed my first semester working at the U of I, which i am pretty proud of, really. also survived a semester of long distance with my meteorologist, which was both very difficult and very rewarding. toward the end of the semester i got the exciting news that i will be teaching a class this semester! it's a 2 credit class all paraprofessional staff (read: multicultural advocates and resident assistants) are required to take in order to be employed by the department of res. life. the course covers things like group dynamics, TONS of social justice stuff, and making a plan to help create a community on your floor. pretty much it is all stuff that i love thinking and talking about. so that should be super busy, but also super awesome!
after the semester ended i went up to wisco to hang out with the family, including my big bro! it had been over a year since i'd seen him and it was really really good to spend time together. us kids made dinner and cleaned the house for our christmas celebration. it was a lot of fun to see mom's face when she walked in after work to a spotless house and dinner on the table. it's nice to get to do stuff like that for her once in a while.
then it was off to florida for a bit over a week. i got to hang out with my meteorologist and his family on marathon key for 6 days - fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and eating lots of good food. i also got seasick for the first time, so that was an interesting new experience.. his grandfather said he, 'didn't want to get ahead of' himself, but welcomed me into the family - awkward but well meant. while in FL, i found out that the transmission had died on my car. BOOO.. the repairs would have been extremely expensive, so it wasn't worth it to fix it.
and sooooo... i bought a new car! it's a fabulous dark'ish blue nissan versa. for those Heroes fans out there, it's almost the same car as Hiro and Ando drive. so i got the car on jan 2, and then drove down a ways into IL for a retreat, back to WI to sell my old car (i got $500! not bad!) and then finally back to UIUC.
this semester will be.. very interesting.. to say the least. i think there are definitely ways that i am going to be pushed outside my comfort area in the next few months. but i am looking forward to the growth that comes from it. i just hope that i have enough time to recover and process in between each spurt of crazy activity.
and with that, it's time to go cosmic bowling with my staff :)
i completed my first semester working at the U of I, which i am pretty proud of, really. also survived a semester of long distance with my meteorologist, which was both very difficult and very rewarding. toward the end of the semester i got the exciting news that i will be teaching a class this semester! it's a 2 credit class all paraprofessional staff (read: multicultural advocates and resident assistants) are required to take in order to be employed by the department of res. life. the course covers things like group dynamics, TONS of social justice stuff, and making a plan to help create a community on your floor. pretty much it is all stuff that i love thinking and talking about. so that should be super busy, but also super awesome!
after the semester ended i went up to wisco to hang out with the family, including my big bro! it had been over a year since i'd seen him and it was really really good to spend time together. us kids made dinner and cleaned the house for our christmas celebration. it was a lot of fun to see mom's face when she walked in after work to a spotless house and dinner on the table. it's nice to get to do stuff like that for her once in a while.
then it was off to florida for a bit over a week. i got to hang out with my meteorologist and his family on marathon key for 6 days - fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and eating lots of good food. i also got seasick for the first time, so that was an interesting new experience.. his grandfather said he, 'didn't want to get ahead of' himself, but welcomed me into the family - awkward but well meant. while in FL, i found out that the transmission had died on my car. BOOO.. the repairs would have been extremely expensive, so it wasn't worth it to fix it.
and sooooo... i bought a new car! it's a fabulous dark'ish blue nissan versa. for those Heroes fans out there, it's almost the same car as Hiro and Ando drive. so i got the car on jan 2, and then drove down a ways into IL for a retreat, back to WI to sell my old car (i got $500! not bad!) and then finally back to UIUC.
this semester will be.. very interesting.. to say the least. i think there are definitely ways that i am going to be pushed outside my comfort area in the next few months. but i am looking forward to the growth that comes from it. i just hope that i have enough time to recover and process in between each spurt of crazy activity.
and with that, it's time to go cosmic bowling with my staff :)
12.03.2007
well, i do suppose i could post something of substance here.. it's been a bit (sorry to those of you who actually check in with any regularity!). life has just been kindof.. i don't know.. average? i feel like i am constantly working, or if not actually working, thinking about work or accidentally running into someone in the hall who needs something. i've been on duty a *lot* lately, so that probably contributes to it.
**side rant - sometimes, really smart people do really stupid stuff. and i don't know if it's the whole 'in the real world for the first time' thing, or the stress of school, or what, but COME ON people! just think for a second before you do things! we'd all be a lot happier (and i'd be a lot better rested) for it.**
anyway.. in the last couple weeks we had the whole selection process for our RA staffs, and now are heading into finals. 24 hour quiet hours start on saturday, and then a week later everyone's off for break. it's going to feel really weird not actually leaving right away with everyone else when they go after finals.
whenever i think about break, i imagine the whole building sighing in relief at having lightened its load of all the people, books and stress it regularly bears. when the building is closed, they shut all the drapes and turn off most of the lights, as if to let it rest in preparation for another hectic semester. over fall break i almost felt as though i was intruding on the building's naptime, my ghost haunting the relatively peaceful sleep of a place that generally gets very little rest. i'm hoping that over winter break i can share some of that peacefulness and come back refreshed as well.
..of course the 10 days in florida will probably help with that :)
**side rant - sometimes, really smart people do really stupid stuff. and i don't know if it's the whole 'in the real world for the first time' thing, or the stress of school, or what, but COME ON people! just think for a second before you do things! we'd all be a lot happier (and i'd be a lot better rested) for it.**
anyway.. in the last couple weeks we had the whole selection process for our RA staffs, and now are heading into finals. 24 hour quiet hours start on saturday, and then a week later everyone's off for break. it's going to feel really weird not actually leaving right away with everyone else when they go after finals.
whenever i think about break, i imagine the whole building sighing in relief at having lightened its load of all the people, books and stress it regularly bears. when the building is closed, they shut all the drapes and turn off most of the lights, as if to let it rest in preparation for another hectic semester. over fall break i almost felt as though i was intruding on the building's naptime, my ghost haunting the relatively peaceful sleep of a place that generally gets very little rest. i'm hoping that over winter break i can share some of that peacefulness and come back refreshed as well.
..of course the 10 days in florida will probably help with that :)
11.22.2007
11.11.2007
it's been interesting.. the last few weeks have been fairly up and down and a bit twisty.. but i dont really feel like i have anything to write about. so. i guess. instead i'm gonna do this little quizzy thing. just to have some sort of writing and word creation happening in my brain.
three things...
Three Things You Want To Do Before You Die:
1.) have children
2.) visit europe
3.) figure out what exactly it is i am doing with myself.
Three Names You Go By (remaining anonymous here as much as possible):
1.) ayjay
2.) chicky
3.) f. McTC
Three Screen Names You Have Had:
1.) frodofrog
2.) frodofrogaj
3.) acost007
Three Physical Things You Like About Yourself:
1.) my hair
2.) athleticism
3.) the freckle on my left index finger
Three Parts Of Your Heritage:
1.) scottish
2.) german
3.) wisconsinite
Three Things That Scare You:
1.) possibility of encountering a huge tragedy in my job
2.) nightmares
3.) hate
Three Of Your Everyday Essentials:
1.) love from friends and family
2.) breakfast
3.) physical movement
Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1.) my watch
2.) blue/brown glasses
3.) grey sweats
Three Of Your Favorite Bands/Musical Artists:
1.) guster
2.) zero 7
3.) rachel yamagata
Three Of Your Favorite Songs:
1.) song for the dumped
2.) every ship must sail away
3.) moonshadow
Three Things You Want In A Relationship:
1.) honesty
2.) love
3.) communication
Two Truths And A Lie (in no particular order):
1.) i have no heat in my apartment right now
2.) i have friends in the circus
3.) i have flown on a trapeze
Three Physical Things About The Preferred Sex That Appeal To You:
1.) smile
2.) hair
3.) forearms
Three Of Your Favorite Hobbies:
1.) juggling
2.) outdoorsy stuff
3.) reading
Three Things You Want To Do Really Badly Right Now:
1.) stretch my hamstrings
2.) see chris
3.) get heat in my apartment
Three Careers You're Considering/You've Considered:
1.) teacher
2.) academic advisor
3.) peanut butter maker
Three Places You Want To Go On Vacation:
1.) Europe -- specifically rome and the highlands in scotland
2.) australia
3.) the very bottom tip of south america
Three Kid's Names You Like:
1.) elsie (short for elsabeth)
2.) steven
3.) sofia
Three Ways That You Are Stereotypically A Girl:
1.) i put on lotion every day
2.) i play with my hair a lot
3.) i really only like to wear soft clothing
Three Ways That You Are Stereotypically A Boy:
1.) i don't care about being dirty (when appropriate)
2.) i enjoy drinking a beer and watching a game
3.) i love my badgers football
Three People That I Would Like To See Take This Quiz Now:
1.) GW bush
2.) neil gaiman
3.) my old highschool english teacher
three things...
Three Things You Want To Do Before You Die:
1.) have children
2.) visit europe
3.) figure out what exactly it is i am doing with myself.
Three Names You Go By (remaining anonymous here as much as possible):
1.) ayjay
2.) chicky
3.) f. McTC
Three Screen Names You Have Had:
1.) frodofrog
2.) frodofrogaj
3.) acost007
Three Physical Things You Like About Yourself:
1.) my hair
2.) athleticism
3.) the freckle on my left index finger
Three Parts Of Your Heritage:
1.) scottish
2.) german
3.) wisconsinite
Three Things That Scare You:
1.) possibility of encountering a huge tragedy in my job
2.) nightmares
3.) hate
Three Of Your Everyday Essentials:
1.) love from friends and family
2.) breakfast
3.) physical movement
Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1.) my watch
2.) blue/brown glasses
3.) grey sweats
Three Of Your Favorite Bands/Musical Artists:
1.) guster
2.) zero 7
3.) rachel yamagata
Three Of Your Favorite Songs:
1.) song for the dumped
2.) every ship must sail away
3.) moonshadow
Three Things You Want In A Relationship:
1.) honesty
2.) love
3.) communication
Two Truths And A Lie (in no particular order):
1.) i have no heat in my apartment right now
2.) i have friends in the circus
3.) i have flown on a trapeze
Three Physical Things About The Preferred Sex That Appeal To You:
1.) smile
2.) hair
3.) forearms
Three Of Your Favorite Hobbies:
1.) juggling
2.) outdoorsy stuff
3.) reading
Three Things You Want To Do Really Badly Right Now:
1.) stretch my hamstrings
2.) see chris
3.) get heat in my apartment
Three Careers You're Considering/You've Considered:
1.) teacher
2.) academic advisor
3.) peanut butter maker
Three Places You Want To Go On Vacation:
1.) Europe -- specifically rome and the highlands in scotland
2.) australia
3.) the very bottom tip of south america
Three Kid's Names You Like:
1.) elsie (short for elsabeth)
2.) steven
3.) sofia
Three Ways That You Are Stereotypically A Girl:
1.) i put on lotion every day
2.) i play with my hair a lot
3.) i really only like to wear soft clothing
Three Ways That You Are Stereotypically A Boy:
1.) i don't care about being dirty (when appropriate)
2.) i enjoy drinking a beer and watching a game
3.) i love my badgers football
Three People That I Would Like To See Take This Quiz Now:
1.) GW bush
2.) neil gaiman
3.) my old highschool english teacher
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