I must confess that this post might be equal parts pity party and pulling my big girl pants on. Sorry, I wish it was different but it isn't, as my mom used to say (and still does): lift is hard.
I finished week 2 of the new job, I don't know that I got many many things accomplished but I did sit in a million meetings. This may seem like a common statement but I loathe sitting in a meeting where at the end of it I feel bad about myself. I sat in several of those, it was disheartening to say the very least. But at the end of one of those I stopped by someone in the department's office and they were like... yup normal let it go. Outside I was relived but on the inside I was panicking how on earth will I achieve perfection?!? Seriously. So I stuck with it. By the end of the week things in orientation class were still crap but I was making progress in my office.
It was a long week with so many meetings but here are a few things I got done:
-The first syllabus is almost finished
- In the process of ordering my first major piece of equipment (yay)
-Ran one day after work
-Met a few new friends, several other new assistant professors (we are working on an acronym for our group: current idea SiPs (I think)).
-Read some of the lab manual
-figured out the first day of lecture.
Here are a few things I would like to get done this week:
-Class websites (all 3)
-chapter 1: notes, lectures, HW
-Chapter 2: notes, lecture, HW
-Chapter 3: notes, lecture HW
-decide on pop quiz dates and topics
-maybe start writing the first exam
-figure out the lab class
-apply for 2 grants.
Wow this is going to be a long week. I still have a few meetings here and there throughout the week but my main hope is to sit in my office and just work things through. No idea if this will work well or just be another week where I am still figuring it out. My main goal for the semester is to not sink. So many things that I don't know what I am doing but I am trying to just take one step at a time. My dad has called this the swiss cheese method: just start nibbling little parts away and eventually the pile will get smaller but all of the bites were about the same size.
I'll try and keep you updated on the adventure but sometimes when I get home I just cannot any more. My goal for posts are still 2-3 per week, but we shall have to wait and see how that goes with time. How's life with you these days? Are you ready for the fall? I am ready for the leaves to change color, wait do they do that here?
Monday, August 17, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
First week of work...
I have officially finished my first week as a professor, and here I am about to start my second. I will admit that this was one of the shortest weeks ever as well as one that felt like it would never ever end. I don't really know what I expected the week to be like but it was an experience. I got home most nights and it would be a struggle to find food, thank goodness I had some leftovers to shovel in my mouth most nights. I thought I would share with you some of my thoughts for the week...
-hello professor life!!! I am so glad to be here.
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| Professor Malcolm! |
-wait that was it, also what am I supposed to do all day. You gave me keys and an office. Oh wait here is the textbook. Cool.
-It's syllabus time. Huh, I have to choose exam dates. Strange, can't be hard right. WTF how is this exam at 430 on the Wednesday before thanksgiving. What do I do now?!? Wait I can cancel class if I want to? Cool.
-What's next... I have no idea.
-is this for real, I am never going to get those 90 minutes back. I could have read the text or something. Woof I hate meetings.
-for real it is 630, what happened to my whole day? Also nothing is done on my todo list?!?! Why am I so angry? Oh right I haven't eaten in hours.
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| Practically waiting for students to come |
-hello Friday, I thought you would never ever get here. I just want to sleep all weekend, what do you mean I have to do chores? Ugh grownup life is hard.
So all in all it was an ok week. I have no idea what I am doing but as far as I can tell as long as I show up every class this semester and teach what I should. It should work out. Who knew that everything would be hard? Oh well, at least the first week finished and I got things done... Now onto week two!
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Two weeks off more like two busy weeks
I am not going to lie having my folk drive down with me and then help me unpack was amazing, it was so nice to be able to rest for two weeks. I wasn't sure about having so much time here and not having as much in Dallas but at the end of the day, it was nice to have time here to get adjusted to the time zone and find out where Target is!
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| All the things that need doing |
I made this huge list of things to get done so that I would know what I needed to get done everyday, some of these tasks were easy and some were time consuming. (I decided to repaint most of the furniture in my bedroom, more on that later). As for the list, I feel like I did pretty well. I finished 2/3 or maybe even 3/4 of the list.
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| Pool time |
Monday, August 3, 2015
July Recap and August Goals
I both cannot believe that July is over and I am so thankful that August is here. I start my new job and I am excited and terrified about it. I have so many things to say about that but that is a whole different post. I feel like July was a good month for me, I am in Florida! I am ready to start my job and almost every single box is unpacked. Now that you have a rough idea of what is going on, lets get down to business how did last month go.
July Recap:
1- Move to Florida:
Done
2- Be ready for work on day one: I want to have the car done, anything set up like cable and all of that. I want to be able to get to work and go on the first day.
I did some of this but not all, annoying
3- Run more. I don't know how much more but I would love to get 10-12 runs in this month
I ran 7 times, but with the move this was enough.
4- The Review.... I still have to finish writing my part... oops
hahah... still didn't happen
5- Order the planner (it comes out in July, yes I am buying a fancy one)
Done and I cannot wait to share it with you
6- Enjoy the two weeks in Florida with no work, I am afraid that I will feel bad about not doing anything. I scheduled this in this way so that I would be able to really rest before school starts. I want to read and bake and just spend time with Lily.
These weeks have been amazing, so done.
August Goals:
1- Prep for class: Plan the whole semester, have lecture outlines for the classes to the first exam, figure out the online thing.
2- Run more: My goal is 30 miles, I would also like to check out the cycling room at the apartment gym at least once a week
3- Try 2 restaurants in Jacksonville, I am going to try and check out many of the pet friendly ones until I make friends.
4- Finish the Gallery Wall in my home office
5- Become a Florida Resident: The ids needed to become a citizen are a real struggle here in Florida but hopefully all of the paperwork will be here this week so I can make that happen.
6- Get a haircut before the first day of class
7- Spend time at the beach with Lily, the beach is pet friendly in the early morning and the late evening.
I feel like August is going to be a whirlwind of a month, I am going to be crazy busy starting the new job and still trying to figure out where everything is here in Jacksonville. One of the less concrete goals is to make sure that I am taking good care of myself and Lily. I hope to be able to spend time with her exploring the city.
July Recap:
1- Move to Florida:
Done
2- Be ready for work on day one: I want to have the car done, anything set up like cable and all of that. I want to be able to get to work and go on the first day.
I did some of this but not all, annoying
3- Run more. I don't know how much more but I would love to get 10-12 runs in this month
I ran 7 times, but with the move this was enough.
4- The Review.... I still have to finish writing my part... oops
hahah... still didn't happen
5- Order the planner (it comes out in July, yes I am buying a fancy one)
Done and I cannot wait to share it with you
6- Enjoy the two weeks in Florida with no work, I am afraid that I will feel bad about not doing anything. I scheduled this in this way so that I would be able to really rest before school starts. I want to read and bake and just spend time with Lily.
These weeks have been amazing, so done.
August Goals:
1- Prep for class: Plan the whole semester, have lecture outlines for the classes to the first exam, figure out the online thing.
2- Run more: My goal is 30 miles, I would also like to check out the cycling room at the apartment gym at least once a week
3- Try 2 restaurants in Jacksonville, I am going to try and check out many of the pet friendly ones until I make friends.
4- Finish the Gallery Wall in my home office
5- Become a Florida Resident: The ids needed to become a citizen are a real struggle here in Florida but hopefully all of the paperwork will be here this week so I can make that happen.
6- Get a haircut before the first day of class
7- Spend time at the beach with Lily, the beach is pet friendly in the early morning and the late evening.
I feel like August is going to be a whirlwind of a month, I am going to be crazy busy starting the new job and still trying to figure out where everything is here in Jacksonville. One of the less concrete goals is to make sure that I am taking good care of myself and Lily. I hope to be able to spend time with her exploring the city.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Squad Brunch
One of my huge goals in Dallas was to really make life-long girlfriends, this was before Taylor Swift started calling her girls the Girl Squad. I am so thankful for all of the girls that I met in Dallas and I made a point to spend time with many of them before I headed East. I am so blessed by my friends.
I will admit that I didn't really want to have a going away party, it makes everything so final. I have also found that planning a huge shindig and then no one attending doesn't make me feel all that great. So after much deliberation I decided to invite my gals to brunch. So in the true digital age spirit I sent out a group text! We opted to hit up Nick and Sam's in Uptown (one of my favorite places). I decided to wear one of my favorite dresses to brunch and my new fancy lipstick.
We got a table upstairs and it was so fancy. It was also pretty quiet, so we were able to hear each other. I loved the chance to share my friends with one another. Many of my friends are from different parts of my life: work, college, church, junior league, and a few cases of friend stealing (you know that one girl that you are friends with through someone else and then the two of you are better friends). This was a great chance for all of them to really say hello to someone they had heard of but maybe never met. I am getting a little emotional just thinking about this.
I think that we as women often underestimate the impact that our girlfriends have on our life until you look back at a period of time. I had friends that I had known only 2 years at the table with girls I met when I was 19, so we have been friends for 12 years. I love that each of these girls brings little something special to my life: they are my fashion icons, a great representation of parenting, a constant companion, basically people with whom I want to share my life with. I love that we celebrate one another and spend time just being together. Friendships formed later in life and so different than the ones when we are in school, we have chosen these women from the vast circle around us and make the point to just hangout together. Many of these girls are people whom I have been to the store with or to the dog park, they are people with whom I do life. My life is richer for the time we spent together and since we are friends by choice I know that we will be there for one another regardless of time. The formation of a girl squad is something that as I have gotten older has become more and more important to me. I am so thankful to these women for the things they have taught me and their celebration of my new adventure even if it means I am leaving the great Texas. I am excited to see what the next few years bring as we all move on to new adventures.
I cannot imagine not having a chance to hang with these girls, it was so great to be able to spend time together and celebrate my new job. These gals were supportive when I botched a few interviews, when I got the job offer, and when I packed my bags to move to Florida. There really aren't enough words to say how much they mean to me.
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| The Invite |
We got a table upstairs and it was so fancy. It was also pretty quiet, so we were able to hear each other. I loved the chance to share my friends with one another. Many of my friends are from different parts of my life: work, college, church, junior league, and a few cases of friend stealing (you know that one girl that you are friends with through someone else and then the two of you are better friends). This was a great chance for all of them to really say hello to someone they had heard of but maybe never met. I am getting a little emotional just thinking about this.
I think that we as women often underestimate the impact that our girlfriends have on our life until you look back at a period of time. I had friends that I had known only 2 years at the table with girls I met when I was 19, so we have been friends for 12 years. I love that each of these girls brings little something special to my life: they are my fashion icons, a great representation of parenting, a constant companion, basically people with whom I want to share my life with. I love that we celebrate one another and spend time just being together. Friendships formed later in life and so different than the ones when we are in school, we have chosen these women from the vast circle around us and make the point to just hangout together. Many of these girls are people whom I have been to the store with or to the dog park, they are people with whom I do life. My life is richer for the time we spent together and since we are friends by choice I know that we will be there for one another regardless of time. The formation of a girl squad is something that as I have gotten older has become more and more important to me. I am so thankful to these women for the things they have taught me and their celebration of my new adventure even if it means I am leaving the great Texas. I am excited to see what the next few years bring as we all move on to new adventures.
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| My squad! I love these girls (I flat out refused to sit in the chair, thanks for taking that seat Holls) |
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Hello New Apartment
So I have been in Florida almost two weeks, I cannot believe it has been that long and it feels like just yesterday I was hanging out with my friends in Dallas. Lily and I are adjusting to the beach life pretty well, I will admit we haven't been to the beach yet (hopefully soon... maybe). I know you are anxious to see my new space and hear all about Florida. So here is the first installment, the before photos. These are from before the movers brought all of the stuff in and it was just me and Lily. My folks stayed at the hotel until after I signed all of the paperwork.
It was like coming home when I walked in the front door, I am so excited to be here and to get to work. I cannot wait to show you what it looks like with my stuff everywhere, it was hard to know exactly how things were going to work before my stuff got in here, but it looks good! I am going to give you a little heads up that it will be at least a week until the pics of the apartment with my stuff in it are up, I am in the middle of repainting my bedroom furniture so yeah it looks like a mess in all of my rooms. But I hope to have it up in a few weeks... Life is hard.
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| From the front door |
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| The kitchen |
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| Master Bedroom |
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| Master Bath |
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| Part of the Living Room |
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| Study/Library/office |
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| Guest Bath (and yours truly) |
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| Lily wants to know what is this place and where are my things! |
It was like coming home when I walked in the front door, I am so excited to be here and to get to work. I cannot wait to show you what it looks like with my stuff everywhere, it was hard to know exactly how things were going to work before my stuff got in here, but it looks good! I am going to give you a little heads up that it will be at least a week until the pics of the apartment with my stuff in it are up, I am in the middle of repainting my bedroom furniture so yeah it looks like a mess in all of my rooms. But I hope to have it up in a few weeks... Life is hard.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
The move that never ended
I will admit that this move about did me in, it was as if the drive would never ever end. Now, I did a few things really right on this move but OMG it was a very long week. Here is a little insight into my final days in Dallas and then an eternal drive:
Sunday: I managed to get every last thing in boxes. I was truly amazed that everything was done, I think my parents were when they got there on Monday. My BFF Elysa came over to help, which was amazing.
Monday: I picked up the truck and ran errands before the movers got there. They were late, which made me crazy. However, they were relatively efficient and it was nice to not have to carry any boxes. From my apartment I headed to Arlington to spend one last night with my Grandparents.
Tuesday: We left Dallas pretty early and drove down to Lafayette, it was great to be able to hang out with my niece and nephews. My folks had a few things to do around the house and I worked on getting a few other things together. Also my dog got a bath.
Wednesday (the day with no end): We left early again, like 8AM, and headed east. Google Maps suggested that the drive should take about 10 hours, and they were wrong. There was traffic in Baton Rouge, Mobile, and I kid you not the state of Florida is eternal. We made a few mistakes along the way: we took way to long for lunch, we often got separated which lead to someone having to wait (dad) for the rest to catch up (me and mom), and poor communication about bathroom breaks. We stopped at one of our favorite places for lunch and it was an epic disaster (I don't know what I have ever really considered leaving a table after ordering but we almost did). It seemed like my dad would leave a few minutes early and breeze through places with no trouble and by the time mom and I got there it would be stopped (this happened twice). And Florida, I think it is just a long state. I will say that the frequency of the rest areas was awesome! It took us 15 hours to get here and I think if we hadn't made hotel reservations, that we couldn't change we might not have driven all the way in. Oh well, live and learn.
Thursday: We woke up in the hotel and it looked like zombies were in our bodies. But a little caffeine in us and we got after it. I got to the apartment complex around 10 and was in the apartment shortly there after. Mom ran to the store to grab a few groceries so that we wouldn't have to go out for food. The movers took about 2 hours to get everything in the apartment. Then we unpacked.
Sunday: I managed to get every last thing in boxes. I was truly amazed that everything was done, I think my parents were when they got there on Monday. My BFF Elysa came over to help, which was amazing.
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| Nothing left here |
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| To Arlington! Lily is super confused at this point |
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| My girl watched me most of the drive |
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| My view for some of the drive |
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| Hello Florida! |
Wednesday (the day with no end): We left early again, like 8AM, and headed east. Google Maps suggested that the drive should take about 10 hours, and they were wrong. There was traffic in Baton Rouge, Mobile, and I kid you not the state of Florida is eternal. We made a few mistakes along the way: we took way to long for lunch, we often got separated which lead to someone having to wait (dad) for the rest to catch up (me and mom), and poor communication about bathroom breaks. We stopped at one of our favorite places for lunch and it was an epic disaster (I don't know what I have ever really considered leaving a table after ordering but we almost did). It seemed like my dad would leave a few minutes early and breeze through places with no trouble and by the time mom and I got there it would be stopped (this happened twice). And Florida, I think it is just a long state. I will say that the frequency of the rest areas was awesome! It took us 15 hours to get here and I think if we hadn't made hotel reservations, that we couldn't change we might not have driven all the way in. Oh well, live and learn.
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| A new home! |
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