Another week down

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?

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.

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. 

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!

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! 

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.

Pool time

I found lots of time to spend out by the pool too. I found it so relaxing to sit out there and just be present in those moments. I would sit and read or get in the water and enjoy the moment. This was so helpful toward feeling like I really belong here in Florida. I am looking forward to being able to swim year round again. I loved feeling productive most days, it was nice to feel as if I was being helpful for the long term.

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.