I thought I'd stop in here very quickly and let you know that I'm managing the week just fine. I've put in a LOT of overtime during the past two weeks just with getting ready for this first week of classes, but I'm doing okay. I have only had one really rough day and that was Tuesday. At one point, I was walking down the hall, trying not to cry and just telling myself, "You're just overly tired, Jen...it's no big deal...you can do this...". :) Other than that, it's going just fine. I might go in a little bit this weekend, depending on how tomorrow goes, but after that, I should be able to keep my normal schedule again! :)
Not only have I been busy with work, but I also started the two classes that I'm taking this semester! I'm taking spanish II in the evenings and "Business & Professional Communications" during the day. As long as I stay on schedule with homework and studying, I should do okay with this, as well.
Oh, and I should mention this...ONE WEEK from tomorrow my folks get to town!!! YAY!!! :) It's another reason that I want to get ahead on work stuff...so I can relax with my family. :) So that's really all that's new here! Take care!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
"No plans!" Saturdays
I really DO love when I have a Saturday with no plans for the morning hours because then I get to sleep in! And that, my friends, makes me very happy. :o)
Since I last posted on the 11th, I've been pretty busy. I've worked a lot of overtime, staying late at work almost every night since then. I'm happy to say, though, that when I left work last night (at 8 PM!), I finally felt ready for students to come back. Sure, I have things left to do and little projects to finish, but there comes a point where you just have to accept that you can't do it all and where you just have to be satisfied with what you can do. :)
So, I brought some work home with me for the weekend, but it's really not too pressing. I slept in this morning and here in a little while, a friend is picking me up and we're going to drive west to have a rockin' good time with a little 2-year-old who is having a duck themed birthday party!! :o) It should be fun!
This is all for now, but I wanted to let you know what was going on with me. This coming week will more than likely be the same as the past two weeks, but I'll try not to let as much time lapse with a blog post as I did this time. :) Have a great day!
Since I last posted on the 11th, I've been pretty busy. I've worked a lot of overtime, staying late at work almost every night since then. I'm happy to say, though, that when I left work last night (at 8 PM!), I finally felt ready for students to come back. Sure, I have things left to do and little projects to finish, but there comes a point where you just have to accept that you can't do it all and where you just have to be satisfied with what you can do. :)
So, I brought some work home with me for the weekend, but it's really not too pressing. I slept in this morning and here in a little while, a friend is picking me up and we're going to drive west to have a rockin' good time with a little 2-year-old who is having a duck themed birthday party!! :o) It should be fun!
This is all for now, but I wanted to let you know what was going on with me. This coming week will more than likely be the same as the past two weeks, but I'll try not to let as much time lapse with a blog post as I did this time. :) Have a great day!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Busy Days & A Recent Visitor
Well, it has started...the busy days prior to the start of the fall semester. Classes start on Aug. 24th this year, but people have started calling and e-mailing in mass amounts because they're starting to think, "OH! Maybe I should get registered for classes!" Then, on top of that, the professors have started rolling back in, so that just adds to the office visits and phone calls. It just seems like this time of year always shows up quicker than I expect and I'm always less prepared than I want to be (which then means longer work days and some weekend work). *sigh* That's the way it goes sometimes, doesn't it? I mention all of this, though, so that you won't be surprised if you don't hear much from me over the next three weeks. Then, at that point, my parents will be arriving for their yearly visit, so I'll have some updates about that! :)
Speaking of my parents, look who came to visit them recently!!! I like to call him Blackie B. :) This was right outside the back door of their house.
Speaking of my parents, look who came to visit them recently!!! I like to call him Blackie B. :) This was right outside the back door of their house.
Of course, Buddy was NOT happy about the surprise visitor and she was ready to protect the family from whatever harm he might bring! Dad said that every hair on Buddy's body was standing on end and she was growling like crazy. She's such a brave little thing, isn't she?!? :o)
Friday, August 7, 2009
Weddings
What's the point of a wedding? My friend and I were having a discussion recently and the topic of weddings came up. I honestly can't even remember how it came about, but my friend ended up saying that she felt that the point of having a wedding ceremony & reception was so that the families could meet, mingle and get to know each other. I said that I didn't think that was true but that it was more for the couple to commemorate their journey together. It's their special day, after all! I realize that family and friends will be there, too, but the focus isn't on that. Or is it? The more I've thought about this, the more I have to wonder...what really is the point of a wedding? Is it truly for the families to be together and to get to know each other? Or is it more for the couple? Obviously I haven't spent much time googling this issue to find out what the actual history of wedding days is, but I was curious as to what you thought the point of a wedding ceremony & reception was! For those of you who are married, when you were planning your wedding, WHY were you choosing to do what you did for your wedding? What were your thoughts behind it all? Was it anywhere in your mind about the families coming together and getting to know each other, or was it more about you and your husband?
I realize that some of you may be rolling your eyes and thinking, "Oh, good grief, Jen!" but I am kind of curious about your thoughts and ideas. Sometimes I find that I really haven't ever put much thought into the reasoning for the way that some traditions/things are done and why people choose to do what they do. Wedding ceremonies, I believe, may just be one of those things!! :)
PS: I in NO way intend to offend anyone with this post, nor do I claim to state any type of opinion on weddings. That's not the point. The point is about what YOU think the history of weddings was/is and how it's evolved through today and how it's motivated you to do what you did and/or why you think what you do about it. That's it. :)
I realize that some of you may be rolling your eyes and thinking, "Oh, good grief, Jen!" but I am kind of curious about your thoughts and ideas. Sometimes I find that I really haven't ever put much thought into the reasoning for the way that some traditions/things are done and why people choose to do what they do. Wedding ceremonies, I believe, may just be one of those things!! :)
PS: I in NO way intend to offend anyone with this post, nor do I claim to state any type of opinion on weddings. That's not the point. The point is about what YOU think the history of weddings was/is and how it's evolved through today and how it's motivated you to do what you did and/or why you think what you do about it. That's it. :)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Pet Peeve. Or something.
I am a big believer that usually when something really irritates us about someone or something, it's because we usually are guilty of doing that same exact thing ourselves!!! Why do I bring this up? Because I have a new pet peeve that has really been getting to me lately. Which makes me wonder...do I do this!? That being said, on to my pet peeve...
For some time now, I've really been aware of people who think that the rules do not apply to them. And it really bothers me. I'm not sure why, either. And just being SO aware of it in others, I really have a hard time believing that I'm guilty of this, so maybe I'm finally proving my theory wrong. Anyway, I just moved into a new apartment and the lease says absolutely NO smoking. Not in the apartment, not on the patio, not outside your front door. Period. Every morning when I go to work, though, what do I smell right outside my door? Cigarette smoke. A neighbor in the next building likes to go out on his patio and have a cigarette every morning. He must have missed that portion of the lease. Either that or he thinks that the rules don't apply to him. Then there's the neighbor lady on the other side of the parking lot who has a dog living with her. The rules must not apply to her either since the lease CLEARLY states NO pets, not even to visit!! (Trust me, I noticed this because my folks have a dog and I would have LOVED to have her come and visit me, too!! But, it's a no go!) Obviously she must not have gotten a copy of the lease, either. Another example? At work they have started a construction project and have seriously barricaded the area off. Does that stop people from moving the barricades and going around and INTO the construction area?!? No. And the list just goes on and on...people who park where it says, "NO Parking!"; people who enter into buildings or onto land where it says, "Do not enter!"; people who run OBVIOUS red lights because they just don't want to stop and wait; bicyclists who make cars stop or slow down for them because they're not willing to obey the traffic laws; people who step out into the middle of the road where there is NO crosswalk and expect you to stop for them and then get mad at you if you act like you won't. *sigh* The list really does go on and on.
Now, I know that we are ALL guilty of these things at one time or another. I'm certainly not perfectly innocent myself. I also know that sometimes "breaking the rules" is practical...such as crossing where there is no crosswalk...but for pete's sake, be a little courteous about it! Don't just step in front of vehicles!! So, maybe that's what it is...that I've done this a time or two (or more!) in my life and have finally realized in the last few years that it's NOT okay and now I just get angry that other people can't figure it out! And it's hard for me to be tolerant of others especially when I really feel like most people are just all about "self preservation," which is defined as, "take care of myself and forget about everyone else."
So, what are YOUR thoughts about my little theory that I mention at the beginning of this post? Does this pet peeve drive me nuts because I am someone who does it and isn't even aware of it!? And what are your thoughts on my pet peeve? I'm interested in hearing what you think! Especially because I sometimes wonder if I'm the ONLY one that notices this stuff and gets frustrated with it! :)
Here's to "being more aware of our actions"!!! :o)
For some time now, I've really been aware of people who think that the rules do not apply to them. And it really bothers me. I'm not sure why, either. And just being SO aware of it in others, I really have a hard time believing that I'm guilty of this, so maybe I'm finally proving my theory wrong. Anyway, I just moved into a new apartment and the lease says absolutely NO smoking. Not in the apartment, not on the patio, not outside your front door. Period. Every morning when I go to work, though, what do I smell right outside my door? Cigarette smoke. A neighbor in the next building likes to go out on his patio and have a cigarette every morning. He must have missed that portion of the lease. Either that or he thinks that the rules don't apply to him. Then there's the neighbor lady on the other side of the parking lot who has a dog living with her. The rules must not apply to her either since the lease CLEARLY states NO pets, not even to visit!! (Trust me, I noticed this because my folks have a dog and I would have LOVED to have her come and visit me, too!! But, it's a no go!) Obviously she must not have gotten a copy of the lease, either. Another example? At work they have started a construction project and have seriously barricaded the area off. Does that stop people from moving the barricades and going around and INTO the construction area?!? No. And the list just goes on and on...people who park where it says, "NO Parking!"; people who enter into buildings or onto land where it says, "Do not enter!"; people who run OBVIOUS red lights because they just don't want to stop and wait; bicyclists who make cars stop or slow down for them because they're not willing to obey the traffic laws; people who step out into the middle of the road where there is NO crosswalk and expect you to stop for them and then get mad at you if you act like you won't. *sigh* The list really does go on and on.
Now, I know that we are ALL guilty of these things at one time or another. I'm certainly not perfectly innocent myself. I also know that sometimes "breaking the rules" is practical...such as crossing where there is no crosswalk...but for pete's sake, be a little courteous about it! Don't just step in front of vehicles!! So, maybe that's what it is...that I've done this a time or two (or more!) in my life and have finally realized in the last few years that it's NOT okay and now I just get angry that other people can't figure it out! And it's hard for me to be tolerant of others especially when I really feel like most people are just all about "self preservation," which is defined as, "take care of myself and forget about everyone else."
So, what are YOUR thoughts about my little theory that I mention at the beginning of this post? Does this pet peeve drive me nuts because I am someone who does it and isn't even aware of it!? And what are your thoughts on my pet peeve? I'm interested in hearing what you think! Especially because I sometimes wonder if I'm the ONLY one that notices this stuff and gets frustrated with it! :)
Here's to "being more aware of our actions"!!! :o)
Monday, August 3, 2009
Broke.
I was paid on Friday and I'm already broke. Not cool. I get paid ONCE a month at my job. It was a huge adjustment for me when I first started working here seven years ago because I used to get paid at least twice a month, but I've worked with the change and I've managed to figure out a budget system that works for me and that ensures that the money is there when the bills come around. I can't complain about that!! :) I've mentioned before, I believe, that I work for the local University and I really do LOVE my job! Sure, it has it's "off" days, but for the most part, I really enjoy the work that I'm doing. One of the perks of the job, though, is that the University pays for a portion of tuition and fees, should I decide that I want to take classes! We have a local two-year community college, so my employer will pay tuition and fees for up to a three credit class at that school and they will pay for tuition and fees for up to a SIX credit class here at the University. WOW, I know!! I realize that not everyone can take advantage of this because of family life or whatever, but I have NO hesitation with signing up for classes! :) The thing that I run into, though, are the little costs that my employer does NOT cover. For instance, if I take an online class, they won't cover the "online fee" of $40 per credit. So, if I take a three credit class, I'm paying $120 for it. In the big picture, that's nothing, especially because I get the rest of it paid for, which is usually between $350-400. The other thing that I have to pay for are textbooks. Sometimes that cost usually makes up for what my employer has paid for me in tuition and fees. No joke. Those of you who have kids that may one day go to college...well, just prepare yourself for the astounding cost of textbooks. Some science textbooks will easily hit the $200 mark and will be considered "cheap" at that price. It's horrid. Anyway, my point is that this month marks the start of a new academic year and that means that the University is looking for money from me for some of those little costs of taking a class as well as the purchases that I need to make with textbooks. I added that into my little budget at the beginning of the month to ensure that I have the money when the time comes, but let me tell you...I have nothing extra this month. This month is especially tricky, too, because there are some new costs being added into the fees for students and I have no idea if my employer will cover those or not. So, I have to assume that they won't and be prepared for it, otherwise I could be in serious trouble.
So, it looks like my social activities this month will consist of attending the "free" events such as Tuesday night volleyball or a concert in the park or something. Also, my "me time" will not involve shopping this month, but more things along the lines of reading a book or maybe writing a letter. You know...simple things that don't require money. I'll manage it for this month, but I hope it's not like this for too many months because after awhile, it's not so fun anymore. In addition to that, I don't like life having to be so extremely budgeted. I do like to have a little "extra" for fun things. *sigh* But, I guess that's the price you pay for free education!! :o)
So, it looks like my social activities this month will consist of attending the "free" events such as Tuesday night volleyball or a concert in the park or something. Also, my "me time" will not involve shopping this month, but more things along the lines of reading a book or maybe writing a letter. You know...simple things that don't require money. I'll manage it for this month, but I hope it's not like this for too many months because after awhile, it's not so fun anymore. In addition to that, I don't like life having to be so extremely budgeted. I do like to have a little "extra" for fun things. *sigh* But, I guess that's the price you pay for free education!! :o)
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