This has been one of those weeks where bad stuff happens

• lost documents on computers
• lost car keys
• never feeling like you got enough done!

I went to a grad class yesterday where we read a book in which I had trouble grasping the major concepts.  I hate those days when you’re cut up in the midst of imposter syndrome.  I am always wondering if I am at the same level as the other people in the program.  Ultimately, I know I am, for the most part.  There are a few people ahead of me in a few ways and others slightly behind.

I am a proud voter. Always have been.  I have voted in almost every election I could have, in person or via absentee.

Well, today, I almost didn’t vote.  Honestly, I didn’t know there was an election.  I live in a smaller town right which lies adjacent to a bigger city (No not as big as NYC).  The big city had an election for mayor.  My smaller town (which is actually pretty big when all of the students are here) had a few city council seats up for grabs.  When I was doing a little googling earlier to find out how I should vote, I kept thinking “Is it worth it?” I was tired after teaching earlier today and couldn’t imagine going out the door again to pull a lever/fill in some bubble/what have you.

But then I remembered how when I was 22, living in Brooklyn, working on my thesis (staying up ALL night), I made it to vote in the February presidential primary.  Now, I wasn’t going to vote that day.  I had decided against taking the long subway ride into the city to go to my home precinct and vote. It was best I stay in Brooklyn and work.

Of course, I stayed up all night working, and finally at around 7 AM I decided to go to bed.  I couldn’t sleep.  Suddenly my phone made a noise. It was my friend in Qns (who worked extraordinarily early hours) reminding me to vote.  I think I called or texted her back.  Anyway, I tried to sleep and COULD NOT!  So, I got up, went to my favorite coffee shop and hopped on the train.  THat’s when I realized that it was RUSH HOUR!  It’s easy to forget about rush hour when you’re a student or work from home. I still forget about it here when I head out the door at 4:30 and am stuck in a mini traffic jam. Yes, I said 4:30. Yes, where do I live!?!?!?

Anyway, the point is I voted then. ON no sleep!  I used to sleep every 36 hours then.  No wonder, I have issues now.  So if I could have voted then. I could walk out the door and vote today.

So I did and I got a sticker. My second.  I heart voting!

Tonight, I had drag my old college TV/VCR deal up from the basement to watch a video for school.  I CANNOT remember the last time I watched a video…oh wait, I did last year at my friend’s in Tucson.

I am surprised the TV still works.   I remember when this was cutting edge.  Having one of these in college was considered a must if you liked to watch movies.  Reception in the rooms sucked for the most part.  I could watch some soap operas on certain days depending on the time of day and full moon night before (Just kidding.)

I cannot tell you how many times I watched this movie on repeat during college, especially after getting in after a night out at the bars (legally of course!)

1. Sunday evenings at C-Town (don’t ask!)
2. the three weekends before Thanksgiving
3. Watching the balloons get blown up for the Macy’s Day Parade
4. NOT watching the parade
5. Walking through the NYC marathon finish line, way after the marathon has ended
6. late brunch
7. Good friends (including husband’s) birthdays
8. Thanksgiving break in the city
9. Thanksgiving on my mother’s china
10. Catching up with old friends
11. Watching tv in my teenage bedroom
12. Fall still hanging on
13. making chili
14. drinks with friends
15. Loving my husband
16. 
17. 
    From a wedding in the park, circa 2006.
18. My friends….

Nothing will activate this blog like NaBloPoMo

Question is, Can I keep it up????

Or not really.

I. Am. Still. Doing. My. Summer. Work. School starts in a week and a half.  The only thing motivating to get my work done now is the fact that husband and I are taking a little vacation at the end of the week before the madness starts on Monday.  School doesn’t officially start until Wednesday the 2nd which is ridiculous because its not a full week and its RIGHT before labor day.  Why not wait until after Labor Day?

I’m so totally unready for the new school year.  I think its because its my second year and I am not as worried as I was last year.  I have no orientations to attend.  But being in denial is not so good sometimes.  I know I will have to prepare a syllabus in a week and a half. I will also have to start reading in a week.  I’ve been reading in a very hurried, hyper focused way all summer but without the benefit of class discussions to supplement my understanding.  I am looking forward to some class discussion but sometimes it can seem trivial like I’ve been through it already so why must we repeat ourselves?

My schedule is very full.  In addition to taking three classes, TA’ing and leading sections, I am sitting in on another undergrad class because it is a good idea. It really is.

Here we go…

RIP Farah Fawcett

RIP Michael Jackson

Wow, two huge icons gone within the span of a few hours on the same day.

And Ed McMahon died yesterday…

These were all entertainment staples at some point in my childhood and young adulthood.

for writing that I prefer living in MI over NYC: this morning, I was awoken by LOUD drilling on my street.  The city (and by this I mean the town I live in) is replacing the sidewalks in my neighborhood.  It was 7:15 AM.  I know, I know.  That’s the normal time that normal people wake up.  Not me.  I am usually up by 9 or 9:30 AM.  I’m so spoiled.  I usually am up until midnight or 1 AM, but I have NO children so why not be selfish!?!?!?

But the city I live in doesn’t understand that. Now, its silent.  Drilling at 7 AM and nothing at 10:34. Of course, I realize I am several hours behind normal people in sleeping and waking habits but still.

I got an ‘early bird’ start to me day at least.  Wooo!

OK, so I don’t live in a real big city anymore and it isn’t so warm here now.  Its been in the 60s here the past few days.  Um it should be warmer.  It should at least be in the low to mid 70s by now. But this isn’t a weather blog because that would be boring.

I survived my first year of grad school which makes me very happy.  It hasn’t been easy or perfect by any means.  This last semester has been particularly hard because I realized some things I DON’T want to focus my dissertation on.  The problem is that I need to figure out what I want to focus on.  Everyone keeps giving me advice which I appreciate, but sometimes I need less noise and more of own personal focus.  I tend to discover more through looking at the larger picture than focusing on a smaller strand. I am taking this summer to do a lot of reading in my areas of interest (under the guise of a directed reading/independent study.) My mind is opening up a lot more regarding possible project ideas.

My husband and I have been away for the last few weekends: in Illinois for a conference over Memorial Day and visiting family in Northern MI.  This weekend I return to NYC.  This will be my second time back after moving almost a year ago. Honestly, I’m surprised I haven’t been back more. I didn’t have a specific amount of trips I’d be taking back in my mind when I moved.  I’m sad that this may be my only time there this summer but perhaps I’ll be back more than I think.

I’m learning the hard way that summers in academia don’t mean “summers off.”  I knew this but I am not getting as much time as I had hopefully, originally anticipated.  In the future, I just need to take time for me and my husband for just us.

I have lofty goals for this summer like cleaning the bathroom–really cleaning it with bleach and staying on top of laundry.

oh and blogging more.

Just a thought-

Coreligionist seems like an awkward way to say “an adherent of the same religion as another person.” via the dictionary on my mac