As finals come to a close- one last stack of papers lay beside me to grade. Grades to post, paper work to wrap up - and then I will tie a big red bow on this first semester of school and say-
it is finished.
What an experience it has been...
I thought I would feel so light today, smiling from ear to ear.
But- this season of work has squeezed out so many things I love about the holiday season.
Both Neil and I have been working so hard, that those events outside of work were missed this season.
The CTWP Holiday Social
Kevin & Missy's Red Soiree
Ryan & Sandra's Christmas Party
Michele's Cookie & Jewelry Party
Alex's Ornament Exchange Party
Miranda's Birthday Brunch
Amye's shopping visit to the outlet mall
The Annual White Elephant Gift Exchange Party
ALL missed by us.
I'm just not sure what to say about it.
I know I am investing in the future, but at what sacrifice?
I miss the joy I used to find in cleaning my house, cooking dinner and seeing our friends- things that I do not have much time to do anymore.
I just want my friends to know I still love them. I miss them terribly. I hope I will see them soon.
Next year, I will figure out a way to do it better. This program will only interrupt one more holiday season, and next year- I will surely be more prepared.
Time to dry it up and count my blessings.
The last thing I'm missing is an attitude adjustment. Hopefully, I'll find it soon.
My husband has said on several occasions... "Grad school is about as much fun as stabbing yourself in the eye with a fork, over and over and over." I'll just leave it at that.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday Short List
Monday, Monday- here we go!
I missed my pilates class because my brain is too full.
My heart is full because we set up out Christmas tree and decked the halls last night- joy!
Church and my mother's Christmas brunch brought food for the soul and reminded me that the world does not revolve around my doctoral program.
This season is a time for reflection on God's gifts and blessings to us (and oh, they are so many), and a time to GIVE to others.
The Limpopo Writing Project is my charity project this Christmas, and I am even more excited to try to put together a little money for learners far away who are moving along their educational journey- just like I am trying to do.
Dancing to Bing Crosby in the living room with my husband fills my bucket.
The Christmas shopping is done, Christmas cards are mailed- it's time to get back to the school work.
Giddy up!
I missed my pilates class because my brain is too full.
My heart is full because we set up out Christmas tree and decked the halls last night- joy!
Church and my mother's Christmas brunch brought food for the soul and reminded me that the world does not revolve around my doctoral program.
This season is a time for reflection on God's gifts and blessings to us (and oh, they are so many), and a time to GIVE to others.
The Limpopo Writing Project is my charity project this Christmas, and I am even more excited to try to put together a little money for learners far away who are moving along their educational journey- just like I am trying to do.
Dancing to Bing Crosby in the living room with my husband fills my bucket.
The Christmas shopping is done, Christmas cards are mailed- it's time to get back to the school work.
Giddy up!
Friday, December 3, 2010
30 Second Pity Party
I'm going to allow myself to write one pitiful sentence, so here goes:
My house needs cleaning, laundry needs doing, I have a paper to write, stacks of grading, a final to write, grades to submit, IRB training to compete, and three statistics assignments to complete, Christmas cards to mail, and the fact that my precious tradition of putting up my tree the day after thanksgiving did not happen this year makes me want to cry right now. I am afraid Christmas is being smothered out by work. After work has already gobbled up my friends' holiday parties- this work is really starting to get to me. Okay- that was 3 sentences.
Time for 3 sentences of truth:
I am blessed. God is good. Life is good.
Time for action:
Time to dry it up, eat a bowl of chicken soup and get this house clean. I can do it. I can do it.
One.
More.
Week.
My house needs cleaning, laundry needs doing, I have a paper to write, stacks of grading, a final to write, grades to submit, IRB training to compete, and three statistics assignments to complete, Christmas cards to mail, and the fact that my precious tradition of putting up my tree the day after thanksgiving did not happen this year makes me want to cry right now. I am afraid Christmas is being smothered out by work. After work has already gobbled up my friends' holiday parties- this work is really starting to get to me. Okay- that was 3 sentences.
Time for 3 sentences of truth:
I am blessed. God is good. Life is good.
Time for action:
Time to dry it up, eat a bowl of chicken soup and get this house clean. I can do it. I can do it.
One.
More.
Week.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Oh the weather outside is... tepid.
Yes, the holiday music is in full swing. I have already rented A Christmas Carol and pulled my best campaign to put up the Christmas tree- rightly rejected by Neil in order to stay true to our own family tradition- putting up the tree the day after Thanksgiving. I can't wait!
This Thanksgiving holiday is riddled with a MASSIVE amount of work to be done, of which, this blog post is a feeble attempt to delay the looming 10 hours of work I must somehow fit into today. How? you ask.
I don't really know. I typically have a grand scheme- but today I don't have the time to make one. So it will be settled that somehow, someway, I will fit it all in and live to tell about it.
Even as I type this, I can feel the pressure beginning to surround my mushy brain. Maybe it's the delirium of too much work and not enough sleep, maybe it's my recent conference in Disney's Magical Kingdom... but somehow I am positive that I can pull it all off to the tune of little friendly mice singing, "We can do it! We can do it! We can help our Cinder-melly!"
Today - 10 hours grading, yoga to balance it out
Wendesday - House Cleaning, Grocery Shopping, Lunch with Amye in San Marcos, WORK, Pack for T-day
Thursday - Up early to make Baked Potato Casserole for T-day lunch at the ranch, Pick up Mike in Fredricksburg, Spend the day at the ranch, Take Christmas Card Photos, B&B in Fredricksburg
Friday - Fun in F-burg then head home to prepare for T-day with Barb, Steve and Zach
Saturday - T-day lunch with the Fam at our house, REST
Sunday - A3's baptism and lunch reception at the Mansion, home - Christmas Tree Time!
Did I mention I have 3 papers due the week after Thanksgiving? Yes, I do. If you know any helpful, magical mice- please give them my address.
This Thanksgiving holiday is riddled with a MASSIVE amount of work to be done, of which, this blog post is a feeble attempt to delay the looming 10 hours of work I must somehow fit into today. How? you ask.
I don't really know. I typically have a grand scheme- but today I don't have the time to make one. So it will be settled that somehow, someway, I will fit it all in and live to tell about it.
Even as I type this, I can feel the pressure beginning to surround my mushy brain. Maybe it's the delirium of too much work and not enough sleep, maybe it's my recent conference in Disney's Magical Kingdom... but somehow I am positive that I can pull it all off to the tune of little friendly mice singing, "We can do it! We can do it! We can help our Cinder-melly!"
Today - 10 hours grading, yoga to balance it out
Wendesday - House Cleaning, Grocery Shopping, Lunch with Amye in San Marcos, WORK, Pack for T-day
Thursday - Up early to make Baked Potato Casserole for T-day lunch at the ranch, Pick up Mike in Fredricksburg, Spend the day at the ranch, Take Christmas Card Photos, B&B in Fredricksburg
Friday - Fun in F-burg then head home to prepare for T-day with Barb, Steve and Zach
Saturday - T-day lunch with the Fam at our house, REST
Sunday - A3's baptism and lunch reception at the Mansion, home - Christmas Tree Time!
Did I mention I have 3 papers due the week after Thanksgiving? Yes, I do. If you know any helpful, magical mice- please give them my address.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Counting
What better day than today to count my blessings!
1. The new bed arrived! We can finally get that mattress off the floor in our guest room!
2. Pilates is awesome!
3. I have a new work-out partner on Monday nights! Yeah accountability!
4. I have some great new recipes in my bag.
5. The holidays are coming!
6. I can do my to do list one item at a time. I can. I can do it. I can get the grading and projects done.
7. A wedding, a marathon, and a research paper. Here we go weekend!
1. The new bed arrived! We can finally get that mattress off the floor in our guest room!
2. Pilates is awesome!
3. I have a new work-out partner on Monday nights! Yeah accountability!
4. I have some great new recipes in my bag.
5. The holidays are coming!
6. I can do my to do list one item at a time. I can. I can do it. I can get the grading and projects done.
7. A wedding, a marathon, and a research paper. Here we go weekend!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
At the helm of Overwhelmed!
Oh do I have a mountain of work in front of me!
This morning I met my class at the Texas Institute Museum of Texas History and Cultures.
What a fantastic place. They had an exhibit called PLAY! all about learning through play and social interaction- in addition to other exhibits such as Texas cultures, Texas history and a particularly cute live quilting bee. I stood talking with the quilting ladies as they worked on a beautiful quilt. One lady maneuvered her walker to show me the material that she was going to use for her next quilt, after this present one was finished. "It's not my turn yet," she said, "my turn is the one after the next turn." You see all of the ladies work together on one quilt- they all contribute to the quilt until it's finished. Then the next lady in the circle brings out her pattern for her quilt and everyone works away on that one.
"What if someone brings a super-hard one?" I asked.
"Well," she laughed, "then that's just the way it is."
"I'd like to make a quilt like this one day," I said.
"Well, just make sure you put the story one the back. Write where the pieces came from- that makes the quilt much more valuable," she said as she turned the corner of the quilt over to show me where the quilter had recorded the history of the quilt.
The material came from her children's clothes that were made from them during a mission trip in Africa.
"Yes," I said, "I will write the story of the quilt on the back; I can see that is very important."
One day I'd like to put the thread to the needle.
For now, I'll put the pen to the paper and keep writing.
Writing these intimidating papers and stretching my little brain a little more each day.
I can only hope that the mounds and mounds of pieces around me will someday end up as something beautiful.
This morning I met my class at the Texas Institute Museum of Texas History and Cultures.
What a fantastic place. They had an exhibit called PLAY! all about learning through play and social interaction- in addition to other exhibits such as Texas cultures, Texas history and a particularly cute live quilting bee. I stood talking with the quilting ladies as they worked on a beautiful quilt. One lady maneuvered her walker to show me the material that she was going to use for her next quilt, after this present one was finished. "It's not my turn yet," she said, "my turn is the one after the next turn." You see all of the ladies work together on one quilt- they all contribute to the quilt until it's finished. Then the next lady in the circle brings out her pattern for her quilt and everyone works away on that one.
"What if someone brings a super-hard one?" I asked.
"Well," she laughed, "then that's just the way it is."
"I'd like to make a quilt like this one day," I said.
"Well, just make sure you put the story one the back. Write where the pieces came from- that makes the quilt much more valuable," she said as she turned the corner of the quilt over to show me where the quilter had recorded the history of the quilt.
The material came from her children's clothes that were made from them during a mission trip in Africa.
"Yes," I said, "I will write the story of the quilt on the back; I can see that is very important."
One day I'd like to put the thread to the needle.
For now, I'll put the pen to the paper and keep writing.
Writing these intimidating papers and stretching my little brain a little more each day.
I can only hope that the mounds and mounds of pieces around me will someday end up as something beautiful.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Hello Monday, nice to see you!
Friday, Neil and I were so OVER working, we decided to go to the bar for a cocktail...
After all, in our new house, the bar is only a few steps away from the kitchen. So we went, my first attempt at a cranberry martini tasted like cough syrup, so down the drain it went.
Neil is obviously the better "mixologist" of this pair, and the lemon martini he produced certainly did take the edge off of a long, intense week.
Saturday brought work events and A1's third birthday. He smashed a pinata and ran around the playground with his little buddies.
A1 is 3 - he is charming, thoughtful and open to the wide world in front of him.
He translates between English and Spanish.
He sings and love musical instruments.
We had fun with bubbles after he scraped his knee.
He is a good boy, and a very special boy.
Saturday night became spontaneous when M&K drove in from Houston to attend Wurstfest in New Braunfels. I never attended this notorious festival during my college years because I hated beer and therefore did not see the point of a crowded beer festival. However, I have since acquired the taste for hefifizen beer and quite enjoyed this festive festival. Folks in German gear, eating German food washed down by German beer. What could be better?
How about one of the headlining German bands? The beautiful lead singer not only sang, but played the piano, trumpet and saxophone- typically 2 simultaneously. She was impressive.
It was a rumpus enjoyed by all.
Sunday brought our typical Egg and I breakfast, housework, a nap an less-strenuous-than-usual-bike ride through the park. Then school work and trick-or-treaters. An online sermon closed the night with reflection and thankful hearts.
I woke this Monday morning with a refreshed bucket of gumption for the week.
My new shakes and supplements arrived and I LOVE them! Really fantastic- the best part about them is they do not have to be blended- they can mix with plain water and taste just fine. Oh the joy of a one-step snack or meal. Check them out here
Here we go Monday! Welcome November!
Fall into good habits
Fall into good attitudes
Fall into good memories
After all, in our new house, the bar is only a few steps away from the kitchen. So we went, my first attempt at a cranberry martini tasted like cough syrup, so down the drain it went.
Neil is obviously the better "mixologist" of this pair, and the lemon martini he produced certainly did take the edge off of a long, intense week.
Saturday brought work events and A1's third birthday. He smashed a pinata and ran around the playground with his little buddies.
A1 is 3 - he is charming, thoughtful and open to the wide world in front of him.
He translates between English and Spanish.
He sings and love musical instruments.
We had fun with bubbles after he scraped his knee.
He is a good boy, and a very special boy.
Saturday night became spontaneous when M&K drove in from Houston to attend Wurstfest in New Braunfels. I never attended this notorious festival during my college years because I hated beer and therefore did not see the point of a crowded beer festival. However, I have since acquired the taste for hefifizen beer and quite enjoyed this festive festival. Folks in German gear, eating German food washed down by German beer. What could be better?
How about one of the headlining German bands? The beautiful lead singer not only sang, but played the piano, trumpet and saxophone- typically 2 simultaneously. She was impressive.
It was a rumpus enjoyed by all.
Sunday brought our typical Egg and I breakfast, housework, a nap an less-strenuous-than-usual-bike ride through the park. Then school work and trick-or-treaters. An online sermon closed the night with reflection and thankful hearts.
I woke this Monday morning with a refreshed bucket of gumption for the week.
My new shakes and supplements arrived and I LOVE them! Really fantastic- the best part about them is they do not have to be blended- they can mix with plain water and taste just fine. Oh the joy of a one-step snack or meal. Check them out here
Here we go Monday! Welcome November!
Fall into good habits
Fall into good attitudes
Fall into good memories
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