Why doesn't this add up?

It is Sunday evening, nearly Monday morning.  I feel like I have been busy all weekend yet, it's past my bedtime and I still don't feel as though I've made any significant accomplishments even though I:

• took morning dog duty
• spent about an hour and a half at Panera grading papers over breakfast
• picked up some groceries for dinner
• dropped the groceries at home, started the laundry
• hit the gym / read documents for a school project
• took the girls to the park / met up with Nicole :)
• gave the dogs a bath
• gave myself a bath
• out to lunch with Aaron
• returned home for an hour / folded laundry
• went to yoga
• picked Aaron up and headed back to the park for 5k training
• out for frozen yogurt :)
• returned home to work on project, laundry, etc.
• cooked dinner
• cleaned up after dinner
• worked on project 
• gathered the trash for tomorrow's pick-up and...
• wrote this kind of sad, whiny blog post.

Yet I still feel like I have a million things to do.  Which, of course, I don't have a million things to do but I still have four very important course-related things to do, a few lesson plans (though they should be pretty easy to draft up at this point in the term), a short stack of Comp. I papers to grade, probably some emails to respond to, emails to write...blah!  Too much!  So that is why I don't blog here regularly.

These days...

These days, I am dragging myself and a handful of documents to the gym.  I work out on the machine for a good 30-minutes while reviewing APII Power Points or reading about specific micro-nutrients for my metabolism class.  Afterward, I head back home to get ready for the day.  Usually my days consist of attending class or prepping for teaching my own courses.  I am out three evenings a week -- two evenings teaching and one graduate seminar -- and try to make the most of my short little weekends.  That generally includes time with Aaron, the dogs, yoga, more homework, grading, and spending time with my lovely friends.  It's a good life.  Full in all the best ways, which is more than I can say about my days as an associate dean.

I rarely have the desire to write blogs these days.  For nearly a year now, I've been turned off by the blog and, as much as I try to be not turned off by it, I find it difficult to get excited about writing anything online.  I tried getting back onto Facebook but found it to be a distraction that I could not afford to entertain. Besides, I have plenty of other things to keep my busy.

One of my goals for 2013 is to participate in eight 5ks.  This week I began "training" on the treadmill (which has turned out to be a second trip to the gym).  My hope is that I can participate in my first 5k in April.  Cross your fingers for me!  Although yes, at this point, it will take a lot more than finger-crossing for me to cross any finish lines in a timely manner.  But that's okay.  I'm up for the challenge.

My dear friend, Nicole, and I have been trying out various hummus recipes: avocado, black bean, cilantro-lime, carrot...all fantastic.  Last week, Nicole and I also went to see "Silver Linings Playbook" which I liked, admittedly, much better than I thought I might.

I have been offered a summer class (teaching) and two, possibly three, classes in the fall.  I was offered a fourth possible class but did not want to commit to teaching four classes this coming fall.  All in all, the year is moving along quite nicely.  I am thankful for all the wonderful people in my life and thankful for all the many opportunities I have been/am given.  Happy March, everyone! :)

Now I'm ready.

It only took two weeks but I am finally ready to write my first post of 2013.

As I attempted (more than once!) to write a "New Year" post, I quickly came to realize that 2012 wasn't really that great a year for me.  I mean, it didn't seem bad as I was going through it.  Aside from some professional frustrations, I felt mostly happy throughout the year.  And as always, perpetually grateful for all the wonderful people (and dogs!) I have in my life.  However, I was also very busy so I didn't have a lot of time to reflect on the things that were happening, as they were happening.  And for those of you who know me, often the bigger the event, whether it be physical or emotional, the longer it takes me to absorb and/or respond to it.

That said, as I recounted both my losses:  a best-friendship, my uterus, my first "grown up" job; and gains: a new graduate program, new friendships, new professional relationships -- with a few other minor events on both sides -- I was able to realize that not all losses are bad and not all gains are good.  Alas.

Nonetheless, I am pretty excited about 2013. Odd-numbered years have traditionally been very good for me.  (Another realization I came to just this year!)  I have a list of goals and thus far have tackled them with full-force.  One of my goals is to write more.  I haven't really produced any significant writing since graduate school and a lot has happened since then.  Besides, it's time.

So.  Given the not so stellar year that I leave behind, I shall do what I always do and forge ahead with great plans and cautious optimism.  Only this time, I plan to proceed without caution. :)

Happy New Year!!

Semester: Done!

 

Pictured clockwise from top left: Gurley Hall, James Wheelock Clark Library, these funky seating structures in the library (and those are real books!), leaves on campus, Russell Sage (2nd and Ferry St. entrance), a study station in the library, yours truly on an exam day, campus after class (I wish you could see the blue sparkly lights), Sage Hall in the fall.

I have officially completed my first full-time semester back to graduate school.  It was not an easy task, but alas, it is finished.  And while grades are not yet official, by my estimates I received a B in my Anatomy and Physiology class, a B+ in my Nutrition class, an A in my Independent Study class, and likely an A in my Statistics class (though I most-certainly would not have fared so well in that class had it not been for Aaron's help - thank you, Aaron!).

In any case, I'm happy the term is over and look forward to next term.  It shall be busy as I am taking two graduate courses in my major at Sage and my final undergrad pre-requisite class (A&P II!) at Hudson Valley.  I will also return to Hudson Valley to teach, which makes me both happy and grateful.

The collage represents some scenes from the Russell Sage campus in Troy -- which is actually where I attend.  The campus is small but quite lovely.  Russell Sage is a private, all-girls school (which accounts for its pricey tuition!) but Sage also has a college in Albany that is co-ed and some of the students from the Albany campus attend classes on the Troy campus.  Anyway, I simply adore the school.  The faculty, the students, my advisor..all top-notch.  Another opportunity for which I am both happy grateful.

Random Ramblings

I am grateful for the friends I have.  The friends who have been so supportive and there for me these past few months -- really, this past year.  When my mother came to visit me last December, I hosted a brunch for her and after everyone left she told me that she thought I had a really nice group of friends.  This is not to say that, in choosing my friends, I seek my mother's approval but the mere fact that my mother actually commented on how great my friends are is kind of a big deal.  And what can I say?  She's right.  They're great.

Likewise, this past year I have made some new friends who I know will be lifelong friends.  Kind, unassuming, generous and all-around lovely individuals.  I am blessed to have such a wonderful mix of people in my life.

The past few months have been tough.  And while many people have told me that losing my job is probably for the best and that I will go on and do better things, it still kind of sucks.  I mean, I believe that yes, losing my job was for the best and I am certainly looking forward to better things but it was still a little depressing.

However, I have managed to ease back into something that may eventually resemble a morning yoga routine (20-minutes a day for the past six days!) and have enjoyed brisk dog walks in some sunny, 40+ degree weather (in December!) (in New York!).  I got to go to the farmer's market for the first time in months last weekend with my dearest friend, Nicole and that was not only enjoyable but restorative.  (Really.  I do have the best friends.)

In other news, I have finals this week and next week.  My mother arrives on Monday evening for a visit and the baking and holiday season will begin for me.  Aaron is well and, despite my professional challenges, life is good.  I will try to post a proper November recap (with photos!) in the coming days.

Good Afternoon, Blog.

It is difficult for me to stay on task.  This week in Nutrition we are learning about the intricacies of Energy Balance and Body Composition; Weight Management: Overweight, Obesity, and Underweight; and Fitness: Physical Activity, Nutrients, and Body Adaptations.  I read three paragraphs and want to write four.  But I also have to finish the chapter before my class begins in 20-minutes.  I miss having time to write....oh the things I have swimming around in my head...that said, I am abandoning my Angel, The Scientist blog project for a while, if not indefinitely.  I simply do not have time to keep it up.  Thinking about it earlier this week, I realized I have not updated it for about a month, if longer...besides, given the past month of events, it is time for me to re-think my commitments. 

Now.  Back to the books :)

Quick and Dirty

Here is a quick and dirty recap/update from October...it was one crazy month:

Work:  Our dean got fired.  I put in many, many extra hours the first ten days of the month in order to prep for our accrediting evaluation only to learn, the day after the accrediting team left, that my job is going to be eliminated.  Well-played administrators.  I promptly sent some emails and made some phone calls and I am officially back on the teaching roster at Hudson Valley.  I will have no health insurance.  I will have no money.  But I am thankful to have a job and grateful that I was given such a warm and wonderful welcome back.

School:  My classes had taken a back burner -- well, the more apt metaphor would be: had been put all but sealed up and put into the fridge -- to work.  At mid-term, despite having two As and one C, I would rather have had three Bs, given the fact that the C was in my Nutrition class.  (Our third test covered three chapters and I only studied two, as I did not review the syllabus properly....very bad.)  Things have gotten better, however; and, I am making a pointed effort to stick to my priorities (meaning, not allow my job to interfere with my classes). My job ends on December 8th -- provided I can maintain my composure until then, of course -- and then I won't have to fret as much about the balance thing.  Still.  I do love my classes.

Exercise:  No time to exercise.  This has been a sad, sad reality for the past three weeks.  Again, that should remedy itself. Aaron and I did participate in our first-ever trail 5k.  It was cold and wet and I came in dead last, but it was still a fun experience.  Melanie came to cheer us on, so that was nice. :)

Health:  I finally got to see a primary care doctor.  As it turns out I am pre-diabetic and I probably have some thyroid disease.  I haven't called the doctor and she hasn't called me, so maybe I don't have it after all?  No, I need to find out my last test results...sigh.  I also have a gross vitamin D deficiency...and, because our Nutrition class studied the fat-soluble vitamins just the week before my appointment, I know exactly what that can lead to.  Alas, I shall be on supplements...at least as long as I am in the Great White North.

So not a sparkly, shiny month, but I had a grand eighteen months prior, and one month is nothing!  I look forward to Thanksgiving, finals, December, baking, and all the really fantastic things life has to offer. And, as always, I am so very fortunate to have some pretty amazing people in my life.  What more could a girl ask for?