Thursday, August 31, 2006

Quick Post

I'm going to work, then off to Green Bay to watch the Packers play at Lambeau Friday afternoon. Then it's up to Door County for a bonfire and fun. A weekend away from the State Fair, yay!

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Nic e Suprise

Have I mentioned how much I dislike the fair? At least, I dislike living by it. I do like it. I enjoy the all you can drink milk, for example. Oh, and the baby animal barn. But living by the fair, that can suck. You get people parking in your lot (ie the two twits down there now), you get people littering on your lawn, you get to listen to the music - whether you want to or not, and it's dirty.

Still, there are good things. Fireworks everynight, seen from the balcony. The grandstand does have good shows. I went to one last Thursday. Great show - The Magic Numbers (who only got to play two songs because it monsooned adn their equipment was drenched), Sonic Youth, and the Flaming Lips. I would have enjoyed the show more, however, had I not lost my ID and bankcard right before the show. They fell out of my pocket while I was running through said monsoon. I thought they were gone forever, but I had a nice suprise.

I wonderful Minnesotan, or perhaps just a wonderful person, found my idea floating down the river/street, picked it up, and brought it to the gate. They contacted me, and I have it back. That is the extremely short version of the story, but hits the main point...someone brought it back. How great is that? I have to get a new bankcard, because the company put a hold on this one as I'd reported it had gone missing, but that is a minor inconvienence. Whee.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Busy busy

I thought when I finished school things would calm down. After all, I wasn't doing homework all night long, working as many hours as I could, and doing homework. Apparently not though. I seem to have less hours in the day, not more. Some of it is my fault. I need to designate days where I stay home and work on things there. I keep going out and having fun. I've picked up golf again with a vengence, and even bought new clubs this weekend. I've started climbing again, though grant it...I could do more. I'm doing moring aerobics/spin classes before work. This week is odd though as I have training Wed/Thurs all day on campus. Back to school. :)

After work is golfing, or canning foods with Karin (lately anyway), or any number of other random things. This week I went to Trevor's softball game last night, golfing tonight, wednesday I'm setting aside to clean, Thursday I am going to the Fair - and that's a post for a different day..., and Friday either happy hour or to makeovers or to some yet unannounced third thing. Or all three. I never get to read anymore :(

I've been working at my job for a month. It's starting to become easier. Not necessarily the material I do, but understanding what they want me to do. As I get into my routine, I'm sure hours will open up here or there. I miss chilling with all my friends whenever I want. It does suck when you get up at 5, because the nights all of a sudden are so much shorter. (Or they should be if you want to be somewhat aware of what is going on at work.)

I'm taking a personal holiday over Labor Day weekend to go to Door County. Hopefully that is nice and relaxing.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

DONE!

I’m done! I finished Grad School! Yesterday, I defended my thesis, and passed my oral exam. Thus completes 7 years at university and two degrees. I feel…

I’m not sure what I feel. I know it hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m elated, and sad and happy and tired. Mostly tired. Drained I think would be a more accurate verb. I am scholarly drained. I have so much to do at home, and I look at the messes I have to clean up and think…tomorrow, or the next day, not now. I will get to the dishes, and to the messes. But right now I’m spent.

Part of me is thinking what next. I have my Bachelor’s and my Master’s. PhD? Maybe. Not yet. I need more time to learn things. Right now I have my job and I am VERY SLOWLY integrating into my work there. Very slowly learning all I need to learn, going through hours and hours of training. I have more days where I feel comfortable, but some still where I feel like I know nothing, I’m behind, and I’m lost. Those feelings will fade I think, or at least diminish into the background as I catch up to the others, but eep.

It will feel very strange not going to school after Labor Day. For 23 years I have gone to school every fall. This will be the first time I haven’t. Ever. I don’t know what I’m going to do on September 5. I may morn, I may jump for joy. I may plan a happy hour to celebrate. We’ll see.

Speaking of happy hour, that’s what I did last night with my coworkers. Go out and celebrate my ability to continue working my job (because it was contingent on finishing my degree in 6 months).

Now I just hope that the rain stays away long enough to go golfing tonight.

Monday, August 14, 2006

I have returned, I hope...

I really need to get back into blogging on a regular basis. I was doing so well before I started my job. Now I spend 9 hrs/day in front of my computer, so I really don’t even look at it at home. I guess that’s normal. Part of the problem stems from my doing training 8 hrs a day – internet based training. Really don’t want anything to do with the internet by the time I’m done for the day. Plus, I’ve been busy after work, and before work too.

I joined the fitness center at work, so I’ve been going to work for 5:45 to do fitness classes from 6 to 6:45 and then showering and going to work for 7:15ish. That’s Tuesday – Thursday. Mondays and Friday’s I’m going in at the normal times (for 7 or 7:30). The last few weeks I’ve gotten back into golf. Yes, I’m a yuppie. I golf. What’s more, I can golf at a Country Club should I desire. I admit it. However, I’ve always enjoyed golf. I know some people think golf courses are abomination, and perhaps they are…but I like walking around in the sun. Concentrating on hitting a wee ball from one place to another with the ultimate goal of getting it into a small hole keeps my attention and gives me respite from the rest of my worries. I don’t usually drive a cart, so I get my exercise. Also, it gives me 1-4 hours (depending on how much and how fast I play) of time to chat with whomever I’m playing with. So there! Anyway, I bought a new golf bag this weekend and I’m going to play 9 holes with a girl from work tonight to try it out. Friday’s I have been trying to get back into climbing. I’ll buy myself a membership again in September. Right now I’m paying by the time and Friday’s are half off for ladies. So, the only things athletic that I’m missing are my rollerblading, and running. I really do have to work on both. I’m not sure I’m going to skate the marathon this year. I’m just not sure I’ll be ready in a month to skate it. I certainly hope so, but eep. Maybe I’ll do the half marathon instead? Could be fun. Running is good for me, but I suck so badly at it that I just don’t do it.

After work I’ve been either golfing, or chillin with friends, or going places. I think life is going to settle down after this week though. This week I defend my Master’s Thesis – on Wednesday. After that I’ll be done (hopefully) with my requirements to graduate and I’ll be able to just concentrate on work and home and fun. This weekend was nice, it was the first weekend in a month or more that I got to relax. Sunday I slept in past 2PM. I haven’t done that in so many ages it’s not funny. I’m not going to make a habit of it, don’t get me wrong, but once in a blue moon it’s good to do. It rained all day here, which truly helped the sleeping. I woke up and had breakfast at 4PM, then made strawberry-rhubarb pie, and then watched movies.

Still this morning I was tired. Not sure how that happened. Oh well. I am slowly getting used to going to bed by 11 at the latest as I get up at 5 most mornings. I should get to bed by 10, but one step at a time, right?

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Damn

I suck. I have been meaning to post, but have been stupid. So much has happened, I'll have to reread what I've read to figure out what I have to update. I can say that work is good. It's still crazy and I get overwhelmed occasionally. All my coworkers are great about helping me out when I have no idea if I'm coming or going. It's actually quite amazing how quickly I've figured out parts of my job. Did I really start only 3.5 weeks ago? Eep. The time is flying though. Soon I'll blink and I'll have been there 40 years, like the guy who's aniversary (to the company) party I attended this afternoon.

OK, would write more, and will - promise, but right now I'm hungry and need to not be on the computer anymore...