So I'm back in the office and I already miss the lazy days of the Thanksgiving break. Fortunately, we only have a little less than three weeks until we can go home. I'm really looking forward to a hot tortilla burger with red chile from Blue Corn and guacamole that actually tastes like it should. Yum!
I got a few graduation announcements this last week from two of the RAs I supervised last year. It's hard to believe how quickly time flies by. Congratulations Buddah & Holly!
Patrick called UNM yesterday and found out that he wasn't accepted to the second career nursing program (there were 16 spots and 250 applicants), but that he does have the option to enter the nursing program as a "sophomore". The good thing about this would be that because he already has a degree he can head right into his nursing classes and clinicals-bypassing a lot of the classes that they require but that he probably already has.
Still no word from U of M.
Tomorrow the Leadership Team (all of the Hall Directors and Associate Hall Directors) are meeting for a pot luck and gift wrapping session. I would love to bring Julie's "world famous" cookies, but I don't have an oven (damn U of M). So I thought I would make some guacamole and bring that. But...there are about 30 people on the LT and I don't want to go broke buying avocados. So I have no idea. Nate, Adam and I are going to the store and hopefully I'll be inspired.
30.11.04
28.11.04
Thanksgiving I'm almost done with Christmas shopping...
This Thanksgiving break, Patrick and I had a very relaxing time for the most part. We laid around and watched movies or TV. We had a wonderful meal at The Gandy Dancer, which so happens to be converted from a train station. We had a window seat next to the tracks and two trains went by while we were there. It was pretty neat to watch. We both got the traditional turkey dinner and we both left the candied yams on our plates to stare back at us. I was able to talk with my family and wish them a happy Thanksgiving. I was also able to talk with Gemma (who was studying) and Julie (who was driving home from her new job in California).
Yesterday and today Patrick and I decided to try to get as much Christmas shopping done as possible. With my family (huge) and Patrick's family (smaller, but still sizeable) we have a lot to take care of. In the next few weeks Patrick will be busy with exams and I will be busy with interviews and helping to close up this bloody building so all the little blighters can go home; so we figured we should get a lot of our shopping out of the way. Granted, at times it was a frustrating endeavor, trying to get through the throngs of idiots out with their unruly children (IN STROLLERS!! the worst invention ever). But, fortunately for us, we were able to get a good deal of it done. A majority of it we are having shipped to NM, so that we aren't trying to take it on the plane with us, but a few of the lighter things we shouldn't have a problem taking home on the 23rd.
We will hopefully find out this week if Patrick has been admitted to U of M for nursing. He is also going to call UNM this week to find out what the hell is going on with them, because they still haven't told him one way or another if he has been accepted to their program.
Hopefully some good news in the next week.
Yesterday and today Patrick and I decided to try to get as much Christmas shopping done as possible. With my family (huge) and Patrick's family (smaller, but still sizeable) we have a lot to take care of. In the next few weeks Patrick will be busy with exams and I will be busy with interviews and helping to close up this bloody building so all the little blighters can go home; so we figured we should get a lot of our shopping out of the way. Granted, at times it was a frustrating endeavor, trying to get through the throngs of idiots out with their unruly children (IN STROLLERS!! the worst invention ever). But, fortunately for us, we were able to get a good deal of it done. A majority of it we are having shipped to NM, so that we aren't trying to take it on the plane with us, but a few of the lighter things we shouldn't have a problem taking home on the 23rd.
We will hopefully find out this week if Patrick has been admitted to U of M for nursing. He is also going to call UNM this week to find out what the hell is going on with them, because they still haven't told him one way or another if he has been accepted to their program.
Hopefully some good news in the next week.
22.11.04
Dissection & an amazing whining fest - you have been warned
Patrick and I had the opportunity to go to the medical school here to look at several cadavers in various stages of dissection, as part of his A & P class. We went on Friday night after dinner. We bought some vapo rub to cover the smell, but were surprised that we didn't need it. The rooms were well ventilated and so the smell wasn't too bad.
The U of M med school has changed their way of teaching Gross Anatomy so that the students focus on systems rather than regions of the body to study at one time. They were focusing on the cardiovascular system and so we were able to look at the lungs and heart as they were pretty much the only things really exposed.
After observing some of these cadavers, most of whom had died with cancer or emphysema, I will say this - if you smoke, quit. Looking at these lungs you would have thought that they had just been severely burned. It was really sad.
We were able to pick up the hearts and lungs to examine them a little more thoroughly, which was interesting. There was one cadaver that had had breast implants that had been removed and were just sitting on the dissecting table. I picked it up and was surprised that it felt the way it did. Smooth is probably the best way to describe it. It was pretty incredible.
One of the instructors from the A & P classes started cutting on one of the cadavers to show the students the testicles and cut the tip of the penis off in order to show how the blood infuses the tissues to cause it to become erect. She also cut out one of the eyes to show the optic nerve and how thick it is. It was all pretty amazing stuff.
Sunday Patrick got fed up with my squinting at the television and computer so he dragged me (kicking and screaming) to the optometrist. Because I hadn't had my eyes examined since I was about 12, I figured I should get all the testing done that is possible. So they tested for glaucoma, field distance test, peripheral vision test, and they dilated my eyes (which was an interesting experience). It turns out that I'm a little near sighted. Bloody hell. I have to wear glasses when I am working on the computer (all day at work), watching TV, or driving at night. Yay. So Patrick helps me to pick out frames for my new glasses (if he weren't there I might have bought some frames that make me look like my mother - no offense Mom) and he drives me home and since I can't drive anywhere, he takes Zoom Zoom home with him. It was a somewhat depressing day to tell you the truth. I had had "perfect" vision, and that is now shot to hell. Damn it.
To add insult to injury, my knee (the one I had surgery on in 1997) has decided that it is now the perfect time to cause me pain. People here think that it is because of the weather. Yet another reason to hate this place. So I am doing all I can to ease the pain (mostly because Patrick is shoving ibuprophen down my throat). Today I went to buy a knee brace and some Icy Hot and am sitting in my office with a heating pad on my knee.
Hey, you can't say I didn't warn you that this posting was almost all about me whining. =0)
On a positive note (there has to be at least one more to end with!). Patrick and I have a place to have Thanksgiving dinner at! We had hoped to go back to The Capital Grille, but they are closed. So we made reservations at a place here in Ann Arbor called The Gandy Dancer, which is supposed to be very good. Yay for Thanksgiving break!
Another good note to end on- Gemma got a job with a firm that will pay her excellent money and will hopefully allow her and Josh to get married! Yay!!!
The U of M med school has changed their way of teaching Gross Anatomy so that the students focus on systems rather than regions of the body to study at one time. They were focusing on the cardiovascular system and so we were able to look at the lungs and heart as they were pretty much the only things really exposed.
After observing some of these cadavers, most of whom had died with cancer or emphysema, I will say this - if you smoke, quit. Looking at these lungs you would have thought that they had just been severely burned. It was really sad.
We were able to pick up the hearts and lungs to examine them a little more thoroughly, which was interesting. There was one cadaver that had had breast implants that had been removed and were just sitting on the dissecting table. I picked it up and was surprised that it felt the way it did. Smooth is probably the best way to describe it. It was pretty incredible.
One of the instructors from the A & P classes started cutting on one of the cadavers to show the students the testicles and cut the tip of the penis off in order to show how the blood infuses the tissues to cause it to become erect. She also cut out one of the eyes to show the optic nerve and how thick it is. It was all pretty amazing stuff.
Sunday Patrick got fed up with my squinting at the television and computer so he dragged me (kicking and screaming) to the optometrist. Because I hadn't had my eyes examined since I was about 12, I figured I should get all the testing done that is possible. So they tested for glaucoma, field distance test, peripheral vision test, and they dilated my eyes (which was an interesting experience). It turns out that I'm a little near sighted. Bloody hell. I have to wear glasses when I am working on the computer (all day at work), watching TV, or driving at night. Yay. So Patrick helps me to pick out frames for my new glasses (if he weren't there I might have bought some frames that make me look like my mother - no offense Mom) and he drives me home and since I can't drive anywhere, he takes Zoom Zoom home with him. It was a somewhat depressing day to tell you the truth. I had had "perfect" vision, and that is now shot to hell. Damn it.
To add insult to injury, my knee (the one I had surgery on in 1997) has decided that it is now the perfect time to cause me pain. People here think that it is because of the weather. Yet another reason to hate this place. So I am doing all I can to ease the pain (mostly because Patrick is shoving ibuprophen down my throat). Today I went to buy a knee brace and some Icy Hot and am sitting in my office with a heating pad on my knee.
Hey, you can't say I didn't warn you that this posting was almost all about me whining. =0)
On a positive note (there has to be at least one more to end with!). Patrick and I have a place to have Thanksgiving dinner at! We had hoped to go back to The Capital Grille, but they are closed. So we made reservations at a place here in Ann Arbor called The Gandy Dancer, which is supposed to be very good. Yay for Thanksgiving break!
Another good note to end on- Gemma got a job with a firm that will pay her excellent money and will hopefully allow her and Josh to get married! Yay!!!
16.11.04
A Capital Weekend...
Dinner at the Capital Grill this weekend was amazing! I had an amazing piece of salmon and Patrick had a really flavorful dry aged porterhouse steak. Patrick had told the restaurant that we were celebrating our anniversary and so at the end of our meal they brought us two deserts - a creme brulee and a very rich chocolate espresso flourless cake. I had never had a "good " creme brulee and so I was willing to let Patrick have both deserts (I don't like espresso/coffee cakes). But he encouraged me to try the creme brulee and I loved it! It was more like a pudding than the very gross egg like nastiness I was expecting (bad experience with flan - ick). So he ate the espresso chocolate cake and I ate the creme brulee and we went home very full with left overs! The entire dinner was very reasonably priced as well as delicious. I think we are planning on going back for Thanksgiving (if they are open) and if not, we want to go back again soon. It was really wonderful food!
The rest of the weekend was uneventful and relaxing, which is good because I have nearly lost all my brain cells in the process of all these interviews. I was right about yesterday (Monday) sucking. It was awful. I was litterally at work for 13 hours straight without a break for lunch or dinner. Today hasn't been too awful. I didn't have to be here until 1 pm. So it was nice to get some rest and relax with Patrick this morning. I have my last interview of the day in about 10 minutes. Yay! The rest of these bloody things are spread out over the next three weeks, so it won't be too bad.
Katie left NM today to go out to NC to be with Seneca. He has been there for a little over a month with his family. His mom (Tammy) is still not doing very well. As Katie put it, they are making her well enough to die. From what Katie said, they will be there until March so I won't get to see her for Christmas. I'm going to see if I can possibly go down to NC to visit Gemma (surprise!) and Katie at some point next semester - if I can get the time off of school.
Curves is going well. I feel a lot better and I'm seeing some improvements - although small. I've only been there about three weeks so that is something at least!
Those of you that know me well, know that I HATE milk. I don't drink the stuff and I even go so far as to buy soy milk to use on cereal. Well, wonder of wonders, lately I have been mixing skim milk with chocolate milk to drink in the cafeteria. I can't get enough of the stuff. Even now, I hate the thought of drinking it, but I crave it. No, I am NOT pregnant. Trust me. I'm not. It just strikes me as very odd.
Well, time to sit through another fun interview of "I want to be a RA because my old RA sucked and I think I can do a much better job...". Yay.
The rest of the weekend was uneventful and relaxing, which is good because I have nearly lost all my brain cells in the process of all these interviews. I was right about yesterday (Monday) sucking. It was awful. I was litterally at work for 13 hours straight without a break for lunch or dinner. Today hasn't been too awful. I didn't have to be here until 1 pm. So it was nice to get some rest and relax with Patrick this morning. I have my last interview of the day in about 10 minutes. Yay! The rest of these bloody things are spread out over the next three weeks, so it won't be too bad.
Katie left NM today to go out to NC to be with Seneca. He has been there for a little over a month with his family. His mom (Tammy) is still not doing very well. As Katie put it, they are making her well enough to die. From what Katie said, they will be there until March so I won't get to see her for Christmas. I'm going to see if I can possibly go down to NC to visit Gemma (surprise!) and Katie at some point next semester - if I can get the time off of school.
Curves is going well. I feel a lot better and I'm seeing some improvements - although small. I've only been there about three weeks so that is something at least!
Those of you that know me well, know that I HATE milk. I don't drink the stuff and I even go so far as to buy soy milk to use on cereal. Well, wonder of wonders, lately I have been mixing skim milk with chocolate milk to drink in the cafeteria. I can't get enough of the stuff. Even now, I hate the thought of drinking it, but I crave it. No, I am NOT pregnant. Trust me. I'm not. It just strikes me as very odd.
Well, time to sit through another fun interview of "I want to be a RA because my old RA sucked and I think I can do a much better job...". Yay.
12.11.04
RA Interviewing
We are getting ready to start interviewing RA candidates next week. For those of you reading this who know anything about the Res Life system, typically staff selection takes place in the spring. Not so at Michigan. Applications were due Wednesday (410 applications were accepted for roughly 170 spots), screening interviews begin on Monday and then "In Building" interviews will begin the third week in December extending on through the first two weeks in January. Selection takes place on MLK Day and those cadidates who are sucessful are notified and they then register for staff class (Psych 405) for the Winter semester (what most places call the Spring semester).
Each Associate Hall Director and Hall Director had to sign up for 20 screening interviews (which is not a big deal after having to do about 30 at UNM). Unfortunately, because of the way the campus is designed - there is a Central Campus (where I am at and where EVERYONE and their mother wants to live), Hill Area, and North Campus (which is about 2 miles from the main campus)- all the HD/AHDs (there are only 9 of us) on Central Campus got all of their time slots filled. The Hill and North Campus HD/AHDs got as few as 3 and as many as 15. It gets better...
The trick to screening interviews is, that if I am interviewing someone, I can't score their application (they score the essays and recommendation letters)-either Adam or Stacey have to. So, I have to get the applicant's file, give it to Adam, have him read the application and the 5 (yes, five) essays the applicant wrote and he then has to score them on a scale of 1 - 5. Adam is giving me his files and Stacey is giving hers to him. It's ring-around the applicant files!
Once the screening interviews are done we, as a Building Team (Stacey, Adam, and I) have to decide who we want to interview for South Quad staff. Ick.
Adam didn't know he was going to a conference on Monday and Tuesday and told the selection committee that he was free all day, both days. So he got ten interviews scheduled for two days that he won't even be here! Fortunately, Stacey was able to pick up two and I was able to take six. He only has to get two more covered. This should be interesting...
Needless to say, Monday is going to kind of suck for me. I have six interviews and then a staff meeting that night. Tuesday will be better though. I only have five interviews and there aren't any major meetings that day.
Is it Thanksgiving yet??
Each Associate Hall Director and Hall Director had to sign up for 20 screening interviews (which is not a big deal after having to do about 30 at UNM). Unfortunately, because of the way the campus is designed - there is a Central Campus (where I am at and where EVERYONE and their mother wants to live), Hill Area, and North Campus (which is about 2 miles from the main campus)- all the HD/AHDs (there are only 9 of us) on Central Campus got all of their time slots filled. The Hill and North Campus HD/AHDs got as few as 3 and as many as 15. It gets better...
The trick to screening interviews is, that if I am interviewing someone, I can't score their application (they score the essays and recommendation letters)-either Adam or Stacey have to. So, I have to get the applicant's file, give it to Adam, have him read the application and the 5 (yes, five) essays the applicant wrote and he then has to score them on a scale of 1 - 5. Adam is giving me his files and Stacey is giving hers to him. It's ring-around the applicant files!
Once the screening interviews are done we, as a Building Team (Stacey, Adam, and I) have to decide who we want to interview for South Quad staff. Ick.
Adam didn't know he was going to a conference on Monday and Tuesday and told the selection committee that he was free all day, both days. So he got ten interviews scheduled for two days that he won't even be here! Fortunately, Stacey was able to pick up two and I was able to take six. He only has to get two more covered. This should be interesting...
Needless to say, Monday is going to kind of suck for me. I have six interviews and then a staff meeting that night. Tuesday will be better though. I only have five interviews and there aren't any major meetings that day.
Is it Thanksgiving yet??
11.11.04
Ready to be Done
Things have been somewhat slow the last few days. I'm really looking forward to going to The Capital Grill tomorrow for (our anniversary) dinner and to the town of Frankenmuth on Saturday. I only recently found out about Frankenmuth from Adam and, as a Christmas fanatic, I'm pretty excited to go. An entire town that is dedicated to Christmas sounds almost too good to be true. Around this time of year it is supposed to be incredible to visit. They have lights, decorations, and ornaments from all over and it should be pretty amazing.
Tomorrow I am going to Washtenaw to get any holds removed so that I can take the classes I need next semester. I'm very excited to be taking classes next semester. I didn't think I would miss it, but I do. This is the first time in years that I have taken a semester off from class and I'm feeling like I don't know what to do with myself. I'm hoping when I am actually "done" I won't miss being in the classroom. Of course, by then I think I will have other things to worry about and occupy my time.
I'm also very ready to be done with this semester because I am not enjoying it. I tell myself that with classes and definately knowing where we (Patrick and I) will be living and going to school, things will be better. I really hope I'm not wrong.
Tomorrow I am going to Washtenaw to get any holds removed so that I can take the classes I need next semester. I'm very excited to be taking classes next semester. I didn't think I would miss it, but I do. This is the first time in years that I have taken a semester off from class and I'm feeling like I don't know what to do with myself. I'm hoping when I am actually "done" I won't miss being in the classroom. Of course, by then I think I will have other things to worry about and occupy my time.
I'm also very ready to be done with this semester because I am not enjoying it. I tell myself that with classes and definately knowing where we (Patrick and I) will be living and going to school, things will be better. I really hope I'm not wrong.
7.11.04
Happy Anniversary!
Our anniversary on Friday was uneventful, but that isn't always a bad thing. We did go see The Incredibles (which was a pretty awesome movie by the way). Afterwards, Patrick dropped me off at a bar with Nate, Adam and a few other AHDs while Patrick went to take care of some things for the fraternity chartering (you know-the thing I had to get dressed up for). I was out until about 1:30 am at a piano bar in Ypsilanti and didn't get home until 2:30. Which means that I was pretty tired for my hair appointment on Saturday. Because I didn't have a ball gown for the chartering (I was in a very pretty, elegant, formal pantsuit instead, and I was a hell of a lot more comfortable!) I wanted to have a formal updo. So I go to have my hair done Saturday morning. I made a firm decision that morning. When I get married, I will have short hair that will not require any type of updo. They had more bobby pins, hairspray, and hair paste in my hair than I have ever seen in my life. They made sure that my hair wasn't going anywhere but it hurt beyond belief.
The chartering went very well. It was nice to see what all Patrick's hard work had gone towards. He did a great job and I was very proud of him. I finally understand why he is a FIJI and what that means to him.
At the end of the night we went home and he took all the pins out of my hair and after I washed the shalack out he massaged my head, which was VERY sore, and then brushed my hair. He almost put me to sleep.
Seven years and he still manages to amaze me.
The chartering went very well. It was nice to see what all Patrick's hard work had gone towards. He did a great job and I was very proud of him. I finally understand why he is a FIJI and what that means to him.
At the end of the night we went home and he took all the pins out of my hair and after I washed the shalack out he massaged my head, which was VERY sore, and then brushed my hair. He almost put me to sleep.
Seven years and he still manages to amaze me.
4.11.04
McDonalds sucks
Yesterday I went back to the outlet mall where I had found the skirt I wanted to buy for the chartering on Saturday night. I tried on the skirt and hated it. I looked awful and worse, I felt like crap in it. I put the bloody thing on when I looked in the mirror, I felt fake. I didn't feel like me. Normally, when you dress up, you aren't supposed to feel like yourself it's true. You are supposed to feel like a more glamorous rendition of who you are. That is the way I felt when I wore one of my grandmother's gowns to a FIJI formal during undergrad. I didn't get that feeling when I put this skirt on. I felt dowdy and frumpy and like I was swimming in material. So, I took the skirt off, hung it up and left. Feeling, honestly, like a failure. What is wrong with me that I can't find a decent gown for a formal gathering? Something that is simple, understated, elegant and doesn't make me feel like crap when I wear it. I decide that I am going to find a simple skirt or pants here in Ann Arbor. Patrick said he doesn't care what I wear, a burlap sack would be fine with him, so long as I am happy in it. Although, he did say I can't wear any Bosnian refugee clothing (for those of you who don't understand-this means that I cannot wear any clothing that is so large that I can fit a family of Bosnian refugees in it with me). Damn.
So, I leave the mall and realize that I am starving. The only thing on the way out of the city is a McDonalds so I stop and get a grilled chicked sandwich without mayonnaise. It was AWFUL. I choked it down on the way home because I there was nothing else until Ann Arbor (an hour away). I get back and later on that night my stomach is not so happy. It doesn't like the chicken sandwich either. Patrick tells me I am running a fever even though I am cold. I don't sleep very well and this morning I woke up with a headache. My stomach calmed down but I called in to work for the morning because I am not going to play "race for the porceline god" the office edition.
Tomorrow I am taking the day off to go with Patrick to see The Incredibles (yay!) for our anniversary.
So, I leave the mall and realize that I am starving. The only thing on the way out of the city is a McDonalds so I stop and get a grilled chicked sandwich without mayonnaise. It was AWFUL. I choked it down on the way home because I there was nothing else until Ann Arbor (an hour away). I get back and later on that night my stomach is not so happy. It doesn't like the chicken sandwich either. Patrick tells me I am running a fever even though I am cold. I don't sleep very well and this morning I woke up with a headache. My stomach calmed down but I called in to work for the morning because I am not going to play "race for the porceline god" the office edition.
Tomorrow I am taking the day off to go with Patrick to see The Incredibles (yay!) for our anniversary.
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