an unexpected change of plans
A year ago, I would've never expected to do what I just did today. A year ago, I had big dreams to get my PhD, write a book, be some historian on the History Channel, and be a lecturer on urban history that people wanted to hear.
Instead, today, I just signed and mailed a letter declining $40,000/year to go to school to get my PhD. When I got ready to drop it in the mailbox, I had to call one of my friends who always gives witty perspectives so that I could laugh as I put it in the mail. Her response: "You don't want that money; it's New Jersey, it's mafia money, anyway." I chuckled, and dropped it and went on my way. Read more
Protected: lackluster
minor setbacks
It's sad to think that simple things such as the flu that develop into severe things like bronchitis and pneumonia, that become critical enough to keep you down and sick for almost three weeks, including a hospital stay, can make you so far behind in academics, and life. It's amazing to see how such a nagging virus can take toll on your life and make you stressed to the core as you try to catch up… For me, it's not just catching up in grad school; it's also catching up students I'm teaching. Of course, this all occurred in October, just after I got back from New York, but one of the major consequences just hit home.
I've been going at the fastest pace that I can go, and there is no way that I can keep up, and last week, I waved the surrender flag for one of my graduate classes. I'll have to withdraw, which means that I'll either have to take an overload next semester if I teach, teach and take only 2 classes and take the final class in the summer (meaning no graduation ceremony; at my school, on May & December), or take my last three classes in the spring and don't teach. I feel like I'm stuck with a massive decision that I don't want to make. Either way, it's a pretty major consequence that doesn't give me much breathing room for error.
Hah. Breathing room… and that's where it all started… stupid pneumonia.
i got nothing
No, really, I have lots of stories that I could probably tell, but I'm not ready to tell them quite yet.
I will say this… My transition to Birmingham has been a completely different experience so far than I ever expected. I assumed I would be bored and just working and not hanging out with anyone. A month into my transition, and I can tell you this:
- I've joined a trivia team.
- I get to see my family all the time, especially my cutie of a niece who is way too active for my own good.
- I learned how to waltz and swing dance. In a parking lot. Under Vulcan.
- I attended the social event of my year so far when two of my friends got married last weekend.
- I suck at trivia.
- I also suck at the waltz.
- I have laughed more in the past few weeks than I have in the past year.
- I'm learning to brave the heat, because sometimes it's worth the 30 minutes each day for a walk in the park.
- In a month, I've found absolutely nothing to do for work.
- In a month, I've gotten to a place I thought I never could in life (and it's a good thing).
More details to come soon I hope… I do know this: I may not be working just yet (and things are not looking good actually), and while that is discouraging, there are things going on in the periphery that are great and are encouraging and keep me optimistic.
For now, I'll be studying for the GRE to take in August/September, and preparing for Grad School to resume in the fall (and my last 2 semesters… holy cow). And who knows, maybe, just maybe, I'll share the fun stories very, very soon.
