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.

About two months ago, I struggled with the decision of what I would do, whether go to school in NJ and get my PhD in Urban Systems or possibly get a second Masters in Urban Planning somewhere else. This is all because of one event during the spring semester that put me behind. One class shattered the pathway to my PhD, and made it virtually impossible to make up over the summer. And by virtually impossible, I mean that it was possible, but I'd be so braindead that I'd not even want to begin studying in the fall for another program. I needed the summer to breathe, not study. And, it wasn't possible. So, I was left with a decision to make: PhD or less.

I told myself that I would wait until after my family vacation to decide. We went to Walt Disney World. In all truth, it only took one day with my family to decide what I wanted to do. As the week progressed, my decision was confirmed. As we returned home and tragedy struck our family, my decision again was confirmed. As I've continued to try to dig roots where I am now that I've decided to stay, there are so many ways that my decision has been confirmed, and I've not turned back. 

I may have been a tad nervous to drop that letter in the mail, but I never hesitated to sign my name and mark "I decline" on my response form. I'm completely confident in what will come forth in the upcoming days, months, and years, even though this decision is completely different from what I expected just a year ago. Yes, life is taking me a different route than what I planned, but isn't that sometimes the most fun part of the journey?

For now, I'm enjoying the scenery while not trying to break the bank, but also trying to see what options are available (which are often slim to none with my degree background, but plentiful with my skill set) for work. I'm thankful that I will be close to my family for a while, and I will continue to enjoy the travel, as I've got a list of places to see that is still growing. Mostly, I'm continually watching in expectation to see just how one decision can change my life.

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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 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:

1. I've joined a trivia team.
2. I get to see my family all the time, especially my cutie of a niece who is way too active for my own good.
3. I learned how to waltz and swing dance. In a parking lot. Under Vulcan.
4. I attended the social event of my year so far when two of my friends got married last weekend.
5. I suck at trivia.
6. I also suck at the waltz.
7. I have laughed more in the past few weeks than I have in the past year.
8. I'm learning to brave the heat, because sometimes it's worth the 30 minutes each day for a walk in the park.
9. In a month, I've found absolutely nothing to do for work.
10. 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.