a step in the right direction
Well, long before I expected it, I will (pending the completion of the paperwork and the verification of my transcripts) begin teaching on the community college level. It's an emergency situation for the school, since the semester is beginning in less than a month. My predecessor was a colleague from grad school, and gave me as his recommendation for the position. Strangely enough, as I went in for what I considered my first interview, I walked out with the textbook, the instructor's manual, and sample syllabi to help me construct my own, in addition to the class schedules. So, I'll be teaching two classes per week, Western Civ I and Western Civ II, on the same days, so I only have to commute twice, which is great. It's a fantastic opportunity, and the History Department Chair has offered herself to help out whenever I need, since I'm learning.
It's quite amazing… especially for the situation, since they had to find someone. I had to find a job. And this one was RIGHT up my alley. I can't put into words how exciting it is! I'm nervous as all get-out, since my predecessor is practically brilliant. I hope I don't let him OR the department chair down.
Here's to learning experiences, new adventures, and steps toward my big goals in life. Now just to get that Ph.D. program under my belt.
goodbye 2008
There are a few reasons that I'm glad to see 2008 on the way out the door. And many of my justifications have come about just in the last few months. So, I give you the Top 10 Situations from 2008 That Can Kiss It and Never Return in no specific order:
- UAB Financial Aid: You screwed me out of finishing grad school like I wanted to, and for that, you deserve the fire of Blaze's tongue.
- RCN Cable: Not once, but twice did you make me wait for you for a 3-hour timeframe only to not only NOT show up, but to tell your dispatch that you knocked on my door and called me. I call your bluff technician 35**3, and I'm out for your job. Try me.
- "Homelessness:" This year, until September, I didn't have a residence that was my own. I was either sharing or on loan or living with people out of feasibility. And then when I actually felt at home, my work situation had me "homeless" without office space until the middle of December. I don't like having a way to organize and feel settled in a space.
- My apartment: It's freezing, because the heat doesn't work right. And there are constantly things wrong with it. And my landlord, while he is a great guy, is never around to actually ask anything. Plus, he cashes my rent checks more than a month later.
- Travel: I don't travel enough. And there are things to see, places to go, and people to visit. I need to make time to add places to the map.
- Tourists: I know they'll never leave, but I hate obnoxious tourists that waltz down the street during rush hour or in the mornings with a big fold out map looking up at buildings or standing left on the escalator (it's for walking up, not standing). But, I swear, if they desecrate my city after the Inauguration, I'll cry like a baby.
- Ph.D. Rejection Letters: I'm talking to you American University. You need to learn how to write decent letters that don't encourage grad students to want to jump off a ledge of a 40-story building. A simple no will suffice.
- Police Cameras: I hate you and your savvy technology that caught me speeding. I also hate that you can mail me a ticket and actually call it a real ticket. Seriously, what happened to the people factor in the world?
- History Channel: STOP TRYING TO BE THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL. That is all.
- Multiple transitions: I don't like all the change in my life that happened in 2008 for unneccessary reason. So, a year that will be pretty normal and allow me to only have one or two major life changes instead of say, 10, will be incredibly kind.
There it is… a somewhat who-knows-what list of what I think I'll be perfectly fine leaving behind. Maybe I'll make a resolutions post soon. Maybe.
Happy New Year!
