bugsii

Yeah, I know.  But, two are small jobs.  Here they are in no particular order:

1) Graduate Teaching Assistant
2) Graduate Research Assistant (small one!)
3) Intern at the Department of Ed. (small one, as of today)
4) Substitute teacher/Leader of after-school technology program (hmm, that sounds like two, but I refuse to have five jobs).
5) Does student count?  Crap.

So, the other day, when I looked at my schedule and was trying to decide if I could indeed take the job to lead the after-school technology program at a local private school, I thought, something has got to give.  And that something, I thought, was going to be my job at the department of ed.  And it is, sort of.  But, this morning, when I was walking in to give my two weeks, I had an idea.  See, I felt bad because there are couple things that I do that are tech-related and I didn’t want to leave the already depleted gifted section in the lurch.  So, I thought, I could just do those little tech-related things from home for just a couple of hours a week.  I am not going to go into the office after next week any longer and I’m not going to be working on anymore projects.  Still, this is starting to sound sketchy to me.  Did I make the right decision?  Time will tell.  In the meantime, I’m excited at the opportunity to work with kids again.

And now I’m wondering how crazy my taxes will be next year.  Why do I do these things?

The past two days have been a bit crazy.  And my head is spinning and I can’t release the tension in my head muscle (you know what I mean).

Friday morning I had an interview with a small, but prestigious private all girls school in Columbus to be a substitute teacher.  I really miss being in the classroom and I feel like this would be a good opportunity to do it once in a while (since it’s a small school, I don’t imagine there would be a sub needed every day).  But, when I was there, they offered up an after school program, to help their Lego team this year.  The Lego team programs these Lego bricks and other moving parts to get through an obstacle course and then they go to a competition.  It’s a nice-sized stipend and my schedule is much more open this year as I don’t need to take classes, but I’m also gone/busy a lot in September and October what with vacation, five conferences and, oh yeah, my oral defense.  So, I’m not sure they’ll want me when they see my availability, but even so, I’m not sure I should take it since I’ll be super busy.  But, a team of girls who want to do programming?  Hello.  This is so up my alley.  Hmm, we’ll see what they say.

Anyway, after all that excitement, I had to get my 16 mile run in on a Friday afternoon (I usually run Saturday morning) because Dan and I had signed up to run the Crew 5k on Saturday morning and Sunday we are going to Cincinnati for Joyce’s birthday.  Since it was so hot outside, I went to the rec center and alternated between a 1/8 mile track and treadmill.  It was pretty boring, but I did it and it’s done.  Then, I had to come home, shower, and get to work on some analysis for the project I am currently working on with a professor.  I only fell asleep once!  But, it took me until 7:30pm to get everything I wanted to get done finished and I was exhausted after that.  Funny thing is, Dan’s been super busy at work too, and he didn’t get finished with work until 7:30pm either.  We both need spa treatments.  But, instead, I made dinner and went to bed early. Hurrah!

This morning was the Crew 5k and Dan and I finished at a very leisurely pace.  It’s so nice to run with my husband because I don’t have to be jealous of all those perky running couples.    Even though our finishing times were lame, it was worth it for the free shirts.  They were nice this year!  They also give you free tickets to the game in the evening, but Dan has a Street Fighter tournament (What can I say?  It’s the truth.) and there are thunderstorms forecast for the evening, so I am staying home.  After the race we went out to eat at The Best Breakfast and Sandwiches again and the waitress told us that we were becoming regulars.  I like that idea.  Then, I dropped Dan off at his tournament and went grocery shopping.  This afternoon, I made my head spin again by trying to make plans for all five conferences I need to attend.  I’m still not sure if I even registered for one.  The jury and an email is out.  Then, I decided that I should start a Columbus vegetarian food blog, which led me to search the internet and make discoveries (like this Columbus vegan blog and this Columbus vegetarian blog), and also to decide that I didn’t need one more thing to do.  See, this is why Dan shouldn’t leave me alone.  I get ideas!

When it was time for dinner, I called the Happy Greek to get some takeout and walked down to pick it up, only to see that there was some sort of festival blocking High Street.  Turns out, the Gay softball league (or something close to that) is having their world series here this weekend.  There were rainbow flags everywhere and it made me appreciate my diverse neighborhood and the fact that I run into festivals when I’m just trying to pick up some take out.  Everyone loves the Short North.  I can’t blame ‘em. 

The past two days have been really busy and full of good things.  Monday, first thing, I went to the grocery store and it was really nice to be able to fill up my refrigerator again after not having spent a dime the past week.  I love going to the grocery store, especially when I have time to putz a little.  After I dropped the groceries off and had some lunch at home, I went in search of a few items we’ve been needing around the house (kitchen rugs and a welcome sign).  My first stop was to Kohl’s.  I’m not all the fond of Kohl’s, really, but while I was there something odd happened.  I walked past the shoes and spotted a pair of cheap mary janes that, were I still teaching, I would have bought for school.  It was something about the dull lighting, the familiar racks, and the smell of the fake leather that transported me back to my old life as a teacher in Cincinnati.  I almost started to cry.  I’ve been emotional lately and I’m not sure why.  I think I remember feeling this way a little bit last year too.  It’s just about the time of year that I would be going back to my classroom to get things set up, unpack the supplies the team ordered, and try to remember what copies I needed for the first day of school.  I know I’ve said that I probably won’t teach kids again, but right now at this moment, I really really miss it.  I like kids and I’m a good teacher.  And, wow, I really miss the camaraderie that only a team of teachers can have as they plow through a school year making tough decisions, laughing, crying, getting to school early to prepare for a field trip, staying late for conferences and generally making a difference.  Teacher friends are the best kind.  Who would have thought that the smell of cheap shoes could take me there?

When I got home from shopping, Dan and I decided to grab a bite and see a movie.  We went to Northstar and then to see the movie Dinner for Schmucks.  I’m usually not a huge fan of comedy, but this movie was pretty funny.  I won’t ruin anything for you, but the animal artist guy was my favorite character.  He cracked me up.  When we got home from the movie, I realized that the Bachelorette finale was on, which sent me into a 3 hour black hole of television watching.  Why do I love that show?  And for the record, I think she made the right choice, even though I think she’s a jerk for sending Chris home.

This morning, Dan and I got up early to do some work at our old favorite coffee shop Stauf’s.  It was nice, even if Dan was disappointed that they have a different wheat bagel (the nerve).  I did some school work and even bumped into a school friend.  We came home for lunch and then I worked some more on resubmitting my article that had recently been rejected AGAIN.  And, listen to this, I have the whole thing formatted, all of my attachments in order, and I’m about to hit the submit button when I get an email.  A while back I had submitted this very same article as a proposal for a chapter in a book on cyberfeminism.  This was around Christmas and I hadn’t heard back and figured that my article wasn’t good enough for a chapter.  But, just at that moment I get an email from the woman that is editing the book that they are on the verge of receiving a contract and that she will need our final chapters by November 1.  The email was sent to a group of people and I really thought I received it in error, but she had attached the table of contents to the email, so I opened it just to be sure and guess what?  There I am as the author of the first chapter!  I mean, it was because it was in alphabetical order, but I’ll take it.  So, I’m feeling kind of good even if it isn’t 100% certain at this point.  And, it makes me feel like all of those rejections were for a reason.  Yay for a reason!

Ahh.  So, then I had so much crazy energy after receiving that news that my 6.5 mile run in the blistering heat of the afternoon was my fastest in months.  But, just to summarize… one day I’m missing teaching and about to cry, the next I’m getting a chapter published in a book and feeling really good about being a doctoral student.  The only conclusion I can draw at this point is that I’m a gemini.  So, yeah, astrology makes me feel like it all makes sense.  Just for fun, I looked up my horoscope for today and here’s the first line:

Finally, Gemini, you’ll be able to breathe a long overdue sigh of relief.

Yesterday was a good day.  I got a bunch of schoolwork done and then I went to the grocery store in the afternoon.  I bumped into a fellow grad student there and chatted for a few minutes.  This is happening to me more and more now, running into people I know in Columbus.  On the way home from the grocery store I calculated that I have taught about 200 students here so far and have been in classes with another 150 (maybe?).  Then there are professors, secretaries, ODE coworkers and people that I’ve met at conferences.  When we first got to Columbus, I could go practically anywhere knowing full well that I would not run into anyone I knew, and I liked it.  I like to be anonymous.  I like to go about my business and not feel like I have to remember a name or think of some clever bit of small talk to discuss.  But, I’m not going to lie, it’s also nice to feel like I’m part of a community and that when I look up now and again I spot a friendly face.

It reminds me of moving to Cincinnati just after undergrad.  At first, I could go to the grocery store, pick up some tampons and a family size bag of Doritos and not worry for one minute that there might be an awkward moment with an acquaintance.  But, slowly that changed.  Each year, I met 125 new students, their parents, their siblings, etc.  So, by year five, there were 625 students and their families lurking at the end of every ice cream aisle in West Chester.  One day, Dan and I went to Lowe’s to look at getting some shelves for our rec room.  We were in the back of the store and I hear a voice from the front shouting, “MISS RICHARDS!!!!!!  MISS RICHARDS!!!!!!!”  Then came the thumping of little high tops and the big smile of a former student, let’s call him John.  Out of breath with wide eyes, he says, “Hi Miss Richards!  How are you?”  I love this kid.  He has the most joyful spirit and his family is super nice.  I also had his older brother, who was very bright, and we would play chess sometimes during indoor recess.  I look up to see John’s parents and brother walking at a normal pace, also wearing big smiles.  His dad says, “Wow, it’s kind of like you’re a celebrity, isn’t it?”  Yes, it is.  I’ve thought about that often since then.  Being a teacher is sort of like being a D-list celebrity, but without the offers to do Lean Cuisine commercials or the hope of a reality TV show.  The lack of anonymity you have as a teacher is surprising sometimes, and it can be annoying, but it’s also kind of nice.  So, moving to Columbus was like wiping that slate clean and it took awhile to get used to.  But now, as I run into more and more friends and fellow students, I’m only a little disappointed that none of them will ever scream my name and dash down an aisle to greet me.

Chelsea and Amanda

If you read this, odds are you’re either from Ohio or live in Ohio now.  If so, you know about the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry.  It’s a big deal if you’re into all that.  But the other day, I got a note on Facebook from two of my former students (who I had while student teaching).  One goes to Ohio State now and the other was coming to visit from Kent State.  They wanted to get together for coffee, so I asked if they were free this afternoon.  They said, you mean besides the game?  Oh yeah, that.

Anyway, we decided to meet just before the game for a while, then they would go meet some friends (and ex-boyfriends, so I hear).  I hadn’t seen either of them in about two years, so it was great to see them and catch up.  They told stories about roommates, classes, what they plan to do with their lives, you know all the things you are thinking about your freshman year of college.  I couldn’t believe I was sitting there talking to the (partially) grown up versions of the 11 year olds I had met 7 years ago.  Wow.  We ended up talking so long that they missed the whole first quarter and part of the next.

Then they left, and I stayed back at the coffee shop to do homework.  There I was, on campus, while most of the rest of the student body were stuffed in bars watching the game, writing a paper.  It was just me and one other grad student working away.  I was feeling kind of old, but in a good kind of way.  My undergrad days are long gone and I even get to see that something I did in my life made a little bit of a difference in someone else’s life.  Ohio State won the game today, but that wasn’t the best part.

Today I had class and a few good meetings with two different professors.  I am going to be TAing for a class I have TAed before, and at the one meeting my professor asked if I wanted to teach a couple of lectures.  At the moment I sort of balked at the idea.  I mean, I said yes, but it sounds scary, you know, teaching a lecture.  But, as I sat in the meeting talking about what we are going to do, I sort of got excited.  I was thinking of how I would conduct the lesson, how I would engage the class, how I would design the experience.  And that’s when I remembered, this is what I know how to do; this is what I’m good at.  Teaching.

With all the newness of academia and the resulting insecurity, it’s easy to forget that once upon a time, I was a very good teacher.  I mean, I worked hard at it, but it almost felt natural.  I got in the zone.  I felt it.  I miss that and so I think I’m excited about this new opportunity.

Right now, I am exhausted.  I did work all day long and it was mostly reading.  I feel like my eyes are going to fall out of my head.  I just wanted to post a quick thought though.  I came across edupunk the other day through someone’s blog (I can’t remember whose), but it’s awesome.  Wikipedia says that it is “an approach to teaching that avoids mainstream tools like PowerPoint and Blackboard, and instead aims to bring the rebellious attitude and D.I.Y. ethos of ’70s bands like The Clash to the classroom.”  Yes!  I am so edupunk.