I don't want a lot for Christmas... there is just one thing I need!

•  This week, it dawned on me how fortunate I am to have a man who greets me every morning with a smile no matter what's going on at the time. JE and i have been living together for over a year now, and I'm not gonna lie, it has NOT been easy (for a number of reasons), so it's taken me this long to be grateful for those little things.
• now, i'm hoping that nothing jumps off now that I said that ^. I always feel like writing something positive seems to jinx a relationship. do you know I JUST updated my FB status to "in a relationship"  and we've been together nearly a year and a half now. before, my relationship status wasn't even on my profile. it just seems like as soon as someone does that, a few days later, it changes back to "single." This might seem silly, but I pattern discussions about this relationship after Jay-Z and Beyonce. I'm pretty open about other aspects of my life when asked, but with that aspect, I tend to be evasive.
• On Tuesday,  i had my phone interview for the summer fellowship, and I killed it! Oddly enough, I was NOT feeling the interview beforehand. Typically, when I have a phone interview, I shower, brush my teeth, and dress in business casual attire. you know, get in the mindset. well, this time I was in pajamas, hair still under a bonnet, etc. It was so funny because I knew my interviewer wanted to tell me that I was moving on to the next phase (a group interview), but couldn't because he had to go through the proper channels. He told me it'd be about a week before they made a decision, but I got the e-mail Thursday that I'm moving on to the group interview in February. Yay!
• While at my second job right now, man, I get to REALLY missing being around Black people regularly! don't get me wrong, I like my co-workers, but I'm tired of talking about Whole Foods, yoga classes, gardening, etc. I can only relate to those topic but so much.
• Actually, my complaint about a lack of Black people extends to Austin in general. I'm already plotting my next move once I'm done with school, or at least until I'm at the dissertation phase. If it wasn't for JE, I could go for days without interacting with Black people. It some ways, this reminds me of my time in Santa Barbara, where I would watch Girlfriends, and I don't even like that show. That's how bad it was.Speaking of that show, it makes me wish me and my closest friends all lived in the same city. i mean, that's nearly impossible given that except for my high school friends, we all met when we were away from home, so it only follows we wouldn't stay in one place.
• I made candles for the first (and last) time this week. They were very easy to make, but the clean up was a beast! Washing cooled wax out of everything is no fun at all.
• I went to get my hair done yesterday (see new profile pic) and let me tell you, anyone needing a hustle should get into selling weave. Steady, legal, and good money...
  
• Uhm, so I managed to drive to and from Houston with only one contact in, and didn't realize it until we made it back to Austin. I mean, I knew something was off, but I could still see... fairly well. Needless to say, when I made it back home, I was dead tired from placing all the work on one eye.
  
• this lady told one of my co-workers that she didn't think a survey sent to district employees was intended for her because it said "Dear Colleague," smh... 
• Just remembered that my father said he wanted to go out to my mother's grave site when I come for Christmas. I'm ok with taking him out there (it's about an hour outside of Tulsa),but I'm not sure how he'll take it, emotionally. for me, going to her grave site is not especially hard, because I know that though her body is there, her spirit is else where. i don't know, maybe actually going to her grave site will give him some closure.
• My life just isn't right without Limewire... I've actually resorted to buying music *gasp*
• I was watching Lil Wayne's I'm Single video, and though we can all agree he isn't the least bit attractive (actually, i'm sure Wayne himself is fully aware he's not attractive), I can kinda see why so many love him. it's something about him that's magnetic. (and, no, it's not just his money.) I can totally see him easily sweet talking some woman's panties off.
  
• I'm in love with philosophy's Inner Grace scent. my new mission is to replicate that scent. I think it'd be a lovely scent to include in lotion and lotion bars, which of course, is exactly why philosophy sells it.
• I know it's been out for a while now, but every time this song comes on, I act like it's brand new. I mentioned to my brother how much I liked it, and he was like, "uhm, yeah, it's been out for a while." lol... it made feel a little old. *shrug*

I probably won't blog between now and Christmas, so Merry Christmas to everyone! Until next time...

it's Christmas break time... and the living is easy!

•  it feels sooo good to be on break!  i went to bed at about 4 a.m. this morning. Why? just because... 
• i'm meeting with one of my cohort members to talk to him about the TA position. he did the same job this semester, and i want to pick his brain for insight and pointers. TAs are supposed to take a 3 credit class that provides guidance for the job, but for some strange reason it's only offered in the spring. so, i'm hoping my classmate will give me a lot to think about. i've never done this work before, and i want it to go well. 
• i've finished just about all of my Christmas gifts. i'm doing handmade gifts this year (soap, salt scrubs, candles, and lotion) as well as a few non-handmade, but inexpensive things. i thought handmade would mean easier, but i'm still finding myself going to Michael's and Hobby Lobby for the actual packaging and details. oh, and i made a run to a cigar store. not for a cigar, but for the boxes. i'm giving my dad, brother, and JE shaving kits, and decided to package them in old cigar boxes. my aunt gave me the idea to go to an actual cigar shop and get their empty boxes (i was just going to search for them online.) so, JE and i went and the guy sold me some beautiful wooden boxes for 50 cents each. he said he's the one that has to find a place for the ones they don't sell, so he was willing to practically give them away. 
• last week i also made a body balm for JE and i because are skin is not liking the cooler temps. it turned out well, but the recipe called for carrot seed essential, which is supposed to be good for your skin. be that as it may, it doesn't smell too good! well, it's not a bad smell. it just smells very pine-y. so, next time i will omit the carrot seed essential oil. (i'll post pics of the balm and other gifts soon.)
• i have an interview for this tomorrow morning. To be honest, right now, I really don't feel like going through the process. But, there's a part of me that doesn't want to pass up an opportunity. like i tell JE, at the very least, i look at every interview as both informational and a time for me to practice and hone my interviewing skills. 
• one of my FB friends (who is also a wedding planner) got married last weekend and some of her family put up pics of her wedding. uhm, all i can say is, the wedding showed a lot of potential. i know money is tight, but i just expected more since she's a wedding planner (albeit newly certified). 
• speaking of getting married, during the sermon at church yesterday the pastor mentioned people living together before marriage, and how when he married people who had done that, he felt like saying, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join together what's already together." and how living together dooms a marriage. sigh... I understand his stance about not living together before marriage, BUT if he doesn't feel it's right, why marry people who co-habitated? furthermore, if you don't like marrying them, what do you suggest they do? continue to live in "sin"? smh... so many questions. i will admit that the subject hit close to home, which is why i feel some type of way about it. then again, even if JE and i didn't live together, the questions would remain.
• last Friday i went to the liquor store and they were offering samples of different Bailey's drinks. i fell in love with the Bailey's Caramel drink! it was a smooth, warm, yummy goodness. i ended up getting the rum i came in there for, but that Bailey's is definitely next on my purchase list!
• Did anyone else catch the Cowboys/Eagles game last night? This was hilarious:

until next time...

praise report!

Last week I blogged about being out of a job due to funding issues, effective next semester. Well, I'm happy to report as of yesterday, I applied for, was interviewed, and accepted a new position! After I wrote that post, I started the job search, which included looking over old e-mails that had positions listed in them as well as reaching out to people within my department who are connected.

I came across an e-mail on my department's list serv for a TA position that involved observing student teachers. As I've mentioned before, my heart is always in the classroom, even though I'm not longer teaching. While I know it's not meant for me to teach anymore, I'd been having this desire to return to teaching, in some capacity. So, I e-mailed the original poster, only to discover the position had been filled. :-( But, she did direct me to the person who hired TAs, to see if she knew of any positions that were open. Lo and behold, there were two positions, and I e-mailed the instructors and sent my resume. Both were interested in meeting with me , and  set up interviews for the following week.

I had my first interview yesterday and it was great! The teacher/coordinator was so real and so excited to tell me about the students she worked with and the kids they served. It was funny because she originally told me we would meet for about 30 minutes. But, we wound up talking for nearly an hour! She talked about the work, crazy stories of students she had worked with, the kids at the school district where the student teachers work, the child she and her husband had, when they thought they couldn't have children. everything! I left her office feeling really inspired by her, even if I didn't get the job. But, I kind of felt like I was going to get the position. It just felt... right. Also, she seemed really interested in me and even gave me her home number to call her if I had any questions about the position. as we concluded our conversation, she said she was going to interview two more people (one of whom was right after me) and would decide by the end of the day.

after meeting with her i went to get a bite to eat, and when I was done, sent her an e-mail thanking her for the interview. i went about my business, got on the shuttle to head home, and checked my phone once i was on the shuttle. it turned out, a minute after I sent the e-mail to her, she e-mailed me, offering the position!

needless to say, i accepted and will begin working in January. now, on to the stability issue. it turns out the position is for a year and a half. AND most of my tuition will be paid, in addition to my salary! (side note: my current job informed me yesterday (after I'd accepted the other position) that they'd found a way to keep me on for another semester. but, no tuition payment and no guarantee of work after next semester.) I tell you, when God closes one door, he opens a window!

until next time...

some stability...

I tell you, day after day this decision to go to graduate school seems like a bad idea. so, this semester i'd been working as a Graduate Research Assistant with a program on campus.  a GRA position is a semester by semester position and that's what my contract said, but typically it continues into the next semester. one of my cohort members also works as a GRA with the same program and she's had her position since last fall. well, it appears my position is only for the semester, as the professor i work with is looking for other possible  funding from other sources. what that means is unless something comes through, after January 14, i'm out of a job. to say i'm... disheartened would be an understatement. i mean, i'll have my 2nd job as well as my refund money from school, but the 1st position paid the most and provides me with free health insurance. so, yeah, to lose it would suck.

so, over my break, when i was planning to rest and relax like a normal person, it looks like i'll be job searching hunting. i can only blame myself for assuming the position would continue and not have a job lined up by now. yet, i can't help but wonder why someone would hire for only a semester? but, you know, i had this feeling i was getting too comfortable.

and therein lies my issue with being in school and working in a student position. i'm constantly having to find work every few months. since my department provides zero funding, i feel as if i'm always struggling to keep my head above water. i was talking to JE about it, and right now, i just want some stability. a job i can count on having until either i quit or i'm fired. going to work, church, do some volunteer work, etc. not this student life. it's too shaky. (and, yes, i realize that in this economy nothing is certain, but i think you get my point.) JE said that if i didn't find a job right off, he felt we'd be ok and would just have to cut back. but, you know, what else can we can back on? cable? gone. going out to eat? we rarely do that anyway. movies? Redbox.

i'm already VERY disenchanted with school, and this makes me want to take a leave of absence and lead a regular life. the fact that i have two years and another semester of this life literally brings tears to my eyes. i know this thing will work itself out:  i'll find a job, blog about it, and move on. but, that doesn't make it any less frustrating...

until next time...