I can't believe it's been a year since I last posted...actually a little more than a year....I have a few started posts, but never actually finished one. Let's hope this one sees the light of day.
A lot has happened in a year. My last post spoke of my on-line dating experience. Well, I am happy to report that not only was my last date successful but we are in happy couple bliss. It's probably sickening to those around us. I have to say that I have always felt lucky, but now I can say I am very lucky to not have only fallen in love once, but now twice. And twice for real. It doesn't happen for many, so I count my blessings.
Other developments in my life- I was promoted last February. My new job has me balancing and keeping our department's very large budget and overseeing all of our assessment efforts. It's been an interesting transition from working with staff and students every day, to just working mostly with numbers. I have had the opportunity to get to know a whole different set of people on our campus, which opens up the picture of how a university works even more for me. I miss my interactions with the live in staff, I have been thinking hard on how to fix this, but have yet to come up with a good idea. If there are any suggestions, I will take them.
As for Albany, I have made the decision to take an "academic hiatus" from my program. It started last Spring when I realized that I wanted to focus more on my personal life, and didn't want to spend my weekends completing homework. So, my adviser and I sat down for a chat about what to do now, and decided that if I completed two classes this Fall, I could earn my Certificate of Advance Study, and be done with school for now. My academic hiatus allows me time to really think over the idea of a PhD, and do the things I have been wanting to do with no guilt. I try not to think of myself as a PhD drop out, hence the academic hiatus term.
I have moved to PA and live in the woods. I call it the farm, and have a ton of good stories about my life there. My hope is to keep motivated with this blog and write about the farm, the chickens, ducks, and other things there. Stay tuned...
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
on-line dating
back in may i decided to take the plunge and try on-line dating....it was something i only shared with one other person...mostly because i wasn't sure i was ready for it....but knew i had to at least try....
so, it started....since i first tried it in may, i have since learned from many people that they met their significant other on-line....and have had the opportunity to share some of the stories that go along with on-line dating....
i have a few stories myself....there was the woman who never met me, but was annoyed almost instantly with me because i didn't answer her emails with in a certain prescribed time....of course, i am still not sure what that timeline was, but i think if i answered them within 2 minutes, it still wouldn't have been fast enough....
then there were the two woman who talked to me on the phone a few times each....things seemed to be going well...one asked me to meet for coffee, i agreed, but never heard where or when....the other just stopped communicating altogether....no explanation, nothing....just never heard from her again....
i actually made it on one date....the woman was a little pushy about setting up the date, insisting that it happen the next day and it's over dinner...no matter what i tried to push it back to another day or not dinner, it didn't work....i finally gave in....dinner was painful....it started with the judgmental look she gave my clothes (mind you i was dressed appropriately for the restaurant she picked)....then it painfully lasted 3 hours....she picked up on none of my non-verbals, or even verbal hints....i had made an escape plan for myself, a story about jack being sick, so it was time to bring the story out....so, i used the story and stood up....she got that hint....on our way out, she told me what a great time she had and wanted to see me again....i thought for a minute and decided to be honest....there outside the restaurant i told her that i didn't think things would go anywhere and that i didn't want to try this again....my bluntness didn't sink in, the next day she emailed me about getting together again....i again was straight forward with her....
as i was about to give up on on-line dating, i decided to give one more woman a chance....we met for coffee....which lasted 3 hours....a different kind of 3 hours....we hit it off well, and i am happy to say almost 4 months later, things are still going well....
over the months i have talked to many people who have on-line dating stories....something that i thought i was alone in or a minority at least....but i am happy to hear the stories and to know that lots of people do it....
so, it started....since i first tried it in may, i have since learned from many people that they met their significant other on-line....and have had the opportunity to share some of the stories that go along with on-line dating....
i have a few stories myself....there was the woman who never met me, but was annoyed almost instantly with me because i didn't answer her emails with in a certain prescribed time....of course, i am still not sure what that timeline was, but i think if i answered them within 2 minutes, it still wouldn't have been fast enough....
then there were the two woman who talked to me on the phone a few times each....things seemed to be going well...one asked me to meet for coffee, i agreed, but never heard where or when....the other just stopped communicating altogether....no explanation, nothing....just never heard from her again....
i actually made it on one date....the woman was a little pushy about setting up the date, insisting that it happen the next day and it's over dinner...no matter what i tried to push it back to another day or not dinner, it didn't work....i finally gave in....dinner was painful....it started with the judgmental look she gave my clothes (mind you i was dressed appropriately for the restaurant she picked)....then it painfully lasted 3 hours....she picked up on none of my non-verbals, or even verbal hints....i had made an escape plan for myself, a story about jack being sick, so it was time to bring the story out....so, i used the story and stood up....she got that hint....on our way out, she told me what a great time she had and wanted to see me again....i thought for a minute and decided to be honest....there outside the restaurant i told her that i didn't think things would go anywhere and that i didn't want to try this again....my bluntness didn't sink in, the next day she emailed me about getting together again....i again was straight forward with her....
as i was about to give up on on-line dating, i decided to give one more woman a chance....we met for coffee....which lasted 3 hours....a different kind of 3 hours....we hit it off well, and i am happy to say almost 4 months later, things are still going well....
over the months i have talked to many people who have on-line dating stories....something that i thought i was alone in or a minority at least....but i am happy to hear the stories and to know that lots of people do it....
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Texas
I recently spent some time in Austin, TX....i was there for a conference and had never been to that part of texas before....
it was hot there....close to or over 100 everyday....but on our first day, we ventured out to eat tex-mex and explore downtown austin....we walked up and down historic 6th street, which was full of bars, restaurants, and tattoo parlors....austin is known as music city and has a large variety of bands playing each night in the bars downtown....we then walked down to the congress st bridge.
there are bats that live under the bridge, and each night between may and august they come out at dusk....and it's supposed to be a site to see....so, we decided that after dinner we would come back to see these bats- even though i think they are creepy....
however, when we returned at dusk, with all the other tourists....
the people were everywhere....including in the river
and we all just waited....while the sun went down and the moon came out...
but the bats never came out.....
later in the week we visited the state capitol building.....it was interesting to take a tour of the building, learn about the politics of the state....what I learned the most was that texas believes it should be it's own country.....
the building is made of rose granite....it's a very subtle pink color....
all over the building you would find things in the ceilings and floors to remind people that texas is best....
after visiting the capitol building we walked up to u of t....the size of the campus was overwhelming....from the 10+ story football stadium to it's clock tower in the center of campus....
the clock tower has been closed for a very long time because a student opened fire on the campus from the top of the tower....
overall, austin wasn't a place i would go back to.....but i did get to see plenty of it....and eat my way through it :)
it was hot there....close to or over 100 everyday....but on our first day, we ventured out to eat tex-mex and explore downtown austin....we walked up and down historic 6th street, which was full of bars, restaurants, and tattoo parlors....austin is known as music city and has a large variety of bands playing each night in the bars downtown....we then walked down to the congress st bridge.
there are bats that live under the bridge, and each night between may and august they come out at dusk....and it's supposed to be a site to see....so, we decided that after dinner we would come back to see these bats- even though i think they are creepy....
however, when we returned at dusk, with all the other tourists....
the people were everywhere....including in the river
and we all just waited....while the sun went down and the moon came out...
later in the week we visited the state capitol building.....it was interesting to take a tour of the building, learn about the politics of the state....what I learned the most was that texas believes it should be it's own country.....
after visiting the capitol building we walked up to u of t....the size of the campus was overwhelming....from the 10+ story football stadium to it's clock tower in the center of campus....
overall, austin wasn't a place i would go back to.....but i did get to see plenty of it....and eat my way through it :)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
What I've Learned about Shingles...
Here are a few things that I have learned about shingles in the last two weeks:
1. when you get over the chicken pox as a child, the virus lives on your nerve endings, waiting for you to be an adult.
2. it's not an 80 year old person disease...anyone can get it, who is of the adult age.
3. it's the most painful thing i have ever experienced, it has to do with it living on your nerve endings.
4. it takes more than two weeks for it to go away- as of day 16 the last of it is scabbing
5. the medicine you take causes more pain, as it gives you a severe headache
6. the doctor at the walk in in Bristol,RI has NO bedside manner, he likes to use words like determental, horrible, terrible, melted cornea...all before explaining to you what it is you have.
7. the walk in in Bristol, RI also sends you an extra bill after you have paid the bill in full at time of service
8. you typically don't get shingles in your eyes if it starts in your scalp and forehead....you can get it in your eyes if you get it on your nose and cheek area.
9. the eye doctor knows what's best for your eyes, don't question him
10. my real doctor in Endicott, NY has wonderful bedside manner and made it all feel better....the RI guy should take some lessons
1. when you get over the chicken pox as a child, the virus lives on your nerve endings, waiting for you to be an adult.
2. it's not an 80 year old person disease...anyone can get it, who is of the adult age.
3. it's the most painful thing i have ever experienced, it has to do with it living on your nerve endings.
4. it takes more than two weeks for it to go away- as of day 16 the last of it is scabbing
5. the medicine you take causes more pain, as it gives you a severe headache
6. the doctor at the walk in in Bristol,RI has NO bedside manner, he likes to use words like determental, horrible, terrible, melted cornea...all before explaining to you what it is you have.
7. the walk in in Bristol, RI also sends you an extra bill after you have paid the bill in full at time of service
8. you typically don't get shingles in your eyes if it starts in your scalp and forehead....you can get it in your eyes if you get it on your nose and cheek area.
9. the eye doctor knows what's best for your eyes, don't question him
10. my real doctor in Endicott, NY has wonderful bedside manner and made it all feel better....the RI guy should take some lessons
Monday, June 14, 2010
it's official
so, on friday night, i officially became the president of neacuho...it's a little crazy to believe....
my dad, lesley, marney, michele, elise, and melinda all came in for my speech....julie, scott, casey, kim, and jana were already there....i spent the week nervous and wondering what i had gotten myself into....in this role, lots of people want to tell me how to do things, what the organization needs, and anything else i will listen to....the politics of it all, is amazing, but it will be a great lesson for me as the year goes on....
my nerves caused me to break out in a rash...one that ignored most of the week, until on saturday morning when it had spread to my eyelid....that's when my friends told me i had to go to the walk in....the doctor there was bad and mean...but i learned i had shingles.....something that i assumed most people get when they are much older...for me it was stressed induced....my doctor has since told me that it's normal and stress related.....
i have started my president's blog, if you are interested in reading that....www.neacuhoprez1.blogspot.com....
my dad, lesley, marney, michele, elise, and melinda all came in for my speech....julie, scott, casey, kim, and jana were already there....i spent the week nervous and wondering what i had gotten myself into....in this role, lots of people want to tell me how to do things, what the organization needs, and anything else i will listen to....the politics of it all, is amazing, but it will be a great lesson for me as the year goes on....
my nerves caused me to break out in a rash...one that ignored most of the week, until on saturday morning when it had spread to my eyelid....that's when my friends told me i had to go to the walk in....the doctor there was bad and mean...but i learned i had shingles.....something that i assumed most people get when they are much older...for me it was stressed induced....my doctor has since told me that it's normal and stress related.....
i have started my president's blog, if you are interested in reading that....www.neacuhoprez1.blogspot.com....
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Parkway
last monday i was on my way home....i was in bliss because it was the first day of summer hours, which means getting out of work an hour early...this was very exciting to me because i had errands to run one on the parkway and the other at the grocery store...getting out at 4 meant that i would still be home by 5 and have the whole night to do what i pleased....
as i drove down the parkway, i was in my own little world, not paying much attention to what was around me...when i noticed a red car pull along side me and slow down so they were driving side by side with me....this made me look at them...(i learned in soc 101 that you always look, it's just human nature)....anyway, the man driving the car starts yelling at me, "hey dyke, get the f**k out of here...we don't want your type around here, dyke....stupid homo." i was shocked...we came to a red light at that point where i hoped that the man wouldn't be directly across from me...i didn't know what he would do...i was in luck, because there was a car in front of him, none in front of me, so there was some distance between us...
once the light turned, the red car sped up and then cut me off....at this point i was very aware of my surroundings, so i saw what he was doing....otherwise, he would have side swiped me....he cut me off and then gave me two obscene gestures as he sped off....
i was in such shock and shaking...i couldn't believe that this happened in my little community...i haven't experienced this before and am still a little shocked that it happened....
as i drove down the parkway, i was in my own little world, not paying much attention to what was around me...when i noticed a red car pull along side me and slow down so they were driving side by side with me....this made me look at them...(i learned in soc 101 that you always look, it's just human nature)....anyway, the man driving the car starts yelling at me, "hey dyke, get the f**k out of here...we don't want your type around here, dyke....stupid homo." i was shocked...we came to a red light at that point where i hoped that the man wouldn't be directly across from me...i didn't know what he would do...i was in luck, because there was a car in front of him, none in front of me, so there was some distance between us...
once the light turned, the red car sped up and then cut me off....at this point i was very aware of my surroundings, so i saw what he was doing....otherwise, he would have side swiped me....he cut me off and then gave me two obscene gestures as he sped off....
i was in such shock and shaking...i couldn't believe that this happened in my little community...i haven't experienced this before and am still a little shocked that it happened....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)