What is the best way for someone with a Master's degree to be spending their time at a job that (supposedly) values their education? According to my place of employment, the answer is stuffing envelopes with birthday cards! I spent no less than an hour and a half of my time at work today stuffing envelopes. I spent additional time on a wild goose chase to prove the President wrong, at the request of the Controller and the Human Resources Manager. That could have been fun if I wasn't researching buses. I can smell the exhaust from here!
As I try to remain alert and responsive, I can't help but feeling terribly out of place. Nothing screams "stuck in a rut" like severe under-utilization. I've tried to talk to my boss about development and advancement opportunities, but she is too busy trying to get out from under her job (and responsibilities) that I never get a real response. The latest target date is after mandatory vacation (don't get me started on that one). We'll see.
Until then, I have been researching my own means of career advancement. While I do check the job boards almost daily, I am reluctant to leave the cushy path in front of me. So in the meantime, and at my employer's expense, I plan to return to school. I started my search thinking how easy it would be to get another Master's degree on the company dime. I already have one, and while somewhat challenging the first time around, I don't find the academics daunting for a second one. Honestly, I was thinking how nice and easy it would all be - I get another degree, my company foots the bill, and I'm maybe out a couple grand once tuition reimbursement runs out. I didn't count on what I would stumble into at University of Phoenix.
Doctor of Organizational Leadership - that could definitely be me, well after 3 1/2 years, a dissertation and a heck of a lot of time online, that could definitely be me. Who knew you could even get a PhD online these days! After the initial shock of THAT school offering THAT degree, I did some research on other programs in the country. Turns out, this one is pretty solid. Yes it has very minimal in-class instruction, but a PhD is all about the research anyway, so why not??? Besides, I just moved into a new house (as in the family just purchased a new house for me), so I have no real desire to head out East to Boston University or Clemson to get a degree I can get at home. And quite literally, at home! Clemson sounds cool and all, but Khalil Greene doesn't actually walk the halls anymore, so the attraction fades quickly. And Boston would be cool, and cold, and maybe even colder!
So for now I am still examining my options, but my mind is fairly set. I've always wanted to go after a PhD, just could never figure out in what topic - I think I've picked one now. Oh and certainly not a PhD of Birthday Cards! I'll leave that for the next unsuspecting admin to deal with!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Slamming Doors
Monday night I woke up with a start at 10:59pm, I'd only been asleep for 10 or 15 minutes, but I must have been passed out! It took a moment to figure out what snapped me out of sleep...but the stomping in the hallway gave me a pretty good clue. Apparently one of my roommates had slammed the door hard enough to shake the whole house and almost gave me a heart attack. The slamming of the front door and the heavy-footed hallway stomping were immediately followed by the slamming of another door, this one to her bedroom...right next to mine. If only it ended there. Now that I am wide awake, I am alert enough to follow the phone conversation that can be heard through the walls. You would think that the closets between us would provide some sound absorption, but either the walls are that thin or she is that loud. My opinion is defintely the latter.
Luckily I had already been updated by my other roommate regarding the weekend's prior slammings. Now let me say, when it is someone else's drama - it can be quite entertaining. But when you get pulled into it, it loses the novelty factor pretty quickly. I guess while I was away for the weekend (baking in the heat of El Cajon) there were a few noise issues within the house...
So one roommate goes to class on Saturday mornings and well the other is an oblivious, loud slammer. And on Friday night, when "Saturday Morning" was trying to sleep, "Slam" managed to slam closed everyhting she touched - or so thinks Saturday Morning. Now Saturday Morning is non-confrontational (ex:the lack of toilet paper in their bathroom), but she was annoyed enough to be ready for a fight. Thankfully, she ran into Boyfriend in the hallway. Its far easier to bitch at Boyfriend, seeing as how he doesn't live here...although he "sleeps" here frequently. Unfortunately, this may have led to additional slammings...as the problem proceeded throughout the weekend. Saturday Morning and I are convinced that Slam didn't know I was home, so she may have literally thrown the dor at the house to get it to slam so hard (and loud). I am pretty sure most of our neighboors heard it as well. But, being new to the relationship, you have to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Now, Saturday Morning has several more complaints about Slam, but I really only have two issues. Since we've covered the slamming, the next topic is the lights and door locks. For whatever reason, Slam cannot stand to have a light on in a room without poeple, nor can she leave any lock unlocked. I am all for energy conservation, but when I take my dog out for her last business of the night and Slam locks the doors and turns off all the lights when I am outside...I tend to lose my sympathy a little. It has happened twice so far. Both times I have been lucky enough to have left the slider to my room unlocked, so I was able to get back in the house. But next time...I am so waiting ten minutes and then pounding on her window to come let me in! Nothing like freaking someone out to teach them a lesson!
In all fairness, I decided to talk to Slam about these two grievances. I didn't want to make her feel attacked in any way, especially since she's the odd-girl out in the house to begin with. She claims to have had no clue about her noise level and pledges to leave a light on for me. I feel I should believe her, but only time will tell.
Luckily I had already been updated by my other roommate regarding the weekend's prior slammings. Now let me say, when it is someone else's drama - it can be quite entertaining. But when you get pulled into it, it loses the novelty factor pretty quickly. I guess while I was away for the weekend (baking in the heat of El Cajon) there were a few noise issues within the house...
So one roommate goes to class on Saturday mornings and well the other is an oblivious, loud slammer. And on Friday night, when "Saturday Morning" was trying to sleep, "Slam" managed to slam closed everyhting she touched - or so thinks Saturday Morning. Now Saturday Morning is non-confrontational (ex:the lack of toilet paper in their bathroom), but she was annoyed enough to be ready for a fight. Thankfully, she ran into Boyfriend in the hallway. Its far easier to bitch at Boyfriend, seeing as how he doesn't live here...although he "sleeps" here frequently. Unfortunately, this may have led to additional slammings...as the problem proceeded throughout the weekend. Saturday Morning and I are convinced that Slam didn't know I was home, so she may have literally thrown the dor at the house to get it to slam so hard (and loud). I am pretty sure most of our neighboors heard it as well. But, being new to the relationship, you have to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Now, Saturday Morning has several more complaints about Slam, but I really only have two issues. Since we've covered the slamming, the next topic is the lights and door locks. For whatever reason, Slam cannot stand to have a light on in a room without poeple, nor can she leave any lock unlocked. I am all for energy conservation, but when I take my dog out for her last business of the night and Slam locks the doors and turns off all the lights when I am outside...I tend to lose my sympathy a little. It has happened twice so far. Both times I have been lucky enough to have left the slider to my room unlocked, so I was able to get back in the house. But next time...I am so waiting ten minutes and then pounding on her window to come let me in! Nothing like freaking someone out to teach them a lesson!
In all fairness, I decided to talk to Slam about these two grievances. I didn't want to make her feel attacked in any way, especially since she's the odd-girl out in the house to begin with. She claims to have had no clue about her noise level and pledges to leave a light on for me. I feel I should believe her, but only time will tell.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Old Friends, Good Times
Last night was the most fun I've had in a long time, certainly the most laughing I've done in a while. We didn't even do anything special, we just sat around, and talked, and laughed.
With my best friend Mel in town, who I only get to see about once a year, I know I'm due for some good times. We did our usual "welcome home" dinner at Rubio's. Mel spends all of her time away craving chicken tacos and especial burritos, and all Bryan (Mel's hubby) can think about is his next fish taco. As we're consuming the wonderful baja-flavored drug (ok food, but still as addictive as a drug and intoxication is nice and spicy), miss Kylie makes a quesadilla mountain and we begin to catch-up.
This is going to be an interesting year for my friend, and, to a lesser degree, for me. Mel is 10 weeks pregnant, and this is the first baby for either of us. For someone who has been the perpetual tomboy, it is so strange to see her performing the most feminine of acts. Mel has always been friendly and loyal to a fault, she doesn't seem to even feel the pressure to conform to societal norms. Once you understand that and accept that this is just how she is, you find yourself getting a bit jealous of her "freedom." So pregnancy for her may be a very candid discussion...
As we're sitting at the table in Rubio's, enjoying some "fine" baja cuisine, Mel starts to say "so my uterus..." I must have given her some half-crazy, half-shocked look because Bryan nearly fell off his chair laughing at my expression, but Mel just kept right on going. I think this statement ended with some declaration of the size of her uterus relative to that of a grapefruit. She lost me at uterus. After a moment to "digest" the words (and push away my food), I, too, was laughing. Only Mel would be so blunt and open about this kind of thing. Although the conversation got worse with some comments about fingers and pregnancy....this is really not something you want me to explain further, trust me. Either way, this has been a completely knew experience for both of us. "Jelly Bean" as she calls the baby (a name I am sure will stick with the kid for a long while) is growing well and will likely pop out just after the new year.
Once we begin to move away from talk of the future, as exciting as it may be, like all old friends do, we reminisce about the past. And with Mel only in town every once in a while, we are slowly joined by her mom (Kathie), her dad's ex-girlfriend (now mom's good friend, Kathy), and Adam (Kathy's son). Since we have all know each other for 10+ years, its easy to recall the good-times. Soon we're laughing about Adam's school-boy crush on Mel's sister Ali, me inadvertently jumping on a Samoan grandpa during a scary movie, and about all the friends who have come and gone along the way. Just like old times, we're hanging out at the Eastlake house, Mel's mom is showing us her latest project, we've got homemade fudge, and all seems right with the world. We're a bit of a strange mix, but they're my second family. And coming home to family is always a good thing.
It's the simple times like this that remind me of how much I miss the old days when good friends were never far away. These days a phone hardly covers the distance. A half an hour on the line is nothing like running errands together or hanging out on the couch watching Saved by the Bell. It also used to be so much easier to make friends. Although, through the grace of time and maturity, that little kid we used to take trick-or-treating somehow became a peer with great conversation last night. Granted he's 7 years our junior, but we can start forgetting about all that now. So one new friend made, but in two weeks, one old friend disappears again.
So for the next two weeks, I will enjoy every moment I can with my best friend and her family. I will stay out late, I will leave work early, I will drop-out of other plans, just to enjoy what little time we have together. While I may get crap for backing out on long-made plans, I doubt I will regret that decision even for a minute.
With my best friend Mel in town, who I only get to see about once a year, I know I'm due for some good times. We did our usual "welcome home" dinner at Rubio's. Mel spends all of her time away craving chicken tacos and especial burritos, and all Bryan (Mel's hubby) can think about is his next fish taco. As we're consuming the wonderful baja-flavored drug (ok food, but still as addictive as a drug and intoxication is nice and spicy), miss Kylie makes a quesadilla mountain and we begin to catch-up.
This is going to be an interesting year for my friend, and, to a lesser degree, for me. Mel is 10 weeks pregnant, and this is the first baby for either of us. For someone who has been the perpetual tomboy, it is so strange to see her performing the most feminine of acts. Mel has always been friendly and loyal to a fault, she doesn't seem to even feel the pressure to conform to societal norms. Once you understand that and accept that this is just how she is, you find yourself getting a bit jealous of her "freedom." So pregnancy for her may be a very candid discussion...
As we're sitting at the table in Rubio's, enjoying some "fine" baja cuisine, Mel starts to say "so my uterus..." I must have given her some half-crazy, half-shocked look because Bryan nearly fell off his chair laughing at my expression, but Mel just kept right on going. I think this statement ended with some declaration of the size of her uterus relative to that of a grapefruit. She lost me at uterus. After a moment to "digest" the words (and push away my food), I, too, was laughing. Only Mel would be so blunt and open about this kind of thing. Although the conversation got worse with some comments about fingers and pregnancy....this is really not something you want me to explain further, trust me. Either way, this has been a completely knew experience for both of us. "Jelly Bean" as she calls the baby (a name I am sure will stick with the kid for a long while) is growing well and will likely pop out just after the new year.
Once we begin to move away from talk of the future, as exciting as it may be, like all old friends do, we reminisce about the past. And with Mel only in town every once in a while, we are slowly joined by her mom (Kathie), her dad's ex-girlfriend (now mom's good friend, Kathy), and Adam (Kathy's son). Since we have all know each other for 10+ years, its easy to recall the good-times. Soon we're laughing about Adam's school-boy crush on Mel's sister Ali, me inadvertently jumping on a Samoan grandpa during a scary movie, and about all the friends who have come and gone along the way. Just like old times, we're hanging out at the Eastlake house, Mel's mom is showing us her latest project, we've got homemade fudge, and all seems right with the world. We're a bit of a strange mix, but they're my second family. And coming home to family is always a good thing.
It's the simple times like this that remind me of how much I miss the old days when good friends were never far away. These days a phone hardly covers the distance. A half an hour on the line is nothing like running errands together or hanging out on the couch watching Saved by the Bell. It also used to be so much easier to make friends. Although, through the grace of time and maturity, that little kid we used to take trick-or-treating somehow became a peer with great conversation last night. Granted he's 7 years our junior, but we can start forgetting about all that now. So one new friend made, but in two weeks, one old friend disappears again.
So for the next two weeks, I will enjoy every moment I can with my best friend and her family. I will stay out late, I will leave work early, I will drop-out of other plans, just to enjoy what little time we have together. While I may get crap for backing out on long-made plans, I doubt I will regret that decision even for a minute.
An UnInteresting Girl's Guide to Navigating Life
As I sit here trying to stay awake as I enter 401(k) changes for my employees, I realize that my life is simply too exciting (read boring as heck). This is nothing new, I've known for quite a while, and been in denial about it even longer. So here I sit wondering how I can spice up my life...but as an UnInteresting Girl, I know that spicing up my life is simply an impossible option. So I reevaluate the challenge and decide to navigate the life I currently have, and if I can possibly bear it, splash in an uncomfortable moment or two.
Now I know you're thinking 1) What is an UnInteresting Girl? 2) Why is this called the Boring Blog? 3) Why am I reading this?!? Hey, my question is still, why am I writing this?!? So let me break it down for everyone, myself included.
An UnInteresting Girl is eaxactly what you think. A girl who is uninteresting (read boring, uneventful, dull, unexciting, stuck). A girl with not much going on, with not much happening in life, a girl who wishes more would happen in her life, but does nothing to make things happen.
This is called the Boring Blog because I am bored and "if you're bored, then you're boring." I am, in general, bored with life. Bored with the endlessness of work, the emptiness of life-after-work, the dreariness that is my life. And really, what else should I call it?
As to why are you reading this, well that one you have to answer yourself. My guess is that you, too, are bored. But maybe also you can relate, we'll have to wait and see on that one.
So why am I writing this? Because I can, because I want to, because I need to have something to do, because maybe it will make this girl less UnInteresting, but mainly because I can.
Okay, back to entering 401(k) changes. I know, you're jealous.
Now I know you're thinking 1) What is an UnInteresting Girl? 2) Why is this called the Boring Blog? 3) Why am I reading this?!? Hey, my question is still, why am I writing this?!? So let me break it down for everyone, myself included.
An UnInteresting Girl is eaxactly what you think. A girl who is uninteresting (read boring, uneventful, dull, unexciting, stuck). A girl with not much going on, with not much happening in life, a girl who wishes more would happen in her life, but does nothing to make things happen.
This is called the Boring Blog because I am bored and "if you're bored, then you're boring." I am, in general, bored with life. Bored with the endlessness of work, the emptiness of life-after-work, the dreariness that is my life. And really, what else should I call it?
As to why are you reading this, well that one you have to answer yourself. My guess is that you, too, are bored. But maybe also you can relate, we'll have to wait and see on that one.
So why am I writing this? Because I can, because I want to, because I need to have something to do, because maybe it will make this girl less UnInteresting, but mainly because I can.
Okay, back to entering 401(k) changes. I know, you're jealous.
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