Catch up

Still trying to get a handle on my life. This week will be my first week of a full school and a full work schedule. So far it has been a challenge to balance everything. I always find that it takes me about 2 weeks to adjust to a new schedule. I tend to walk around like a zombie during these transition periods. In the meantime, here is a brief collection of thoughts or events that have happened over the last week or so.

Monday is my longest day, two of my classes only meet on Mondays so I am on campus from about 1 to 10. This week my last class was sent home early which allowed me to go pick up the last two readers I needed.

My three day a week class continues to progress. I have managed to stay ahead of the reading so far and today, I had a very nice walk and talk with a fellow grad student, J. She's very cool. She just moved to California from Texas and is a Virgo, just like me. I hope that she stays in the class as she is trying to get an equivalence out of it. I am hoping we get a chance to hang out more. It is always nice to meet potential new friends.

I was originally really looking forward to my women's studies class which is entitled, Sex lies and media. I mean, we have to watch two movies on our own time pretty much once a week and considering that I own half of the films already, I thought that was a good sign and this class would be right up my alley. And the class is going to be involved with a film festival which once you read through the lines, is a GLBT film festival on campus. There is a lot of work involved with this class but it sounded great. Ironically, I took a women and media class as an undergraduate and really enjoyed it. We are even using the same text book, although I had to buy the updated version as I had one from 1993 and the updated version is copywrite 2002. Plus, I checked and the first two articles I needed to read for class were not in the older vesion.

Another cool thing about this class, my godfather coauthored an article in this version. It is so weird to recognize and know one of the authors listed on the cover, although I am sad to note they removed the article by bell hooks.

Now the bad part. I don't like the teacher. She drones on and on and this was the first class. I am hoping it gets better but an not optimistic. Plus, the class discussion got pretty hostile. And I don't mean students getting hostile with each other, I mean there were some pretty venomous rants against men and media and society in general. Yes, there are problems in the world but the level of rancour was shocking to me.

I like my last class, rhetorical theory. I don't know if I will get the actual therory but I like the professor, he seems interesting.

I am still preparing for the interview on Friday. It was moved up to 10:30 and I was sent a 2 page questionnaire to fill out and bring to the interview. They gave me a lot of material and I spent a good hour on line tonight exploring the website. Still nervous and don't quite feel prepared but I am still working towards it. One of the new questions asks what student associations/clubs I would join if I got the job. My first thought was, Yeah, right. Like I have the time as a graduate student. But is kind of the job description. I searched through the clubs and associations and found a few I can list that sound interesting. And you will be interested to know that there is a CSUN Cat people club. I am not kidding.

Work is work. I wonder if my bosses will see that I can get my work done working less hours. Hello! I've been telling them forever that I don't have enough work to keep me busy during the work week. And this included time off for a follow up eye doctor appointment and an 'appointment' on Friday. BTW - my eyes are fine. I had popped one stitch in my left eye so the Dr removed it. My next appointment is in November as a sixth month checkup. I cannot believe it has been 6 months since I had the first surgery.

Okay, I really need to get of the computer. I am fighting a cold and I am determined to win. Plus it is another fun filled and action packed day for me tomorrow. Is it sad that I am looking forward to a day when all I do is go to work, I don't have to run over to campus? I love school but running back and forth sucks.

I know there are probably lots of typos but whatever, live with it.