In honor of tonight's Indigo Girls concert, I decided it was time to bust out the concert meme again! I had planned to go to more concerts last year than I actually did (I had tickets to two others, but ended up not being able to go)... but I was able to fulfill one of my childhood fantasies with the NKOTB concert. :)
I definitely need to get to more shows this year - I think Prince should go on tour again! He has a new album out, so a tour would totally make sense! I really wanted to see Coldplay, but they didn't come to Chicago this time (damn!). I'm also anxiously waiting for some updated Lillith Fair news - I wasn't able to go the first time around (due to a death in the family) and I refuse to miss it this time!
Who have you seen/want to see this year?
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1996
Melissa Etheridge (Green Bay, WI)
1998
Savage Garden (Minneapolis, MN)
80s Rewind Tour: Culture Club/Howard Jones/Human League (West Allis, WI)
1999
Counting Crows (Chicago)
Luscious Jackson/Smashmouth (Chicago)
2000
Fiona Apple (Chicago)
2001
Prince (Chicago)
Bitch & Animal/Ani DiFranco (Chicago)
2002
Siouxsie and the Banshees (Chicago)
Alanis Morissette (Milwaukee, WI)
2004
Rasputina (Chicago)
Siouxsie (Chicago)
Prince (Rosemont, IL)
Prince - again! (Rosemont, IL)
2005
Alanis Morissette/Jason Mraz (Chicago)
Fiona Apple (Chicago)
2006
Beth Orton (Chicago)
Yo Yo Ma (Highland Park, IL)
2007
Dar Williams (Chicago)
Christine Kane (Chicago)
Fiona Apple (Highland Park, IL)
Rufus Wainwright (Highland Park, IL)
Sonya Kitchell/Judy Collins/Dar Willams (Highland Park, IL)
2008
New Kids on the Block (Rosemont, IL)
Alanis Morissette (Chicago)
2009
Morrissey (Chicago)
Indigo Girls (Highland Park, IL)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Shock
"I can't stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever!"
- Madonna
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Um, ewww
One of my students has her boobs almost all the way out... as in her shirt is cut so low/they're pushed so far up that I can see the tops of her areolas (areolae?). It's really skeeving me out, but I can't look away... they're practically poking me in the eye! Make it stop!!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
More news
I hope this will be the last bit of bad/crappy/emotionally charged news I have to post for the rest of this year because 2009 has already completely kicked my ass! Between the relationship issues, health issues, job issues, and family news, I'm spent. No more crap this year!!
Anyway, here's the news... I didn't get the job at Dream School. Not only did I not get the job, I found out that it was between me and annoying colleague and she was the one they picked. Just to top it all off, I found out the news from AC and had to act all excited for her because she still didn't know I was her competition (well, she knew someone she went to grad school with was her competition, but didn't know it was me). She accepted their offer last Wednesday and starts next month. Other than a very encouraging email that I received from the chair hours after my final interview, I haven't heard anything from Dream School.
This news was made worse by the explosion of some BS that has been building at Large College. It's a long and complicated story, but basically, Department Chair hasn't been doing what he's supposed to - as in he's only been teaching one class instead of three, hasn't been completing/submitting paperwork, has only been working 3-5 hours a day (instead of 8), etc. After a year of this, he finally had his ass handed to him by the dean (a few months ago). Well, if nothing else, DC is a very sneaky little man who refuses to take responsibility for anything... ever since his meeting with the dean, he has been trying to pass all of his inadequacies and screw ups off onto us. Everything hit the fan last week when DC decided I was going to take the fall for something I didn't do. Luckily, I have written documentation that proves it didn't happen the way he claimed, but it just sucks that I even have to deal with it. I'm so tired of working with such a jerk!
On a positive note, I did learn about another great job opening - it's a little more based in administration & involves less teaching (it's tied to a writing center), but it's something I'm definitely interested in doing. Also, despite the DC rejection, I'm still fairly positive about the likelihood of finding another position. Since grad school (2004), I've only applied for six faculty positions (all in the Chicago area). Out of those six, I had five interviews (all of which went to the final round), and was offered one full-time position and two adjunct positions (although that's not what I originally applied for). In the world of academia, that's not a horrible track record. I just wish the process would move a little faster!
Anyway, here's the news... I didn't get the job at Dream School. Not only did I not get the job, I found out that it was between me and annoying colleague and she was the one they picked. Just to top it all off, I found out the news from AC and had to act all excited for her because she still didn't know I was her competition (well, she knew someone she went to grad school with was her competition, but didn't know it was me). She accepted their offer last Wednesday and starts next month. Other than a very encouraging email that I received from the chair hours after my final interview, I haven't heard anything from Dream School.
This news was made worse by the explosion of some BS that has been building at Large College. It's a long and complicated story, but basically, Department Chair hasn't been doing what he's supposed to - as in he's only been teaching one class instead of three, hasn't been completing/submitting paperwork, has only been working 3-5 hours a day (instead of 8), etc. After a year of this, he finally had his ass handed to him by the dean (a few months ago). Well, if nothing else, DC is a very sneaky little man who refuses to take responsibility for anything... ever since his meeting with the dean, he has been trying to pass all of his inadequacies and screw ups off onto us. Everything hit the fan last week when DC decided I was going to take the fall for something I didn't do. Luckily, I have written documentation that proves it didn't happen the way he claimed, but it just sucks that I even have to deal with it. I'm so tired of working with such a jerk!
On a positive note, I did learn about another great job opening - it's a little more based in administration & involves less teaching (it's tied to a writing center), but it's something I'm definitely interested in doing. Also, despite the DC rejection, I'm still fairly positive about the likelihood of finding another position. Since grad school (2004), I've only applied for six faculty positions (all in the Chicago area). Out of those six, I had five interviews (all of which went to the final round), and was offered one full-time position and two adjunct positions (although that's not what I originally applied for). In the world of academia, that's not a horrible track record. I just wish the process would move a little faster!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Siblings, pt 3
She is back in my life again... just like that. There was no warning, no grand gesture. She just showed up in the form of a friend request on facebook.
After I sent the card/note and didn't receive a reply (in 2006), I decided to drop the search for awhile. I just wasn't emotionally ready to handle any more disappointment. I let it go for a year, but after a random conversation with M, decided to put her name into google one more time. Of course, I found her immediately. After years of being unable to find her on the 'net, there she was - her contact number was listed on her job's website, and there were several of her paintings for sale on a few art sites. Unfortunately, I still couldn't find an email address. I definitely wasn't interested in calling her at work (Surprise! I know you're at work, but let's talk about why you still seem to resent me!), so I decided to try to get her email address from the receptionist at her job... another big failure (apparently, they don't use email there. WTF?!).
A few weeks after the failed email search, I reconnected with one of her mother's kids (J) on facebook (the one closest to me in age & the one who has the strongest relationship with her). He gave me some updates, but I decided not to press him for contact information because once again, I had lost my nerve and was afraid of having to deal with another possible hurtful situation. Plus I didn't really want to get into it - "it" being whatever the hell we would have to go through in order to have any type of relationship. As much as I wanted to reconnect with her, just the thought of actually investing some time, effort, and emotions into it left me feeling drained.
At the beginning of this year, I finally asked J for her email address & he told me she rarely checks it or replies to anything. He also said the best way to reach was by phone. I toyed with the idea of calling her, but never did. Honestly, I hate calling people under normal circumstances... awkward phone conversations are not high on my list (I would much rather have an awkward email exchange).
After 10 years of no contact, she has stepped back into my life... in what capacity, I'm not quite sure yet. She sent me the friend request on Sunday and I immediately accepted it. However, there has been no other communication. I have to admit that I've been waiting for her to make the first move; I don't want to be the one who makes that move (and that has been a big part of what has held me back from trying harder to contact her over the years). Yes, I know it's completely childish, but years of conditioning have left me feeling hesitant/slightly bitter.*
Despite everything, I am relieved to at least have one tiny step (initial contact) out of the way. What comes next (good or bad) remains to be seen.
--------------------
*I'm much better now at letting go of things/forgiving people than I ever have been, but there's still a lot of residual hurt that I carry with me. I know it's not her job to make that hurt go away & that for my own good, I just need to let it all go/forgive her, but it's damn hard!
After I sent the card/note and didn't receive a reply (in 2006), I decided to drop the search for awhile. I just wasn't emotionally ready to handle any more disappointment. I let it go for a year, but after a random conversation with M, decided to put her name into google one more time. Of course, I found her immediately. After years of being unable to find her on the 'net, there she was - her contact number was listed on her job's website, and there were several of her paintings for sale on a few art sites. Unfortunately, I still couldn't find an email address. I definitely wasn't interested in calling her at work (Surprise! I know you're at work, but let's talk about why you still seem to resent me!), so I decided to try to get her email address from the receptionist at her job... another big failure (apparently, they don't use email there. WTF?!).
A few weeks after the failed email search, I reconnected with one of her mother's kids (J) on facebook (the one closest to me in age & the one who has the strongest relationship with her). He gave me some updates, but I decided not to press him for contact information because once again, I had lost my nerve and was afraid of having to deal with another possible hurtful situation. Plus I didn't really want to get into it - "it" being whatever the hell we would have to go through in order to have any type of relationship. As much as I wanted to reconnect with her, just the thought of actually investing some time, effort, and emotions into it left me feeling drained.
At the beginning of this year, I finally asked J for her email address & he told me she rarely checks it or replies to anything. He also said the best way to reach was by phone. I toyed with the idea of calling her, but never did. Honestly, I hate calling people under normal circumstances... awkward phone conversations are not high on my list (I would much rather have an awkward email exchange).
After 10 years of no contact, she has stepped back into my life... in what capacity, I'm not quite sure yet. She sent me the friend request on Sunday and I immediately accepted it. However, there has been no other communication. I have to admit that I've been waiting for her to make the first move; I don't want to be the one who makes that move (and that has been a big part of what has held me back from trying harder to contact her over the years). Yes, I know it's completely childish, but years of conditioning have left me feeling hesitant/slightly bitter.*
Despite everything, I am relieved to at least have one tiny step (initial contact) out of the way. What comes next (good or bad) remains to be seen.
--------------------
*I'm much better now at letting go of things/forgiving people than I ever have been, but there's still a lot of residual hurt that I carry with me. I know it's not her job to make that hurt go away & that for my own good, I just need to let it all go/forgive her, but it's damn hard!
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Catchin' up
It has now been a month since my surgery and while my incisions and stomach issues are almost 100% healed, I'm still dealing with the after effects of the anesthesia. My surgeon said it takes most people 4-6 weeks to recover from the anesthesia, my friend said it took her about six months, and a co-worker said it took her a year! I definitely hope I'm not one of those special cases who takes forever to recover because the exhaustion is kicking my butt! It's so bad that I'm ready to crawl back into bed 2-3 hours after I get up in the morning (after getting 8 hours of sleep). I almost fell asleep in one of my night classes last week (the students were taking a quiz, so there wasn't much stimulation to keep me going)!
Other than wallowing in self-pity (or sleeping), I've been trying to unpack. We're still delicately traversing Box Mountain (as I've dubbed our hallway), but things are slowly getting better. The kitchen is about 90% unpacked, as is the bedroom (well, excluding the pesky dresser that needs to be assembled) and the bathroom. The living room is another story... one that makes my head want to explode when I think about it.
Probably the biggest obstacle to unpacking is my crazy schedule. The summer semester started almost two weeks ago (right in the middle of the moving process) and due to some unexpected, last minute schedule changes, I ended up with a 9:30-12:30 class and a 5:30-9:30 class on T/TH. How crappy is that? I'm basically at school from 8:30ish until almost 10 at night - not exactly the way I thought I would be spending my summer! My M/W schedule is better (a 12:30-2:30 class & a 2:30-4:30 class on both days), but I'm still tired out at the end of those days, thanks to the surgery/anesthesia induced exhaustion that refuses to go away.
Oh! I almost forgot - I had a third (and final) interview at a super awesome school last week. To borrow from the lovely RussianViolets, it's definitely one that can be dubbed Dream School (well, one of my five Dream Schools in the Chicago area). It has been a long and arduous interview process and not only do I really, really want the job ($10k more p/year, much better school, awesome department), I'll also be really, really annoyed if the other candidate gets it because I know her. In fact, she's one of my current colleagues - she doesn't know that I'm the other candidate, but I know she is because she has a big mouth and told me all about her interview. Keep your fingers, toes, and anything else crossed for me!
Other than wallowing in self-pity (or sleeping), I've been trying to unpack. We're still delicately traversing Box Mountain (as I've dubbed our hallway), but things are slowly getting better. The kitchen is about 90% unpacked, as is the bedroom (well, excluding the pesky dresser that needs to be assembled) and the bathroom. The living room is another story... one that makes my head want to explode when I think about it.
Probably the biggest obstacle to unpacking is my crazy schedule. The summer semester started almost two weeks ago (right in the middle of the moving process) and due to some unexpected, last minute schedule changes, I ended up with a 9:30-12:30 class and a 5:30-9:30 class on T/TH. How crappy is that? I'm basically at school from 8:30ish until almost 10 at night - not exactly the way I thought I would be spending my summer! My M/W schedule is better (a 12:30-2:30 class & a 2:30-4:30 class on both days), but I'm still tired out at the end of those days, thanks to the surgery/anesthesia induced exhaustion that refuses to go away.
Oh! I almost forgot - I had a third (and final) interview at a super awesome school last week. To borrow from the lovely RussianViolets, it's definitely one that can be dubbed Dream School (well, one of my five Dream Schools in the Chicago area). It has been a long and arduous interview process and not only do I really, really want the job ($10k more p/year, much better school, awesome department), I'll also be really, really annoyed if the other candidate gets it because I know her. In fact, she's one of my current colleagues - she doesn't know that I'm the other candidate, but I know she is because she has a big mouth and told me all about her interview. Keep your fingers, toes, and anything else crossed for me!
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