I thought for sure I could finish my sister's frog hat tonight. I was wrong.
Between the loopy yarn that gets caught up on itself constantly and the fact that I can't quite figure out where to put the eyes, I'm tired of this hat, and I'm giving up for the night.
Stitching one eye on took quite a while because the yarn kept catching. You can imagine my joy when I realized the eyes was not in the right place and I needed to move it. I couldn't just snip the stiches out because I couldn't see where they were. I didn't want to undo the hat by accidentally snipping one of its stitches, so I had to pull the eye off stitch-by-stitch.
I guess I will wear a different hat to work tomorrow for our little Halloween celebration. The bird will suffice.
On a brighter note. I made fried chicken and acorn squash for dinner. It was tasty. After work tomorrow, I'm driving to my parents to visit my cat. Hooray!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
On the Road
I've been a bit busy, traveling around the state of Colorado. On my drive through the mountains last Friday, I got to see this mountain turn orange in the sunset.
Then I visited my mom and my twin sister, and we carved a pumpkin. We designed it to be an evil zombie mouse. It has cats walking into its mouth. Molly (my sister) and I had fun designing it. The cats are hard to see in this photo (you can't see the 2nd cat at all).
Now I'm in Denver working. All the travel has worn me out, so I made a pie on Monday to help out with my stress. The crust was super flakey.
Today, I had a decently relaxing day. It was snowing pretty bad, and I am in unfamiliar territory, so I stayed at my sister's all day and VPNed into work. The snow was heavy enough to make the trees droop towards the ground quite a bit.
Moments of stress still influenced the day though. My boss is stressed out. Things are getting rougher and rougher for her. Fortunately, I think we finally found a replacement for me (after several top applicants turned down the job). I'm interviewing him tomorrow because he's here in Denver and not in GJ.
Because of his family, he'll have to work out of the Denver office, which means my boss will be a bit isolated in GJ. I hope he acts as an advocate for her in the Denver office to eliminate some of the tension she is currently experiencing. After hearing about the phone conversation she had with him today, I think we're pretty intent on hiring him. We'll see for sure after the interview.
Worrying about my boss has me stressed out too. If I don't find a job right away, I may act in a volunteer capacity to help train my replacement and perhaps chip away at some of the low priority maintenance tasks.
With all this stress, I need more crochet time. Last night I made cover for a mug Kerrie has that gets too hot. Another sock monkey. Everybody loves those.
I've also started on the eyeballs for Kerrie's frog hat. Hopefully she can wear it for Halloween then.
Saturday I will drive to Manhattan, KS to visit friends. Then Monday, I have an interview scheduled in Wichita. After that I have to make the very long drive back to GJ, but it will be nice to return home, especially because I miss my cat. She's staying with my mom right now, and I will collect her on my way home.
Now I'm in Denver working. All the travel has worn me out, so I made a pie on Monday to help out with my stress. The crust was super flakey.
Today, I had a decently relaxing day. It was snowing pretty bad, and I am in unfamiliar territory, so I stayed at my sister's all day and VPNed into work. The snow was heavy enough to make the trees droop towards the ground quite a bit.
Moments of stress still influenced the day though. My boss is stressed out. Things are getting rougher and rougher for her. Fortunately, I think we finally found a replacement for me (after several top applicants turned down the job). I'm interviewing him tomorrow because he's here in Denver and not in GJ.
Because of his family, he'll have to work out of the Denver office, which means my boss will be a bit isolated in GJ. I hope he acts as an advocate for her in the Denver office to eliminate some of the tension she is currently experiencing. After hearing about the phone conversation she had with him today, I think we're pretty intent on hiring him. We'll see for sure after the interview.
Worrying about my boss has me stressed out too. If I don't find a job right away, I may act in a volunteer capacity to help train my replacement and perhaps chip away at some of the low priority maintenance tasks.
With all this stress, I need more crochet time. Last night I made cover for a mug Kerrie has that gets too hot. Another sock monkey. Everybody loves those.
I've also started on the eyeballs for Kerrie's frog hat. Hopefully she can wear it for Halloween then.
Saturday I will drive to Manhattan, KS to visit friends. Then Monday, I have an interview scheduled in Wichita. After that I have to make the very long drive back to GJ, but it will be nice to return home, especially because I miss my cat. She's staying with my mom right now, and I will collect her on my way home.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Why My Debt Doesn't Stress Me Out
Leaving behind my current temporary position for a permanent job, I'm wondering, how much room do I have to be picky about the job I take?
I have two degrees (and some loans to go with them), a car payment, no health insurance, no savings, and my 6-month job is about to be over.
At first, I was panicking a bit about my impending joblessness. Even if I go stay with my parents, how will I ever make all my monthly payments?
After recovering my wits, I realized it will be easy.
Before I went back for my MA, I was really good about taking my extra income and dividing it between retirement, savings, and paying off loans. My next loan payment for my undergrad loans isn't due until 2014. I'm that far ahead. Even with my current tight budget, I've been making monthly payments as if I am not that far ahead.
My next car payment isn't actually due until April, though I'd like to keep paying it off if possible simply because I'm between 5 and 6 months away from having paid off half of my debt on it.
I've got less of a handle on my graduate school loans. They have the highest interest rate, the highest balance, and my next payment is due in January, though that still gives me some flexibility in finding a job.
At first glance, I look like I'm in pretty bad shape, and really, I kind of am, but it could be worse. I have a buffer here, and I'm looking at a future with benefits and enough extra income that I can go back to actually paying into retirement and savings. I might even be able to afford a vacation.
I have two degrees (and some loans to go with them), a car payment, no health insurance, no savings, and my 6-month job is about to be over.
At first, I was panicking a bit about my impending joblessness. Even if I go stay with my parents, how will I ever make all my monthly payments?
After recovering my wits, I realized it will be easy.
Before I went back for my MA, I was really good about taking my extra income and dividing it between retirement, savings, and paying off loans. My next loan payment for my undergrad loans isn't due until 2014. I'm that far ahead. Even with my current tight budget, I've been making monthly payments as if I am not that far ahead.
My next car payment isn't actually due until April, though I'd like to keep paying it off if possible simply because I'm between 5 and 6 months away from having paid off half of my debt on it.
I've got less of a handle on my graduate school loans. They have the highest interest rate, the highest balance, and my next payment is due in January, though that still gives me some flexibility in finding a job.
At first glance, I look like I'm in pretty bad shape, and really, I kind of am, but it could be worse. I have a buffer here, and I'm looking at a future with benefits and enough extra income that I can go back to actually paying into retirement and savings. I might even be able to afford a vacation.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Got an Interview
I have an interview. It wasn't my first pick, but I've been really impressed with the company's hiring practices, so this potential job is growing on me...a lot.
There were two definite jobs I wanted, and this wasn't one of those two. However, I think it has pushed one of those top two jobs below it.
What's more, the interview is on Halloween, which happens to be a Monday. For me this means that I can be in MHK on the Saturday before to attend the Halloween party being thrown by the English graduate student group. It works out especially well because I will be in Denver training people the whole week before, so I will be about 4.5 hours closer than if I were home in GJ.
I will get to see so many friends who were first years during my second year of grad school and even some of my favorites from my own class (cough, Mariya and Lacey). I couldn't be happier to get to see them all. I've missed them a ton.
I'm also so excited to be a Kansan again (and yes, I know most people think that's weird).
There were two definite jobs I wanted, and this wasn't one of those two. However, I think it has pushed one of those top two jobs below it.
What's more, the interview is on Halloween, which happens to be a Monday. For me this means that I can be in MHK on the Saturday before to attend the Halloween party being thrown by the English graduate student group. It works out especially well because I will be in Denver training people the whole week before, so I will be about 4.5 hours closer than if I were home in GJ.
I will get to see so many friends who were first years during my second year of grad school and even some of my favorites from my own class (cough, Mariya and Lacey). I couldn't be happier to get to see them all. I've missed them a ton.
I'm also so excited to be a Kansan again (and yes, I know most people think that's weird).
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
I Have Fun, Too!
I've noticed that none of my posts have been about anything fun lately. No crochet projects, no baking adventures, no weird TV watching, so here is a fun update.
I'm using this weird loopy green mohair yarn to make my sister's frog hat. It causes the hat to be a bit lumpy like the frog has warts, which is perfect and is not impacting the cuteness factor negatively. I purchased the yarn at the Salvation Army for 50 cents a skein six or seven years ago. It's just been waiting in a box for the perfect project. This is the perfect project.
I made another sock monkey coffee cup sleeve for my boss. She did a few rows for herself because I was trying to teach her, so it was a good collaborative effort.
I'm watching Star Trek, the original, on Netflix. Yesterday I watched the episode "Arena," which is based on a short story we read in the science fiction class I took last summer. It is soooo cool how Star Trek revised the story to suit the changing worldview. I also like seeing how progressive Star Trek was for its time. Tis awesome.
Last, but not least, I didn't do an ounce of baking this weekend, so tonight I'm making zucchini bread for my brother-in-law, Beej. Tomorrow I will make peach galettes for everyone else.
I'm using this weird loopy green mohair yarn to make my sister's frog hat. It causes the hat to be a bit lumpy like the frog has warts, which is perfect and is not impacting the cuteness factor negatively. I purchased the yarn at the Salvation Army for 50 cents a skein six or seven years ago. It's just been waiting in a box for the perfect project. This is the perfect project.
I made another sock monkey coffee cup sleeve for my boss. She did a few rows for herself because I was trying to teach her, so it was a good collaborative effort.
I'm watching Star Trek, the original, on Netflix. Yesterday I watched the episode "Arena," which is based on a short story we read in the science fiction class I took last summer. It is soooo cool how Star Trek revised the story to suit the changing worldview. I also like seeing how progressive Star Trek was for its time. Tis awesome.
Last, but not least, I didn't do an ounce of baking this weekend, so tonight I'm making zucchini bread for my brother-in-law, Beej. Tomorrow I will make peach galettes for everyone else.
Must I Go to Work Today?
Really, it's not that I don't want to go to work today. It's just that I have so much I need to do. Why go to work when I have more than a full days work waiting for me at home? Oh wait, no one pays me to stay home. Oh, and I have this rising sense of panic that my replacement will not be able to pick up where I left off with some of my larger projects. My boss is stressed enough. I'd like to leave her in a good place. I did get halfway through revising the Administrator's manual at work yesterday, That's number 1, and it will get done before I leave. No doubts.
Mostly, I want to stay home so I can actually write a test for my tutees so that Thursday (my last day of tutoring) I can give them some sort of certificate of achievement and their scores. It's just wrong to end without offering them a sense of achievement.
I also want to clean up my home because with all the packing, it's a bit of a disaster, and I hate messes.
I could finally take my mound of donateable goods to the various places that might need them.
I could apply for a job or two. In case you're wondering, 3 rejections so far, but mostly a lot of no news. This morning I did get a "You made it through round 1. Fill out this questionnaire to see if you make it through round 2" email. Woohoo!
In procrastinating work, I just sewed my cat's favorite ball back together (again). I used yarn and a darning needle this time, hoping it would maybe hold up a little better than thread and that it would add some new substance. The sides of the ball are almost gone, and all that's really left is the stuffing inside. Of course, with newly fixed ball, cat wants to play fetch. That was not on my high priority list, but kitty is happy.
...in the process of all this, I just texted my boss to ask if I could come in late this morning, she said yes. Except, as I write this I am remembering that she is interviewing my replacement today, so I am now worrying that I should be there to tackle things while she is interviewing. Oh blergh.
I'm going to stay and write this test as quickly as possible. Then pitch in. Really, my boss suggested yesterday that she'd be okay with me falling behind on hours. She'd like me to pop in a bet during the week after I'm done so that I can help train. I'd kind of like to have a job by then, but it would be nice to continue alleviating her stress as long as possible.
Mostly, I want to stay home so I can actually write a test for my tutees so that Thursday (my last day of tutoring) I can give them some sort of certificate of achievement and their scores. It's just wrong to end without offering them a sense of achievement.
I also want to clean up my home because with all the packing, it's a bit of a disaster, and I hate messes.
I could finally take my mound of donateable goods to the various places that might need them.
I could apply for a job or two. In case you're wondering, 3 rejections so far, but mostly a lot of no news. This morning I did get a "You made it through round 1. Fill out this questionnaire to see if you make it through round 2" email. Woohoo!
In procrastinating work, I just sewed my cat's favorite ball back together (again). I used yarn and a darning needle this time, hoping it would maybe hold up a little better than thread and that it would add some new substance. The sides of the ball are almost gone, and all that's really left is the stuffing inside. Of course, with newly fixed ball, cat wants to play fetch. That was not on my high priority list, but kitty is happy.
...in the process of all this, I just texted my boss to ask if I could come in late this morning, she said yes. Except, as I write this I am remembering that she is interviewing my replacement today, so I am now worrying that I should be there to tackle things while she is interviewing. Oh blergh.
I'm going to stay and write this test as quickly as possible. Then pitch in. Really, my boss suggested yesterday that she'd be okay with me falling behind on hours. She'd like me to pop in a bet during the week after I'm done so that I can help train. I'd kind of like to have a job by then, but it would be nice to continue alleviating her stress as long as possible.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Productivity! (cue Superman music)
Yesterday, I finally conquered the lingering dishes. I also copied a number of CDs onto my computer so that I can get rid of them. Books to donate are consolidated into a single box, which they are spilling out of. Other donateable stuff is in another box. Laundry is done. I even crocheted a few more rows on the frog hat for Kerrie.
Today I need to bake some zucchini bread for Beej and some pies or gallettes with my peaches. I also need to put some ears on the sock monkey coffee cup sleeve that my boss and I were collaboratively working on Friday night.
Right now I have Star Trek going, and I am packing books into a boxes. I'm going to try to pack as much as possible this week and move it to my parents this coming weekend when I visit them. I'll be bringing their truck back to GJ with me and leaving my precious subaru behind.
With the truck, I can rent a U-haul trailer, which is much cheaper than renting a truck.
I just need to figure out who can help me load the big stuff into the trailer. I don't mind asking my boss and her family for help with most of the stuff...but the entertainment center is monstrous. I may have to just break it up and put it in the dumpster. :(
Today I need to bake some zucchini bread for Beej and some pies or gallettes with my peaches. I also need to put some ears on the sock monkey coffee cup sleeve that my boss and I were collaboratively working on Friday night.
Right now I have Star Trek going, and I am packing books into a boxes. I'm going to try to pack as much as possible this week and move it to my parents this coming weekend when I visit them. I'll be bringing their truck back to GJ with me and leaving my precious subaru behind.
With the truck, I can rent a U-haul trailer, which is much cheaper than renting a truck.
I just need to figure out who can help me load the big stuff into the trailer. I don't mind asking my boss and her family for help with most of the stuff...but the entertainment center is monstrous. I may have to just break it up and put it in the dumpster. :(
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