Orientation and First Week

9/6/13

Last week, we had orientation, a combination of ice breakers and introduction lectures and what not. I think the most helpful thing was the group activity we did with our groups from the 501 class (the groups are assigned and we work together all semester). I think I'm part of a pretty great group. I don't think it's going to be like group work I've done in past scholarly years--it was a big thing I was worried about, seeing as I was always the one who made sure it got done. Now we're all the ones making sure it gets done. Yay!

On Saturday I turned twenty-six. The highlight of my birthday came at 10:40 PM, when a whole roomful of friends playing Rockband paused and sang Happy Birthday to me via Robby's cell phone. Yep, folks, that was the highlight. I still don't know anyone super well yet, I wasn't going to tail-gate (for several reasons, 1, it was Sabbath, 2, I don't drink, 3, I'm not a big big fan of football).

This week I started classes. Tuesdays are going to be doozies, but I at least will have time on other days for doing homework and working. Wednesdays I have to get up incredibly early in order to get the right bus. If I don't get the right bus, I'm walking the twenty minutes to North Quad. (I also discovered that the closest bus route to my apartment has two different routes, the most direct route to NQ ending around 8:40 AM and not picking back up until about 3 PM. So that's fun. I found out by getting on the bus and having a moment of "Hey why aren't we there?" and being told "I don't go there" by the driver. At least he pointed me in the right direction.)

Yesterday I had a job interview at one of the libraries here on campus. She offered me the job, and I accepted. After I sent my acceptance e-mail, I received two e-mails asking if I'd interview for jobs with them, so I had to send "Sorry I already accepted another job but maybe we'll think of each other at a different semester" e-mails to both of them. So that was fun.

Today we had a convocation where we sat and listened to a bunch of people speak about how awesome the school is and how awesome the projects they're doing are. (Truthfully, of course.) Then they made us new students stand up after introducing new faculty and new doctoral students. Then they fed us a free meal. I won a stadium blanket in blue and gold, but it has the name of the sponsoring credit union (with whom I don't and won't have an account) on it. New gear, though.

More later.

Birthday

9-1-11

Yesterday was my 24th birthday.

Yet somehow people kept asking me how it felt to turn 21. (I don't know why. I either must act or look younger than I am. Hopefully the latter.)

Anyway, I've also been asked that annual question: "Do you feel different?"

Answer: Not really. I still have homework, I still am in school, I still have work, etc., And that's probably how it's going to be for the rest of my life, that I have a lot to do and have to be 'normal' despite the day being my birthday. Does that make sense?

I have some great friends who took time out of their schedules to meet up at a friend's house and eat pizza with me last night, and my housemates woke me up after I'd gone to bed to sing to me and give me a cake. I had a lot of fun. One of my friends said that he wanted us to do some more for my birthday on Saturday night when more people are free, but it's up to him to remember.

Anyway, off to Publication Tools and Techniques (usually shortened to PubTools).

--Ashlee

Birthday Blessings

9-1-09

Birthday blessings are not unlike birthday buttons. (Ten points if you can tell me the very obscure reference.) They are wonderful.

As many people know, yesterday was my birthday. I could pontificate about how the day is in that month because Caesar Augustus wanted the same number of days in "his" month as Julius Caesar had in July--but I won't. In fact, I'd rather wax eloquent about how great my day was yesterday.

FIrst of all, I won a women's club (read: the dorm) drawing for a $25 gift card for Barnes and Noble. I found the card in my mailbox yesterday. That was exciting. Two, my parking permit FINALLY came. I'd ordered it on August 20th, and my temporary permit expired on Sunday. So I was worried. It came, and I was excited. Third, I got a present from a friend. [I wasn't expecting any gifts.] Fourth, my roommate and suitemates surprised me last night with balloons all over the floor, a cake, ice cream, and some presents. My dorm room floor still has the brightly colored balloons sitting on it. Plus, I was in a fantastic mood. Actually, I've been in a good mood for a good long while now. I have my moments, but on the whole, I'm a happier person than I was a year ago, or two years ago, or whatever.

I'm still in a fantastic mood, by the way. My class this morning was canceled (although I felt sort of bad, since it's because the professor's sick. He looked so exhausted, and I KNOW how that feels), and it's a blessing, too, even if it's no longer my birthday. Why? Because I've been feeling so rushed, so hurried, so busy, and this provides a chance to sit and do something for myself, even if it is just write a blog that probably no one reads.

I find myself not really liking the pace at which college students live. It bothers me that it seems that there's no time for people to build relationships of any sort, that it seems as if it's all work and homework and work and homework. There is so much to be done, but I shouldn't have to sacrifice IMPORTANT things for it. Does that make sense? Granted, this is probably the pace I lived at two years ago, before I went to Ebeye, but I'm not very sure that I like it now. Certainly I'm never going to love it.

But I'm still in a fantastic mood. :)

More later.