Wednesday, December 2, 2009

I am so DONE

I've been done for one (1) week. :) I'm so happy! I've been playing Foo Fighters nonstop loudly in my car (you know, "DONE, DONE, ON TO THE NEXT ONE, DONE, DONE AND I'M ON TO THE NEXT ONE....")

However, I started feeling sick Monday. Go figure--it's probably because I kept telling myself all October and November that I couldn't get sick, repeating it over and over in my head. Then when I was done I stopped, so I got sick. Haha. It's just a cold though, thank heavens.

ANYWAY. Now onto the list of fun stuff to do with my free time now:

Reading (been reading almost every day now! Yay!)
Cooking (cooked last night even though I felt crappy)
Crocheting (have to find all my crocheting supplies, which will happen AFTER we finish dealing with the mold issues in our house).
Decorating (frugally, but still want to decorate the house. It feels very impersonal now, and we finally know what colors we want to paint stuff).
Drawing (I'd like to teach myself how to draw)
Painting (same)
CLEANING (yes I count this as fun because I HATE having a messy house)

And that's just the beginning. Watch out world!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

What I Wish I Could E-mail to My Professor

Apparently, you thought my emails were asking for "special treatment." I think we both may have misunderstood each other.

For the hw solutions, I meant for the entire class. I know others have asked you this before, and for whatever reason you always refuse, but I had thought I'd give it a shot on behalf of THE ENTIRE CLASS. It's really difficult to study one's homework for the test when you have no idea if any of it is correct or not because it isn't actually graded. And it would save you some time to just make a solution and hand it out rather than to spend an hour with every person who has questions, which has to be at least 15.

For the handout, I was there that day. I wasn't absent and expecting you to deal with what I missed; I WAS THERE. I didn't see anyone with a handout, and it never made it over to my part of the room, and you said something about emailing it, so I assumed that you hadn't handed it out in class. Next time I will be sure to interrupt class and make a big deal out of it while you are trying to teach, instead of trying to be polite. And when I emailed you could have just said, I handed it out in class, you must not have gotten one…rather than assuming that I wasn't there.

For the office hours, if wanting to meet outside of your scheduled office hours is "special treatment," then I and every other student I know get said "special treatment" from every other professor I have ever had--they are willing to compromise to find a mutually agreeable time for both parties. As it turns out, during lunch will work for me--I will simply take a late lunch today and come down there to ask about homeworks 4 and 5, since I have no idea if they are right or not because they aren't actually graded. Thank you for offering hours outside of after class.

As for the repeated emails, I was freaking out because the homework was due and you wouldn't even respond to a simple request to email a handout that either because the people in our class are morons and didn't pass it around, or because there just weren't enough of, I didn't receive in class. It would have taken you less than 30 seconds, because you already emailed it to the people in Savannah. Personally I think that is very immature, but so is being so passive-aggressive about this whole thing as to say everything that you wanted to say to ME in front of the whole class so that there was no way that I could respond, clarify, or defend myself. (You know, that rant about people asking for "special treatment" and sending you too many ridiculous emails and all that).

You are not the only one who doesn't have time for this shit. I have been doing this for three years while I work a full time job. I just want to do well in your class and learn from it, but you are making that extremely difficult with your immature passive-aggressive bullshit.

P.S. All of your superiors will be receiving an email from me after I graduate from this hell hole. You are hands down the WORST professor I've ever had...and I've been in school for EIGHT. YEARS.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Sorry for the Hiatus

I just can't. I feel like I'm clawing my way to graduation; hanging on by fingernails. Plus, I'm not myself, and haven't been, REALLY, for almost three years. I'm usually happy, chill, fun...NOT anxious, cranky, stressed, tired.

I will get there. One month, 28 days.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Slogging Through

I'm almost done. I'm almost done. This I repeat to myself EVERY DAY because I still really despise school. It doesn't help that the professor this time is one of the worst I've ever had--I learn more from the book than from him, and going to class is pointless other than to brownnose. Which I hate. But I go anyway, because I can do ANYTHING for 2 more months, three and a half more weeks.

But OH MY GOD I can't wait for life to begin again. I can't wait to come home and feel like it's okay to clean my house, okay to do laundry, okay to cook--because there's not anything in the world that I SHOULD do, and I can just do what needs to be done and what I want to do.

Part of me wants to sell the house (we owe 183k, it's worth around 230k--CONSERVATIVELY, and if you take out the realtor fees and capital gains, we'd have around 35,000 bucks. Consider that Zillow and our realtor--also our friend--think that we could get 240k even in this market, and wow that is a lot of money)...and then get a cheap RV or trailer for the back of a truck and travel around working at state parks for a few years. Haha. Probably not going to happen, but it's fun to dream, right?

Here's to hunkering down and not looking up till I'm done. And I am SO very grateful that it is almost DONE.

And by the way, I am going to wear a Georgia Bulldogs T-shirt under my graduation robe. That is how much I dislike my school. Amen. ;) (And no, I will not be blatant about it...it will just be there, and I will know it, and it will make me happy because that is the place that is closest to my heart. Yes, I'm cheesy, why do you ask?)

Over and out.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Reunion

So I just went to my first high school reunion. (Seven year...they couldn't get it together enough to have a five year. lol).

And I actually had fun!

I suck at posting lately, and I know this. I think everything is just going to be on hiatus for a few months while I finish school--it's taking EVERY OUNCE of willpower I have to do my job well and do my homework well.

And yes, I still struggle with the whole frugality thing, but I am also still doing Dave Ramsey's plan and almost have one credit card gone. Wish me luck!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Style, or lack thereof

I used to be stylish. I had cute clothes that fit well, cute shoes, and accessories. I think I still HAVE most of those things...but most days I feel I just look kind of "blah".

I don't want "blah," I want sophisticated with a little bit of edge. For my clothes, for my house, even for my accessories!

I think a lack of time, money, and definitely a lack of prioritizing have made me slowly become "blah."

I'd like to start wearing more skirts--my legs are the one thing that I actually like about myself. I'd also like these shoes. Dear lord, would I love those shoes...

Here they are on the lovely CJane. Aren't they AWESOME??

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Random Thoughts

I've been more spendy lately. I broke down and bought clothes in Savannah (me, mom, and sister went for Memorial Day weekend). And I've been eating out more, and I got some "stuff" in Savannah too (2 pairs of shoes, a quilt, and some kitchen towels).

I think it's because I'm unhappy on some level: I feel fat, I never get to spend time at HOME because we're going back and forth to Carrollton on the weekends, and during the week I work or go to school long hours. So I spend, and am temporarily happier, but then I just feel guilty for spending money that I either don't have or shouldn't be spending.

Monday, Mom came up to hang out and spend the night. She provided the impetus to start putting away the piles (and piles and piles) of folded laundry that I hadn't put up in probably a month or two. It was during this that I realized I have WAY too many clothes (not the first time I've realized this). But I wear almost all of them, at least those that we put up, because they were washed and in order to have been washed, I had to WEAR them. But I still have too many clothes. I think I may bag stuff up and let it sit for 6 months or so, and if I don't miss it then I'll give it away. I have tried going through the closet and each time I do get rid of stuff, but not much. Maybe the bag it for six months approach will be better.

And the crux of the whole spendy thing is, it doesn't make me feel better long term, because then I just have MORE clutter. For example, kitchen towels....I probably have 20. I really only need 5 or so, MAYBE 10 if I wait a long time to do laundry. I think I will freecycle the ones that don't match anymore instead of being such a pack rat.

Then the question becomes, when the hell am I going to do this?? (Because we will be gone all the damned time this summer). Sigh. It's an uphill battle and I'm losing.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Summer

I used to love summer...long days lounging by the pool, hanging out with friends, babysitting my favorite kids ever, washing my car every week...

Now I kind of am at odds with summer, because I am missing it even as I am in it. I have to work all day in my (too-hot) work clothes, I do homework in the evenings with no time to wash my car (plus the drought won't allow that anyway), and my weekends will be spent traveling back and forth to family stuff. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, miss them terribly, and enjoy spending time with them. HOWEVER. This summer, we will have MAYBE one weekend in Atlanta. ONE. WEEKEND. Every single other weekend, at least one day of it will be spent in Carrollton and a couple of them will be ALL weekend. Sigh. There goes any concept of a relaxing summer.

Just for shits and giggles, here is our (abbreviated) schedule for the summer:

This weekend: (May 30/31): EABF in East Atlanta, and then nephews' birthday party Saturday in Carrollton, RELAX on Sunday. (Where RELAX really means catch up on cooking, grocery shopping, laundry, and cleaning).

Next weekend (June 6/7): Caleb's cousin's wedding celebration Saturday (they are getting married at the courthouse beforehand), shop for bridesmaid dresses with a friend on Sunday from 2 pm till ? somewhere not at home (probably Town Center)...I'm also supposed to be helping some friends paint their house Sunday in Paulding County but can't do both.

June 13/14: Liz and Mary and Evan (Aunts and Uncle) will be here; they will be at Jim and Barbara's lakehouse on Saturday IN WEDOWEE, ALABAMA. We will help some friends move that morning in Carrollton/Paulding County and then probably go because otherwise we won't see Liz and Evan again till October. Sunday, either nothing or painting if painting gets moved to that weekend instead. UPDATE: Caleb has to work Sunday so we will either both be in Carrollton or he will be in Carrollton that day.

June 20/21: STAY IN ATLANTA, YAY! Terri and Jesse's wedding Saturday afternoon, go out to dinner with them afterwards. Nothing Sunday (aka catch up on housework that we haven't been doing because we haven't been there for two weeks). (It's Fathers Day on Sunday but we will be celebrating with them when we see them BEFORE then so that we can eke out one measly weekend at our freaking HOUSE).

June 27/28: already be in Daytona (drive down June 26, Friday)

July 5/6: Saturday we will be driving back from Daytona, Sunday nothing

July 11/12: Saturday nothing (really catching up on housework per the usual), Sunday, Jennifer's party thing in Carrollton. (It's actually a shower, but she wants it to be more of a couples come and hang out thing). Note that I have to plan this sometime between now and then.

July 18/19: I will be gone at least Saturday night for Jennifer's bachelorette party...either all weekend in Charleston or just Saturday night/Sunday in ATL or Athens.

July 25th: Jennifer's wedding and my class reunion, both in Carrollton.

I feel overtraveled, overexerted, and like the laundry is piling up already. Sigh.

Monday, May 4, 2009

I Caved

I am now actually, REALLY, completely following Dave Ramsey's plan. I quit contributions to my 401(k) as of the paycheck I will receive on Friday and all of that money (somewhere between 200 and 300 dollars/month) will go to credit card debt. I'm sick of having stupid bills that I wouldn't have if I just paid it off.

I have roughly 8 grand in credit card debt (3 grand from appliances when we bought the house, the rest is mostly tuition). My interest rates are between 9 and 13 percent. I'm ready to knock it OUT.

I will update monthly-ish on progress with that. I might even make little graphs and stuff.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

An Aside

Also, there was a spider crawling on my leg this morning as I was backing out of the driveway (I had just moved some plants, I think that's when it made its move onto me) and I FREAKED OUT. I did at least remember to put the handbrake on before I shoved the door open and thumped him off of me. (Yes I screamed a little). Unfortunately I shoved the door open onto the corner of our brick flower bed, and there is a tiny (thank God it's small!) dent and nick in it. But you know what? It was worth it not to have the spider TOUCH MY SKIN. THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OKAY.