GRAD SCHOOL PEOPLE!

At the advent of my SECOND week of Grad school, I thought I would post my favorite form of diatribe: a list of reasons why this is a love/hate relationship.

1. Grad classes are NOT Elementary Ed classes. You have to read, you can't just respond with "don't hit a kid" or "never make them feel inferior". You have to actually know what the crap these people are talking about. Vocab = IMPORTANT.

2. It's WAY interesting. I'm talking uber. I sat in class last week with my mouth open because I couldn't believe someone might actually pay me a professional salary someday to plan stuff like Homecoming. Why the hell have I been doing it for free???

3. Tuition waivers do not cover fees. I know, wtf mate!?! My tuition waiver went through and there was still a ginormo balance so I called and was informed of my "fee rate". Fees are also more when you are taking 5000 level classes. Sublist of reasons I think this is stupid: a) I don't need the Learning Center fee, I am in grad school and could not have gotten here without some sort of study skills; b) there are no grad specific activities so don't charge me the activity fee

4. Now in presentations they can also critique what I am wearing and how my hair is done. Kill me.

5. I have a MEAL PLAN. And an OFFICE. With my own BATHROOM. I know. Envy me.

6. When people ask me what I am doing with my life I have a way better response than "I don't know." I get to say "pursuing a Master's". Yeah, I'm going to be that girl to all those people who looked at me like I was psycho when I said I didn't know.

7. 9 hours is considered full time. Sweeeeet.

8. Did I tell you I have an office? One I get to decorate myself? Cause I do.

Spring Cleaning...you know, in August...

So, for those of you who I have not ranted to, I am going to have to move. Not right now, not even next month. In December. But based on teh LOATHING I feel for moving, this is a traumatic thing for me. So I decided to clean out my closets (to make it easier in December? I know, makes no sense).

By cleaning out the closets I realized that I have a problem. There is no reason for me to hold on to the Homecoming Volunteer t-shirt from 2002. But I picked it up and thought, "Ohhh...it was my first Homecoming experience!" and wanted to keep it. But I was super strong. I put it in the "go" pile.

Speaking of the go pile...it took over Theo's pack and play in my room. It is mounding actually. The go pile has probably 50+ t-shirts and a kazillion "trendy" shirts from 2001. Thats right people, 2001. It was a rather ugly year turns out. The go pile is going to take SEVERAL trips to Salvation Army or Goodwill or wherever they will all end up.

So, in December when I move into a nice, LARGE two bedroom apartment that I am NOT NOT NOT sharing, the closets will be lighter. Still a lot of crap in there, but lighter. Go me.

Another year...wiser?

So my birthday has come again and I turned 23. Turns out, 23 is not all that exciting...

I had high hopes. I mean the day that you turn Michael Jordan's number should rock. But seriously, grown up birthdays are not quite as fun.

First of all, there is no breathless anticipation the night before. I didn't get up super early so I would be awake for as much of my birthday as possible, and there was certainly no celebratory breakfast. There were no themed birthday parties where the invitations matched the plates and napkins and Thank You cards that Mom prepared a template for. There is something to be said for Barbie invitations and plates for the cupcakes.

Second, 23 is not a fun number. It's not the thrill of being barely grown up at 16, or realizing you legally are one at 18. No perks come at 23 like 21, because believe me, a margarita is a PERK. You're not hitting the quarter century mark, you're not even hitting real mid-twenties. The only change at 23 is that you are now forced to say "early to mid twenties" when you describe how old I am because you can't remember exactly.

Finally, turning 23 in a college town brings awkwardness to a new height. Its weird to be a halfling between the college age slacker and grown up. I'm a hobbit. I have a professional staff position...that I only spend 20 hours a week at. Seriously, hairy feet and you could start calling me Frodo.

All in all, even though it is weird to say 23 when asked my age, it WAS a good birthday. I have fab friends and family and appreciate you all!

Notice!

I am gainfully employed! YAY!

I am a Graduate Assisstant in University Housing and Food Services. I will be teaching the RA Class and planning the weekend programming. I know. How weird and grownup.

So if you have anything business professional to send my way, let me know!

In the Past Week I Have...

1. Dropped my brand new phone into the water while getting a pedicure. I might have said a BAD word out loud at the salon. Still trying to get that all worked out. No word yet, but I'll get it taken care of!

2. Rushed 19 parties with two girls each (that's 38 girls) for a total of 10.8 hours. In pumps. Yep, in pumps.

3. Screamed and yelled and sang and flopped my head back and forth until my brain scrambled.

4. Matched 820 girls to be rushed by 32 women. Yeah, that makes no sense and is crazy. But we did it.

5. Watched girls I knew as sophomores become insane chapter leaders that actually knew what they were talking about. Weird.

6. Became a real advisor for Informal Recruitment.

7. Straight lied to a girl when she asked me when I graduated. I said "back in the day" and changed the subject because I couldn't do the math to figure out when I would have graduated HS to be a senior now fast enough.

8. slept roughly 16 hours out of 96. It was intense.

It's been a long week.
It's been a fabulous week.
I am glad it is over and that it won't come for another year.

My phone is broken. I can't make or receive calls. Sorry. I am not ignoring you.

Notice:

Attention family, friends, and loved ones of all shapes and sizes:

It is Rush Season. It is upon us. I am firmly entrenched in what many consider one of my favorite spiritual holidays.

Please take no offense if I don't pick up the phone or seem distracted when trying to talk to you. Do not become alarmed at shrill screaming sounds or loud unison chanting. I have not been abducted, I am in no danger. I'm at Rush.

Wednesday will be the last day of full availability for me until the following Wednesday. For the six days between Theodays (how I refer to Wednesday) please consider me in a black hole that you do NOT want to follow me into. That is, unless you would like to stay up for 72 hours straight and straighten girls' hair and line 18 year olds up in Reverse Alpha and things of that nature.

It's going to be awesome.

Thank You,
Erin "the Little Rush Advisor that Could"

Aunt wendy has a blog!

So, we have sucked a new victim into the blogging world! Aunt Wendy and I made her a blog last night! Go check her out!

SunflowerSue.blogspot.com

Michigan 2006!

So here are some fun times I had in Michigan the past couple of days. It was SO fun! I got a bit on the burned side on my legs, but I am feeling better now! Unfortunately I published these backwards....so keep reading for details!

Here is Celia and Katie and me at Aunt Shoe and Unlce Holt's cottage. Yes, Mother. We all wore sunscreen. 

Here's Katie and me. We were singing Old MacDonald. A lot. 

This is John and our cousin Katie. She's beaten cancer and battled an immune disorder to complicate it all and is incredible. She LOVES John. She just followed him wherever he went. John didn't seem to mind too much! 

This is the distance from Little Point Sable to DC. Thought you would enjoy that Mom!

 

John and me at the top of Little Point Sable. I have wanted to go up there my whole life! It was 130 steps, and it was awesome! Turns out, there was some wind.