monthly to-dos

I feel so behind, you guys.

I have 75 emails in my inbox. What do I even do with all of them? I mean, declare some sort of email bankruptcy... but is that really feasible?

We are booking our honeymoon this weekend. It looks like it's going to be ALASKA!

Anyway, I need some sort of accountability of things I'm doing each month. February is off to a productive start. So far:

• I started seeds in 72 tiny pots. Lots more than 72 seeds. We'll see how this goes.
• I had to buy and rig a light, because of said seeds
• I feel okay with the commute right now! 

Goals to continue working on:

• Get back into reading. I don't think I've read more than 4 days this month. 
• Get on top of email, even if I have to work on it over the weekend.
• Sleep more
• Shower at night, get clothes for tomorrow ready today
• Return the bag and shoes I ordered online

procrasticleaning

I've had cleaning my office on a to-do list since Thanksgiving break, at least. It did finally happen today, and actually only took one hour to get to a passable spot. I still have a 2 inch high stack of papers to go through, but it's contained in my paper sorter now! At the bottom of one of the piles on my desk, I found graded papers from October 2018 with a note to enter them into the online grade book, which I'm guessing I got around to at some point.

Unfortunately I also have about 500 thousand other things that need to get done this week, including but not limited to the 45 unread emails in my inbox, so much grading, and meetings with students/adults all day tomorrow. Top it off with two classes (presentations only, so at least they won't create more grading?) and my week was full on Monday at lunchtime.

One of the people I read online (and actually really like) has been complaining about how much time her work is taking up. She does not work full time, but feels like she's putting in extra hours because the expectation is that everybody is putting in extra hours, so she should too. While I don't really like the premise that we should all have to work extra hours, I know that if I don't do my work, the job will literally not get done. I'm the only professional staff member in the entire school, which puts a pretty large burden on my time, and a high value on my energy.

Even though it's "not fair" (and I certainly don't make as much money as her, even if she's not working full-time), I do have to put in extra hours just to get the baseline of things expected from me done. Unlike her, I don't have someone who comes to clean my house for me, or cook meals for me, or take care of the little administrative things at home that everyone deals with. I also commute 2 hours each day. Having more work than time is not a new phenomenon, and it will always expand to fill the time allotted. However, I am a big proponent of working an extra hour or two for the peace of mind that I am done with my work. There is no feeling in the world quite like being caught up in the office in my mind (or on housework, for that matter), and it's something I take seriously.

I'm also in a unique position, which may give me a different perspective on things. I do feel like I am valued, personally, professionally, and monetarily, in my current job. If I could change anything, I'd hire someone to help me, get more vacation time (lol not happening), and move closer to the office. That's really it. I know I won't be compensated financially anywhere near what I make now if I leave, and I think that plays a role in how I view the situation. So... I try to not complain too much overall, because I have it pretty good.

2019 Goals Status Update #1

Here are some goal updates... even though we've already covered reading:

1. Blog 3x a week - Not entirely successful but not entirely unsuccessful either so ?
2. Learn to bake good bread that I can eat from scratch. - None on this one, but I baked a lot in January.
3. Learn about keeping chickens - No real progress on this, we've been working on the garden more (albeit, not much) instead
4. Career development -  I got a raise unexpectedly (I noticed in my pay stub a week after it happened) which is very exciting!
5. Stick to a budget, don't just track spending - We came up with a budget to start in February. I spent half of my tax return on a cruise. Win some, lose some.
6. Get married - Working on it
7. Take more pictures - I got a picture almost every day in January, but keep missing days in Feb. Oops.
8. Read more, at least 40 books, preferably over 50 - We've discussed this one, I'm well on my way with 11 books already.
9. Take a class, keep learning - No real progress on this either
10. Lose 20 pounds - I've gained 5, so now I'm going with "Lose 25 pounds"
11. Plan a fun trip - Check, we've got a cruise booked with 2 options for honeymoon cruises this summer and plans to reserve Yellowstone for next summer.
12. Eat something I've grown in the garden - Which reminds me, I need to start my seeds this weekend. Dan's ordered stuff to make raised beds.

All in all, not too bad for 1/12th of the way through the year!

Books I Read in January 2019

In order completed:

1. Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan
I finally finished listening to this audiobook. It was not as good as I expected with all of the hype.

2. The Urban Homestead - Kelly Coyne
I picked this up at a used bookstore and really enjoyed reading about the couple's projects and tips for having a more sufficient life in the city.

3. Artemis - Andy Weir
How had I not read this yet? I liked it, but not nearly as much as The Martian.

4. The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah
YOU GUYS. This book was so slow to start out. I debated stopping it (I stopped another book this month, and I felt much better afterwards), but I'm so glad I finished this one. It kept me up, had me in tears... I just really enjoyed it.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
This was not a re-read. Somehow I hadn't read it, so I listened to the audiobook (read by Sissy Spacek) and was floored. Incredible.

6. History of Davis Islands - Rodney Kite-Powell
Since I'm in Tampa for the foreseeable future, I decided to learn more about it. This book was okay (which is also how I feel about Tampa)

7. Dog Songs - Mary Oliver
I have wanted to read Mary Oliver and her death inspired me, which sounds and is terrible but is also really valuable. I'm so glad I read this. It's so heartwarming.

8. Life on Mars - Tracy K. Smith
For someone who doesn't really read poetry, reading two poetry books in one month might have been was definitely misguided. I didn't like this at all, and it won a Pulitzer.

Ranked Order:

8. Life on Mars
7. Crazy Rich Asians
6. History of Davis Islands
5. Artemis
4. The Urban Homestead
3. Dog Songs
2. The Great Alone
1. To Kill a Mockingbird

week 4 of semester 4

Today marks the end of my fourth week of my fourth semester at the college I work at.

This week has been really busy - I had a lot of last-minute event planning that had to happen Friday-Monday, I spent hours grading on Sunday, and I have hours of grading left to do (because now with multiple classes IT NEVER ENDS!)


On one hand, I really do enjoy and love my job. On the other hand, I feel like if I could get one iota of more flexibility, that would change my life.

I was at my last job for three years, and starting about 2 weeks in I was looking for a new job. I hope I can make it here that long, but with all of the additional work being added to my plate I am not certain how long I can keep up with everything AND my 2 hour round trip commute every day AND my shift from girlfriend to now fiance to wife (what is that even? will it be different? what's it like guys HELP ME)

I am much more comfortable teaching, but probably have one of my worst classes ever this semester.

I hate grading, but have gotten faster at it (somehow)

I sometimes feel like I want to become a faculty member somewhere, because I know I would enjoy teaching/grading/etc more if I didn't have to also do a full-time job on top of all of that.

These are my thoughts at the end of week 4 semester 4.