I feel like I am being pulled in so many different directions right now, with an underlying sense of (job) insecurity and flux just enough to keep me off-kilter and unable to make reasoned decisions. The basic situation, as most (all three of you, heh heh) know, is that I currently have a job that lasts through June 30. The job is good, great even (good pay, autonomy, great but far away colleagues, work from home), but probably not sustainable in my remote location from HQ plus it is a type of work that I have done before I got my PhD. And in my mind, apparently that is a con. I am ready for something different. I just started applying to jobs to test the waters - one locally, 3 out of state - and the local one just offered me the job. They are even willing to wait until July when I am done with my current obligation. It's a state job, which typically pay about 15% less than the private sector - major con. Other potential con is that I'm not sure how interesting the work would be -- seems to involve evaluating welfare programs, as in TANF and foodstamps and medicaid and such. Big pro is that I could stay here!
The same day I get this offer, I get asked by some former colleagues (where I was a doctoral fellow last year) if I'm interested in some short-term work helping them evaluate a super-cool project designed to get more local citizens to donate to non-profits. This would be from April to September.
And then, these out-of-state jobs are out there, which I may never hear from - they're with big entities with recruiters and stuff -- but the jobs themselves are really interesting and focused on subject matter that I actually have studied and could see myself working on for years to come. Those type of jobs could take 3-4 months to pan out, if at all.
I am not a risk-taker, so you see the dilemma. I know I am lucky to be getting offers of any kind; it's just never as straightforward as I'd like it to be. I will have to decide on the local job pretty soon, before I have anything else lined up.
Tuesday
Monday
March 10, 2008
It looks like I will be getting a wristband again this year through M.'s super-secret connection. M. gets a lovely platinum badge which is his pride and joy (it dangles off of his book case year-round). He is off this very moment enjoying a movie premiere! So, now I will need to study the music schedule and strategize what I am likely to be able to get in to see. Yippee! And without having to stress about whether I'm getting my money's worth. The SXSW caste system requires that M. and I stand in different lines, and that I will have to get places an hour earlier than he does, but at least I can run around a little bit and partake of the silliness. The bad news is that I actually have a ton of work to do this week, and I can't help but feel that I should totally be on vacation.
Wednesday
March 5, 2008
My precinct caucus last night was ridiculous. I followed postings all night long on the Statesman's website, and people were writing in from all over town about highly questionable procedures at the caucuses. My own experience included witnessing an incident in which an Obama supporter insisted on working the sign-in table for Clinton supporters, and deliberately asking for extra information in order to slow down our line. Some people were visibly irate about this and told the rest of us in line that we weren't required to write this info down and to not let this guy tell us otherwise. The precinct judge was called over, the man was asked to leave politely, but he refused. I couldn't believe it. Nothing like that was going on over at the Obama line.
It looks like Obama will win the Texas caucuses handily, which is no surprise. His ground crews are bullies and there are reports of illegally signing people to the list who weren't even at the caucus, or who hadn't voted (lots of reports of people just signing in without showing evidence of having voted in the primary). But the larger issue is, Clinton's base largely cannot make it out to these events - what about the working class folk who have night shifts, or child care issues, or transportation issues, or what have you? Obama's supporters tend to be college kids and well-to-do white folk who have no problem devoting 6 hours into the night on a weeknight to this process. Bottom line: the caucuses were a completely BOGUS process and I think Clinton should contest it. But then she would just be "whining." Just like a woman, right?
It looks like Obama will win the Texas caucuses handily, which is no surprise. His ground crews are bullies and there are reports of illegally signing people to the list who weren't even at the caucus, or who hadn't voted (lots of reports of people just signing in without showing evidence of having voted in the primary). But the larger issue is, Clinton's base largely cannot make it out to these events - what about the working class folk who have night shifts, or child care issues, or transportation issues, or what have you? Obama's supporters tend to be college kids and well-to-do white folk who have no problem devoting 6 hours into the night on a weeknight to this process. Bottom line: the caucuses were a completely BOGUS process and I think Clinton should contest it. But then she would just be "whining." Just like a woman, right?
Friday
February 29, 2008
I haven't worked up the nerve to splurge on the Frye boots, but I did get these shoes by Frye the other day that I'm in love with. This week I procrastinated on all of my work projects, so now I will have to do them over the weekend. Working at home isn't always the most productive locale - I spend probably two hours a day just reading news on the internet (and shopping, apparently). I need structure! Luckily I have colleagues in another state that I am working with who check on me and keep me on track somewhat. I think this is why an academic job (at least a traditional one) wouldn't work for me - I want smart, innovative, non-territorial people around me to collaborate with and motivate me to do my best work, and forward-thinking clients who want to use our work to help change the world. Anyway, that's the latest. That and the fact that I've sworn off the anti-Clinton anti-woman hacks at CNN and MSNBC. I will only watch Anderson Cooper, and that with a jaundiced eye. From now on it is the Lehrer News Hour.
Wednesday
February 27, 2008
I am aggravated that the Fed keeps lowering interest rates. I mean, I'm no economist so I suppose it's necessary and whatnot, but for people who are savers and not over-spenders, it totally sucks! And it's a little bizarre that the idea is to get people to take out more loans and charge more on credit cards and thus get further into debt. Meanwhile, savings accounts, CDs, and savings bonds get crapola as far as interest earnings. What is a fiscally conservative gal to do??
Sunday
Thursday
February 7, 2008
I wanted to add this snippet too, from an editorial in women's enews:
"...Journalists seemed to take without a grain of salt the idea that the torch had been passed directly from JFK to Obama; from one young man to another, and no anti-heroic women in between, thank you. All this is not to disparage Obama, whose charisma, oratory, intelligence, message of hope and appeal to young voters are a real plus for Democrats. But so, too, are Hillary's resonance with lower-income voters and women.
She may be prose while he's poetry, but where are the voices saying that her command of the issues and her long experience as an advocate for children fit today's needs like a glove? Any admiration I sense for her among opinion journalists is grudging at best and, at worst, she's seen as a combination of Lucrezia Borgia and Lady Macbeth; power-mad, shrill and calculating. And, of course, there's that "cackle."
On the CNN-Time blog, The Page, critic Mark Halperin noted that Kennedy endorsement was important because:
• "He has a huge following among working-class, traditional Democrats, one of Obama's weaknesses.
• He has a huge following among union households, another of Obama's weaknesses.
• He has a huge following among older Democrats, yet another of Obama's weaknesses.
• He has a huge following with Hispanics, a big deal in California and other Super Tuesday states, and one of Obama's weaknesses.
Note the key word here? Weaknesses. They are also Hillary's strengths, but that fact was little noted in the orgy of TV coverage. (And I watched hour after hour of it.)
Of course, the Obama narrative has elements the media love. He's a fresh face, he's calling for an end to the divisive politics we all loathe, he's young in a culture where youth rules. To many he embodies redemption for America's racist past. He would indeed turn a very different American face to the world. But the first female president would also be a huge departure from our past and that's been downplayed by a media run by men."
Pasted from http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3484
"...Journalists seemed to take without a grain of salt the idea that the torch had been passed directly from JFK to Obama; from one young man to another, and no anti-heroic women in between, thank you. All this is not to disparage Obama, whose charisma, oratory, intelligence, message of hope and appeal to young voters are a real plus for Democrats. But so, too, are Hillary's resonance with lower-income voters and women.
She may be prose while he's poetry, but where are the voices saying that her command of the issues and her long experience as an advocate for children fit today's needs like a glove? Any admiration I sense for her among opinion journalists is grudging at best and, at worst, she's seen as a combination of Lucrezia Borgia and Lady Macbeth; power-mad, shrill and calculating. And, of course, there's that "cackle."
On the CNN-Time blog, The Page, critic Mark Halperin noted that Kennedy endorsement was important because:
• "He has a huge following among working-class, traditional Democrats, one of Obama's weaknesses.
• He has a huge following among union households, another of Obama's weaknesses.
• He has a huge following among older Democrats, yet another of Obama's weaknesses.
• He has a huge following with Hispanics, a big deal in California and other Super Tuesday states, and one of Obama's weaknesses.
Note the key word here? Weaknesses. They are also Hillary's strengths, but that fact was little noted in the orgy of TV coverage. (And I watched hour after hour of it.)
Of course, the Obama narrative has elements the media love. He's a fresh face, he's calling for an end to the divisive politics we all loathe, he's young in a culture where youth rules. To many he embodies redemption for America's racist past. He would indeed turn a very different American face to the world. But the first female president would also be a huge departure from our past and that's been downplayed by a media run by men."
Pasted from http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3484
Wednesday
February 6, 2008
It has become somewhat of a hobby with me lately to point out (i.e., obsess over) the misogyny leveled against Senator Clinton during this campaign, and I swear it is getting worse. One example is CNN's seeming inability to call races for Clinton long after other media outlets have, because they just can't believe that Obama won't pull out a heroic victory at the end when the urban population centers report their results. One piece of data I heard that I think is really interesting: exit polls showed that people who made < $50,000 voted for Clinton, and people who made > $50,000 voted for Obama. Paul Begala joked that the talking heads in the media are so smitten with Obama because they don't know anybody who makes less than $50,000.
I don't even know who I'm voting for yet, but the bias against Clinton raises my hackles in a big way - my sexism radar is on full alert, and I just feel compelled to defend her or at least point out the bullshit. Democrat white men go something like 2 to 1 for Obama over Clinton and would totally vote for McCain over her in a general and I doubt they could come up with a rational reason. Simply a matter of where they stand on policy issues? I think not. The criticism of her is fueled in no small part by sexism. But I guess people don't vote rationally, eh? We've seen that before.
Excellent article from the Seattle Times:
Hillary hatred finds its misogynistic voice
I don't even know who I'm voting for yet, but the bias against Clinton raises my hackles in a big way - my sexism radar is on full alert, and I just feel compelled to defend her or at least point out the bullshit. Democrat white men go something like 2 to 1 for Obama over Clinton and would totally vote for McCain over her in a general and I doubt they could come up with a rational reason. Simply a matter of where they stand on policy issues? I think not. The criticism of her is fueled in no small part by sexism. But I guess people don't vote rationally, eh? We've seen that before.
Excellent article from the Seattle Times:
Hillary hatred finds its misogynistic voice
Monday
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Thursday
January 31, 2008
Best line in the debate tonight:
Senator Clinton, in response to a question about how she can say she will bring about change when either a Bush or a Clinton has been in office for the past twenty years, said "It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and it will take another Clinton to clean up after the second one."
The crowd erupted in applause!
Senator Clinton, in response to a question about how she can say she will bring about change when either a Bush or a Clinton has been in office for the past twenty years, said "It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and it will take another Clinton to clean up after the second one."
The crowd erupted in applause!
Friday
January 25, 2008
At left: Honolulu from Diamond Head Crater.Friday Night Lights update: I have said it before and I will say it again, how much I dig this show. And it's about the only scripted show on TV right now that has new episodes!! I highly recommend getting the first season on DVD to catch up with the back stories on all the characters. But anyway, the updates are that last week's episode featured one actor from the late Veronica Mars, Francis Capra (playing a "thug" in both parts - though his character on VM was quite multi-layered), and one actor from the late Gilmore Girls, the dude who played Rory's rich boyfriend. He's playing a pastor of a mega-church on Friday Night Lights!! Crazy. But the craziest news, in which Ladyfest Texas alumni will be most interested, is that this week's episode introduced a new minor character played by none other than Brea Grant! She had like three scenes, and lots of lines. I recognized her after about 30 seconds, and won a $20 bet with M. that it was her. She looked awesome. Perfect for playing a quirky-nerdy-hipster high school student. Yay for Brea!
Wednesday
January 9, 2008
It has been a month of technological upgrades for me. Not one that could ever ever be mistaken for an early adopter, I have finally replaced my nearly four-year old basic cell phone with one that actually has an LED display and can download ringtones (currently it's Sheena Is A Punk Rocker), replaced the five-and-a-half year old laptop, traded my 15-year old TV to Reluctant Texan for a bigger old-school TV, and got a DVR. Next I plan to buy a new bike to replace the one that got stolen, and work up the nerve to buy a new car and say good-bye to Zippy, who has served me virtually maintenance-free for the last ten years. Though he is not so zippy anymore, he will be tough to let go of.
But Holy Consumerism!! It's all been a bit overwhelming and unfamiliar.
Ok. But so, can someone please tell me why otherwise smart, progressive people are so smitten with Ron Paul? Does no one realize that this man is a conservative pro-life Republican from Texas?? There is some serious kool-aid drinking going on. Yeesh.
But Holy Consumerism!! It's all been a bit overwhelming and unfamiliar.
Ok. But so, can someone please tell me why otherwise smart, progressive people are so smitten with Ron Paul? Does no one realize that this man is a conservative pro-life Republican from Texas?? There is some serious kool-aid drinking going on. Yeesh.
Friday
Decmber 21, 2007
Happy Winter Solstice!!
I just got a new laptop this week, and it's super light and tiny and I love it. I was a little nervous about getting a 13.3" screen, but I totally don't miss the 15". And for all the crap I've been hearing about Windows Vista, I am getting to know it this week and once you get used to where everything is, it's kind of cool-looking. I got tons of memory so I'm not running into any problems with it. Now I just have to figure out what the hell is going on with Word 2007 - it's totally different. But the best part is I can sit on the couch and dook around for hours guilt-free. It's so liberating being done. And having a job that I like. Yay for autonomy!
I just started reading the His Dark Materials trilogy. Saw Golden Compass last week and loved it, so I thought I better read the books. A woman behind me in line when I bought them asked if they were for my kids. I'm like, no, they're for me! I'm going to spend my holiday reading young adult fiction!
I just got a new laptop this week, and it's super light and tiny and I love it. I was a little nervous about getting a 13.3" screen, but I totally don't miss the 15". And for all the crap I've been hearing about Windows Vista, I am getting to know it this week and once you get used to where everything is, it's kind of cool-looking. I got tons of memory so I'm not running into any problems with it. Now I just have to figure out what the hell is going on with Word 2007 - it's totally different. But the best part is I can sit on the couch and dook around for hours guilt-free. It's so liberating being done. And having a job that I like. Yay for autonomy!
I just started reading the His Dark Materials trilogy. Saw Golden Compass last week and loved it, so I thought I better read the books. A woman behind me in line when I bought them asked if they were for my kids. I'm like, no, they're for me! I'm going to spend my holiday reading young adult fiction!
Thursday
December 6, 2007
Alright, so no one was compelled to comment on that hilarious squirrel story.
In two days I go to the graduation ceremony where I get hooded (or knighted as M. says) and I get to wear my Hogwarts robes. Fun! Mom and dad will be in town, but no brother as he has to play in the orchestra of the city opera that he is in that night.
Today I accepted a temporary position with the company I worked for in Seattle for four and half years before I moved to Austin. It will be nice to have a challenging and fun job again - flexible hours, great clients, and I get to keep living here (at least for the next 6 months). It feels a little weird maybe to be working for them again, but all in all I feel really lucky and hope I can do a good job for them. One of my first new clients is in Hawaii, and I am heading there in January for three days - with up to two more trips by June!
In two days I go to the graduation ceremony where I get hooded (or knighted as M. says) and I get to wear my Hogwarts robes. Fun! Mom and dad will be in town, but no brother as he has to play in the orchestra of the city opera that he is in that night.
Today I accepted a temporary position with the company I worked for in Seattle for four and half years before I moved to Austin. It will be nice to have a challenging and fun job again - flexible hours, great clients, and I get to keep living here (at least for the next 6 months). It feels a little weird maybe to be working for them again, but all in all I feel really lucky and hope I can do a good job for them. One of my first new clients is in Hawaii, and I am heading there in January for three days - with up to two more trips by June!
Saturday
November 10, 2007
My mom clipped this from her local newspaper and mailed it to me this week. It has brought me much joy.
****************
Squirrels' stashes sparked small fires
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Missoulian
Fire investigators are pinning several recent spot fires near Seeley Lake on an unlikely group of arsonists - squirrels.
A man reported the wildfires last Wednesday afternoon outside his home on Montana Highway 83, moments after turning the ignition key on his RV.
Unbeknownst to the driver, a local colony of gray squirrels had been stowing pine cones in the vehicle's exhaust pipe, and the loaded tailpipe began blasting fiery cones across his driveway like a Roman candle, igniting a handful of
small grass fires.
According to the tongue-in-cheek fire report, Incident Commander Scott Meyer responded to the wildland fire with several engines in tow, and later ruled that the squirrels belonged to a paramilitary squirrel organization that has abounded for years in Seeley Lake, called the Pine Cone Liberation Organization (PCLO).
“A lapse in squirrel-oversight intelligence had allowed the PCLO to engage in recon, planning and sabotage without fear of consequence or retribution, in the form of being chased by a broom,” according to the report.
Calling the attack one “which will live in infamy,” Meyer blamed the incident on a well-known local dissident, “Slippy the Squirrel.” A critter notorious for his chirping fits and histrionics, Slippy's resistance efforts had previously been nonviolent in nature, Meyer said.
“After years of being shot at with blow-guns, run over by logging trucks and chased by neighborhood dogs, the squirrels struck back,” the report states. “This had been their Bastille, their Red October, their chance at glory! Suppression efforts were started by all fire engines - the owner of the property upon which the squirrels had made their presence felt let the firefighters use the garden hose to cool off the pine cones. At 15:16, all resources were released from the fire. At that time, Meyer called the fire controlled, contained and dead-out. Slippy the Squirrel, however, remains at large. The PCLO could not be reached for comment.”
****************
Squirrels' stashes sparked small fires
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Missoulian
Fire investigators are pinning several recent spot fires near Seeley Lake on an unlikely group of arsonists - squirrels.
A man reported the wildfires last Wednesday afternoon outside his home on Montana Highway 83, moments after turning the ignition key on his RV.
Unbeknownst to the driver, a local colony of gray squirrels had been stowing pine cones in the vehicle's exhaust pipe, and the loaded tailpipe began blasting fiery cones across his driveway like a Roman candle, igniting a handful of
small grass fires.
According to the tongue-in-cheek fire report, Incident Commander Scott Meyer responded to the wildland fire with several engines in tow, and later ruled that the squirrels belonged to a paramilitary squirrel organization that has abounded for years in Seeley Lake, called the Pine Cone Liberation Organization (PCLO).
“A lapse in squirrel-oversight intelligence had allowed the PCLO to engage in recon, planning and sabotage without fear of consequence or retribution, in the form of being chased by a broom,” according to the report.
Calling the attack one “which will live in infamy,” Meyer blamed the incident on a well-known local dissident, “Slippy the Squirrel.” A critter notorious for his chirping fits and histrionics, Slippy's resistance efforts had previously been nonviolent in nature, Meyer said.
“After years of being shot at with blow-guns, run over by logging trucks and chased by neighborhood dogs, the squirrels struck back,” the report states. “This had been their Bastille, their Red October, their chance at glory! Suppression efforts were started by all fire engines - the owner of the property upon which the squirrels had made their presence felt let the firefighters use the garden hose to cool off the pine cones. At 15:16, all resources were released from the fire. At that time, Meyer called the fire controlled, contained and dead-out. Slippy the Squirrel, however, remains at large. The PCLO could not be reached for comment.”
Wednesday
November 7, 2007
How can I be done with my Ph.D and still feel like I'm behind? Everything else was supposed to come crashing to a halt and I was supposed to go to Argentina or Italy or something with not a care in the world! Even so, it is soooo great to be done!
Saturday
I did it!
It wasn't quite as breezy as many had told me it would be, but I successfully defended yesterday! It took about an hour and a half, and while there was never any question as to whether they were going to sign or not, there were a couple of solid questions thrown my way that I could have handled better. And because I am who I am, I have been replaying the discussion in my head to see how I could have answered things more eloquently or impressively. I mean, I basically feel like I didn't answer Professor High Status' question. They all liked my research so much, I wanted to live up to their expectations and be able to wow them with my ability to precisely articulate my conclusions; I'd give myself a C+/B- in that department. Some of the comments were sort of pointless, but I respectfully nodded and waited for them to move on. I felt kind of dazed afterward, and wanted to process it more with my advisor, but I won't be able to do that until Monday. I knocked back a few pints of Guinness last night and I'm looking forward to M.I.A. tonight!
Posted by Dr. Stuckupgirl on November 3, 2007 :)
Posted by Dr. Stuckupgirl on November 3, 2007 :)
Friday
October 19, 2007
Okay, so I'm pretty much done with my dissertation now. I gave a copy to each of my committee members, got their signatures on a special pink "Request for Oral Examination" form (no small feat in itself), and turned it (the form) in to the Graduate School yesterday. I sat in the degree evaluator's office and got the official green light to have my defense on Nov. 2. Now, I wait. While a huge weight is definitely in the process of being lifted, for some reason I have developed an eye-twitch in the last 24 hours which is usually a sign of stress for me.
It's an unfamiliar feeling being done with the writing. The other day I was walking along thinking, 'don't all these people realize that I'm done? Can't they tell?' Life has indeed continued all around me oblivious to my little accomplishment. Sigh!
It's an unfamiliar feeling being done with the writing. The other day I was walking along thinking, 'don't all these people realize that I'm done? Can't they tell?' Life has indeed continued all around me oblivious to my little accomplishment. Sigh!
Wednesday
October 10, 2007
I could be wrapping up my dissertation right now, but I keep getting distracted by trying to line up work for January and the next few months. I only have a few revisions to make and cosmetic items like the table of contents, but I've put it off for two days so far. I'm basically sitting in front of the TV doing income projections on my calculator. Must focus!
Tuesday
October 2, 2007
OMG! I just turned in the full draft to my advisor. I basically ended up completely re-writing the first thirty pages, which took for-freaking-ever. I have been sitting at my desk non-stop for the past five days. So now, I wait for feedback, make more revisions, write acknowledgments (oscar speech!), etc., and move into the final phase of operation PhD.
Through this process, I have discovered, among other things, that Pepe thinks my halogen desk lamp is his own personal tanning bed. Right exactly where I need to put my notes and papers in order to get work done. Pepe!!! (shaking fist).
In other news, I stayed up until 2am last night reading The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million. I'm halfway through it -- holy crap it's really interesting and compelling and horrible.
Through this process, I have discovered, among other things, that Pepe thinks my halogen desk lamp is his own personal tanning bed. Right exactly where I need to put my notes and papers in order to get work done. Pepe!!! (shaking fist).
In other news, I stayed up until 2am last night reading The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million. I'm halfway through it -- holy crap it's really interesting and compelling and horrible.
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