#FirstDaySelfie

#firstdayselfie

Wow!
So obviously this post is a day late but I promise I won't leave you a dollar short!

Yesterday, in case you missed the memo, was my first day of work at my new job here in Maryland! I am a Graduate Assistant (GA) at the business school which is pretty much perfect for me.I have a business background and a history of working in an on campus office, so I basically was able to nail the interview and land a gig that will pay my tuition for the next two years. And I couldn't be happier.

The job itself isn't too hard. It does have a learning curve and I'm constantly asking questions but repetition is key and I can't know the answers unless I ask so I feel only slightly embarrassed to keep bugging my trainer. But whatever. I have a desk again! With an actual computer! And real people to talk to that I'm not related to! That have different life experiences than I do and can have adult conversations about them! Woot! (btw, I miss all of you ladies from my old job terribly and you can never be replaced!)

Basically this is what my days (well three days a week for now) will consist of:
Greet anyone who walks into the office
Try to answer their questions
Sometimes give them directions
(and a map)
Tell them where to go if they aren't a business student
Answer the phones
Transfer the phones
Put people on hold
Remember the advisors names
Have some coffee
And some water
Okay, have lots of water
Look at the online schedule
Make appointments
Tidy up the office
Lysol wipe down the counters and phones and keyboards and laminated maps and door handles
(okay, that last one is probably just me)

Oh and I tried to take a new route home and got absolutely lost. Had to break down and pull out my GPS. And then I spent an hour in CVS trying to refill a prescription. Annoying! But I managed to not get too riled up. After all, it's too hot down here to be seriously angry...today at least.

And that's pretty much the sum of my new job. Things are pretty slow on campus during the summer, you know with the lack of students and all. There are a few walk-ins per day and maybe a dozen or so phone calls but overall, the office is quiet. Which I don't really mind. It gives me a chance to get my feet underneath me so I can learn the job before going back to classes. Plus having this job will enable me to keep my focus on my schoolwork. Plus I get to teach some classes mid-semester. I will have a lot on my plate this fall and several things to adjust to but I think I've been doing well so far. Little by little and day by day, I am becoming a well rounded Maryland citizen.

I have a great job in a gorgeous building on a beautiful campus that also has a farm, did you know? Which means, I can also go get REAL ice cream, almost straight from the cow, and there is a student run co-op with fresh, local food. I can wander from library to library, have lunch with my aunt, sunbathe on the mall, or read under a shaded tree. I am one lucky duck.

Although tomorrow is my first early day. I have to be in at 8:15am...which means I need to be up at 6:30am. Ugh, time for bed.


What I'm reading: The End Games by T. Michael Martin
Progress: Just over 100 pages
Thoughts so far: A chilling and thrilling story of a post-apocalyptic world set in rural West Virginia of all places. Two brothers, 17 and 5, are playing a game for their lives, one that I can't put down. Except at night when it gets too scary.

I'm the Map!

I have more maps of the UMD campus than I can keep track of and yet I still keep getting lost! That place is BIG! I thought Bentley was a decent sized campus but compared to UMD, it's like an elementary school to a high school. Everything seems bigger and closer together. There are more streets than I can (currently) remember the names of, a farm, a football stadium, a basketball arena, a student union, eight libraries, and dozens of academic buildings. And that doesn't even include the dorms, other playing fields, office buildings, parking lots or garages.

Seriously! Look at the size of this place! So it's no surprise that I got lost while trying to register for a parking permit today. Not to mention that there were buses parking in front of the building I needed so while trying to watch where I was going and obey traffic laws, I missed it, twice. Finally I just parked and walked until I finally saw the door sign that told me I was in the right place. And I have to say, I really miss the days of free parking at Bentley. Although with a campus of this size, with as many students as it has, it's really no surprise. Parking must be a wonderful source of revenue. I paid $120 for a summer commuter pass. Good thing I start my new job on Monday. And I did manage to find my way to campus barely using my GPS. I think I'm finally learning the hang of that drive. I'm sure by the end of next week, it will be a breeze. Except for the traffic.

In other news, I tried to find the library on my own today. And failed spectacularly. Let me preface this by saying that the current library branch is at a temporary location while its new building is being constructed. This being said, I've only been to the library once, with my fairy godmother driving. So I knew the general location of where I needed to go. I even managed to find the cross street I needed to take, before somehow ending up in a suburban sprawl near the shopping complex. So I said screw the GPS for this one and Googled "Municipal Center" where I knew the library was located. I was only a few streets away and I managed to navigate my way over there just fine. I picked up the book that was waiting for me (Incarceron by Catherine Fisher) and headed on my merry way home. Slowly but surely, I'm learning my way around.

Plus I got to shoots some hoops with Amy today. I forgot how adorable short kids are when they play and it makes me wonder if I looked like that when I was her age....probably. I've really missed basketball. I'm glad I have a hoop again. There is something relaxing about tossing up the rock for an hour or so in the hot summer sun before collapsing with a bottle of Gatorade in the shade.

What I'm reading: Ripper by Stefan Petrucha
Progress: About halfway
Thoughts so far: Absolutely amazing. A mystery and a puzzle wrapped in historical context. I think I'm a little in love. Plus it's centered on one of the world's most infamous serial killers: Jack the Ripper. It's a completely gripping page-turner and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Scheduling Conflict

For the first time in years, I have as much free time as a girl, or anyone for that matter, could want. And I have no idea what to do with it all.
Normally, free time means shopping or reading. And I've done both. But when you have days, literally days, where nothing is planned or really expected of you, you start to grow a little listless. Or at least I do.

I know that I am VERY lucky to get this opportunity to have a long vacation but I'm anxious to get started with classes, especially since I am very excited to be taking them!

So what have I been doing?

Let's see.
I filled out HR paperwork for my new job and found out what "tuition remission" means in real world terms.
I saw How To Train Your Dragon 2 (not in 3D I am sad to say) and loved it.
Had popcorn for lunch and brownies for breakfast.
I made cupcakes and an entire Shepherd's pie from scratch.
I've watched multiple back to back episodes of Supernatural and caught up on the rest of my favorite CW shows (Omg, Klaus!)
I got a library card (woot!) and four relatively thick books to occupy my time.
I've been terrorized by a trio of ten year olds on a daily basis...they really need a longer recess or something at school.
Tuesday date nights with Kosha for Pretty Little Liars! (#planetalison)
I'm in charge of the "Word of the Day" for my cousins: today was "deter".
Played catch for over a half hour with Amy and loved how good the mitt felt on my hand again.

I created a superb hopscotch mural with Amy (which only slightly annoyed my uncle).


All in all, I am glad to be starting my new job on Monday. As fun as summer can be, I definitely need a more firm schedule to keep me on track. Less Phineas and Ferb and more Candace.

Oh and it hit 95 degrees here today with humidity hovering in the 60% range...not pleasant for this snow lover. Although it is pretty cool to experience living with a little sister again. Especially since Amy has a lot of the same quirks as my own. You know, like sorting the food on her plate and her sense of humor. Quite endearing yet scary. Guess she got more of those Doyon genes that we realized. At least she isn't named Grace.

Shout out to my mom (if you're reading this) as a special thank you for the wonderful care package. You truly are an amazing woman and I love that you make me feel cared for and comforted even from hundreds of miles away. A few odds and ends plus a little extra. You're never too old for a care package from mom! And I hope to continue receiving them for years to come :)

Tomorrow, I think Amy and I will hit the mall to avoid the muggy and potentially rainy day that is on its way. I will try to avoid buying more underwear from Victoria's Secret.
And I really need to read "Illusion" by Sherrilyn Kenyon before I lose my mind!

What I'm reading: Horns by Joe Hill
Progress: Not very far
Thoughts so far: An interesting psychological journey mixing present and past events, not unlike "Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn, but less disturbing so far. I'm excited to see where the mystery will lead me!

Words of Wisdom

Sometimes you have a hard day.

Sometimes things don't turn out like you expect them to.

And sometimes you need a kick in the ass from your best friend.

Today was a hard day. Maybe it was the weather or the moon or the fact that it was Friday the 13th. Maybe it was a series of circumstances having very little to do with me that somehow affected me greatly. I don't really know why. But whatever the cause, whatever the reason, today was hard. Not necessarily bad, mind you, just difficult.

So, I did what I always do: called someone. Well several someones seeing as phone calls aren't nearly as easy to take or receive as they used to be.
Normally, I talk to my grandmother when I'm feeling down, she truly has a lot of wisdom to offer. But today, fate decided that my bestie Emily would be my best bet. She took my call and did what she always does: let me cry for a total of ten seconds before she cut me off and told me to explain why I was upset.

When I couldn't arrive at a single valid reason, I realized that there was no need for my tears. That I in fact, have a lot to be thankful for recently. Plus she told me to stop complaining and just move forward recognizing all the good I have in my life right now. And damnit, she was right. Which is why I love her.

I just filled out the paperwork for my new GA position today and sent an email to get special permission to work at the TA position that I was also awarded. I found out that I get healthcare now that I am officially a UMD employee. And I was explained exactly what tuition remission is and how that all works. My cousins are finally done with school for the summer and this weekend will be beautiful. I have air in my lungs, a roof over my head, and loving family members who are supporting me in this transitional period. Plus I have some great opportunities to meet new people, once I have an excuse to get out of the house that is, and I need to shake off the bad feelings.

So I took a deep breath, hung up the phone, and had a drink.

Then I did what always helps: I wrote.
Hopefully I will have something to show for it soon rather than just a stream of consciousness filling up the page. After all, why mope about a tough day? I muddled through the other side of it and tomorrow is another chance.

  

What I'm reading: Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent

Progress: According to my kindle, I am 11% into the book

Thoughts so far: A deceptively complex tale told with lilting prose that is part murder mystery and part love story gone awry with historical context, issues, and locations thrown in. Overall, delightful and slightly morbid so far.

Adventures in Annapolis

Exploring a new place is one of my favorite things to do, especially in a state as historic as Maryland. I did a lot of sight-seeing as a resident of Massachusetts, from the Freedom Trail to Walden Pond, Harvard Yard and the Harpoon Brewery. The best thing about moving is definitely being able to add a whole list of new places to the territory I can explore!

I am about 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., Annapolis, and Baltimore. And I definitely plan on visiting them all as thoroughly as possible. By chance, a good friend of mine, Jake, came to visit me this past weekend and I was in the mood for seafood. Luckily, so was he! I asked my aunt and uncle for suggestions and they came up with a couple but none as appealing as Carroll's Creek in Annapolis. So with Jake in tow, we headed off to the state capitol.

We had no trouble with traffic or find the lovely harborside restaurant and within 40 minutes we had arrived and were seated on the patio overlooking the wonderful array of sailboats. Now of course I had looked at the menu before coming so I had an idea of what I wanted. But with several new microbrews to choose from, that became the more difficult task. I eventually settled on one called "Nugget Nectar" which was light with a slightly bitter hops finish, but refreshing and simply flavored. Which ended up pairing nicely with the almond encrusted mahi mahi (tuna) that I ordered for my meal. Jake got the filet mignon, which also looked amazing.

For dessert, I had the flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, crushed macadamia nuts and raspberry sauce. It was basically heaven in my mouth. Jake ordered the New York style cheesecake which was a cute little round bundle of delight...or at least that's what it looked like.

 After we finished eating, we decided to take a walk. Unfortunately we didn't make it very far because we were completely distracted by the spectacular view from a bridge around the corner from the restaurant. We stood there for hours looking into the harbor, people and boat watching and generally enjoyed the warm, breezy, lazy summer day.


Interestingly enough, Jake had also never seen a draw bridge before. For those of you who are in the same boat, a draw bridge raises so that ships that are too tall to fit under it can pass through the middle of it. We happened to be in the middle of the bridge when it first raised which scared me to death. Luckily the operator knew we were there and waited for us to be on the safe side of the barrier before he lifted the bridge. What a nice man!

The weather was beautiful, the water was stunning, and the company was wonderful. Annapolis has a lot more to offer I'm sure (we definitely saw some of it on our drive through town) and I can't wait to go back and explore some more of it :)

What I'm reading: The Magicians
Progress: About three quarters done
Thoughts so far: Narnia and HP meet Fifty Shades of Gray,

Patience is a virtue

Recently I've been feeling a little homesick. It's odd to be in a family setting without actually being around my immediate family. Comforting but at the same time, tugging on my heart strings. So I've been keeping busy, cleaning and organizing as best as I can and trying not to think about how I've been hanging in limbo but over the last few days. And now things have really come together for me.

Here's a quick list to keep you up to date:

1) Went to the gorgeous Columbia Mall with my aunt and cousin and discovered that it has all of my favorites stores, which is amazing.

2) Saw Maleficent and loved it.

3) Managed to get my first sunburn and get lost in my new suburban neighborhood in the same afternoon.

4) Sold over $200 worth of Mary Kay products to a new customer with potential to gain more clients.

5) Admired my uncle's beautiful roses in the backyard while doing some edits on my book.

6) Started editing my NaNoWriMo project, finally! (You're welcome, Shannon.)

7) Was offered, and accepted, the GA position at the Smith School of Business for the next school year!!

8) Watched my cousin in her school's talent show tell jokes that rocked the house. Plus an amazing break dancer, some well-versed singers, and a modern Abbott and Costello "Who's On First?" skit.


9) Bought a new desk and chair to complete the setup on my bedroom and have now officially unpacked all of my boxes :)

10) And finally, I was offered the TA position at the McKeldin library for the spring and fall semesters!!

Life is good and I am very lucky to have these opportunities presented to me. I am so thankful for everything I have and all the people who have been and will continue to support me.

What I'm reading: The One by Kiera Cass
Progress: about 75% done
Reaction so far: Amazing. Absolutely amazing. So many tangled webs are being woven that I can't wait to see what heart-stopping conclusion this series will come to. Or maybe there will have to be another book? I'm so excited, I might squeal.

Also, in other awesome book news: Illusion by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Book #5 in the spectacular Chronicles of Nick series) has been out for almost 2 months and I didn't notice/haven't read it yet! This is a crisis that must be corrected ASAP.