a little whelmed...
Aug. 8th, 2006 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lillian_petersonnot quite over yet, but seriously envisioning getting there in the not too distant future.
On the academic front, since one of my classes was moved to a conflicting time I have decided to do an independent study this semester. The benefits of this are that I get to study a topic that is actually applicable and useful to me (specifically, a readings course in Academic Librarianship with a research project focused on perceptions of Faculty Status - assuming my proposal is accepted). In addition, I would only have actual classes on Monday and Tuesday evenings along with working 20 hours a week at my graduate assistantship. However, this only gives me about 3 weeks to plan and develop said independent study since the semester officially begins August 30th. It also requires me to be on the ball and self motivated for the entire semester, the accomplishment of which is highly questionable. But, being the nerdling that I am, the more I think about it, the cooler it seems and the more excited I get. I sent a rough proposal to my advisor, including a tentative schedule, a main text and other resources to incorporate into the first five weeks and then a brief outline of my research project. Hopefully she will apprive it and hook me up with a supervising faculty member very soon.
On the work front, things are getting progressively crazier. At the library I am taking over more and more graduate assistant responsibilities in addition to all my regular duties. This mainly consists of taking reference desk shifts (which are scary but good experience) and becoming the point person for reference queries pertaining to our Baltimore News American photo collection. It's the latter that is increasing my stress level, as the requests seem to come in batches at the worst possible times, for instance this week where I have a mid-week session for my research job and will be out of the office all day tomorrow and leaving early/coming in late Thurs/Fri. During all this I am also trying to figure out how to fit my workflow into a 20 hour week (down from a 30-40 hour week), find enough projects for the student workers because the staff members are excessively tardy in taking responsibility for this, and work everything around the increasing craziness of my other job. Said other job (the research one) is moving into an especially hectic stage. The next two weeks include a couple of mid-week task sessions at night. We also need to have a number of summary and planning meetings to try and wrap up the summer study and get the fall study set up. At the same time the coordinating professors are out of town and ridiculously busy. AND, because that is all just not crazy enough, the masters student in charge of the project ahs decided not to go into the PhD program and we will need to find, train and acclimate a new leader to the project. All of this must be completed by the end of September, which is also when the system we are working on with go through a dry-run "midterm" test (which it would be really nice to "perform" well on). And I have the sneaking suspicion that I will be the most available, experienced team member come this fall - and half the time I feel like I have no clue about what is going on. So this should all prove interesting. Hopefully the next 2 weeks, while hectic, will help get everything straightened out.
On the personal front, I am strongly attempting to get out more as well as reconnect more with my friends. I've been going to the open mic nights at our local coffee shop (College Perk with a friend from undergrad (he performs, I watch, drink beverages and sometimes do work...or update lj!). I've also started going out with the baby!roomies which is a rather fun and entertaining experience, although they have much more stamina then I do. Delaware's early last call (1:00am) has ruined me for more normal college bar hours. I'm also trying to make travel plans left and right. Labor day weekend I'm going up to Boston and then hopefully the next weekend my friend Andy will come visit and geek out at the Baltimore Comic Con with me. I also have tentative plans to fly down to Auburn, AL at some point this semester, visit Cindy in Philly on a semi-regular basis, make at least one trip up to Newark, DE for almost-Doctor C. Taylor's dissertation defense celebration and get up to Baltimore and down to D.C. a little more often.
On the financial front, I am a spending machine (not a new realization). Sunday saw a trip to the local comic shop. When they didn't have what I was looking for, I promptly bought something else (Lucifer Vols. 6 and 7 to be exact). Then upon arriving home I ordered what I was originally looking for (Watchmen and the new Fruits Basket) and then some (Fables Vols. 3 and 4). Then, after seducing![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
strangecobwebs into going to iHop with me I convinced her to go wander around Linens N' Things which is across the street. Where I subsequently spent upwards of $100 on stuff (cool stuff, like a brita pitcher, a spoonula and some fabulous mixing bowls...along with a new towel, a hotpot and a liquid measuring cup). My credit card company is going to love me, especially since until this Friday my checking account consists of $13. I am *so* fiscally responsible.
Anyway, I <3 graphic novels and my iced mint mocha is pretty good (although probably a poor decision for an evening beverage, we shall see if I manage to get any sleep tonight!).
On the academic front, since one of my classes was moved to a conflicting time I have decided to do an independent study this semester. The benefits of this are that I get to study a topic that is actually applicable and useful to me (specifically, a readings course in Academic Librarianship with a research project focused on perceptions of Faculty Status - assuming my proposal is accepted). In addition, I would only have actual classes on Monday and Tuesday evenings along with working 20 hours a week at my graduate assistantship. However, this only gives me about 3 weeks to plan and develop said independent study since the semester officially begins August 30th. It also requires me to be on the ball and self motivated for the entire semester, the accomplishment of which is highly questionable. But, being the nerdling that I am, the more I think about it, the cooler it seems and the more excited I get. I sent a rough proposal to my advisor, including a tentative schedule, a main text and other resources to incorporate into the first five weeks and then a brief outline of my research project. Hopefully she will apprive it and hook me up with a supervising faculty member very soon.
On the work front, things are getting progressively crazier. At the library I am taking over more and more graduate assistant responsibilities in addition to all my regular duties. This mainly consists of taking reference desk shifts (which are scary but good experience) and becoming the point person for reference queries pertaining to our Baltimore News American photo collection. It's the latter that is increasing my stress level, as the requests seem to come in batches at the worst possible times, for instance this week where I have a mid-week session for my research job and will be out of the office all day tomorrow and leaving early/coming in late Thurs/Fri. During all this I am also trying to figure out how to fit my workflow into a 20 hour week (down from a 30-40 hour week), find enough projects for the student workers because the staff members are excessively tardy in taking responsibility for this, and work everything around the increasing craziness of my other job. Said other job (the research one) is moving into an especially hectic stage. The next two weeks include a couple of mid-week task sessions at night. We also need to have a number of summary and planning meetings to try and wrap up the summer study and get the fall study set up. At the same time the coordinating professors are out of town and ridiculously busy. AND, because that is all just not crazy enough, the masters student in charge of the project ahs decided not to go into the PhD program and we will need to find, train and acclimate a new leader to the project. All of this must be completed by the end of September, which is also when the system we are working on with go through a dry-run "midterm" test (which it would be really nice to "perform" well on). And I have the sneaking suspicion that I will be the most available, experienced team member come this fall - and half the time I feel like I have no clue about what is going on. So this should all prove interesting. Hopefully the next 2 weeks, while hectic, will help get everything straightened out.
On the personal front, I am strongly attempting to get out more as well as reconnect more with my friends. I've been going to the open mic nights at our local coffee shop (College Perk with a friend from undergrad (he performs, I watch, drink beverages and sometimes do work...or update lj!). I've also started going out with the baby!roomies which is a rather fun and entertaining experience, although they have much more stamina then I do. Delaware's early last call (1:00am) has ruined me for more normal college bar hours. I'm also trying to make travel plans left and right. Labor day weekend I'm going up to Boston and then hopefully the next weekend my friend Andy will come visit and geek out at the Baltimore Comic Con with me. I also have tentative plans to fly down to Auburn, AL at some point this semester, visit Cindy in Philly on a semi-regular basis, make at least one trip up to Newark, DE for almost-Doctor C. Taylor's dissertation defense celebration and get up to Baltimore and down to D.C. a little more often.
On the financial front, I am a spending machine (not a new realization). Sunday saw a trip to the local comic shop. When they didn't have what I was looking for, I promptly bought something else (Lucifer Vols. 6 and 7 to be exact). Then upon arriving home I ordered what I was originally looking for (Watchmen and the new Fruits Basket) and then some (Fables Vols. 3 and 4). Then, after seducing
strangecobwebs into going to iHop with me I convinced her to go wander around Linens N' Things which is across the street. Where I subsequently spent upwards of $100 on stuff (cool stuff, like a brita pitcher, a spoonula and some fabulous mixing bowls...along with a new towel, a hotpot and a liquid measuring cup). My credit card company is going to love me, especially since until this Friday my checking account consists of $13. I am *so* fiscally responsible.Anyway, I <3 graphic novels and my iced mint mocha is pretty good (although probably a poor decision for an evening beverage, we shall see if I manage to get any sleep tonight!).
