Goodbye Summer, Hello Start of School Year
So the freshmen may not arrive until mid-August and I may not start teaching until late-August, but my staff returns this weekend and training is about to commence. Which means blog entries will be few and far between for a while.
So, as I weave in and out of real life and all consuming work for the next several weeks, I leave you with these funnies about working in higher education:
via Pinterest
You don’t have to be crazy to work here. We’ll train you.
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via Pinterest
You Want to Work a 40 hour a week job in higher ed… HAHA
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via Pinterest
I love other duties as assigned. The best catch-all in higher ed!
Throwback Thursday: Swan Lake, circa 1996
I danced…. for years. If I could find a dance class in my area for adults that didn’t make me be in a recital, I would so have signed up. Pointe wasn’t my best dance technique. I preferred tap, then ballet, then pointe, hated jazz. Don’t get me started on how bad I was with gymnastics. But my pointe teacher passed away this week. She was older, near my Nana’s age, so I wasn’t surprised to hear she passed. Even though I was awful in en pointe, she was a fabulous teacher. Often jumping into the middle of lessons to lead you across the floor as needed. And always, always, always telling you to smile.
Throwback Thursday to that year I danced in Swan Lake. I look like a giant cotton ball.
This picture is a portrait from the year we did Swan Lake. Yes, I recognize I look like s giant cotton ball. And how about those tan lines? Kind of wish my hair was that pretty chestnut again. Ah, middle school.
A Southern Funny
So yesterday, I talked about monograms. I then came across this gem…
via pinterest
How much does a southern girl weigh? A monoGRAM. Get it? Gram… unit of measurement? Hilarious right? I had such a good little chuckle!
Translation Tuesday: The Monogram
According to Google, a monogram is: a motif of two or more letters, typically a person’s initials, usually interwoven or otherwise combined in a decorative design, used as a logo or to identify a personal possession.
via Pinterest
Now, I got my first monogrammed accessory when I was in middle school. Remember, I grew up above the Mason-Dixon line. Monograms weren’t all the rage like they are down here. No, my first piece was a monogrammed broach of my initials from my Grandmother who lives down here. She was born and bred in the South, minus a stint in NYC for several years after she was done with college. I digress. Anyway, she had already sent me a couple of pieces… broaches, necklaces, bracelets, purses and such with my monogram on them before I moved down for college. Therefore, it wasn’t a shock for me to see it when I moved down south.
Back in the day monograms really were used surrounding weddings. Often given on gifts when a woman got married to symbolize her taking her husband’s name. They popped up on a lot of towels. And this definitely still happens, but it is not reserved just for weddings and such now.
Monograms. It is just a big deal down here. I mean, people monogram their norts, their rain boots, icons for the back of their car. Do I like monograms- yes. Do I think some people are little obsessed with it and take it too far at times- yes. I mean norts with a monogram on them? These are gym shorts people. It seems a little much to me. But hey, that is only my opinion, and probably an excellent reminder that I am a converted southerner and not born and raised.
So, why is it such a big deal? Well, for one it is a fashion thing. But really, the reason my Grandmother was so sweet with things like that was that it was a PERSONAL gift. Something clearly picked out just for me, and isn’t that the best sentiment behind a gift? Something that was selected just for you? I think it is sweet.
via pinterest
And so now you know…. if you come to the South, don’t be surprised when you see everything monogrammed… from shoes to coolers. We love out monograms down here!
Throwback Thursday: Folly Beach, September 2011
I love Folly Beach, just south of Charleston, SC. I’ve talked about it HERE but this is a throwback to that fun trip. Rach, Gail and I did a girls trip there for a weekend in September 2011.
Having fun in the water of Folly Beach. September 2011.
This trip was a blast, but I have no idea what face I am making in this photo! Gail snapped it when we were all walking along the water during one of our pool and beach days (okay, they were all pool and beach days). It is pretty well known that I don’t love to get in the ocean, but I am usually fine in water up to my knees. Maybe I am stepping on something squishy? I do love this beach cover up though, I wish I still had it.
Also, I love that it was the last weekend in September and we were at the beach. Off season, low on the tourists and perfect weather. Love fall in the south!
Regardless of my silly face, it is a great memory and I could use another beach trip soon!
Words cannot describe how funny I found this. Numbers 4, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 14 I am so guilty of!
*This includes graduate students as well. Don’t get it twisted – your assistantship is 20 hours a week and you’re doing student affairs work with real, live students; hence you are a professional in my opinion.
Have you ever been on a date and realized you’ve done one of the following? Or perhaps you’ve been on a date with someone in Student Affairs and always thought something seemed off about them. Well here’s a list of the top ways you know you’re on a date with someone in SA (with special notations about #ResLife only issues)
1) Your first date involves: Name games, free pizza, and an evaluation of what could be improved for the next time.
2) They give you career counseling.
One minute you’re discussing your job and musing about your expectations/interests in your career, and the next they are asking you probing questions about what makes you…
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Translation Tuesday: Might Could
I learned a lot from some of my native southern friends while I was in college. Including some wonderful phrases, such as this gem…”might could”
OK, so I am convinced this is grammatically incorrect, but people here say it a lot! It is like saying maybe, or possibly.
I might could work on that this weekend. I could possibly do that this weekend. Maybe I could do that this weekend.
Not gonna lie, I do feel this one is a little more odd that most phrases I hear. I wonder where it came from?
I Bought A Car!
Not to be confused with the George Straight song that is popular right now, “I Got a Car.” Nope. I bought a car. My very first all brand new, bought all by myself- CAR. I was slight giddy driving it home.
Me and my brand new 2014 Toyota Corolla.
So, I will do a whole other post about my tips on buying a car and things to know…. but this is just about Lola. Well, I am calling the car Lola today. I haven’t settled on an official name. As I mentioned HERE my last car was Baby Zuki. I’ve though about Baby Rola, Polly was suggested… but at the moment I am thinking Lola.
So, I bought a brand-new 2014 Toyota Corolla with a whopping six miles on it. I did a lot of research and started out with seven on the list. The Toyota Corolla, Honda CR-V, Honda Accord, Nissan Rouge, Nissan Altima, Nissan Sentra and a 7th I have forgotten. Don’t even get me started on the list of cars that I would not consider… that was really long. In the end it came down to the Accord, Altima and Corolla. Then the Accord and Corolla.
I looked at all of the details, the safety ratings, the things that came with it. I mean, it was ridiculous the amount of research I did. Then I spent a ton of time on the website of local dealers seeing what they had in stock, with what options and with cost. Finally, I settled on the Corolla. Both had great safety ratings, both had features I wanted, both had plenty of room. So, the Corolla was a little cheaper and would have gotten better gas. So, I went with it. If I really want something bigger in the next few years, it will be good for a trade in.
There are four dealerships in my area and I made spread sheets before I went, outlining the various trim lines, invoice price, listed sticker price and so forth. I knew going in I wanted an LE, not a white car and non-tinted windows. I also wanted a digital display in the console for media. The backup camera I got was a bonus. We went to three of the dealerships before settling on one. Had a jackass experience at one, but the dealership I bought it from had great customer service and beat the other dealerships by several thousand dollars. One whirlwind day and this is my beautiful new car…. maybe Rory instead of Lola? Ugh… I can’t decided on a name for a car…. I’m screwed if I ever have kids.
My new car, name TBD.
Random Friday Nights
I love random Friday night texts from the Bestie. I got the picture below from her last night with the text… ” So, this is happening.”
Lili.. Chilling with her umbrella. July 2014. Three year olds are funny.
Yep. That is my niece sitting in her living room with a Disney umbrella over her head. Whatever makes her happy right? Forget the bad luck aspect. She is just the cutest and sweetest thing, this was cracking me up though. She is finally at the age where she LIKES to talk to me on the phone and tell me what she is doing and ask me questions. Her Dad loves cars, so she got soooo excited when I told her I was buying a new one.
Love this cute girl and love her random toddler moments. (Are three year-olds still toddlers?)
Throwback Thursday: My Great-Grandparents, 1923
This throwback is from before I was born. The engagement photo for my great-grandparents in 1923.
1923, New York City. My Great Grandparent’s Engagement photo
My Papa Willi immigrated from near Hamberg, Germany after World War I, 1919 or so. My Nana Louise immigrated from a little town outside Stuttgart, Germany in 1921. I even have her immigration paperwork. He worked at a dairy, she worked as a nanny to twin boys in New York City. They met in 1922 in NYC, got engaged in 1923 and married in 1924. He passed away in the 1970s before I was born, but Nana Louise lived through the early 1980s and passed away when I was three… I actually do remember her. How lucky is that?
Translation Tuesday: Oh My Stars
This one is an easy one. “Oh my stars” is just a sweet way of expressing a feeling of surprise or astonishment.
Personally, I have used it when I have had old students or colleague surprise me by showing up in my office after I’ve not seen them in ages. Example: “Oh, my stars, Andrew Smith! What are you doing here?!” It is just a sweet little phrase!
Farewell, Baby Zuki
Today was an end of an era. I got rid of my sweet little car that I have driven for the last 13 years. Yep, you read that right… I drove my car for THIRTEEN YEARS! My little Suzuki Esteem.
My last picture with my little 2001 Suzuki Esteem! July 4, 2014
In the summer of 2002 I had an internship on campus between my sophomore and junior year of college. At this point I was 21 and had avoided getting my driver’s license. What can I say, I’m weird. I spent that May briefly in Ohio and most of it in Europe, and I flew back South on the first Sunday in June. My father (intelligently) informed me that he was not driving me back and forth from his house to campus all summer and that it was time to drive. So we went that week and he bought me a car.
A 2001 and previously owned by a rental car company, she had about 11,000 miles on her and Dad negotiated the price from $14,000 to about $8,000, cash. One of my friends kept commenting on how small of a car she was, even for a sedan, and thus the name Baby Zuki was given. Baby because she was small, Zuki short for Suzuki.
Baby Zuki and I have been on quite the journey together. 13 years, almost 150,000 miles. Countless road trips all over the southeast. She has made the drive from the south to Ohio more times than I can count. There was one hydroplaning incident during a summer storm in 2003, but by some miracle nothing was hit. Another in a snowstorm in the mountains on I-40 in 2011. No accidents. Two speeding tickets. At least 11 moves (gotta love the in and out of residence halls). Two driving tests, the second which I passed. Too many nights serving as the DD vehicle for my friends in college and grad school. There were even set rules for a DD pickup from Baby Zuki… including not humping the car, puking in the car, or bringing unknown people into the car. Actually, I am pretty sure that at one point one of my friends was driven back to campus with her held out the window.
My college roomie Ashley sitting on my car posing for a photojournalism class assignment. Summer 2003. She was a much more new and shiny car then!
There was the time I fit not only three people in the car, but also a boxed 7 foot Christmas tree. The time that we road tripped to the mountains for a long weekend in January and the key broke off in the car door because it was so cold. Then the next year where it was buried in snow and seven men had to lift it out of a snow bank. She has been loaded down with ridiculous amounts of camping equipment and served as a refuge in many a camping thunderstorm. It has hauled a ridiculous number of bridal and bridesmaid dresses. It has also been the setting for some truly, truly, awful singing.
When I cleaned out the car the other day I found: 3 pairs of sunglasses, 5 separate car phone car chargers, 24 road maps, 1 walkie talkie, three pens from the student org I was president of in college, and the missing remote to the Sirus radio set I lost six years ago.
Because every car needs 24 road maps
But things were starting to wear on Baby Zuki. The side window didn’t go up or down any more. It was just old and time for something new. So after weeks of research and hours at car dealerships, Baby Zuki got traded in as part of the deal for my brand-new Corolla on this lovely 4th of July! Farewell, Baby Zuki and thanks for all the years! You were a good little car!
My 2001 Suzuki Esteem about to be traded in. She was a good little car!
Throwback Thursday: 4th of July 2008, Birmingham
Gail and I had a streak there for a few years were we traveled and took mini-vacays for the 4th of July. In 2008 we loaded up her Jeep for one last road trip in it and headed from G-Vegas out towards Birmingham to spend the holiday weekend with one of our other college roomies, Anna. Anna is a photojournalist and world traveler and used Bham as her home base for a while. We had such a great time! Shopping, eating, bar hoping, seeing the original Whistle Stop Cafe, the Vulcan and the UAB campus. They put up with me dragging them to the Civil Rights museum and I stuck with Gail as she got her third tattoo (I hate the sound the machine makes). All in all we had a wonderful time and lots of good laughs (like when the air mattress kept collapsing).
Jumping like the fools we are outside the Vulcan statue in Birmingham, AL. July 3, 2008
Me, Gail and Anna. This is the problem with long hair… does not work for pics like this!
Girls night out. July 4, 2008
Out for dinner, drinks and fireworks in the five points area of Birmingham, AL.
It was such a great weekend and fun time! Now I need to find time to see Anna in Austin, TX!
Translation Tuesday: Staycation
Ok, so it is not a southern term… we all know what a staycation is… you take vacation, but stay at home and don’t travel. They have become rather popular since the economy tanked a few years ago.
I am taking a staycation this week. My co-workers pretty much told me I needed to take a break before the insanity of August hits and get some rest. Besides, my cousin is getting married in September… at the beach… and it is turning into a multi-day family affair, so that will be my beach time.
I had many plans mapped out for this break in July… sanding and staining an old dining room table set, busting out the sewing machine, lots of reading and so on. All of that has been scrapped and my rest and relaxation time is turning to a project that is years overdue… buying a new car! The time has come to bite the bullet, so most of this week has been car research and getting pre-approved for loans. I am going to miss my car-payment free life. I’ve narrowed it down from a big list to a Corolla, Altima or Accord. Lots of pros and cons for all. Don’t worry, you all will get a whole break down of the process and my inevitable freakouts that go along with it. We are going to buy it on Friday- happy 4th of July to me!
In the meantime, I am at least enjoying getting to sleep in each morning and not set an alarm! Oh, and I am taking tips on how to buy a car!
College Football v. World Cup
There is this thing going on right now, you may have heard of it, it is called the World Cup. Making the news a lot and apparently the USA is doing well, which is a miracle. We aren’t exactly known worldwide for our soccer playing skills. I know some of the very basics about soccer for three reasons 1. I did a student exchange to Germany, they like soccer there. 2. The guy I had a crush on in high school played soccer, so I saw some matches. 3. This is the biggest reasons… one of the players on team USA is an alum of Country Club College…. so even though he graduated way before I worked there (I think he is my age) people still LOVED him at the place and soccer was big…. so I heard about it a lot.
Yea, I know a couple of things… but overall, I don’t get it. I mean it looks like a cool game, I just don’t get this whole structure… how did we lose a game, but we still advance? I’m confused. Why can’t we just have a playoff system? I have appreciated the passion and enthusiasm from the fans though. Which of course, makes me think of college football and the SEC. ‘Cause lets be honest, we all know the SEC rocks. So when I saw Southern Living post this, I had to share!
via Southern Living
I think soccer is a fun sport, I don’t really get it, but lots of people love it, so I am happy to see people getting behind it. And, it is probably less dangerous than football…. right? Less concussions? I wonder.
In other news…. 61 DAYS UNTIL KICKOFF!!
convertedsoutherner 