Things to do

I have to admit to myself the holidays are over. I like to cling to summer* very strongly but even if outside is very nice and sunny, I need to get back to work.


Things to do around the house to prepare the semester:

• Laundry
• Pack up books I will need at the office
• Clean my desk
• Put away some stuff from last year that is still there (because I am lazy)
• Put away the groceries

Things to do (work related)

• prepare classes (I am so behind with this, it's almost scary!)
• read book and start thinking about its review
• write the book review
• revise article (the one I didn't feel sorry about because I didn't work on it this summer*)
• prepare Conference for another Canadian University and read some interesting articles related to that and my research

I guess I should start now!


*Summer: the best moment of the year, especially this one. For the last 6 years I only had 4 weeks of real holiday. I always had to go back in August to the office (18 hours a week anyone?) and this summer is the first time in such a long period I didn't have to do that. It's an enormous relief for me and I enjoyed it to the fullest. I know next year it will be busier, but please, let me have the last tiny bit of it! :)

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Sometimes you just have to drop it

I had a quick e-mail exchange with Toxic U. I was supposed to teach one class during a course I and 2 other colleagues helped create. A very interesting one and a very nice one, if you want my opinion. I worked very hard for this course, I knew it was a good one, I got the right people in and convinced the bureaucracy that it was worth a shot. And it was. Then, moving away from Toxic U. I only kept this last link with them. That course was my "baby" and even if somebody else was supposed to coordinate it (at each class there is a different speaker) I was confident about it and I would have loved to make an appearance.

Now they are writing me that there will be almost no speaker at all in the course. (we have too little students..... so what? They don't deserve a good course? Did you advertise the course? no, then what do you think, students will fall into your hands just because you are sooo nice?) And the person who replaced me will teach it. If I really wanted to participate, then I could, maybe, if I was just doing this portion of the initial conference.

Excuse me???????????

So I decided to drop it. I wrote a brief message saying why this course was designed in a certain way and that if they wanted to do it some other way, they were basically changing all the work we did, so be it and good luck.

I just have to drop any attachment with Toxic U. if I don't want to be intoxicated again......

On a totally different note, I watched the Democratic convention yesterday on CNN. What an inspiring moment! If only we had politicians like Obama...... I would vote for him right away. I confess I am a Democrat at heart!

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Finding your way around

Yesterday I had a very nice lunch my colleagues. It was a very nice day outside and we all agreed on the fact that summer is so short in this city that being inside a department now really sucks! We want more summer days!!!!!

And I will be forever grateful to my Colleague D. because he showed me around and where to get the keys for the classrooms and how it works. I would have been totally lost without this kind of help.

Now I have to work on my class preparation: September 2 is the big day!

So many things to do and so little time!

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The semester is almost here

Thank you for your kind words. I have spent the last two days thinking how lucky I have been to have a wonderful relationship with my grandfather for all this time.

Now the semester is sneaking up on me. I still have a LOT of course preparation. Plus I have Article 1 to review. I wrote the editor that I was running late (like a month late) and Ed. asked me if I can rush things. I know, I hate being late but if I could only be sincere with Ed. I would write the following: I hate doing this and being late in things I have to do but I needed a break during the summer. I know it doesn't look good if we are not working all the time but I did enjoy the break. I actually think I did deserve a break.I had to teach 9 courses last year, defend a dissertation, wrote 3 articles (I know I have this one to review but please, it's only 30 days of delay and I even told you 15 days in advance plus you told me you have your own deadline...) and I was simply too exhausted to work in the summer. I needed my break and I am very sorry to spoil you plans, but I still will send you the article at the end of September even if I receive guilty looks or make you feel guilty words. I am just sorry! 

Then yesterday I went on campus and I realized hey, I start teaching next week....... but where???????? How do I make photocopies? Where is my mail box? and plenty of other questions. 

I wrote to the secretary (I know she will hate me but weren't' we supposed to have an orientation for new faculty?) in order to get all these things cleared up before the semester starts. 

Did you have a new faculty orientation? Did they tell you those basic things or you had to figure it out along the way?

And I am still missing a workbook for my Language class!!!! Can I get a copy asap? I need to prepare my classes!

Today I am having lunch a with two Colleagues, one from my U. and another from another U. in town and I am so happy to see them. Then after with C1 will go to the department to take care of a couple of things and then I will go visiting the new classes, if I will know where they will take place. :-)

And the next couple of days I will prepare and prepare and prepare.

Oh, did I tell you I also a book review to write?

I guess the trimester is really kicking in!

Good news and bad news

The good news is doggie has just a cyst in his tail. He is healthy and happy.

The bad news is that my grandfather passed away yesterday night. He was 95 years old. I am sad but at least I was able to see him in July for the last time. He was not doing well and had become very frail. In the family we were all fearing that this moment would come. My grandmother (she is 97 years old) is coping well, at least. 

This summer she was holding his hand (my grandfather was bed ridden) and she said that he has been a very good husband. They have been married for 71 years (I know it sounds like a miracle!).

I will miss him. 

Weekend (and totally dog related post)

We are leaving tomorrow to go to see my In-Laws. We are leaving Friday night and we'll be back Sunday. 

On the top of it, Doggie has to go to the vet to take out what is probably a kist from his tail. He had it for a long time but it's better to get that out. The vet told me it can be anything and it will go under a biopsy when removed, just to make sure there is nothing bad there. I was feeling particularly sad about it this week. I don't like to leave him at the vet and I was thinking how nice it would have been to take him with us. Anyway, I am getting melancholic here, but I'll let you know how it will go. Doggie will stay at the vet until probably Monday night. I hope maybe we can take him home on Sunday, but I'm not sure they are releasing animals on Sundays. In any case, I know I'll worry about him. He's such a sweet dog I just hope he'll get out of the clinic is his best shape! :-)

As for the rest it has been a very unproductive week. It's so hard to be back and in a back to school mood. Holidays should last longer! :-)

And speaking about phones....

I am seriously thinking about getting an iPhone. 

I have to change my plan anyway by November and right now Fido has a super offer of 6GB of data for 30$ a month (plus your phone plan).

Do you think it's good? Do you have one? 

I passed by the Apple store yesterday and played with one and it really looks nice. I am wondering if I truly need it. Plus I would have to sign up for 3 years, which is a lot in terms of phone years for me......

What should I do? I have to decide by August 31.....

The most annoying phone call EVER!

Yesterday afternoon the phone rang. I was in the middle of procrastinating (the last couple of days, despite my positive attitude have been hard) and I picked up. 

-Hi, I'm calling from your Internet service XYZ. We actually have a problem in upgrading the speed of your line. We should check it. Do you have 15 minutes?

-OK, what should I do?

-Check this and that.....

So I did it. This person was quite rough and when we arrived to the modem cable:

-Do you use the cable we sent you?

-Yes.

-Are you sure?

-Yes

-How long is the cable you are using now?

-About 50 to 70 cm.

-What the hell is that in feet?

-I don't know, I use the metric system.

-Well, then IT IS NOT OUR cable, it's too long! Our must be a max. of 6 feet.

-And how much is 6 feet in cm?

-I don't know, but this isn't the cable from the company! (getting a rude attitude)

-Excuse me? This is your cable, but let me double check the box, just in case. 

(pause: I am checking the box while saying very loud: some people can be rude on the phone!)

I came back and told him so:

-Yes, it is the good cable, and by the way, my computer converts cm into feet: 6 feet is 183 cm, which I think it can be good for you to know.

-I don't have time to get into this kind of details.

-????????? Hey, I am just saying that if my cable is 50 to 70 cm that means it is less than 183 (you moron, I tough!) and for you professionally it would be good to know the conversion.

-Well, ................ let's move on, now you have to do this.

-OK, but do you mind being a little nicer here? You are almost rude.

-Oumph, from what I can see I don't think the problem is solved. I will have to send you someone.

-Well, I don't have any problem with the speed of my Internet connection, but why not. Tomorrow after 10 would it be possible?

-Our men have shifts from 8 to 12, so it can't be after 10. 

-I am not at home at 8, why don't you put on the schedule just after 10, so we are sure that I'll be home.

-Listen, our shifts in the morning are 8 to 12, if it's not OK then you'll need to find another moment.

(at this point I was boiling and to the point of exploding)

-I don't have another moment, what kind of customer service is this?, and by the way, you ARE rude.

-Then it's nothing. Bye.

The guy almost hanged up on me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never called the company and never asked for anything and now they are calling me to have this kind of conversations?????????? 

WTF??????????????????

Being pissed off as I was, I called back the company (which is also my phone company) and complained about that with a very nice customer's representative who seemed to be as overwhelmed as I was. She said she was sorry two hundreds times in the name of the company. I told her that it was not her fault but I definitely wanted my complaint to be investigated and this person to be taught how to deal with customers. 

After I calmed down, I talked to Husband. I was already feeling like a complete idiot, then Husband asked me if I had the name or the phone number of the person who contacted me. I had to admit I didn't take that down. And that was my fault, and I know I should have asked. When the phone rang, I was totally in the middle of something else and I didn't think about it. I doubted that could have been a sort of phishing phone call because I was not asked anything personal (that would have alerted me right away) and we focused on the modem, etc,. 

In any case, that was the worst phone call EVER!

No, thank you

Yesterday I received a message from Toxic U. They are offering me a course, if I want to.

The answer was very simple: no thank you!

And even if a colleague of mine from TU told me I should teach there from time to time in order to keep my priority there, I have to admit that right now I don't even think about it. If I will lose any priority there, if something happens here, I am not sure at all I would love to go back to work there. Maybe I am still fresh from it, but I don't see why I would do something like that. I would prefer to take a year off teaching and concentrate on publishing instead that going back to that level of toxicity.

Maybe this coming months are all about getting rid of all bad feelings and enjoying the good ones.

I am into good vibes! :-))))

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First day

Friday was my first official day as Professor. I went in because I had to meet with a student and then I took the MacBook to the computer experts because I was not able to log in with wireless access (and I found out they need to configure it in a special way, and it was not my AirPort having problems). My office is not ready yet and the computer+ phone need to be installed. As for the rest everything is under control, syllabi are in and I am slowly preparing classes. 

Slowly because I am in "is it really the end of the summer?" mood which makes me particularly melancholic. If summer is over and the academic year is almost beginning again, than autumn and winter are around the corner. And this makes me sad and wondering how long will be the wait for another summer. 

On the top of it I am also battling old feelings of what going back to school is. This is my first year when I go back without having to worry about finishing a dissertation (relief!) and I still need to reinvent who I am in order to become a Professor and a Scholar. The transition isn't easy and you always wonder if you are in the right place. 

I think I have to make this coming academic year a new beginning, exploring a new world of new possibilities. I don't know what the feeling of the semester will be in Downtown U. It's not the same as in Toxic U, there are new challenges and new people, new things to learn (and some to unlearn from Toxic U, and I have to remember this: things are different and the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed shouldn't be there) and new options. I hope I'll be up to the challenge and everything will work out fine. 

PS: puppy is perfectly fine now and cute as ever!

Dog blogging

Yesterday I've sent in my syllabi and then all of a sudden I noticed my dog was trying to get up and was not able to put down his left front paw. 

In the morning I walked him as usual with a friend of mine but at one point my little monster disappeared in the bushes (a pretty common habit he has in order to sniff every single plant in the park) and I heard him scream, actually he yelped loudly. I called him immediately to me while I could see there was some commotion in the bushes. He came and he seemed fine, just scared (poor thing). And I couldn't see any other little animal in there (nor I ventured in, I just took a quick look over the bushes but nothing was moving or else, just in case there is an upset animal there). 

So yesterday morning I immediately went to have a look at his paw and it was a little bit swollen and I found two toothmarks: he got bitten by something! 

So we had a trip to the vet in the afternoon that confirmed that he got bitten by something (don't know what, maybe a small raccoon or something) and with some little antibiotics he should be OK. 

This morning he's already much better and he was able to walk again. The swelling has gone down. He's also less sensible on the part than yesterday, and hopefully with some pills to take he'll be fine in a couple of days. 

Poor sweet little furry monster! It was heartbreaking to see him in pain. I certainly hugged him a lot and did let him relax after the vet's visit. 

Syllabi

I have to finish the hard Syllabus. I am so tired of it!

New template

I was tired of my old template, so here is the new. I hope you like it.

If I have forgot someone in the links, please let me know, it will be a pleasure to add your blog!

Things to do and to decide

The MacBook is here! I am very pleased with it, it's working beautifully and the screen is much better than the old powerbook. Now I am all set! In my office I will have a pc but I hope that with the wireless network I will be able to work with my portable. Now it's time to make plans and to work on the coming academic year. I need to:

• prepare syllabi:
• Syllabus 1 (the hard one) is almost ready. I made my decisions and I hope it will work out.
• Syllabus 2 (the easy one) it's on its way. It shouldn't be a problem.
• I need to start preparing Course 1. Now that my ideas are written down I shoud start collecting and creating some material for it.
• Moodle seminar went very well. It's lovely and I like it a lot. Much better than WebCT (if you ever tried to use that one, it was driving me nuts)
• I need to rewrite Article 1. I don't think it will happen by the end of August so I need to contact the editor to let her know.
  
• I have to rewrite rejected Article in order to send it somewhere else.
  
• I need to write a book review. By September 15. I have to start read the book NOW!
• I have to start reading 2 books related to a conference I will give in Toxic U in November.
• I was invited in another Canadian University to give a conference on my research. I have to prepare that one as well.
  
• I am currently enrolled in driving school. Love it, but I still have to study.
• I have to incorporate the gym in all this. In September I will be back to teach spinning and I need to be fit for it. I want to start my program again.
• And life! I promised myself this year it will be different and I will make the time  for real life activities in order to control stress.

I am excited and a little bit nervous about it all.

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Technology update

Remember I was saying that I would like a new portable computer when I finished my Ph.D.? And then with one thing and the other I didn't make up my mind. So I waited and continued to use my old powerbook, which is still good but it's getting extremely slow. This summer I realized I can't handle on it a couple of application I really like (like Papers, if you want to keep your pdf library organized this program is just great) and memory is running short. Plus it can't handle any pptx files (if students are showing any presentation) and there is no possibility for me to upgrade it to Leopard.

So I made up my mind (and money) and decided that this year for my Ph.D. and for my new job I needed a new MacBook. So it should be here by next Monday. I just can't wait!!!!!!!!

I love technology. Tomorrow I am off almost all day for a workshop at Downtown U on Moodle. Plus I have to meet someone from HR in order to clarify a couple of questions. 

Yesterday I worked on Hard course and I had a brilliant idea on how to handle it. I was very pleased with it.

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Damn it!

We are just arrived back and there are so many things to do! I am actually feeling a little anxiety regarding all of it plus there's a couple of upsetting things going on, so let me vent, please!

• Husband will see a doctor only tomorrow. Gee, we have been back since Thursday and you can't get a specialist appointment earlier! :-(
• I have to submit my syllabi by next week. Yes, by next week!!!!! I just come back, please let me breathe! One is easy to do (a course I've taught before) and the other one is a new one (and a hard one). It's time to start working again as crazy.
• I am starting driving school. I am excited but at the same time I know I have to finish theory before August ends and take my exam asap. One more stress to add.
• My article for the conference I went to last year has been rejected. Damn it! It took them over a year to even answer my e-mails to tell me this. Thank you very much. Now I have to think what to do with it. Probably rewrite it and resubmit it somewhere else. 
• My problem is the most logical journal would be one where the 2 organisers of the conference are part of the editorial board. And in the case of one of them, I am almost sure She will be contacted. And I am sure She will say no. I am positive that my work could need improvement (because I was so stupid to submit by the deadline when most of the participants enjoyed 3 months or even more than me) but I definitely didn't have a positive vibe about it all. Did I think it could get published? Honestly? Yes. I put so much effort into that article and then other articles of mine that are getting published that are not so carefully written. And because when I presented the paper I received a very positive response. In any case, I am not the best judge and I guess I have to live with the final decision.
• I would love to know why, so I probably pissed She off but I wrote her a very nice e-mail asking for clues in order to make a better job for the next time. I am sure I will never ever get an answer to that one! Do you know why your work is rejected? Do they have to tell you or not?
• I feel like an idiot.
• I have to make changes to another article and write a book review before the end of August.
• There's a conference I would like to attend in February but will I have the time to write a proposal?
• I guess I am back to normal life............ 
• Sigh..... holidays are over!

MEME

A. Attached or Single? Married 

B. Best Friend? My dear friend 

C. back in Europe C. Cake or Pie? Cake, chocolate cake! 

D. Day of Choice? Saturday 

E. Essential Item? Apple computer 

F. Favorite Color? Red 

G. Gummy Bears or Worms? Gummy bears! 

H. Home town? Two of them, one here and one (real) in Europe. 

I. Favorite Indulgence? Chocolate, chocolate and chocolate. Oh, does Nutella counts as chocolate?

J. January or July? July 

K. Kids? No, thank you! 

L. Life isn't complete without? My family, my dog and my cat. 

M. Marriage date? July 19. We’ve just celebrated 5 years! 

N. Number of Brothers and Sisters? 0, I am an only child. 

O. Oranges or Apples? Apples. 

P. Phobias? Spiders. Just.hate.them. 

Q. Quotes? The inferno of the living is not something that will be; if there is one, it is what is already here, the inferno where we live every day, that we form by being together. There are two ways to escape suffering it. The first is easy for many: accept the inferno and become such a part of it that you can no longer see it. The second is risky and demands constant vigilance and apprehension: seek and learn to recognize who and what, in the midst of the inferno, are not inferno, then make them endure, give them space. (Italo Calvino, Invisible cities) 

R. Reasons to Smile? My dog running happily in a sunny green field. 

S. Season of Choice? Summer and Autumn. 

T. Tag 5 People - Sorry everybody, I am too lazy today to tag someone, if you want just play along!

U. Unknown Fact About Me? Ok,  confess, I gained 2 Kg this summer now I have to lose them, shit! 

V. Vegetable? Zucchini, maybe. 

W. Worst Habit? Creating all this scenarios in my head on how things can go wrong. 

X. X-Ray or Ultrasound? X-Ray, if it’s the fastest….. 

Z. Zodiac Sign? Gemini 

Z. Which Zoo Animal is your Favorite? Tigers and lions, but I love them all (except spiders!)

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We are back!

And still jet lagged!

We had a wonderful trip, except for the emergency Husband had the day before leaving: he woke up in the middle of the night with a sharp pain in his ear and the day before leaving we went to see a specialist who diagnosed him with a ruptured eardrum. He's now on antibiotics and Monday he will see a doctor here. Please, let's hope for the best. He's not in pain but obviously worried if he might need some surgery. Anyway, we had a safe trip bck (not too painful for him) and that was great.

More about it in the days to come. Right now I am too tired to write anything else.

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