While watching the first episode of the new season of Lost this evening, a commercial came on for something I'd forgotten was coming out: a new Stephen King book. I was impressed initially because there was a commercial for a book during prime time TV. That's a very big rarity (more's the pity). I like seeing an occasional commercial for something I'd actually buy. I was further impressed because I never forget when a book I want is coming out. I always have my pre-order in to Amazon as soon as something I want is announced. I'd been so caught up with everything going on in my life that I'd actually forgotten about the book release.
Fortunately, Michael hadn't. After the show was over and we were talking about how hard it would be to go a whole week before another episode (did anyone really get off the island?), Michael turned to me and asked, "So there was a Stephen King book you didn't know about?"
I admitted that it was true. He grinned and walked back to the office and came out beaming with a big box from Amazon.
"I didn't forget!"
This qualifies him as the best boyfriend ever! He knows me so well that he anticipates my little whims before I even know I'm going to have them. He knew I'd want it as soon as it came out, and he noticed I'd forgotten, so he ordered it for me. He was saving it for the perfect moment, and boy did he find it! I wanted that book so much I was going to suggest driving to the grocery store to see if they had any yet. He's amazing! I need to go kiss him again (he's studying like a good school boy) and hop into bed and start reading!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Weekend Fun
Peter, Hope, Kima, and Michael Enjoy Tea and Dessert
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
My sister Kima was in Seattle visiting this weekend. Saturday night, Michael and I had a lovely dinner at Hope and Peter's place, and last night it was our turn to host the dinner party. Everyone (Kima, Hope, and Peter) came over here for an "Asian feast." I learned to make egg-flower soup, we bought some different types of dumplings at the Asian market, I created a coconut-pineapple curry, and we found an assortment of Asian cookies at the market. We all watched the last episode of Amazing Race (yay for TK and Rachel for winning), and much fun was had.
Kima stayed the night with us (another pleased visitor for our little guest room), and this morning I tried a new waffle recipe: buttermilk coconut waffles. Hope couldn't resist when we told her what was for breakfast, and she came over to eat with us. The waffles were pronounced a success by all, and there's enough batter left over for Michael and I to have them again tomorrow. Kima is headed back to Vancouver and her work week, Michael is at work this evening, and I'm catching up on my weekend lounging.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Second Week Review
Me at My Desk
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
The second week seemed to go faster than the first although I don't have much to report. The biggest development of the week was probably that I got a bit more settled in to my office. There are pictures on my walls (thanks Michael!) and I learned how to use the fax machine. Students are figuring out I'm there, and quite a few have filtered through my office. I've actually seen more students that I have any right to expect given how new my position is. I'm feeling very optimistic that things are soon going to be very busy. (Pictures of the office developments are up on flickr.)
Monday, January 14, 2008
Wacky Weather
When I left home this morning, the skies were clear and it looked like it was going to be a gorgeous day. Thirty minutes later, just as I was pulling into the faculty parking lot in Des Moines, it had clouded over and begun to pour buckets. I made a run for the building, and then when I looked out fifteen minutes later it was sunny again. Later this afternoon, another faculty member mentioned to be that it was snowing in Bellevue, and I rushed to check the traffic report to make sure the freeway was clear so I could get home. The freeway report looked normal, so I put it out of my mind. Much to my surprise, just as I came upon Downtown Seattle on my drive home, I noticed that the sides of the freeway were white with snow. There was slush here and there on the road, not enough to really slow traffic, but still noticeable. When I left the freeway here in North Seattle, the ground was covered with about an inch of slushy snow. I got out of my car and could see stars shining in the sky, and it's apparently warmed up a few degrees, because the snow is already melting away. Weird day!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
First Week Reflections
I started out the week by comparing everything to the Loft, and by Wednesday I was feeling sort of inferior:
"By this point in the quarter in the Loft, I'd have already seen at least ten students! What's wrong with me?"
I had to stop and force myself to reflect on why I was comparing two programs that shouldn't really be compared. The Loft is a well-established program that has existed for years and years; CWU-Des Moines isn't even three years old yet, and the writing center was only really established there last quarter. Most students don't even know it's there at all (yet). The Loft is open six days a week, while last quarter at CWU-Des Moines, the consultant was only on campus two days a week. Students aren't used to someone being available five days a week. The Loft has many tutors; at CWU-Des Moines, there's only me, and I'm not a face the students recognize yet. Everything about my new job is, well--new--so why was I beating myself up because students weren't knocking down my door? It's not like I'm stepping into a well-established writing center, and all I have to do is make sure it keeps running. I'm starting from scratch, and that's going to take a while.
When I reached this point in my reflections, I began to compile a list of the week's small successes, and within a little while, I was starting to feel much better. On Monday, I had no email, no access to the shared files on the computer, no voice mail, no faculty contact list, and no appointments for classroom orientations of consultations. I had an empty office that none of the students knew was there, and there was no real way for me to contact anyone to let them know where I was. By the end of Monday, I had email and a faculty contact list, and two faculty members had invited me in to talk with their classes. On Tuesday, I talked with two more classes, reaching nearly 100 of the 700 students I'm supposed to be serving. On Wednesday, I gained access to the shared files and was able to put my name on the official brochures and print them off so I had something official to give to students. A student actually signed up for a consultation on Wednesday. On Thursday I visited more classes, and as I went, I started to notice more how many students were smiling and nodding at what I had to say. More students were grinning at me in the hallways or when I was sitting at my table in the study hall, with my basket of candy and stack of brochures. On Friday, I had three student consultations and I finally got voice mail, so that next week, students and faculty members will have all the contact possibilities they're supposed to have for me. All things considered, I think I've had a pretty successful week. I think things will continue to improve in the upcoming weeks and months as students get to know me better.
I'm completely exhausted, of course, after worrying all week about how to get students' interest. To prove this, let's look at last night as an example. I'm normally an extremely light sleeper, so light that any little noise will wake me up, and I've slept in ear plugs since high school just to get a full night's sleep. Last night, not only did I conk out at an embarrassingly early hour, but when Michael spilled a soda, cursed, turned on the light to mop it up, rearranged his night stand, and turned out the light again ten minutes later, I didn't even wake up. I'm enjoying my new job thoroughly, because the challenge of starting a writing center is thrilling, but I think the first few quarters will make me very ready for summer vacation!
"By this point in the quarter in the Loft, I'd have already seen at least ten students! What's wrong with me?"
I had to stop and force myself to reflect on why I was comparing two programs that shouldn't really be compared. The Loft is a well-established program that has existed for years and years; CWU-Des Moines isn't even three years old yet, and the writing center was only really established there last quarter. Most students don't even know it's there at all (yet). The Loft is open six days a week, while last quarter at CWU-Des Moines, the consultant was only on campus two days a week. Students aren't used to someone being available five days a week. The Loft has many tutors; at CWU-Des Moines, there's only me, and I'm not a face the students recognize yet. Everything about my new job is, well--new--so why was I beating myself up because students weren't knocking down my door? It's not like I'm stepping into a well-established writing center, and all I have to do is make sure it keeps running. I'm starting from scratch, and that's going to take a while.
When I reached this point in my reflections, I began to compile a list of the week's small successes, and within a little while, I was starting to feel much better. On Monday, I had no email, no access to the shared files on the computer, no voice mail, no faculty contact list, and no appointments for classroom orientations of consultations. I had an empty office that none of the students knew was there, and there was no real way for me to contact anyone to let them know where I was. By the end of Monday, I had email and a faculty contact list, and two faculty members had invited me in to talk with their classes. On Tuesday, I talked with two more classes, reaching nearly 100 of the 700 students I'm supposed to be serving. On Wednesday, I gained access to the shared files and was able to put my name on the official brochures and print them off so I had something official to give to students. A student actually signed up for a consultation on Wednesday. On Thursday I visited more classes, and as I went, I started to notice more how many students were smiling and nodding at what I had to say. More students were grinning at me in the hallways or when I was sitting at my table in the study hall, with my basket of candy and stack of brochures. On Friday, I had three student consultations and I finally got voice mail, so that next week, students and faculty members will have all the contact possibilities they're supposed to have for me. All things considered, I think I've had a pretty successful week. I think things will continue to improve in the upcoming weeks and months as students get to know me better.
I'm completely exhausted, of course, after worrying all week about how to get students' interest. To prove this, let's look at last night as an example. I'm normally an extremely light sleeper, so light that any little noise will wake me up, and I've slept in ear plugs since high school just to get a full night's sleep. Last night, not only did I conk out at an embarrassingly early hour, but when Michael spilled a soda, cursed, turned on the light to mop it up, rearranged his night stand, and turned out the light again ten minutes later, I didn't even wake up. I'm enjoying my new job thoroughly, because the challenge of starting a writing center is thrilling, but I think the first few quarters will make me very ready for summer vacation!
Friday, January 11, 2008
On Commuting
With the new job comes a new commute to work. Instead of five minutes on back streets, I now spend 35 minutes (each way) on the freeway to get to work. I don't mind spending the time in my car. It gives me a chance to sing along with the radio without torturing anyone else with my tone-deafness and to plan out my day or reflect on my day. I don't mind the drive in the least because it's a gorgeous drive, with Rainier towering in the distance and the beautiful Seattle skyline, Space Needle and all, beside me most of the way. I don't even mind being stuck in traffic, because it gives me more time with my thoughts, and I so rarely get time all to myself. In fact, I wouldn't mind commuting in the least, if it weren't for one thing.
People are jerks. Heaven forbid anyone yield to let anyone else merge onto the freeway. And don't even attempt to change lanes during rush hour--you're stuck in the lane you're in, whether you want to be there or not; no one will let you in to another lane. Never mind that traffic is moving at 5 miles an hour, and one more person going in front of you will delay you by approximately three seconds. It also appears to be imperative to follow the car in front of you so closely that the driver of the car in front of you cannot see your headlights, and indeed might not even know you're there--and to continue this whether traffic is moving at 5 miles an hour or 60. I was almost rear-ended tonight when traffic momentarily sped up to 40 then abruptly slowed to 15, and the moron behind me, who I hardly knew was there because he/she was following so closely, had to drive onto the median to avoid smacking into me. (When I learned to drive, Mom told be to imagine a pole four car-lengths, separating me from the car in front of me. The pole is unbendable. If someone cuts between me and the car in front of me, a new pole automatically appears, and I adjust. That way I always have enough space to stop, and no one needs to cut me off. Not that this stops people from cutting me off--oh no. Even though they don't need to, they seem to enjoy cutting as close to my bumper as they can, perhaps to show their driving skill.) People are selfish when it comes to freeway driving. Yes, we all want to get where we're going. That's why we're on the freeway in the first place. Still, behaving like we're the only ones on the road isn't going to get us where we're going any more quickly or safely. I'd rather be delayed by two minutes than cause an accident. I only wish other people felt the same way. I'd enjoy my commute thoroughly were this the case. I'm not going to hold my breath though.
People are jerks. Heaven forbid anyone yield to let anyone else merge onto the freeway. And don't even attempt to change lanes during rush hour--you're stuck in the lane you're in, whether you want to be there or not; no one will let you in to another lane. Never mind that traffic is moving at 5 miles an hour, and one more person going in front of you will delay you by approximately three seconds. It also appears to be imperative to follow the car in front of you so closely that the driver of the car in front of you cannot see your headlights, and indeed might not even know you're there--and to continue this whether traffic is moving at 5 miles an hour or 60. I was almost rear-ended tonight when traffic momentarily sped up to 40 then abruptly slowed to 15, and the moron behind me, who I hardly knew was there because he/she was following so closely, had to drive onto the median to avoid smacking into me. (When I learned to drive, Mom told be to imagine a pole four car-lengths, separating me from the car in front of me. The pole is unbendable. If someone cuts between me and the car in front of me, a new pole automatically appears, and I adjust. That way I always have enough space to stop, and no one needs to cut me off. Not that this stops people from cutting me off--oh no. Even though they don't need to, they seem to enjoy cutting as close to my bumper as they can, perhaps to show their driving skill.) People are selfish when it comes to freeway driving. Yes, we all want to get where we're going. That's why we're on the freeway in the first place. Still, behaving like we're the only ones on the road isn't going to get us where we're going any more quickly or safely. I'd rather be delayed by two minutes than cause an accident. I only wish other people felt the same way. I'd enjoy my commute thoroughly were this the case. I'm not going to hold my breath though.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Cozy Evening
I'm sitting here in bed next to Michael, both of us with laptops in our laps, contentedly surfing the web and writing emails. With the addition of my new school computer and the wireless connection, we can both be online in the same room at the same time. It's pretty nice! I suppose we'll have to get up eventually and fix dinner, but right now we're not really motivated to do very much. It's nice to occasionally have lazy moments.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Home Again
I spent the past two nights in Ellensburg on the CWU main campus, signing my contract and picking up things like my new laptop and a few books I didn't already have that I feel every writing center should have. I've never had such a warm reception to a new job in my life. I felt like a movie star the whole time. Teresa introduced me to the Ellensburg writing center staff by telling them how excited she is to have me joining their team. Then I had a meeting with the vice provost of undergraduate studies (one of the most powerful people on campus), which I was nervous about, because this is the man who signs my paychecks. He's actually a very nice man who greeted me with a friendly handshake and a huge smile before ushering me into an office with Dr. Seuss books on a table near the door.
I wondered if it might feel weird to be back on the CWU campus after over two years away from Ellensburg, but the moment I set foot on campus, it felt like I'd never left. I felt right at home again immediately, which I'm taking as a sign that CWU is the right place for me to work.
On Thursday afternoon I had time to wander around the campus because I didn't have any meetings scheduled until Friday morning. I'd come over the pass a day early to avoid the snowstorm that was predicted for Friday morning, and I'm really glad that I did. Sandy (the CWU Lynwood writing consultant) hit the inclement weather Friday morning and missed the first faculty development activity entirely. On Thursday, I was able to see a lot of my former professors and catch up on some of the campus gossip. I had really nice visits with my writing center mentor, Rob, and two members of my thesis committee. It was fun to hear about everyone's new projects, especially Lila's (she finally had a paper accepted for presentation at the MLA conference, a HUGE deal in the English studies world). I got lots of hugs from people who didn't have much time to chat, and there were many congratulations.
Friday was the movie star day, and I spent most of the day in a happy daze, shaking hands and making new friends right and left. The day ended with a party at Teresa's house where there was great food and wonderful conversation. One of the things that impresses me most about the writing center faculty Teresa has put together is the great diversity of areas of study among the staff members. So many writing centers employ mainly English majors, but Teresa has recruited from all over campus. I had interesting conversations with graduate students from the history department, the animal psychology department, and the theater department in addition to some really great literary conversations with the English majors.
This morning, I got up early for a meeting with Teresa in order to finish going over all the new procedures I'll be following, and so that she could finish showing me how to use the functions I'll need on my new computer. She's going to be absolutely wonderful to work with; she has a personality that I really click with, and we laughed at the same silly little things all morning.
Now I'm home again. I think the only drawback to the whole trip was how much I missed Michael while I was away. I've not often stayed in a hotel by myself, and it was really creepy to go back there at night and be entirely by myself when I'm so used to having Michael there at the end of the day when I want someone to hug and talk with. I had a great time in Ellensburg, but I'm really happy to be home.
I wondered if it might feel weird to be back on the CWU campus after over two years away from Ellensburg, but the moment I set foot on campus, it felt like I'd never left. I felt right at home again immediately, which I'm taking as a sign that CWU is the right place for me to work.
On Thursday afternoon I had time to wander around the campus because I didn't have any meetings scheduled until Friday morning. I'd come over the pass a day early to avoid the snowstorm that was predicted for Friday morning, and I'm really glad that I did. Sandy (the CWU Lynwood writing consultant) hit the inclement weather Friday morning and missed the first faculty development activity entirely. On Thursday, I was able to see a lot of my former professors and catch up on some of the campus gossip. I had really nice visits with my writing center mentor, Rob, and two members of my thesis committee. It was fun to hear about everyone's new projects, especially Lila's (she finally had a paper accepted for presentation at the MLA conference, a HUGE deal in the English studies world). I got lots of hugs from people who didn't have much time to chat, and there were many congratulations.
Friday was the movie star day, and I spent most of the day in a happy daze, shaking hands and making new friends right and left. The day ended with a party at Teresa's house where there was great food and wonderful conversation. One of the things that impresses me most about the writing center faculty Teresa has put together is the great diversity of areas of study among the staff members. So many writing centers employ mainly English majors, but Teresa has recruited from all over campus. I had interesting conversations with graduate students from the history department, the animal psychology department, and the theater department in addition to some really great literary conversations with the English majors.
This morning, I got up early for a meeting with Teresa in order to finish going over all the new procedures I'll be following, and so that she could finish showing me how to use the functions I'll need on my new computer. She's going to be absolutely wonderful to work with; she has a personality that I really click with, and we laughed at the same silly little things all morning.
Now I'm home again. I think the only drawback to the whole trip was how much I missed Michael while I was away. I've not often stayed in a hotel by myself, and it was really creepy to go back there at night and be entirely by myself when I'm so used to having Michael there at the end of the day when I want someone to hug and talk with. I had a great time in Ellensburg, but I'm really happy to be home.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
My First Day
My New Office
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
Today was my first day in my new job, and I think it went really well. The building that houses CWU Des Moines is not even three years old yet, and everything from the floor up looks brand new. My office is on the third floor, and it's by far the nicest, biggest, newest office I've ever had. I don't have nearly enough stuff to fill it, and I'm hoping my students will overlook the lack of color until I can get some posters up. I'll just have them look out the window at the incredible view of Puget Sound if they complain about the lack of decoration. It's absolutely stunning! (There are lots of pictures up on Flickr.)
I spent much of the afternoon meeting the other faculty members and touring the campus trying to orient myself. I found the cashier's office to buy my parking pass, and I've located the student union in case I get hungry sometime. The other faculty I met were all very welcoming and extremely supportive, with all whom I met offering to send their students to me for writing help. I think I'm really going to like my new job!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!
The first day of the new year is upon us. What does the year hold in store for us? What new adventures are approaching in the coming days? It's time to put up the new calendar, full of empty squares whose stories have yet to be written. To all my friends and family, I hope you're looking forward to the upcoming year as much as I am, and I hope that each of you has a wonderful 2008!
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