AND YOU”RE OVERDUE!!!

The subject is a one-line email, copied exactly, from my father in reference to my blog. I can take a hint.

How about we get the obvious out of the way - IT'S COLD!!!!

I was composing a winter etiquette rant in my head as I walked on campus today. It goes something like this:

1. UIC Facilities, you are apparently unaware of all your job entails... or really, of what it entails AT ALL! When there is snow on the ground and pedestrians are floundering and slipping on said snow, put the damn blade that is attached to the front of your truck/converted golf cart-looking machine DOWN and move said snow. Do not stop in the middle of the one clear walkway for your 15 minute break that lasts for 3 hours. That's just impolite.
2. Snow does not fall at convenient hours, such as 9-5, M-F. Facilities personnel, some mornings you may have to lose some sleep to get to work early to clear the campus before students and staff arrive. Following this line of thinking, you may have to stay late some evenings so those of us who stay on campus until 9 pm have a safe environment as we make our way home. Please do not selfishly tuck yourself back in in the morning or refuse to miss a second of your evening show. That's just impolite.
3. My peers, when Facilities has not cleared the sidewalk and the only path is the trench in the middle of the sidewalk that those who passed before us created, there is a way of dealing with meeting someone who is coming in the opposite direction as you. The best way to handle the situation is that each person keeps one foot in the trench and steps slightly to the side, placing their other foot in the snow. This allows each party to keep one foot secure and get only one foot covered in snow. Failure to follow this rule is just impolite.
4. Referencing above rule, there are situations in which following the rule is impolite. When meeting with elderly, pregnant, or otherwise impaired individuals, it is your responsibility as an able person to step out of the trench into the snow completely. Remaining in the trench is just impolite.
5. Given Facilities' penchant for failing at their jobs, there is a limited amount of clear walking space. This means, Cindi, Mindi, and Trixi, that you may not be able to walk three-abreast, chattering on your phones to one another. If I meet you and am walking in the opposite direction, I will not step off the cleared path, and I will drop my shoulder and run right into whichever of you (I can't tell you apart) happens to be in my way. I am bigger, stronger, and properly attired - when this collision occurs I will go merrily on my way without missing a beat while you struggle to maintain your balance on your 4-inch spiked heels. Your hogging of the sidewalk is just impolite.

I do not mind the snow (it obliterates the skyline and helps me forget I'm in a giant city surrounded by millions). I do not even mind the cold. I have a proper coat, scarf, gloves, hat, and boots. I dress in layers. I do all that those who have any intelligence do during a Midwest winter. Granted, this is one of the coldest years on record (I believe in the last 126 odd some years if I heard the news correctly last evening) as well as one of the snowiest (top 5!), but still, it is just snow and cold. Our ancestors survived an Ice Age; I think we can handle a cold front. I do recommend a good, solid pair of boots, though. I got mine a little over a year ago and consider them one of my best investments ever.

Getting off the subject of weather, my last semester of higher education has commenced. This semester I am taking a one-credit aerobic fitness class (we run and walk for 50 minutes straight, with an occasional or day in the pool or on the basketball court thrown in), as well as my Capstone class and a project management class. It is going to be a rough semester, only because Capstone and Project Management are quite intensive. Plus, the aerobic class just about killed me today! I needed the one credit to remain full time and keep my financial aid, and given the nature of my other classes, I did not want to pile another 4-credit graduate course on top of them. Really, all I need to do to pass the fitness class is show up and move, but I'm trying to take full advantage. I think I ran about one and one-half miles today and walked another 2. I stopped keeping count of how many times I went around the track, so I do not know for sure.

My team and I had our first meeting with our Chicago Public School clients for our Capstone course last week. I think we have a fairly manageable project, so long as we stay on top of the work. The short version: We are creating a manual for school-based project managers that will help them identify their needs and wants in reference to any evaluation that will occur for their program, and provide information and guidance on how to set up proper data collection and storage so everything is present and accessible when it is time for the evaluation to occur. The manual needs to be applicable to all program managers in the CPS district, and easy to read/ understand. Basically, we are creating "Data Collection and Program Evaluation for Dummies".

Work this semester is mostly research and planning for me. I only have one program, and the rest I am getting planned for the fall and the GA who comes after me. I will be spending a lot of time on the computer at work. Thank goodness I have glasses!

I continue to feel blessed with my good roommates. I have had my issues with Angela, but overall she is a sweet girl that really is just clueless. Ryan is easy to talk to and get along with, but we do not see him much and that's fine with me. The cats continue to warm to me (especially Mia) and more and more I get to feel the comforting presence of a cat on my feet during the night. Laundry is a bit of a hassle in this weather, since the machines are located across the courtyard in the basement of the front building, but I am not about to complain about free, on-site laundry.

Overall, things are good. Soon my job hunt will swing into full force, and before I know it this stage of my life will be over and the next will begin. I am terrified and excited for this change. I am still on the hunt for the perfect red shoes for my graduation ceremony. I thought I had found them, but when they arrived they were nothing like the photo and description had promised and I despise them. If anyone runs across red shoes that would go well with a white-with-black-accents knee-length halter dress, let me know! I need them no later than May 1, 2009.

This post is very long and it is time for me to get to some actual school work. Dad, I am sure I have satisfied your need for a new post! Go hassle Marsh and Sarah now. Justin, you have the right idea with posting every day!

Love to all!

~g