So much for writing more often!

It's been crazy busy in my life! School this semester is very intense, and much more like what I imagined graduate school would be. My classes are much more discussion-based, making it very obvious if you fall behind in the reading! And I only have one class that has an actual midterm and final test; the other two have weekly papers and a term paper, respectively. I expected to do a lot more talking and writing in grad school rather than being lectured at and tested. Last year, because I was mostly lectured at, I still felt very much like I was an undergraduate. This semester is much different!

Work has been incredibly busy. The biggest leadership event we do is the annual Student Leadership Conference. Last year I served on the committee for the conference and provided whatever support the coordinator needed. It was a good learning experience but, despite it being a leadership program and me being the leadership initiatives grad assistant, I really had very little to do with the conference. That changed this year!

We moved the conference to the fall semester for the first time this year and with the transition in the office and more pressing programs to plan and launch, the planning of the conference did not really begin until the semester started. That gave me six weeks, SIX WEEKS, to coordinate a conference for roughly two-hundred students! Of course, I am not doing it alone, but I am doing a lot!

I have, in the past five weeks: researched national keynote speakers, solicited proposals from those I felt may be able to provide what we were looking for, convinced the committee to go with my top choice, extended an offer, took care of all of the speaker's travel and facility needs, managed the needs of the afternoon speakers and their technical needs, convinced campus catering to waived a $400 fee, oversaw the solicitation of co-sponsorship in the amount of roughly $5000 - 7000 (we won't know about the last $2000 until after the conference), chose and ordered a conference gift, convinced several on-campus departs and Kaplan, Inc. to donate raffle prizes, and the performed the multitude of daily tasks such a large conference requires.

The conference is one week from today, after which my life gets much easier!

I have still been managing to make it to the gym and continue to impress myself and Lauren with my awesome strength. The gym visits fell off this past week because both Lauren and I felt pretty puny. The time at the gym most likely will be scarce next week, as well, as I put in long hours at work pulling the conference together. Still, I can see and feel a difference and my doctor was uber impressed at the lower numbers my cholesterol is showing (ok, so there was also some medicinal intervention in that one, but I'm doing a lot too!).

The roommate situation is still going well! So is the getting to know our neighbors. This place is starting to turn into its own little community, which is very nice! I like knowing the people who live around me and I like having the ability to have a conversation and even friendship with them. It's shaping up to be a good year here at 1257, 1R.

I am super excited that I am going to become an auntie! :)

Some of the best movies of all time, in no particular order:
12 Angry Men (1957 version)
My Fair Lady
Shop Around the Corner

Love to everyone!

~g

Madison

So I went to Madison this weekend to hang out with Angela and her buddies and some of my own! Angela's birthday was this past Monday and, falling during the week, mostly unnoticed. She spent last weekend with her boyfriend and this weekend with her friends to make up for it!

My good friend, Mike, came up from Dubuque to join us in Madison. I was super happy as I do not get to see him, well, ever. We all went out last night to watch Wisconsin play Fresno. That was a blast! I loved being back in an atmosphere where everyone was intent on their friends but fully ready to yell at the many TVs broadcasting the game.

We slept in today and got a late start back to Chicago. Making only one detour for cheese, we made it back in very good time and now I am just taking the evening to unwind and gather myself for this coming week. I have quite a few assignments due and frankly could not afford the weekend road trip, but I decided the memories of this weekend are more important than the perfect grade on the assignments.

Life continues to be very busy and I continue to stay right at the water level.

The Broncos need to learn what the word "defense" means.

LOVE!

~g

OWIE!!!

I'm kicking butt at the gym but dang does it hurt! The abdominals in particular have taken a beating this week.

I'm going to be an aunt! It is a bit strange to think of but I am excited. And to be honest a little sad and longing for the relationship and the family myself. But mostly just excited and already loving my new niece or nephew. This seals it - we're officially adults now.

Life has been going quickly, as usual. My big event for work is coming up very soon and with the school year fully underway my obligations to our student group are also picking up. Be sure to check out PASA's blog and website!
http://uicpasa.blogspot.com/
http://sites.google.com/site/uicpasa/

The roomie and I are heading to Madison this weekend to celebrate her birthday with some of her friends. We have plans to hit the farmer's market and the local cheese shop. Party people!

We have gotten to know our neighbors upstairs. Last weekend we grilled out together in the courtyard and played corn hole and had a generally good time. Last night we exchanged fruit and vegetables. I like the sense of community and knowing the people I share walls and ceilings/floors with. CNB is still CNB.

Other than that life just continues to plug away.

Love to everyone!!

~g

CNB

Neighbor Joe has officially been dubbed CNB - Cute Neighbor Boy.

CNB came around tonight for help hooking his Mac up to the Internet. I looked decidedly better tonight compared to his first visit, but alas was not able to help. Macs are dumb. He's a bright boy and has a PC for everyday use; his Mac is only a really old secondary computer.

2 miles at the gym today. 2.5 yesterday. Weights and such as well. Dang. I'm trying to convince Lauren to swim tomorrow in an effort to shake up the routine.

No big plans for the weekend. At some point I need to kick it into gear and get into school mode. It's been difficult to transition into this semester considering how few classes have actually been held. I'm sure this next week it will start to feel more settled.

I'm starting to get a social life. I have been invited to road trip to Madison as well as somewhere in Indiana a few weeks from now. Problem is the road trips are scheduled for the same weekend. Yayy for having friends and being in demand!

Stupid Gustav rain bands. I got soaked despite my umbrella (ella, ella, hey hey). It's time for a new umbrella. The 5 + year old one with the broken spokes just isn't cutting it anymore.

I am becoming a fan of headbands again.

~g

So busy!!

Yeah, it has been awhile. Stupid life getting in the way.

School has commenced. In the two weeks of classes (during which time I should have had six classes) I have attended all of three. Labor Day took care of one, and another course I have yet to begin. The teacher has been out of town at conferences for the past two weeks and has yet to hold class. It has been an interesting start to the semester!

I have come to the conclusion that work is going to be a real challenge this year. With all of the transition politics, new expectations, and a redefined list of duties for my position it is very confusing, tiring, and difficult. I am doing more than I did last year, playing a much more vital role in the programs I oversee. I have no problem doing this but feel in some ways I have been left without the proper support to ensure the programs are a success. It seems more like a sink or swim on my own deal. The real problem is not that I am executing the programs that fall under the scope of my position, but rather that I am executing someone else's vision of the programs in my realm. It is a struggle.

I have begun attending the gym quite regularly, both because I would like to lead a healthier life and because I have to do something with my work stress and anger. I have been constantly sore for the last several weeks and am a bit frustrated by a lack of physical changes. I know those will come in time if I keep up my schedule and eat healthier, but in the era of instant gratification I would like to see results faster. That being said, I am growing to appreciate my strength if not my appearance. As I have become fond of saying, "It may be a bit flabby, but it's strong!" My legs, especially, are amazing. I'm pretty much have the strength of a newborn bird in my arms, but boy howdy can I push the weight with my legs! I broke 200 pounds this week on the thigh abduction/ adduction machines and was able to run for 2.5 miles straight today. Go me with my gym self!

On the home front, things are going well with the new roommate. Having never lived with males other than my immediate family I was a bit hesitant to take on a male roommate but now find myself regretting not having done so earlier! There is no drama, the place is cleaner than it was with the old roommate, and there is no crazy significant other or drug dealer. Ryan came around at the right time and was the perfect fit.

The new neighbors in the apartment upstairs are also much better than the girls from last year. We have a Justin, Sarah, and Joe living upstairs and have started to get to know them. We're planning a grill-out this weekend with them and anyone from the front building that would like to join. Last night Justin and Joe came a'knockin at our door with the proposition to share our wireless. We have a great, well-established connection with a pretty strong router while they were running into difficulty after difficulty in getting any service. They have been able to see our signal which is, of course, protected and knew it would work in their apartment. We agreed to give it a try and gave them the password. It works very well, so now there will be six of us paying for wireless access, meaning smaller bills all around. Yayy!

I have to say, Joe is a total cutie. I had not met him before last night, but wow! He and I share a wall. Maybe we'll become friends and have a knocking code.

I'm a dork.

For the record, I think that idea is silly.

On the political front, the less I say, the better. My opinions seem to be a bit too straightforward for some. I will leave it at "God help us all if McCain/Palin actually figure out how to rig yet another election for the Republicans and steal the White House."

I will try to post more regularly.

Go Broncos!

~g

FINALLY!!!!!

It has take 11 months, but I have a new shower!!! It's so pretty! When I saw it fully installed this afternoon I literally jumped in the air and squealed. I won't be able to use it until Friday as the caulk needs time to dry, but very soon I will be able to use my all new, completely clean shower. It's a good day!

I have been enjoying spending my evenings watching Olympic coverage. The swimming, diving, gymnastics, and equestrian are my favorite sports to watch. I do feel the USA deserved the gold in women's gymnastics, not because of their performance, but because there is no way some of China's girls were of age.

Work has been challenging lately. The office dynamics are changing dramatically and it's exhausting to be in the middle of it. On the other hand, it's a good learning experience.

With the completion of my shower the repair projects in the apartment are coming to a close. It will be nice to have my home back. Now we just need to get everything back where it belongs or find a new place for things, and life will be very good.

Not much else going on. Busy as usual. Life continues. I love and miss my family.

~g

Hrm.....

The short version of the events in my life recently:

Turned 24
Was surprised on my birthday by my mom
Experienced one heck of a storm
Took two finals
Finished summer classes
Got a new roommate
Cleaned the apartment top to bottom
Moved furniture
Packed a storage room

The next two weeks will consist of working, getting to know the new roomie, catching up on sleep and personal things, prepping for the start of fall classes, and trying to have some fun.

I'm tired....

~g

Chuck

This is Chuck.
Chuck thinks he owns both the front and the back buildings.
Chuck yells at anyone who dares invade his courtyard domain.
Chuck especially hates our cats.
Chuck can eat an entire chocolate square, peeling the wrapper off and everything.
Chuck is an acrobat.
Chuck, like Chuck Norris, is the most awesome thing ever.
I am honored to know Chuck.

~g

Cat Profiles

Three cats allow me to live with them. I have talked about these fantastic felines with many people and now feel each kitty deserves to be highlighted on their own.

This post is dedicated to Isis.

The name Isis comes from ancient Egyptian mythology. Isis was a goddess revered for her kindness, gentleness, and compassion. She heard the prayers of all, from the slave to the emperor. She was honored as the ideal wife and mother.

Our Isis is a bit different. She is the smallest of the three cats, weighing in at just over 6 pounds. She has a tiny voice, but that makes it all the more shrill when she's sitting at the door screaming to be let out into the courtyard.

Isis may be the smallest of the three cats, but she is the fighter and the hunter. Our home is bug free, she's apparently taken on a mouse in the house, and I most recently found her ready to jump on the fence surrounding our courtyard in pursuit of our resident squirrel, Chuck.

Isis has a face fetish, rubbing against anything and everything. She does not like to be held, or even petted that much. She's very much her own cat, and all the more adorable for it.

Isis is the Princess of the house whom we cannot imagine living without.



~g

Chicago Pictures

People have been asking me for a year for pictures of my place and the city. I finally got around to taking some decent pictures, which are below and include helpful captions.

The courtyard between the front building and back building. The screen door in the middle of the picture is my front door. The black & white cat, as well at the two cats sitting behind the screen door, are the three kitties who run our apartment.

The 290 Expressway. I walk over this every day on the way to my college. This is about half a mile to the East of my apartment.

The view as I walk from my college to my job on East Campus. Again, this is roughly half a mile to the East of my apartment and I get this view almost every day.

The view from the center of my campus, looking East.

I have to admit that the pictures make it look very pretty.

~g