a little less geekiness then last time…

It’s about time I blogged, and with a little less of the geekitude that was in my last post about writing.

I have a job interview today. No, not for a faculty job, but for a new job on campus. I’ve had the same administrative job for nearly 5 years. It’s paid the bills– tuition and rent, and I love the people I work with. I’ve been lucky and grateful to have it. But, the position is being cut so as of May, I won’t have a job.

The stress of potentially not having funding is something I know all too well and I’m going to try to avoid it at all costs. And even if it is my last year as a grad student, and I trust on some level that I will end up with some kind of job so that I don’t have to drop out steps before the finish line, the semester-to-semester job hunt on campus pretty much sucks. Especially with the economy the way it is. So, I’m applying for a job that will mean I won’t have to worry about finding funding for that last year. And I’ll have time to teach over the summer. The problem is that IF I get it, it will start as soon as possible. So, I’ll have to leave the job I have right now earlier than expected. On one hand I shouldn’t care– I’m looking out for myself– but on the other hand, I’ll feel bad about the chaos I’ll inevitably leave behind. I shouldn’t care, but part of me will. That’s the problem with being conscientious, I guess.

I’m also trying out a new schedule this semester. Instead of going to my day job first thing in the morning, and then going to the library to write in the afternoon, I’m going to the library first to write. I used to think that I would never get myself ready in the morning and take an early bus if I didn’t have to be someplace (i.e. at work by 9am) but actually, I have a much easier time getting myself ready and out the door even earlier if I know that a few hours of quiet writing in the library are ahead of me. Strange. I was so resistant to changing that schedule for so long.

A week from Wednesday I’m heading to Savannah, Georgia for a conference. This will be only my third visit to the South. I went to a conference in Atlanta my first year in grad school, and never saw anything outside of the hotel, and a couple years ago I went to New Orleans. I’m excited to actually see more of the South, and for some weather that isn’t below zero. And I somehow messed up my flight reservation so I am there an entire day earlier than everyone else. I must have done that sub-consicously because now I can’t wait to spend a whole day exploring the area on my own. I love travelling by myself.

You know what I love even more, though? All that Obama’s done so far as President. It’s like a dream. Every day is some new un-doing of neo-conservative crap. The global gag rule: gone. Gitmo: closing. Allowing states to set strict emissions standards: passed. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: passed. And progressive non-hate-filled civil rights agenda. The White House even has a blog for following all of this amazing goodness, for crying out loud. I love it.