look out, New York!

I'm Feeling: soooo stinking tired!
Background Noise: co-workers calling "good morning"

So tomorrow, bright and early, Mark and I head to Detroit to catch a plane to go to New York City to watch the US OPEN!! (I used the word "to"5 times in one sentence... sweet.)

My mom, dad, sister, brother, and sister-in-law will all head there sometime today, and we'll catch up with them tomorrow morning. We get to watch fabulous tennis, stay in Manhattan, eat really expensive food, and celebrate my brother's and sister's birthdays. Hooray!!

I'm really excited to go, although I haven't thought about it as much as you'd expect - the crazy new job is keeping me very pre-occupied lately. In a good way, I guess, but I'll be happy to spend a weekend with my family and focusing on something VERY different from work.

So, I wish you an early Happy Labor Day Weekend - spend some time enjoying your company, and make sure you relax a little bit!!

reinforcement

I'm Feeling: encouraged (and also a little sleepy)
Background Noise: a very busy office

I've been doing some work-related research - looking at career options for business majors, trying to figure out what information I need to best help students... and I stumbled across the Keirsey Temperament Sorter - which is a personality test based on the Myers-Briggs typology. I'm a sucker for personality tests - and I have a kind of unusual personality, in that I'm almost 50/50 in a lot of areas - I can be really introverted and also very social, I'm very logical and process oriented but also highly empathetic... it's weird. So it's fun to retake tests, because on any given day, I'll end up "sorted" into a completely different personality than the day before.

However - today, I'm feeling good about myself because of what I saw when I finished my test:
Idealists, as a temperament, are passionately concerned with personal growth and development. Idealists strive to discover who they are and how they can become their best possible self -- always this quest for self-knowledge and self-improvement drives their imagination. And they want to help others make the journey. Idealists are naturally drawn to working with people, and whether in education or counseling, in social services or personnel work, in journalism or the ministry, they are gifted at helping others find their way in life, often inspiring them to grow as individuals and to fulfill their potentials.

Weird - it sounds like my job!! It's kinda cool to think that I'm well-matched for my professional life - it's encouraging when you feel ineffective or intimidated. The gifts God entrusted to me are being used - and that's comforting.

What personality are you?

time flies

I'm Feeling: mildly irked that pictures won't upload into Blogger today
Background Noise: Feels Like Rain by Josh Schicker

Time is zipping right by lately - the school year was ending before I knew it, suddenly it was the 4th of July, then August and back-to-school rolled around... now, with the new job, things are moving at hyper-warp-speed like never before. In some ways, it's really good = time at work goes very quickly (translation: I'm NOT bored). In some ways, it's kind of a bummer = laundry didn't quite get done this weekend, and I keep playing phone tag with people.

Anyway - I'm liking the new job, although it's been crazy and busy lately - I think it will fit me well and the people seem great (we just need to have the time to actually talk to each other once in awhile).

I had lunch with Julie and Courtney on Friday, and lunch with Jane and Jen today - it's good to sit with people who know you and simply laugh about silly things. Very little pressure or expectation... and once again - the time flies right by!!

ghetto thugs?

I'm Feeling: worn out
Background Noise: I Take My Chances by Mary Chapin Carpenter

These are my ghetto-thug girlfriends from WyldLife (translation: funny white girls from Mason pretending to be tough at camp). It's a fun picture.

I've become one of those people who only knows how to post about work. I'm gonna try to not mention it today.

Had a big weekend: spent time up at TimberWolf Lake (our home away from home), had a big picnic dinner with our Mason WyldLife and YoungLife friends, and last night had a back-to-school type meeting with some leaders for YoungLife. It's good to be back into the swing of the school year, but I'm having some of those "Oh my, my calendar is SO FULL" moments lately. It'll all work out, this too shall pass... but for right now, I'm feeling kinda buried in things.

Probably running some errands tonight - and I think tomorrow evening, I actually get to hang out with my husband, who I haven't been alone with in over a week, I think. That'll be nice.

who? what? huh??

I'm Feeling: overwhelmed
Background Noise: hustle-y bustle-y office sounds

I'm betting that my blogging will fall off here for awhile - this new job thing is busier than I remember... I didn't take a lunch hour today, and I haven't stopped "going" since I walked in at 7:50 this morning. Phew!

So far, it's excellent - I really like the people and the work (I think - doesn't feel like I've been working much... just showing up at work), and it's good to be busy with things I'm good at and enjoy. I'm trying to not be my usual self and look too far into the future and get all stressed out. Stay calm, Kate... calm. :)

I'll try to not slip too far behind - I know there are one or two people who check my blog... don't want to disappoint the faithful followers.

Love!

what - no pictures??

I'm Feeling: perplexed
Background Noise: True by Ryan Cabrera

So I can't get my computer to upload pictures... going to have to tackle that one next week, methinks.

New Job Observations:
1. I'm in that weird busy-but-not-busy mode you hit in a new position - lots to learn, but not much to DO yet, since you don't really know HOW to do anything.
2. People are very friendly - I'm learning who likes to pretend to be cranky, and who actually IS cranky (just kidding - so far, I think it's just pretending)
3. My office needs a little personalizing, but I really like it.
4. My feet hurt (I'm wearing real work shoes, instead of my usual summertime flip-flops... gotta make a good impression).
5. I'm excited about all the new things I'll get to do - I think I'll be a lot busier here than in PoliSci - which is good (but I'm nervous that I may have gotten lazy...)

Big weekend - pretty much as soon as I get home from work, we turn around and head to TimberWolf Lake - a place I love - to spend the weekend serving for a family-reunion event there. It should be awesome - I just hope that I can turn off work-brain and enjoy the moments.

Have a great weekend - what are you up to??

quick like a cat

It's been a whirlwind couple of days - I'm at my new desk, in my new office, at my new job. Very cool. I'll try to post tomorrow, then I'm gone for a long weekend - an excellent distraction from the professional - hullaballoo (is there such a thing?) I've been going through the past couple weeks.

Adios!!

bugs and chairs.

I'm Feeling: whelmed (not over or under... just whelmed)
Background Noise: gentle hum of a moderately functional AC unit

Tomorrow is my last day in the Department of Political Science - and I finally got a new desk chair. No, it's not quite like the one in the picture - but it's pretty, it reclines, rolls smoothly, and the fabric hasn't worn out anywhere yet. I'd be bummed, except that it makes a semi-obnoxious squeaky sound whenever you move. So that makes me feel better about leaving it behind... isn't that awfully grown-up and mature of me?

In other news, I have four mosquito bites on my ankles that are driving me absolutely bonkers.

mmmm...

I'm Feeling: full of tasty lunch
Background Noise: She by Elvis Costello

One of my favorite little places to eat in East Lansing is Flat's Grill. They are the home of the "flat sandwich" - which really means that you've got all kinds of sandwiches offered quesadilla-style - tortilla folded in half, with lots of yummy cheese. I just had lunch there - my sandwich, plus chips & salsa and cornbread, and I'm a very happy girl. It's one of those local places that's distinctly East Lansing - gotta love the home-grown goods.

Hooray for Fridays, also... although I'm not quite sure what I'll do with myself tonight. Mark is going to Detroit to a Lions game with his dad and brother. Brooks (our housemate for the year) is on vacation. The night is mine... I just have to decide what to do with it. Any suggestions?

when you're not strong...

This is what we did on the ride home from camp.

It was amazing. :D

healthy eating

I'm Feeling: like curling up with a good book
Background Noise: Down in the River to Pray by Alison Krauss

Last night, Mark and I went to our friend Jacob's 14th birthday party. He has a beautiful, huge, in-ground pool with a diving board, a chocolate lab named Max, a pet turtle named Alabama (Big Al), and there were Cheetos, burgers, hot dogs and ice cream sundaes.

I must say - the delights of birthday parties do not diminish with age. I had a blast playing in the pool with my teenage friends, and I ate a burger, a hot dog AND my whole sundae (on which I put every available topping, including 2 cherries). I even got a treat bag to take home with me. It was a fabulous way to spend Tuesday night, especially with all the things going on with work these days.

don't leave, all the plants will die!!

I'm Feeling: a little emotionally worn out about leave-ing (get it? LEAVES... I know, I'm reaching...)
Background Noise: It Doesn't Matter Anymore by Eva Cassidy

I've embarked upon the journey (entirely new to me) of quitting a full-time, professional position. It is so much harder than I thought it would be. Of course, it's big news, so everyone wants to talk about it. Some people are excited for me, some are disappointed that I'm leaving, some are hard to read, some are stand-offish. Mostly, it's nice that people care - but I never really realized how hard it would be to leave a job I've worked hard at, co-workers I've come to respect and care about, and students I've gotten to know and enjoy over the past two years.

Enough brooding. Suzanne put this in her blog, and I thought it would make a nice distraction for me.

The first player of this game starts with "5 weird things/habits about yourself". In the end you need to choose 5 people to be tagged and list their names. The people who get tagged need to write a blog about their 5 weird things/habits, as well as state this rule clearly, then tag 5 more victims. Don't forget to leave your victim a comment that says "you're tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. I separate all my silverware in the dishwasher. This makes putting them away SO much easier, it's not even funny. And, I have to have them all pointed up - except for sharp knives, obviously.

2. I don't care which way the toilet paper comes off the roll - I've realized human beings CAN adapt to either setting.

3. I (like Suzanne) make spreadsheets for fun. If I get a chance to use a couple of formulas and do some color-coding... even better.

4. I love to be organized, but when things get out of hand, I tend to like to cover them up and ignore them. Clean folded laundry that needs to be put away will stack up... the dishwasher will remain full of clean dishes, my flower beds become overgrown with weeds the size of a small child... It's not a great strategy, I'll admit.

5. I've become one of those people who won't leave the house without mascara on. I don't wear much makeup, but I've convinced myself I look like Frankenstein if my hair isn't washed and my eyelashes aren't coated with some sort of colored goo.  

my life is good

I'm Feeling: blessed, nauseated, calm, nervous and eager all at once (it's busy over here!)
Background Noise: none because my computer is being cranky

What an amazing week!! I got to spend 5 days with 14 absolutely hilarious, sweet, silly, and genuine middle school girls (some pictured on the left) at camp - we got wet and messy, stayed up til 2:30am braiding each other's hair, laughed a lot, went tubing, mountain biking, rock climbing, conquered the ropes course, screamed and sang and prayed and learned about Jesus. You can't ask for a better time. I could blog for weeks telling you silly stories - so if you want to hear some, just ask.

Also - Monday, right before we left for camp, I was offered a new position - working for the College of Business at MSU - and I accepted!! I'll be advising, teaching a freshman seminar on leadership, and helping to coordinate the C o B's new residential program for freshman. I'm super excited about the new job, and simultaneously feeling like puking because of quitting my current job and all the weird, random loose ends I have to tie up here. It's a really, really good move for me, but it's still hard to leave my current position. I pray that the next few weeks pass by quickly.

The job thing helps with my roller-coaster emotions - that was one of the big things that was up in the air that I couldn't control. Camp is always fabulous, because you get to forget about regular life for a week and just laugh and eat and praise God. Thanks for all your faithful prayers - hopefully I have lots of good stories to post soon!!