Why does this take so long?

I am in the process of applying for my first faculty position and the application process is for the most part all online. Except the recommendation part. They say that you can add them online, but I have not figured out how to do that, so I asked my three ladies to mail them directly.

I posted my resume and CV right away, but this cover letter thing is kicking my ass. Mostly because I have to include a personal statement AND teaching philosophy within the letter.

Yeah, butt kicker.

So, today I was in my pajamas on the couch re-writing my cover letter based on the excellent comments of Sarah Raskin. I pretty much threw out much of the meat of the letter and started over. I will hopefully finish draft 2 tomorrow and then I can send it to Trent Blanton.

Sigh.

I did take a few breaks to eat and then this evening I got dressed and out of the house to head to The Albatross for trivia. I nursed one beer and then had a soda water since I only had $7 to spend, but I am glad that I didn't drink more since I have not been all that active.

I took a yoga class on Saturday that kicked my ass and am seriously considering taking a 200 hour yoga certification course. It's 5 months long - from January through May. The price is decent and it's on Sundays and ever other Saturday.

I am a little munchie right about now, but I think I will suck it up and just go to bed. There's Viennetta in the freezer calling my name, but I will stick my fingers in my ears and tune it out.

In the meantime, I must be grateful for something. Here's the list...

1. friends who kick ass at trivia - that be you Kati Voluntine

2. good yoga teachers

3. Sarah Raskin, for giving me feedback on my letter

4. my parents for being super supportive

5. window screens - and the lovely weather in berkeley today

More thanks!

After getting a number of texts this morning and seeing all of the Thanksgiving status updates, I really wanted to keep things quiet. I don't need to shout my thanks in a mass way. Sure, adding it to my blog is not so "quiet," but it's certainly not as read as all things Facebook and Twitter.

Today, I am going to see my crazy aunt and her new boyfriend and his daughter-in-law's family. For the time being, I am sitting on the couch watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I read last year's post and surprisingly enough really don't miss being in NY much. But gosh, what a different time it was last year.

The weather is lovely here in Berkeley, and the weather in NY is kinda similar. Sunny in the mid 50s. I will probably do a bit of clean up before I take a shower and head to Mill Valley. But in honor of the day and my daily practice. Here are my gratitudes:

1. good friends, namely Chris Aquino who delivered a nice happy birthday gift for me last night

2. a comfortable place to live

3. job possibilities coming

4. an almost healed ankle

5. 2 official blog followers - my friends Shane Vickers and Randy Symank

Happy Thanksgiving!

G is for Gratitude

Have a nice full day today which is a little hard on little sleep from crazy cat hacking and irritable cramps. However, I realized that I did not post gratitudes in my last two posts. I have also not been good about drinking water and don't even get me started on flossing.

Here's to a little nippity nap before I head over to The Beat and learn the front desk in order to do their work study.

Things for which I am grateful:

1. pleasant weather

2. supportive friends - most recently old friend, Andy Smith

3. people that know how to bake - and share the fruits of their labors

4. wifi

5. a healing ankle and a good physical therapist

Monday without a Plan

I went out with my buddy Praba on Saturday night. We picked up two of her close friends and went into the Mission to an art gallery benefit. Since last week was a no (or light) spend week I looked a pretty art and smiled at those that could pay $1000 for an auctioned piece right now. After that we went to a birthday party and after Praba drank a little much after being sick she was down for the count. After some political conversation and silly "exercises" I finally got a ride back to Praba's at 4:30AM.

Yes, folks, it's been a long time since I was out that late. Even on Halloween I was asleep by then.

Needless to say it completely screwed up my sleep schedule. Asleep by 5AM, up to feed the cats at 7:30PM, back to bed and up at 1PM. 1PM! Who am I Tony Shayne?

Kidding.

So, last night, good luck getting into bed before 2AM. I could have, but I got the munchies at midnight after seeing Ara's show at ODC. So, I had a little Thai food from Tuk Tuk and watched the Next Iron Chef - then Chopped. Then bed!

So this morning, it was a little difficult to wake up for my CalShakes audition. I did and the bike ride over there was good for the body and soul. My audition was okay. It took me a while to get in. I started with my Twelfth Night ring speech and I couldn't get the funny flowing. I did use the frustration as I jumped into the Lady Anne from Richard III, so at least I ended on a good note.

And now, that leaves the rest of my Monday open. I think there is a magnet on my butt that finds it's match on the couch, for I find myself here quite a lot. Maybe it's because the living room is one of the cleaner rooms in the house and my bedroom is a mess.

Yes, I could clean today.

Okay, first breakfast and THEN cleaning.

What about the Risk?

yeah, i forgot about that, too. the fact that i have avoided risk and played it safe lately. okay, maybe i am healing and needed a little break, but the proactivity is lacking.

i think about this as i apply for my first faculty position and i'm struggling with the cover letter.

and then here's the end of today's google horoscope...

"Don't settle on being average now; you can accomplish more if you dare to reach for the stars."

sigh.

i mean, here i come.

bitches!

Well, he's got...

high expectations.

Or maybe that's just me. I have high expectations.

There I said it.

When people or situations disappointed me in years past, I got very angry. Usually this was around friendship. So, once I realized that my standards were unreasonable, I eased up. It was very freeing.

It has been a very difficult transition for me moving from Davis to Berkeley. Mostly because I could not get a routine started. And while I am not a 9 to 5 kinda gal, I do like repetition. The collegiate schedule was ideal. Mondays and Wednesdays were the same and Tuesday and Thursday were something different.

But anyway, expectations.

While I have not gotten angry when expectations have not been met, there is still disappointment. I have been a little quiet for the last few weeks. I blamed it in an earlier post on others not caring. However, that's not true. That's not it at all. I stand my the opinion that people are busy, but it has nothing to do with not caring. People just need a little jog. A little nudge. A phone call.

So, whoever said a few months ago (and another who said it last week) you are absolutely correct. I need to be more proactive. I need to go out of my way and do more. I need to at times be relentless. I need to let go of expectations.

Gratitudes:

1. friends in Davis

2. a nice ride

3. kind former students

4. enough complimentary ingredients to make a soup

5. abc full episode player (yes, I'm caught up on Grey's Anatomy!)

Tick, tock

I got home from Christine's house at 11:15PM and just had to watch the Top Chef that I recorded on DVR. Midway through I got a little peckish and made a little snack that I have been doing fairly regularly - a flour tortilla with sabra spicy hummus with some fresh spinach. Um, yummy!

It's now 12:26AM and I would love to go to sleep, but with a belly doing it's digestive thing, I feel like I need to wait. I am not sure if my mother ever said anything about not going to sleep on a full stomach, but I do feel that there is some maternal figure sitting on my shoulder right now. So yes, I'll wait.

I have been doing pretty good about updating my blog recently and with the friends checking in, I also had two others contacting me about reading my blog. I really have been writing just for me, however, it's nice to see that others are engaged to read along. It's been a while since I thought I may make a buck on my blog, but I am glad that my saga is worthy of taking a few minutes out of some uber busy days.

I'm heading to Davis tomorrow afternoon to catch up with friends and see the Granada offerings for this quarter. I know I will be spending some moolah tomorrow, but hopefully unemployment will come in next week.

Gratitudes:

1. friends with jobs who buy groceries for dinner

2. a yoga pass - on class 2 of 3

3. the Food Network

4. loving kitties

5. the hot water bottle christine gave me almost 2 years ago