It's that time of my life

Proposal writing. Sometimes a bitch. But am I very odd if it's sometimes exhilarating?

I wrote 1600 words today.

I hope it's not all crap.

I also held office hours, cooked dinner, ate dinner as a family, played with my baby, did 1 load of laundry and went on a walk with my family.

I think I'll call it a day. A good day even.

Back to School

It's Back to School time here in the Valley, but that's not what I actually want to write about. Instead, I want to write about Mr. Random. He's thinking about going back to school. The truth is...he's not happy. He hasn't been happy. And it doesn't look like he'll be happy in his current job, no matter how long he sticks it out. Yeah, the pay is super nice. The benefits great. The company, really, treats him quite well. But...he's not happy.

What will help him to be happy? Hah. The hell if I know. I've been encouraging counseling. He's definitely in a funk, and to be honest, I'm not sure going back to school will be the solution. I think it will help. And if he's happier as a teacher, then gravy. I'm all for it. He'll get summers off, which could be of great benefit for our travel plans...you know...one day...when we have money and figure out how to travel with the little burden baby.

So, yeah, he'd be going back for a master's in education - with certification. So he could be a secondary teacher. The catch? Well, his undergraduate degree was in history...there seems to be small demand for history teachers. So, he'll likely take extra math classes on top of the master's course, to get ready to take certification in both history AND math, as there's more demand for the latter category.

And then...hopefully...get a job as a teacher. How does this fit in with my schooling? What's this mean for us financially? haha! Yeah. As far as fitting in with my schooling, it could work out pretty slick. The program he's looking at starts in January and takes roughly 17 months...so he'd graduate May 2012. I'm looking to graduate May 2013. Which means, he'd get his degree, then could teach for a year...and then we'd move! Where he'd probably have to get re-certified in whatever new state my career wings us to. Which, shouldn't be TOO bad. Then he could teach in the new state...and viola, he has his career by 30. He's starting to worry that he'll be turning 30 in 2 years...and well...still not be in a "career" he wants to stick to.

So, it sounds like a good plan. The financial aspect is a downer - we'd be living on student loans and my piddly stipend for the year and a half he's in school. Which, is definitely not ideal...but...there are worse options. I think.

Really, the big question in my mind - is if he'll be happy doing that as a career. Or if it's just another bandaid to get him through a year or two, and he'll still be miserable, and still not know what to "do with his life".

Well that was unexpected

Awhile ago I blogged about tough decisions, regarding whether or not to do a certain milestone required for my PhD program this summer. I personally came to the decision I would prefer to wait. I was concerned how my advisor would take it as she'd been pushing so hard for me to do it now. Surprisingly, she was fine with my decision. And said it was always my decision.

huh.

Well, I feel pretty good about the whole thing now. Because I feel I gave it an honest thought (never got so far as effort, really) and it just wasn't right. Which is fine. It's not like I just slacked or something. Anyway, so good news on that front!

Teaching is ALMOST done! I cannot wait. Seriously. I'm ready to finally reach summer!

Truly Living

It is well-documented (I think) that pregnant women experience a wide range of gastrointestinal discomforts.

Constipation - I have thankfully avoided thus far due to my high intake of multiple kinds of fruit.

Gas, however, is something I have had in ample supply. Usually it's when I'm at home, and I can ignore the cats' judgement and pass wind freely. Usually.

But let me tell you. You have not truly lived until you have stood in front of 13 silent community college students, ready for you to start your lecture - and suddenly and overwhelmingly, felt the urge. That, my friends, was an unpleasant moment.

Catching Up

Wow, I can't believe it's been nearly a month since I last posted! I've been busy for sure...but I just haven't felt inclined to blog. Weird.

Well, we did move, already. We're in the new apartment, but not yet settled. We still have a lot of STUFF. And I feel like we got rid of so much! We could probably get rid of more...

I am convinced I'm feeling the baby move - I won't admit it yet to real life folk beyond Mr. Random, but there's no way what I'm feeling is gas. I'm pretty sure most IRL peoples would be skeptical though, and I don't feel like dealing with that.

It's weird, because I still don't 100% believe it's real, if that makes any sense. It's just so...strange! And unexpected! And I have sooo much to do between now and when the baby is due. So much. I feel like I can't think about anything else.

And, I'm feeling way burnt out. This past week was spring break, which I spent moving and trying to settle our stuff into the apartment. I got about 1% of my school work To-Do list done. Which, is not at all good. And yet, when I sit down to work on more of the list...I just feel tired. And grumpy. I just don't want to! I know part of that is just feeling overwhelmed, and I need to just break things down, schedule things in small chunks, and just chip away at everything. But I keep seeing the big picture of EVERYTHING I need to do and I get frustrated.

Mr. Random and I are having a "spat" over the baby's room. It's fairly good natured really...but I think we're both annoyed with the other. Basically, he wants to keep our QUEEN SIZED guest bed. In the baby's room. I, HOWEVER, do not think it will FIT with what I want in the baby's room. I want a crib. A dresser with a changing pad on top. And a glider/rocker/chair dealy. PERFECTLY REASONABLE, no? And he told me ages ago when I was plotting nursery schemes that nurseries are for the mothers, not the babies, because you could put a baby in a drawer and it wouldn't care. Well, fine, I can accept that. But now, when I'm starting to get my nesting on, he's going and mucking up my nursery! Ugh. I told him that, pretty much those exact words, and he said, well, that may be, but this is also a marriage, which means there has to be compromise. Hmph. Hard to argue with that. I've been saying I'll reserve judgement until we start putting the baby furniture in there, but we finally put the bed down in a corner, and I just don't think it's going to fit!! It's just not! I told him this, and he was all, sure it will, the crib goes here, and he holds his arms out about 3 feet wide. Really dear? You think that's all the space the crib will take? He has no idea...

But, the bed can stay put for now. My parents are coming in April, so it'll be good to have it for them, and I had always figured we'd keep it until after they left. We'll likely be getting the crib that weekend as well, so we can start putting stuff in there and seeing just who is right about this little situation.