New Job

I will be starting a new job in June.  I'll tell you more about it then.  It doesn't quite seem real yet.  Sometimes I think about what I would be if I wasn't a teacher.  I would be a biologist or a pediatric neurosurgeon.  What would you be if you could change careers?

Thrift Store Finds

A friend and I went thrift store trolling today.  We felt like big adults out in the middle of the day!  I got two vintage purses, 2 skirts, 3 pair of pants, a dress that I'm going to convert to a top, and 2 paperbacks for $38.  I have to go back to one store tomorrow because it's half price day!  No picts to show since I can't figure out how to get them on here from my phone.  I'll have to bring my camera home from school next week.

Fabric

I decided to do something productive with my Spring Break.  This blog has gotten me all fired up.  Of course, sweet Jillian is about 3 times smaller than I am and I could almost be her mother, buuuttt....I thought:  I can do that.  So off to the secondhand store I went.  No great finds for $1.  This specific shop has half price Wednesdays, so I'll be going back.

Next I went to Hancock Fabric.  Dust off the ol' sewing machine.  Patterns on sale for 99 cents, a good start.  Then I found this fabulous fabric!  $19.99 a yard.  Well, my fat self needs at least 2 yards to make anything fun, so that idea went down the tubes, as well.  Oh well, back home now.  I have enough unfinished projects here to keep me busy.

Ironic

Well, I logged on to my blog today for the first time in over 2 years.  Wow.  What is ironic is that the post before last was titled "Post Ph.D."  I am now post Ph.D.  I didn't earn my Ph.D.  It beat me.  I quit.  I'm not bitter (read sarcastically, please).  I failed my General Exams.  I had a 4.0 GPA, but suddenly my work wasn't good enough. It was this time last year that I was receiving this news.  I was devastated.   I had given these people blood, sweat, tears, and three years of my life. I could go on and on.

So, what have I done with my year of freedom?  Discovered Big Bang Theory.  And True Blood.  And Game of Thrones.  And Dexter.  And the Walking Dead.  Played Settlers of Catan.  And Ticket to Ride. And Zombie Flux.  I've re-discovered crochet and knitting.  I've made a couple of quilts.  I've painted lots of pictures.  I am teaching children with moderate intellectual disabilities now.  I love them.  They keep me on my toes.  I had surgery.  I've lost ten pounds.

So, what have you guys been up to?

Snowing Again

It's been snowing again all day. Fourth snow day. I guess summer is canceled.
It is beautiful, though without the 45 mph winds making it blizzard conditions.
I have gotten a lot of work done, but not today. I decided to try out the Elliptical even with my broken toe. Worked out well!
I'm considering getting a jigsaw puzzle out, but I still have lots of work I could do.
We've been having movie night every night. I really enjoyed Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men. Undercover Brother was pretty funny, too.
What are your favorite movies?

Post Ph.D.

I love being in school. Reading. Researching. Writing papers. I do. I know, I'm a nerd.
But some days, I can't help but wondering what I'm going to do with all the time I have when I graduate.
Thoughts:
1. Blog again! I mean regularly.
2. Read blogs again.
3. Quilt again. I want to make this and this. Maybe I'll even finish my Dear Jane!
4. Learn to applique. I want to make this and this.
5. Wow, and what about this and this!?
6. Play my cello again.
7. Play my guitar again.
8. Sit around and watch all the House episodes without feeling guilty.
9. Really clean my house.
10. Nothing.

Random Thoughts

Hi friends! News: I have a broken foot. Ok, it's my toe, but it's at the base of my toe by the ball of my foot. I wish I had some great story like I was chasing a burglar or saving a child from being hit by a bus or roundhouse kicking my hubby, but no. I walked into the night stand.
I had crutches for a week, but fortunately I now have a walking shoe. Hurts and I'm still slow, but muuuch better than crutches.

We're snowed in. It's 10 degrees. Not used to this like Natalie probably is. Second day with no school. I don't know what the main streets look like, but the neighborhood streets are by no means clear. Hubby made it out in the FJ. I don't think my Mini would make it.

I found a pair of cute shoes online that I'm thinking about getting. I guess I should wait until I can wear them on both feet. These are awesome, too!

Remember I said it was 10? Well, the wind chill is -11. The dog next door has been outside all day. I probably ought to call animal welfare.

I have written an IRB, read two chapters, re-written my class syllabus, and found numerous articles that will help me with my research.