Saturday, April 25, 2009

Limbo, Limbo, Limbo

Don't you just love to limbo? I know I do. I love the raucous music, laughter from the crowd, and insecurity of whether or not I'll make it under the bar one more time or fall flat on my back in front of everyone. Hmmm... is limbo really all that much fun? To be honest, not really. I rue the day Chubby Checker released his song, "Limbo Rock".

Now, the limbo is fun for a little while, but it eventually gets old, and that's where I'm at. I will admit I liked the two or so weeks after graduating where I didn't really have anywhere I had to go or anything I had to do, but I'm bored!

By mutual decision between the Manager and myself, I decided not to return to Alaska this year and work because they deserve someone who can work longer than 2 1/2 months for them...among other reasons. So I went looking for another job and I interviewed for one in Moscow, ID, but I was gobsmacked when I didn't get it. -sigh- So now I'm scrambling looking for another job for the summer. I don't feel right applying for a job and only being around for 3 months or so, so I've applied to Substitute Teach as well as work for a Temp Agency. We'll see how those go...

Limbo Rock by Chubby Checker

Every limbo boy and girl
All around the limbo world
Gonna do the limbo rock
All around the limbo clock
Jack be limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go unda limbo stick
All around the limbo clock
Hey, let's do the limbo rock

Limbo lower now
Limbo lower now
How low can you go

First you spread your limbo feet
Then you move to limbo beat
Limbo ankolimboneee,
Bend back like a limbo tree
Jack be limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go unda limbo stick
All around the limbo clock
Hey, let's do the limbo rock

la la la etc (instead of instrumental break)

Get yourself a limbo girl
Give that chic a limbo whirl
There's a limbo moon above
You will fall in limbo love
Jack be limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go unda limbo stick
All around the limbo clock
Hey, let's do the limbo rock

Don't move that limbo bar
You'll be a limbo star
How low can you go

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

A Stay-at-home Mom with no Kids!

Soooo....I've officially signed up for my Graduate classes for the fall. -sigh- It's real! Another two years of schooling and then I'll have to decide about pursuing my PhD after Grad School or working a bit and then getting it. Decisions, decisions, but I have a couple more years until I have to make that one.

Referring back to the title of this blog, for the past week I've felt a bit like a stay-at-home mom who has no kids. Becca went to visit Susan and her new baby girl last week so I had the "opportunity" to dog-sit (oh, and pack, and clean, and sort through my stuff, and...well, you get the idea). Honestly, I don't mind the dogs and it helps that I'm definitely more a "dog person" than cat, but it did get a bit frustrating at the end of the week when the dogs were just following me around the house. Sheesh! Go outside and play, or pee, on something already!

I've decided to postpone my visit to Susan, by a week, to help acclimate another dog into Becca's wild pack (three and counting!). Now there are two labs (one chocolate and one black), and a boxer to contend with. The introduction was a little touch and go for a bit as Sage, the chocolate lab, wanted to go all dominant on Ash, the new black lab, but it all worked out in the end. The dogs spent a nice day on Sunday playing tag in the backyard sprinkler and wrestling.

Me? I'm working on my tan as I work in the yard and I live in limbo with half of my stuff packed and waiting to hear if I have a job for the summer. Hopefully I'll know soon and I can get on with my plans.

This week has really shown me how I like to be constantly on the go or doing something. I go, go, go all day and often wonder what I accomplished. Luckily I have Becca as a sounding board at the end of the day and we talk about what we did and, when I start listing things off, I surprise myself with the list of tasks completed. Hmmm...maybe that's why sometimes I like to make lists and cross things off, because then I get to have a tangible accounting of what I've done.

Sorry, no deep thoughts in this post, just disjointed recollections. Here's another one...I love the weather we're having this week! Sunshine and 60-degrees. Nearly perfect! Mother Nature, keep it coming.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

And there you have it folks...

...a whirling dervish with no purpose and/or direction...or does it?

Whirling Dervish (wurl-ing dur-vish) n. 1. A mystical
dancer who stands between the material and cosmic
worlds. His dance is part of a sacred ceremony
in which the dervish rotates in a precise rhythm.
He represents the earth revolving on its axis while
orbiting the sun. The purpose of the ritual whirling
is for the dervish to empty himself of all distracting
thoughts, placing him in trance; released from
his body he conquers dizziness.

I'm homeless. That's how I'd love to start this entry, but it's not true. I have a family that loves me (and luckily a number of sisters that tolerate me) and a general direction, but nothing clear-cut. Right now I'm working on moving out of Becca's house and then spending some time with Susan (and the new baby) for a few weeks. Will I be a help or a hindrance to her? Time will tell.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm putting off being an adult and indulging in a "Peter Pan" syndrome. Okay, so I worked 8 years for a police department and then decided to go back to school, but am I hiding from the decisions adults make? Hmmm...that may be a deep topic for another time.

What I do know is that I will be getting my M.A. in English at the University of Idaho (Moscow, ID) in the fall. Additionally, I'll have the pleasure of warping young freshman minds as I teach a few courses of Composition/Literature. He. He. He.

I have to admit, while I initially considered U of I as my fallback school, everything has come together to make it the right place for me. I'll be closer to my family, back near friends I miss, scenery I love (whitewater rafting anyone?), and being one step closer to my goal of teaching college English.

Because of scheduling conflicts, I won't be able to return to Alaska this summer. I'm holding out hope for next summer. I was looking forward to some more sea kayaking, trying some ice climbing (am I weird to like the thought of climbing with a pick and crampons on my feet?), and also getting some nice whitewater kayaking in. Wow! I sound a little bit like an adventurer. At least I won't be dodging grizzlies this summer!

Oh, yeah. I graduate tomorrow from BYU-I. Yeah! No more taking classes I am not interested in (anything to do with advertising, math, or science). I am looking forward to meeting my newest niece, as soon as Susan has her. Will that be number 20 or 21? Maybe it's #23. I've lost count!!!