What's the deal?

Have you ever woken up from a dream just mad? I've woken up crying before. I've woken up smiling. I've even woken myself up laughing, but I don't remember waking up mad...at least while remembering my dream. This morning? Yep, I'm just mad.

I guess Adam Levine (the lead singer of Maroon 5) will do that to you.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't Adam's fault. Yes, we are on a first name basis now. But the dude came and took the draft of my almost finished master's thesis away because apparently my topic was too inflammatory.

A. Why was Adam Levine doing that...or even in my dream?
and 2. I've finished my thesis. Yep. Signed, sealed, sent to the printers and I have the diploma. So why was I dreaming about it?

Of course I was too stunned at what was going on to say anything when Adam took the thesis, and all of my notes, away. I'm not sure if it was the fact my thesis topic was too controversial, Adam Levine was in my dream, or that he taught at my university (Information Systems Technology -- don't ask because I don't know).

He did eventually give it back, but when he did I told him, "Thank you Adam, but I don't really like you right now. I know you are only the messenger, but I really don't like you right now." He looked sad, but I was still mad.

All in all it turned out well, and I had a kickin' soundtrack to go with this dream, but now I'm worried about Adam.

We didn't leave the dream world on the best of terms. Do you think he'll ever get over it?

Slack -Attack!

Alright, I will fully admit that I have been slacking in the "keep the blog updated...or at least post once a month" department. I could say I was busy, but that would be a lie. I could say I didn't have much to post about, but that's a poor excuse since I've written about such mundane things as letters sticking on my keyboard. Yep, no excuses.

Why haven't I written then? Laziness. Yep, I'm lazy. Or rather, when I get home I am lazy and don't want to do anything more than watch Hulu.com, let Pinterest suck hours of my life away, or sleep. Mostly the first two and occasionally the third.

The biggest news I have to share is that this past week was the first week of classes...and I'm NOT the student! Yay! Admittedly it's a huge adjustment for me because I seem to keep wondering when I should start reading my assignments and/or start working on a paper. How about half past NEVER! Or half past not right now?

So I am under a nine month contract at Washington State University (WSU) where, this semester, I teach three English 101 Introductory Writing courses and one English 402 Business and Technical Writing course. I have to say that the juxtaposition between my 402 juniors and seniors and 101 freshmen is hilarious to me. Seeing their attitudes, how they approach homework and assignments, and participate in class is really interesting. I already have my 402 class presenting on Monday and my 101 students don't have anything due until Thursday...and that's just a really rough draft!

Either way, I actually enjoy both classes and feel lucky that I have the two different ones to teach. It's nice to have a break and not teach the same thing four times in a row in the same day...three is my limit!

So as my semester continues I'm sure I'll have anecdotes to share with you, but here's my first one:

I went to the WSU campus the Sunday before classes began so I could see where my classrooms were and I was amazed by how many students were also doing the same thing. I felt like I was a prospective high school freshman again getting ready to try and traverse the huge high school campus...wondering if I was going to be late to classes and wondering how mean the teachers were going to be.

Now I'm the teacher....hehehe!

Ramble...Rumble...Mumble

Yeah, I don't know what I'm going to say either, except I've noticed that I am having more difficulty striking the letter "A" when I type on my computer keyboard lately. Seriously? I just had to retype the word "lately" three times because each time I forgot to strike, or didn't hit hard enough, the letter "A". I think I need to work on strengthening my left pinky finger.


I could blme (yes, I'm just going to say screw it from now on if I type the "A" or not. It's gonna be hit and miss so I hope you can understand my mumbling...) the lack of "A"s on the fact that I am not a lefty, but that wouldn't be entirely true. I've just recently noticed this problem, so tht's not to blame. Perhaps it's lzyness? I did, after all just finish my mster's program, so it could be that. It's not really text-speak, so that's not to blme. But as I'm typing this posting I am noticing that there seems to be a bit of  lg (lag) when I think I strike the "A" key and when the cursor moves on my screen.

Yep, that sounds right. Let's blme it on the keyboard. I am, after all, perfect, so why wouldn't it be modern technology's fult.

I LIKE IT!

Job Hunting=Looking for Bigfoot

Seriously? Since when did job hunting become similar to looking for Bigfoot?

A job hunter enters the forest of job advertisements/postings/etc. looking for areas of possible jobs (or Bigfoot sightings). You check out the job (what are the requirements, job description, etc.), circle it a few times so see if the job is a likely fit, and then blast it with a bevy of documents (resume/vita, letter of application, references, letters of recommendation, teaching philosophy, or whatever other document the list asks for)!

And then? Well, then the waiting game begins. Maybe YOUR barrage of qualifications scared the job from its hiding place and you get a face-to-face sighting/interview of the elusive job. But then again, maybe you were wrong and your attempt is met with silence.

If you are lucky to get an interview landing the exclusive/job isn't a sure thing. Maybe your camera's flash wasn't working or your batteries dies on your digital camera. Who knows? Any one of a number of things could go wrong and then you're back to the drawing board again.

I'm at that point right now, but I have a feeling that my job hunt may start looking like shooting a shotgun into a barrel of fish. Something's gotta make contact!  :)
Okay, so maybe my description isn't really that apt because I did get two job offers, but they weren't for jobs I can see making a career. I took a part-time summer position at the University of Idaho as an office worker in their Distance Learning program in hopes that when fall rolls around I'll have a teaching job lined up (we'll see). I was also offered a full time office position at WSU in the Athletic Department, which I think would have been wonderful because everyone I talked to was great, but ultimately wasn't where I wanted to end up (and the pay was crummy).

So I'm still searching for the elusive Bigfoot teaching job, but at least I have a part-time distraction for now.

I'm sorry. I said I was sorry! -sheesh-

My apologies for not posting sooner. I know, I know...

Heaven knows I have enough time. I graduated just a little over two weeks ago and I'm unemployed. Unemployed = a lot of free time = boredom and Patty going cRaZy!!! In case you didn't read the earlier post (think months ago) when I stated I don't do nothing very well--well, it's true and I've got proof!

I did yard work...YARD WORK...on purpose! I always dodge the outside stuff unless I have to (and by "have to" I mean my parents made me when I lived at home or my wimpy sister says she has "allergies" and can't mow her own lawn. Or pick up dog poop. Or...wait a minute...I think I got the shaft there. Since when does dog poop have allergens? *Okay Becca, you outsmarted me!*)

I went to Becca's house and helped her (in a tiny way) get her house ready to sell and then I rushed home for a job interview. "How's that going?" you ask...not too well. I've sent out dozens of resumes, only had three scheduled job interviews -- one of which rescheduled...and then rescheduled again indefinitely but stated they hoped I wasn't "snatched up" (their words) by the time they reschedule..again. Sometime. In the near future. Um, okay? And the other two interviews wound up offering the position to other people.

So me? Still sending out resumes, filling out applications, and my freak-out-o-meter is climbing. I just need to keep telling myself that it's only been two weeks and I definitely have someplace to live until July 31st (until my lease ends). After that? Well, your guess is as good as mine.

On the up side, I did get a response to an application I filled out yesterday and they should be calling me today to possibly set up an interview (I'll believe it when I hear it) today. I filled out the application almost a month ago, so that gives me hope that the other positions I've applied for may just be taking some time. I will admit I'm a bit impatient at times and I have to realize everyone else's timeline isn't the same as mine.

So guess what I'm learning this summer? Nope, not more rhetoric or literature, I'm learning patience...because apparently you can't have enough of that! So here's for learning patience...and having the patience to go through the mounds of papers I've accumulated in two years as I start packing up. Thank heavens for recycling!