Getting a word in edgewise
Rockstar!
I got what I asked for (well, the exact amount I asked for as the 4th item on my list). My salary will be congruent to what it was immediately after graduating from undergrad. They noted in their letter that I really impressed them during my internship. Considering it was a 13% salary increase, I guess so. =)
[ETA: Mad Props to WAA for encouraging me to do this]
Hey all,
It’s my last semester, but better late than never, I suppose. I’m working on my writing, I’ve never been impressed with it, and I intend to post everything I turn in to lj. I’m aware most of you don’t find this particularly interesting. But for those who want to read more, and especially for those who want to offer helpful feedback on my writing, please comment & let me know.
Ciao.
(My new academic motto: structure, not stress)
I still want to do a transcontinental bikeride.
I do not imagine that there will ever be a better time to do it than between grad school & employment. However, doing it will cost large sums ($3-4k) between bike, lodging, food, tent, etc, that I do not expect to have. Then there’s the opportunity cost of about $3.5k per month that I’m not working.
My original plan was to do it over the course of three months, occasionally staying with friends in places like Boston, Burlington, Zanesville, London KY, Chicago, Denver, etc, etc. On further reflection, I think this idea is probably not a good idea. Not a three month solo trip with little prep and meager finances. I do still feel the pull, but I think it’s something I’ll build up to, rather than jumping in with both feet. For instance, perhaps instead of taking greyhound or amtrak between minneapolis and chicago, I’ll bike. We’ll see how it all goes. I’ve become quite a fan of moving by mail though.
I made it to the gym for the first time in months. Stretching (I’ve lost flexibility) and cardio only, but still, woo! Heart rate made it up to 179. 400 calories. Half an hour. I wonder if I’m overdoing it? I need my iPod back in action.
WAA earned her title again today. I went in to talk with her about my academic performance, and she affirmed and agreed with everything I had to say. It was refreshing. She agreed that my final paper blew, that my weekly papers were somewhat slapdash (She also said she was just glad I got it in). But she said that in every other aspect of the course, most pointedly, discussion, I was the top of the game. She kept reiterating that I’m a very smart person, very likeable, and eloquent when speaking. She said I needed to get out of school and go to the GAO. That working on teams would help, and people would compensate for my writing skills if I brought my other skills to the table, and that my skills would improve with practice. “You made it through CMU, you’ll make it through here.” I was feeling pretty bad about the class as a whole, but she reminded me that it was a discussion class, so screwing up the writing is not so bad. Plus, this whole academic situation of solo writing is not the way the real world works.
I’m going to miss her, and I barely know her. =)
I’ve not been reading or writing in my lj. That’s unusual for me. Even when I’m not writing, I’m typically reading. Not sure what’s up with that. I got rid of the beard, and trimmed the hair back down so that I look like a boot camp recruit. I’m getting my YWCA membership this evening and working out for the first time in a very long time.
The holidays are usually a time of disconnection for me. Nearly everyone else has other plans for the holidays, but I don’t. It leaves me introspective. As did visiting the extended family. Thoughts and examinations on where I am and where I want to be.
I opened salary negotiations with the GAO today. The person I spoke with said they were inflexible on vacation time (not a surprise) but they might give me money. You know, that’s like 4th on the list of things I’d like to negotiate. 1st being the team(s) I’d be working on, 2nd being location, 3rd being time off.
I have to prepare a little “why you should offer me more money” email. Why am I so filled with ambivalence?
In other, more time wasting news, I bought a hat that makes me feel like I ought to go out and hunt something, but it keeps my ears warm, my final fantasy character has made tremendous progress, I’m really liking the old firefly episodes and I think my tichu game is improving. I made a grand tichu (basically a “they’re 135 from victory and we’re like 600 points below them, I don’t care what my cards are” grand tichu) and my partner went out second today. Sadly, we still lost, but that took it from “humiliating defeat” to “respectable match”.
Grades last semester: two I’s, two B’s.
My holiday as well as the day before and day after were mostly about me alone. And I liked that. It was a good contrast to what my life has been like of late.