Another Year Over

Well, after a couple of weeks off (sorta), I find myself rested up, with some long-overdue tasks completed. I am still behind on my dissertation work, but I have cleared a lot of thorns from my side. It's been a good holiday season. I'm broke as heck, but I guess that's about the norm for me.

Murph is home, at least for the baby's arrival; we have to do some more paperwork to keep him for longer. However, that isn't what we have been concentrating on - time for that fun later. For now, it's just nice to share our time together and enjoy the baby preparations. Declan continues to grow and kick the snot out of me, so I guess all is well there. The doctor is happy, so there's no major worries on that front.

So, 2007 has been quite a year, huh? On January 10, I celebrate my first wedding anniversary (trippy). (We are 32 weeks into a pregnancy, and about 50 weeks into a marriage - just for the record.) I made some new friends that seem to be sticking around, and have been sure to spend more time with some old favourites. I have also increased contact with family, which is always a good thing. My health has gotten a lot more much-needed attention, including a major reduction in vices and self-abusive sleep patterns. I have been keeping the apartment cleaner, and generally keeping my eye on the prize much more efficiently.

This past year, I also passed my two doctoral exams, won a Faculty of Arts award, defended my dissertation proposal, had my proposal accepted, started writing the thing, finalized a publication (due out in May), and presented at four conferences. I also won a research award from Brandeis, and got a pretty awesome little job for extra cash. Sure, student loans screwed me, and I also got turned down for some things I applied for, but, in the final tally, it was a good year, professionally.

In retrospect, it's been a pretty good year - much better than I figured on at times. All in all, I think my resolutions for 2007 have been the most ass-kicked set of resolutions I have ever had. Not too bad, at all.

I am considering resolutions for 2008, but, I guess, the main concerns are the baby and the dissertation, and keeping Murph here where he is needed. Money and such things are always targets on resolution lists, but they never come close to those things that really matter - family and doing my job.

In sum, I am happy. I want that to continue. That's the main resolution.

I wish you all the best for the New Year!

Early + Cold = Not a Happy Me

I am off in the snow to catch my morning bus so I can proctor an exam this morning. Surely, making kids write this early in winter is an evil act... I, for one, can only feel the urge to puke at this time of the morning, especially when faced with the fun of being up and about, and freezing.

Oh well - Only today and tomorrow, and finals are over for another term. And then you can bet your butt I am staying inside for a week or so of snuggly sanity-saving stillness.

Hope all is well out there - Stay warm!

Tired

It seemed like a very good idea to stay up until 3am last night assembling a stroller... This morning at 6am, when I had to get up for work, I was rethinking the decision.

Oh well, two days without reason to travel to campus coming up... That soothes.

OK - The News

Sorry about the recent silence, but sometimes blogging falls behind as a priority. Tuesday night, Murph made it to Canada, despite the weather and the cranky border guards. He has a three month permit, which will allow us to go to the next step in citizenship applications, and will allow him to be here for the birth.

So, you can understand that, between him and marking and proctoring for finals, I have been a bit busy. Hopefully in a week or so things will calm down a bit and I can spend a bit more TLC on this poor blog.

Until then... YAY!

News Bulletin Pending...

Stay tuned... I might be ready to announce something big in a few hours. Still holding my breath right now, though.

More at 11.

Going In

I will be entering a no-comp zone for 13.5 hours today as I pull a marathon proctoring shift(s). I'm taking my marking, though, and I ain't leaving until it's done.

Last night, though, my Jesus nightlight melted under the awesome power of the dollar store bulb I got for it. His face fell off. Do you think it's an omen?

We shall see.

GRRR

I think Western Union can get in line behind UPS.

BIG FROWNIE FOR BOTH OF THEM!

:(

Feel the wrath of THAT!

Still Alive

Working, trying to get some stuff done before break.

No Jinxes!

Got two pieces of good news this week, but I don't really want to jinx myself by spilling. I am just biding my time until I know things are for-sure-for-sure.

Happy Hanukkah!

UPS Can Suck My Nuts

Why do they have to put the UPS pick-up depot out in the middle of nowhere? If I had a car, why would I need things delivered to me?

Screw you, UPS.

How Does That Work?

What is the economic system that university officials and faculty work on that says they can give me nearly no funding and then still urge me to travel for "networking" purposes? Am I missing something, or should I just sell a freaking kidney?

Listen to this plainly, folks: No money equals HOLLY CAN'T GO.

Holly can barely pay her rent.