Thinking about graduate degrees
Jan 2, 2009 work work work
I’ve been thinking about graduate school for awhile now. Just thinking, mind you, because I have a ludicrous amount of debt from graduating with a sociology degree from a sub-standard state university in a state which was not my residence (I moved to Oregon to go to school). Even though I had a full scholarship the last year, the full scholarship was to cover the cost if one was a resident and this one was not so I still had massive loans my senior year. I am still paying them off. I may be paying them off FOREVER. Noah and Madison may be paying them off after I’m gone (not really — I have insurance).
Despite this, I’ve been thinking about graduate school because theoretically I could get someone else to pay for graduate school the way I theoretically got my last year at Portland State covered. But I’m just thinking about it and googling a bit.
I know it’s stupid but I want an MFA (in creative nonfiction) so I can teach. I know this is stupid because MFAs are a dime a dozen and it’s a whole lot of money and time and angst (workshopping!) for no guarantees after but I’m still kinda interested. Because one of the things I learned about myself this last year is that I really like teaching and I’d really like to teach more and I’d rather teach adults than kids.
I don’t want in on academia, (which is good because I think I’m too old to even think about trying to hustle my way on the tenure track). I’d just like to teach now and then here and there. I looked briefly at getting an MEd in adult education and maybe I ought to consider that a little more except that, of course, I’m not considering anything because I need to make money and I don’t see how I could go to school AND try to get a TA position to pay for school AND make money. But you know, I’m thinking about it. I’m open to the possibilities.
And I’m going to think more about workshops because, man, do I like leading them.
Tags: angst, careers, creative, creative nonfiction, education, graduate school, Madison, MFA, money, Noah, Portland, Workshop, workshops
A nice way to ring in the new year
Jan 1, 2009 Friends
We went to a party last night where we only knew the hosts but ended up having a great time and stayed ’til after the new year. Catherine, the host, gave me the moomin book pictured here, which was a delicious surprise let me tell YOU! Because you guys all know I’m all about the moomins, especially selfish Little My and creative Snufkin. Noah was expecting to be bored the whole time but ended up having fun playing games with the grown-ups. He can’t stop talking about it today — he has to keep reliving his charade challenge having to act out “Pebbles.” (He did this by trying to act out “rebels” and it’s a testimony to the creativity of the guests that several people actually guessed this!)
We never but never go out on New Year’s because we are not raucous party types and plus we like to keep our kids around so we were excited to get an invite that we could actually manage and that sounded fun.
I think my favorite thing in the last year has been branching out in my social life so being at a new year’s party where we knew no one and having a great time was a nice way to end last year and begin this one.
I think we’re going to have to have the hosts for dinner soon because we had such a grand time!!!
Things I love (today)
Dec 11, 2008 The Story of My Life
I mean besides the obvious things like peace on earth, my husband & kids. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love that stuff, too. But other things I love!
- Potluck Thursdays even though it means that I will be grouchy and discombobulated tomorrow from the late night. Stupid potluck! (Today I’m making lentils because they are cheap and tasty and all I have to cook in the house. Oh and maybe muffins if I feel ambitious.)
- My Hanna Andersson essential black dress because it’s a clothes no-brainer. I am not feeling fashion-creative today and most of my clothes are in the wash. All hail Hanna! Especially on clearance for $24.99! Just for the record, I don’t look anything like the Scandinavian model in the catalog. I wanted to make a joke that I look almost like her but my legs are longer and my waist is tinier but since most of you haven’t seen me, you may not know it’s a joke. And it would be because in fact my legs are shorter and I’m built more like a lumpy fireplug but a very cheerful, friendly, smart fireplug who you would probably want to invite to a party because I’m funny.
- Oh and you know how I said that about obvious things like loving my husband? I take it back! He’s off my list! Because he didn’t clean the kitchen last night and instead staggered out of the room mumbling something about “exhausted” and “must sleep” and then drifted off in the middle of reading to Madison (who then left the bed and came downstairs to watch Home Alone with her brother while I typed away). Darn exhausted, sleep-deprived husband! So selfish with the whole getting up at 5:30am to get to work on time and work a ten hour day! Hmph! (No, no, I feel bad for him, truly although I pointed and laughed when he came downstairs in a panic because he woke up and couldn’t find Madison. But then I patted him nicely and sent him back to bed.)
- That my mom joined facebook! Now all my sisters, my brother, my mom and one cousin are on there. I’d throw a snowball at her but I don’t throw snowballs, join in OSU Buckeye waves, decorate virtual trees, hand out flair or superpoke.
- Our trash-picked curtain panels in our newly painted living room. They’re sheers with skinny branches on them — maybe it’s a wild flower because there are these dotty flowers coming up that look like when you let grass grow too tall and go to seed. The branches/grasses are brown. We used to have regular white sheers but when I found these in the neighbors trash (along with a box of wine glasses that Noah accidentally broke when he dropped the box) I knew they’d be perfect in the living room. They really pull it all together and I, of course, love that they were free. My mother-in-law thinks they’re from the 70s but I’m not sure. She says they look like 70s wallpaper and I guess she’d know better than I would, right?
Tags: brother, creative, Facebook, hanna andersson, Madison, my mom, my sisters, Noah, potluck
