Frog and Goat

Late yesterday afternoon I let Simon out on the screened porch. He likes to hang out there and he uses some of the wood out there as a scratching post. I totally forgot he was out there. I guess an hour passed before I realized the error of my ways. I always leave the door to the porch obviously unlocked so that I know he’s out there if it’s too dark to see him. The better-half tends to dim the light out there so it’s easy for us to remember and easy to see him. This way is better because it’s more obvious.

Anyway, I realized the door was in the state of “cat on porch” and then I went out to look for him. He wasn’t there. I walked around the house and he wasn’t in the usual spots. The better-half turned on the flood lights and opened the back door and started calling. Simon ducked his head around the side of the house and slowly trotted back in.

I felt so bad that Simon ended up with quite a few Greenies in his bowl. Mr. Cat had quite an adventure and ended up with extra treats. I’m sure in his mind it was quite a good night.

The better-half went out this morning and fixed the spot in the screen where Simon ducked out. A little while ago we let the cat out on the porch and within seconds he was checking that spot to see if freedom was still possible. When it wasn’t, he came back to the door and asked to be let in.

Oh, it’s been awhile since I bitched about work.

This morning someone asked me if I’d seen the missing keys. I said no. What I wanted to say was if I’d seen them they wouldn’t be missing. Truthfully, what I really wanted to say was quit coming down the hall to ask me stupid shit. This someone already asked me this week to check the contents of a CD she found in a laptop’s drive. Seriously, you couldn’t just start the CD while it was in the laptop to see what it was? You had to come all the way down the hall to ask me? It’s like I’m working in 1995 and my machine is the only one with a CD drive.

A manager wore a purple velour warm-up suit to work yesterday. She worked all day dressed like she was going to the gym or Target on Saturday. WTF.

There’s been a thought running through my head for at least a year and a half and probably a little longer. If I were industrious, I’d look back through some old off-line journals and pinpoint the exact genesis of the idea, but I’m not industrious so you’ll just have to trust me that it’s been awhile. The thought? Continuing my education.

I know. I just finished a degree in May 2009. It was a kick-ass, life-altering experience. Even when I was whining about having to write yet another paper. Even when I was complaining about the frenetic pace of reading. Even when I had to work in groups that were less industrious than me (and, as we know, I’m not that industrious). All of it was worth more than a cold beer and a remote control and you know how much I love those two things.

So, I’ve applied for an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) program at another state university. I had originally thought about a Ph.D., but I don’t want to be an academic as much as I want to be a practitioner. Most people have never heard of the Ed.S. degree, but that’s OK. The people who work in university settings have and that’s really where I’d like to be—working in professional development.

I talked to my supervisor when I returned to work from winter break and she’s supportive. She’s going to work with me to figure out if I can continue to work even if it is at a reduced pace/reduction in hours. I’d really like to keep that position in some capacity because the work will be there and that means some cash flow on my part. I’d also like to work in some capacity at the new university as a graduate assistant, as an intern or something for the experience…not exactly what I thought I’d be doing as I approach my 42nd birthday, but what the hell. Life is short, might as well do something you love and let the other stuff sort itself out. Of course I could be talking out of my butt and the school will say,” Thanks for your tuition, but don’t quit your day job.” Or, worse yet, that they’ll say they’d rather not have me join them.

The school is not close to my house, at all, so if some of the classes must be completed on the main campus, then I’ll have to find cheap housing there and I’ll learn to love the commute back and forth between my regular life and my student life. The better-half is completely supportive of this decision and he’s been the little birdhouse in my soul.

We set off 9 bottle rockets for 2009 and then called the better-half’s mother–who was up and thrilled we’d called and set off fire works–and then called my FL sister to wish her Happy New Year. They are the only 2 people we’re sure who would be awake.

Our fire department ran the siren as usual and several others fired off fireworks in the distance. Ours were set off in a Maker’s Mark bottle. Just saying.

Happy New Year to all and to all a good night.