Not much new to report as usual... Got back about a week and a half ago from a trip up 'home' to Jersey... The weather was warm and had a decent time.. Got to take out my 1970 Dodge Dart for a spin down by the beach... I don't miss Jersey much, but this reminded me of the good times I had up there... Went up mainly for my nephew's 2nd bday, and had a great time with family and friends I don't get to see nearly enough.... But now I'm back in Florida and more of the usual.. It went up into the 80's this past weekend so Spring is in the air.... Literally. The pollen is everywhere... But it also means the animals are also on the move... Saw my first Yellow-bellied slider hatchling of the season yesterday morning.... Look forward to doing some herping before I move (herping = looking for reptiles and amphibians, no something gross)... Other than that, job applications and manuscripts are my daily routine... Along with answering the phone at the museum...
Back from the dirty Jersey... Trip went well... It was actually kinda warm... in the 50's one day! Took my 1970 Dodge Dart out for a nice ride, gave a guest lecture at my undergrad college, got to see a friend from high school, and of course went to my nephew's 2nd bday... Overall a great trip... I don't miss Jersey too much while I'm home in G'ville, but when I get there and hang out with family and friends for a couple days, I do miss it a bit.... Back in Florida now and the weather is great! Up in the 70's every day this week.. My Russian tortoise emerged from her hibernation over the weekend, which is great! After this really cold winter I was afraid she might not make it.... Still submitting job applications and hoping for the best.... I really hope to have a real job by this Fall!
Well, some things have been looking up... Got a job working at the front desk at the museum... Pretty mindless and lets me get real job applications and papers finished... Speaking of which, my latest fossil turtle paper, which has been in limbo for the past YEAR was resubmitted and accepted within a week! Now I'm working on the last chapter of my dissertation in hopes of a publication trifecta for this year... Social life has been pretty lazy... Heading up to Jersey next week for a few days to see family... Was hoping to catch a show, but the shore in the winter is pretty lame...
Not much happening... Finishing up some manuscripts... waiting to hear about permanent jobs and looking for some part time work in the meanwhile to make ends meet.... Pretty dull and uneventful... Oooh... except my neighbor was booked today for forging some checks of mine that accidentally went to his mailbox... He tried to scam me for about a grand.... whole situation sucks...
Bah... Hate to be the kind of person that uses a blog to vent constantly but this week has sucked... Job interview was a complete bust... Then I found out my other postdoc application didn't get funded... Then my truck broke down.... twice... with a grand total of $1400 worth of repairs..... And now it appears my gf is avoiding me today... Perhaps my crummy mood, and maybe rightly so.... Not been a a good week.... But, I've got a bunch of applications in and have another postdoc application going out this week... Plus I've started cranking on two long dormant manuscripts.... Think positive.... Right?
Still jobless, but have an interview tomorrow... Of course I am still awaiting the verdict on my postdoc at the museum... Soooo, not sure how to give a good interview knowing that I could have a much better job in a month or two.... And... my truck broke down yesterday... As usual, shit hits the fan when you've got no $$ ... But I'm going to keep on moving forward.. Plenty of work to do, even though I'm kinda homebound for the time being... So... entertain me!
Made it out of the snow and back to G'ville... Now the real work begins... I have no job right now, so I have a stack of jobs I need to apply for....and three manuscripts I need to finish ASAP... Don't really know what I am going to do.... No money coming in... and even though I am still in my office at the museum, since I graduated I lose pretty much all of my access at the University.. i.e. parking, library, etc... I've been in the system for here so long (9 years) I dunno if I am really ready for a big new transition!
Been snowed in up here in Jersey since Sunday... Going stir crazy! Almost 30 inches of snow!!! AHHHHH!
Graduation went well and now I am officially a Ph.D.! Took off the next day and drove back home to New Jersey.. Its COLD up here! and I don't really have many friends (really any friends) in the nearby area.... This might be a loooooong week....
Graduation is on Friday! My folks are coming down just for a couple days, then I am heading up North.... I'd say and to the cold weather...but it was in the low 20's here in Florida last night....Crazy! Picked up my cap and gown yesterday.... Its entirely black, including the tassle....Getting a Ph.D., I was hoping for something a little more exciting.... Although there are velvet bars on the sleeves and down the front...And I will be hooded at the ceremony.... Now I am focusing on a job... The first postdoc I submitted was declined last week... Starting to freak out a bit... Especially since I've been living paycheck to paycheck as it is... oh well I always seem to land on my feet.... And here's my professorial pic...
