Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Trip Report Tuesday: Lightning Round!
Please do not take this unnecessarily terse trip report as an indication that I'm dissatisfied with my progress this week. I'm about to succumb to a massive food coma and am not in the mood to write much. I'm actually still pretty proud of myself, though. Today I met with a professor and have two of my letters of recommendation sewn up. This looks more likely to work out with every step I take toward it.
Next week's goal: talking to people I've been putting off talking to. Acquaintances I haven't quite gotten the nerve to invite out. Friends I owe apologies or explanations. Thank-you notes I forgot to write. Administrators for test scores and transcripts and whatnot. Wish me luck.
Labels: tripreport
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
What A Long, Strange Trip Report It's Been
I almost don't know where to begin here. In my last Tuesday entry I challenged myself and my readers to do something we'd never done before. I always have to overachieve, don't I?
Since April, I've done all of the following:
- Gone to counseling.
- Left education.
- Moved to Madison.
- Took a job specifically because it was low-energy and low-commitment.
- Co-founded a theater company.
- Directed a play.
- Had a show I wrote performed.
- Acted in a lead role.
- Joined a band.
- Started a cooking blog.
- Took up larping.
- DM'ed a game. (Although I can hear the First Mate telling me to run more often from here.)
My challenge this Tuesday is not to rest on my laurels. I want to do one thing every day this week that moves me closer to grad school. Some things I need to do are e-mailing my references, researching professors, contacting the department office, and beginning my essays. I'm not committing to do all of these things this week, but if I can at least make some progress every day, I'll feel more confident in my ability to pull the whole thing off.
Labels: tripreport
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Trip Report Tuedsay: Ask Not For Whom The Mall Tolls...
...it tolls for me.
This week my projects are twofold. One is to continue to lead the needlework club at the elementary school where I work--I'm teaching the students how to knit and crochet-- and the other is to find an outfit for an upcoming job interview. An interview at a real company, where real people work. ("Real" in this instance, being "actual career-path, as opposed to just-fell-into-after-college.") The needlework club is an ongoing project and it's going pretty well. (And speaking of ongoing projects, yes, Mother, I'm still working on your sweater!) The interview outfit I didn't anticipate would be so complicated.
My personal style shifts fairly wildly from "angry hipster" to "classy broad," but lately it's settled of necessity on "educator inconspicuous." None of these are images I want to project at a job interview. I was hoping for, at least, "intelligent professional person who is still stylish and has a life." The trouble is that I've lost about 20 pounds since I last could lay claim to looking professional or having a life, and none of my interview-appropriate clothes fit me anymore. This means I have to brave The Mall.
I'm short and curvy, so clothes shopping has always been a hassle. Nevertheless, I actually rather like paying attention to fashion; it's like making myself into an art project. As such, I think of shopping as a treasure hunt. And if I am the Indiana Jones of fashion, then the mall is my deadly trap-filled cave. I'm going into territory fraught with peril and crawling with hostile natives to seek some legendary item which may not actually exist. In Indy's case, it's a golden idol; in mine, it's a button-down shirt that will actually button down and a pair of pants that don't end six inches past my feet. While at least the Nazis don't steal my find the moment I leave, these items have proven just as elusive as Jones's quarry.
I called my sister for moral support. My sister, who answers to the nickname "Fabulous," is five gay men with their own TV show trapped in one snarky lesbian's body. She has drilled me on appropriate hem lengths and educated me about "suit alternatives." She has told me I'm gorgeous over and over again to inoculate me against how drab, pudgy, and stunted dressing room fluorescent lighting invariably makes me feel. And this past weekend during my preliminary reconnaissance, she consoled me as I spent five (5) hours in the mall and acquired one (1) top-- which I can't even wear by itself. This week's project? Mallrats II- This Time, It's Personal. I am going back and not leaving until I look sophisticated and employable. Or until I die. Whichever comes first.
Labels: tripreport
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Trip Report Tuesday: Linguistics and Fear and More Linguistics
I have been shying away from assigning myself Tuesday projects on the grounds that my whole life is a project these days. I have a lot to get together: a move, a new job, a host of creative ideas that I would dearly love to see come to fruition. But I was reminded of the original purpose of Trip Report Tuesday: "there's usually something little and accessible that you can do right now to take yourself closer to any goal."
One of my dearest and most far-reaching goals is to get into a graduate linguistics program. To that end, the First Mate suggested that this week, I process two e-mails a day either from or to linguists to ask for their advice. Now, I usually hold professors and actual working linguists in the kind of reverence people reserve for film stars and rock gods and the like. I couldn't imagine myself actually talking to them; I'd feel too much like a fangirl, too uneducated. That, however, is actually bullshit, isn't it? I mean, I want to be one of these people. They're not academic demigods, they're future colleagues, and I shouldn't feel at all sheepish about approaching them.
So I start tomorrow. Eee, terror and anticipation!
Anyone else want to hop on the terror and anticipation train? Do one thing this week that scares and excites you, then write and tell me all about it.
Labels: tripreport
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Trip Report from Vagina Country
Trip Report Tuesday is back with an update on my longest-running project. I auditioned for the Vagina Monologues in December, as well you know (Eddie Izzard voice). I didn't try out with any particular part in mind-- my main goal was just to follow through on a spur-of-the-moment impulse. Just to prove to myself that I could do it.
Well, I did it. I sailed through callbacks and was cast. I have two monologues: Hair and Not-So-Happy Fact. For those of you who have seen the show, you know the incredible range of women's experiences it chronicles. I'm lucky to have one of the very funny bits and one of the very sobering bits. When I started out this was a throwaway endeavor, but now that I've committed to participate, I'm very glad to be a part of something so powerful and far-reaching. Also, I get to say the word "vagina" an awful lot.
For those of you who may be interested, the show runs Feb. 19-21 in Gregory Hall on the UIUC campus. Drop a comment for specific dates and times.
I'm already thinking about my next project, but February is going to be rather packed. One of the things I'm considering is a sign language class. There's one which starts in April and for which I can get a pretty awesome discount. I've always wanted to learn sign language.
Opinions? Ideas? Anyone want a project of their own? You know what to do.
Labels: tripreport
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Introducing Trip Report Tuesday
Today I took one step towards my stated definition of awesome-- I wore spike heels. There was no katana, no 50-foot Christopher Walken, no parachute, and no cocktail dress. The heels were very hot, though. I wore them out to Miko with Andy, where we partook of sushi and plum ice cream. One of the things he and I have instituted is a weekly date night where we block off some time to do something together. Past activities have included the apple orchard/corn maze, trebuchet-building, movie nights, and the occasional dinner out. It's been nice. In the future I'm keen to check out the local planetarium and some of the university museums, and maybe find some live music or go dancing.
This is relevant because one of the principles behind date night is that connecting well does not necessarily require sweeping gestures or grand expense. In fact, there's usually something little and accessible that you can do right now to take yourself closer to any goal. I'm going to try to set myself little projects each Tuesday-- things manageable enough to make notable progress in a week, but challenging enough that I'll feel accomplished when I do them. Then, the following Tuesday, I'll post a report of my efforts.
If you choose, you may play along on the Fabulous Figure Five Home Game! Leave a comment, I'll suggest a project, you may take it up or not, and next Tuesday leave a comment with your trip report. For example, on the previous post's comments I might suggest that Chris write something (be it a short story or an appreciative letter) to send off to Playboy, Samantha try an organic recipe, and paxcogitum spend a bit of time recruiting around town. (Feel free to do any of these, or not do them.)
My projects this week are as follows: I will audition for several solos on the upcoming choir concert. I was going to do that anyway, though, so I'll give myself an additional project. I came up with a comic series a while back called Ducks of War (one of these days I'll scan it in here) and drew three and a half pages. The fourth page has been languishing half-done on my bulletin board. I will finish it by next Tuesday, scan the whole group, and post them here.
Anyone else up to take on a specific challenge? Drop me a comment! Anyone else up to take on a non-specific challenge? Have at least one meaningful conversation this week through a sock puppet. You know, a sock on your hand. Yes, really. Anyone think this is a really pretentious idea? Let me know!
Labels: tripreport