I love Christmas break, and I had a great time in Chicago and Michigan with family and friends, but when everyone else is back at work and I'm still sitting at home... it kinda sucks. Especially because I didn't have my car for a few days and was stuck at home with nothing to do. I shouldn't say nothing. I have super cleaned my room (dusted, vacuumed, and rearranged some things) and prepped for the semester more than usual. Master copies of ALL assignments and handout have been printed and organized in my brand new binder so all I have to do is make photocopies throughout the semester. I even set up my online gradebooks down to every detailed assignment and participation point and am prepared to give my students access codes to track their grades online. Look at me go.

So with all this great prep - I am ready for classes! Yesterday I went over to one of my schools of employment where I will be an Academic Advisor this semester instead of an instructor. (I'm teaching at two schools and advising at a third. Busy!) Especially after this brief meeting involving paperwork and setting up my advising schedule for the semester, I feel ready. That half hour was the most alive and purposeful I've felt since I got back from my travels a week and a half ago. Part of it was being in a campus environment. Part is the excitement of a new job and challenge. And part was how welcoming and validating the other staff were. I met a few other advisors who all welcomed me warmly. And the head of advising, who I have been training with since Thanksgiving, had some very complimentary things to say. Ordinarily, part time advisors like myself need to also be teaching at the school during the semesters they advise. The way the cards fell this semester left me with no classes at this particular school due to scheduling and low enrollment. I was pretty disappointed. But the head of advising recommended me to the dean as a potentially strong advisor specially because he said I have a welcoming presence. He insisted that you can teach the computer stuff, the rules and details of course scheduling and prerequisites. But you can't teach the heart, the caring for the students. Once in awhile, it's really nice to hear that kind of thing.

On top of that, I've gotten some very kind compliments from colleagues who are writing my reference letters for my ongoing full-time professorship search. I just have to keep crossing my fingers that I land one someday (sooner rather than later). This is what I'm good at. This is what I want to do. Maybe what I'm meant to do. And I feel validated about that regularly. So it has to work out as a full-time career one of these days - right? Here's hoping.

i've been working like a mad woman to try to stay financially ahead of the game. (or more realistically, financially afloat). the downside to having jobs i LOVE is that they aren't six-digit salary jobs. i teach at a community college, work at a cultural center, and teach tap. that makes it sound busy enough. but keep in mind that at the cultural center, i am THE admin and i help in the cafe.

i've really enjoyed working sundays in the cafe lately. it's definitely good extra money. this pay period looked more like it should, as opposed to all my pay periods since christmas which have been low. but i'm also starting to feel little overwhelmed in the office, so i've been working long days. i'm still not getting everything done there that i would like to.

and the worst part is, my teaching is falling through the cracks. i JUST realized (thanks to an email from a student) that i have first drafts for a class to give back tomorrow. except that i haven't looked at them yet. i've worked 24 hours in the last 2 days, and i'm exhausted. but now, instead of zoning out to sitcoms and going to bed early... i have to read and comment on all these essays. nevermind lesson planning. or reading the stories i've assigned. and i have NO idea when i'm going to update the discussion board questions for the last half of the semester.

i really don't want to give up the hours and the money, but i think i'm going to have to work every other sunday at the cafe or something. once the semester ends, summer will be a piece of cake. but right now, i'm going crazy. i don't want to do a half assed job at all these places. ugh. can't there be just a few more hours in the day?