An actual update
Apr. 3rd, 2012 | 10:15 am
I've been doing pretty well in New Orleans. I'm graduating in December, so I've been trying to wrap up all the things I need to do to 1. Get a job in New Orleans so I never have to leave or 2. Get accepted to a doctorate program so I can have a bright future in academics (haha). For a while I was at critical mass towards explosion because my thesis advisor denied my thesis proposal, but after a few months of being so depressed I could barely pull myself out of bed a friend kidnapped me and started to get myself back on track. Then, I talked to a different professor who accepted a different thesis proposal, and after about an hour of getting things together, I had a thesis chair, a thesis, a thesis committee, and a rough timeline for graduation.
I presented a paper at an academic conference, on LARP as a Performed Literature. I babbled uncontrollably in places, but the Q&A went well. The moderator is a professor at UL-Lafayette, and she told me I should apply to UL because I would really fit in.
I have a few places I've applied to for a new job. For one of them, I think I have a pretty good chance of getting it, but it's on the Northshore, which is about 45 minutes away. However, my other job is somewhat on the way to it; they're on the same road about 30+ minutes apart and separated by a bridge.
I love my friends here, and my life. I don't want to leave.
I presented a paper at an academic conference, on LARP as a Performed Literature. I babbled uncontrollably in places, but the Q&A went well. The moderator is a professor at UL-Lafayette, and she told me I should apply to UL because I would really fit in.
I have a few places I've applied to for a new job. For one of them, I think I have a pretty good chance of getting it, but it's on the Northshore, which is about 45 minutes away. However, my other job is somewhat on the way to it; they're on the same road about 30+ minutes apart and separated by a bridge.
I love my friends here, and my life. I don't want to leave.
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Still chugging along
Jul. 6th, 2011 | 01:53 pm
Update: Alex and I had a long talk the other night about what I needed and what my anxieties were. I think I actually broke up with him for the night, but by the time I had to go to work the next morning, I'd had enough time to think about things to decide that I wanted to keep dating him. He's new to relationships (even though he's 24) and I have a lot of baggage. He's trying, and I like him enough to try to work things out; I need to communicate more, because he was in the dark about most of the problems and worries I had.
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Some Random (nonrandom) Thoughts
Jul. 4th, 2011 | 12:32 am
If it's a relief that the person you're dating is going to a game night instead of sleeping over, it's probably not a good sign.
I'm beginning to think that for me the "bisexual until graduation" moniker given to scores of college girls is swinging in the opposite direction than most people would expect.
I should probably give up on people entirely and be a crazy, cat collecting hermit.
I'm beginning to think that for me the "bisexual until graduation" moniker given to scores of college girls is swinging in the opposite direction than most people would expect.
I should probably give up on people entirely and be a crazy, cat collecting hermit.
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My New Life (Crossposted with WP)
May. 19th, 2011 | 04:00 pm
I have now lived in New Orleans for almost a year and an half. In the past year, I have gone from living in a constant state of unemployed terror to someone who has a number of possibilities in front of her.
Some of you already know from Twitter, but I have been offered a graduate assistantship at UNO. In the fall, I will either be working in the writing center or helping a professor with research. This will provide me with a stipend and free tuition, so I will no longer have to worry about maxing out my loans every semester.
The money from the assistantship will also allow me to travel in the summer of 2012. Right now, I’m thinking a trip to the UK is in order.
For the first time, I’m also looking into PhD programs. I’m hoping I’ll be working towards a PhD and enjoying a stipend and health benefits by 2013.
I’ve also been a bit surprised the past month, because I somehow managed to snag myself a boyfriend. This is surprising because I’ve been actively seeking a girlfriend since before I moved here and have been trolling (as much as it’s possible for me to troll) the Jewish queer events in New Orleans. The bf managed to go with the flow enough to skirt all of my objections, and it’s been interesting, to say the least.
Yesterday was my 29th birthday, so my mother has been in town for the past few days. She went home this morning and left behind two or more weeks worth of food and a kitchen full of dirty dishes. Included was about three pounds of liver pate. A few months ago, Doc Brite wrote about a Chinese market across the river that sells Banh mi. I’ve never tried it before, but I’ve decided to give it ago because of all of my pate. Bf is going to take me to the market over the weekend, and I’m going to buy the fixings to make homemade ramen and compare my banh mi with the market’s deli. I’m hoping I’ll have just enough to also buy some lotus buns.
That’s been my life in the past month. I’ve been getting things done. I haven’t been writing enough, but I’ve managed to finish a few books, finish up the semester as a professor and graduate student, and enjoy life more than I have in years.
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City Kitties Windermere Fire Cat Interview
Feb. 21st, 2011 | 10:44 pm
Originally posted by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92)
kylecassidy at City Kitties Windermere Fire Cat Interview
kylecassidy at City Kitties Windermere Fire Cat InterviewLou from City Kitties talking about their efforts to rescue pets trapped in a burned out building. They learned an awful lot about how long pets can survive abandoned in structures like this after people are gone. Surprising that firefighters and other professionals had no idea that anything could have lived through the fire. Not only did some survive, but almost all of them did. The last cat rescued from the building made it 39 days on his own in a basement flooded with fifteen feet of water. Without City Kitties heroic efforts they all would have died alone. The world is a better place because they're here.
City Kitties can always use donations, but more important are foster homes. If you have space in your heart and your house you can apply to foster here. And if you live far away, be kind to something today, help a cat or a dog or a horse or a ferret or a bird or a goat or a skunk or a turtle in your neighborhood or lend a word of encouragement to people who do. & Spay and neuter. & don't buy a cat or dog from a pet store. Rah rah rah.
City Kitties can always use donations, but more important are foster homes. If you have space in your heart and your house you can apply to foster here. And if you live far away, be kind to something today, help a cat or a dog or a horse or a ferret or a bird or a goat or a skunk or a turtle in your neighborhood or lend a word of encouragement to people who do. & Spay and neuter. & don't buy a cat or dog from a pet store. Rah rah rah.
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post
Feb. 9th, 2011 | 07:08 pm
Originally posted by kylecassidy at post
kylecassidy at postI'd posted a few days back about the fire at the Widmere apartment building and the pet rescue that was going on. Things have taken an ill turn. While a number of missing pets have been spotted inside the building, in the windows of their own apartments, and in the building by security guards, the city is refusing to let rescue workers into the building and is scheduled to demolish it, with these pets still trapped inside.
I know the thought of someone taking a wrecking ball to my place with Roswell and the others still inside would be worse than losing any of my material possessions.
Add me as a friend on LiveJournal, Add me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter.
I know the thought of someone taking a wrecking ball to my place with Roswell and the others still inside would be worse than losing any of my material possessions.
Time: Saturday, February 12 · 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location 4800 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Created By: City Kitties Rescue
More Info One month after the fire, cats are STILL ALIVE inside the Windermere Court Apartments! Read more here: http://citykitties.org/2011/02/windermere-fire-cats/
Despite obvious signs of life inside, no one took action--not the owners, not L&I, not the fire marshal, not the insurance investigators who all had access to the building. Just two days after this disaster, fire fighters said there was nothing more they could do and no possibility that cats could have survived.
Now the Windermere owners claim that the buildings' exterior doors are sealed and that L&I won't allow anyone inside ever again--and yet a maintenance man, security guards, and insurance company investigators have accessed the building as recently as today, Wednesday February 9th. Meanwhile, the owners are moving forward with demolition, knowing full well that there are still pets inside!
If you think this is wrong, if you care about the cats inside and the people who want so desperately to get them back, if you want to let the City of Philadelphia know that it should never happen again...
Join former Windermere tenants, neighborhood residents, City Kitties, and animal welfare advocates for a peaceful rally and protest:
Saturday, February 12 @ 2pm
4800 Walnut Street - in front of West Philly High School, across from the Windermere
Bring friends and signs
Add me as a friend on LiveJournal, Add me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter.
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February sign-ups
Jan. 31st, 2011 | 10:17 am
I am part of a LJ community where artists, writers, musicians, etc. can get together and create things together. Projects are set up on a month by month basis. Today is the last day to sign up for February's project. Here are the details- if you want to sign up, click on the link to the original post.
Originally posted byniamh_sage at February sign-ups
Originally posted by
niamh_sage at February sign-upsHi everyone,
It's very nearly February! *startled shriek* Time to sign up for our next round of 2xcreative.
As always, here's how it works:
- You put your name in the hat by commenting on this post (people without LJ accounts, please make sure to leave an email address!).
- After sign-ups are closed, I get all the names together and perform a feat of randomisation in order to produce a list of pairs, which I post here on the comm.
- You and your partner get in touch with each other to cook up a collaborative creative project, which you will have a month to complete.
- At the end of the month/beginning of next month, you and your partner come back to the comm to show us what you've made.
Sound cool? Okay, go to it! I'll leave the sign-up post open until Monday 31 January, 20:00 my time (GMT+1)).
One thing though - PLEASE only sign up if you intend to follow through on the project. There have been a few occasions recently where people's partners have not showed up. This is a big disappointment, so please, don't do that. Naturally, this doesn't include unexpected occurrences of Real Life, but if something comes up that makes it impossible for you to continue, please let your partner know as promptly as possible. Thanks!
One more thing: LJ has this spiffy new feature, a re-post button! If you'd like to spread the news of the latest![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif?v=92)
2xcreative sign-ups, you can do so by clicking on the button below and sharing this post on your own journal.
It's very nearly February! *startled shriek* Time to sign up for our next round of 2xcreative.
As always, here's how it works:
- You put your name in the hat by commenting on this post (people without LJ accounts, please make sure to leave an email address!).
- After sign-ups are closed, I get all the names together and perform a feat of randomisation in order to produce a list of pairs, which I post here on the comm.
- You and your partner get in touch with each other to cook up a collaborative creative project, which you will have a month to complete.
- At the end of the month/beginning of next month, you and your partner come back to the comm to show us what you've made.
Sound cool? Okay, go to it! I'll leave the sign-up post open until Monday 31 January, 20:00 my time (GMT+1)).
One thing though - PLEASE only sign up if you intend to follow through on the project. There have been a few occasions recently where people's partners have not showed up. This is a big disappointment, so please, don't do that. Naturally, this doesn't include unexpected occurrences of Real Life, but if something comes up that makes it impossible for you to continue, please let your partner know as promptly as possible. Thanks!
One more thing: LJ has this spiffy new feature, a re-post button! If you'd like to spread the news of the latest
2xcreative sign-ups, you can do so by clicking on the button below and sharing this post on your own journal.Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Share
^.^
Jan. 27th, 2011 | 12:19 am
It's past my bed time, and I still have a lesson plan to create for tomorrow, but I am happy.
I feel like I am exactly where I need to be at this moment in my life. This might be a first.
I feel like I am exactly where I need to be at this moment in my life. This might be a first.
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Long overdue update
Jan. 20th, 2011 | 08:10 pm
Somewhere along the line, I became a college professor at the local community college. I'm excited. Between this, the Jewish community here, and school, I feel like I am where I belong.
This week has been rough, though.
Tuesday, I set up in the wrong class and told all of the waiting students that THEY were in the wrong room.
Yesterday I lost my keys. I panicked. However, a student lost his keys, and since I had already taken a trip to the police station, I told him that is where he could find his, because they fit the description of the keys that had been found. I then found my own keys... In my purse.
Today I had a brain fart. A student asked what syntax was. I froze. I wrote syntax: how words fit together.
Then, I told myself that that was not the correct answer. I froze again. I looked it up on Wikipedia. I thrust my chalk at the board in triumph and told the class that Yoda does not use good syntax and got a room full of blank stares.
By the end of the class, I had convinced myself all of my students think I am an idiot. Then, two or three stayed to ask questions.
Teaching is hard. But, since I am exciting about my class tomorrow, which is a different class covering the same material as today. I took a few minutes to prepare my materials a tad better than those for today's class. Hopefully, I will wow my T-Th class on Tuesday.
It's hard, but it's exciting!
This week has been rough, though.
Tuesday, I set up in the wrong class and told all of the waiting students that THEY were in the wrong room.
Yesterday I lost my keys. I panicked. However, a student lost his keys, and since I had already taken a trip to the police station, I told him that is where he could find his, because they fit the description of the keys that had been found. I then found my own keys... In my purse.
Today I had a brain fart. A student asked what syntax was. I froze. I wrote syntax: how words fit together.
Then, I told myself that that was not the correct answer. I froze again. I looked it up on Wikipedia. I thrust my chalk at the board in triumph and told the class that Yoda does not use good syntax and got a room full of blank stares.
By the end of the class, I had convinced myself all of my students think I am an idiot. Then, two or three stayed to ask questions.
Teaching is hard. But, since I am exciting about my class tomorrow, which is a different class covering the same material as today. I took a few minutes to prepare my materials a tad better than those for today's class. Hopefully, I will wow my T-Th class on Tuesday.
It's hard, but it's exciting!
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Also
Dec. 31st, 2010 | 10:15 am
I will be teaching Freshman English at the local community college this semester!
