Well, we spent several hours at the house this evening preparing to paint the kitchen. Ry filled in all of the nail holes and we taped up the entire room with blue painter's tape (reminds me of hanging all those posters at NAU). It was tedious work because there are many nooks and crannies, as well as painted trim, cabinets, doors and window frames currently painted a few different colors. Now we are all set and ready to prime.
We spent quite a while checking out paint chips in Home Depot this past Saturday and took a whole pile home. After trying each genre of color we thought might work (variations of sky blue and lime green) we ended up selecting a greyish white called "Steam White". I ripped off the top of the multi-colored paint chip as we got ready to travel to my mom's for a mother's day dinner and Ryan joked that I should take the chip along to show her. I was intending to do just that, but he didn't know. It was silly because the little card just looked like nothing, not even worth bringing over, but I did anyway. Funny how a variation of white can have a tone and complement the other colors perfectly, but still just look like white when you hold it all by itself.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Rounding A Bend
At work I've been experiencing "chicken dinner month". That's what one of my supervisors has named the multitude of banquets we are required to attend that provide recognition and closure for students at the end of the academic year. All jest aside, they are nice events and overall it's good to spend time with students. However, instead of chicken, I've been exploring various special vegan meal preparations. They have been pretty good, so at one of my most recent banquets I made sure to pull the Dining Manager aside and thank him for the special accomodation.
Last night was our Office of Residece Life yearly banquet, where all RAs, other student employees and professionals gather to celebrate the end of the year. Of all of the banquets and brunches, this one is my favorite because it is for the hall staff that I work with on a daily basis. We share an hor d'oeuvre reception up in the President's private suite and then work our way down to the main ballroom in our Union. We share a lovely meal with about two hundred and fifty of our closest friends, there are several awards given away and recognition is given for those who are leaving their positions.
After having gone the two previous years, I knew this would mean a bit of recognition for my term of service and that I would have to come up on stage. Usually there are several Hall Directors who are leaving, but this year it's just me. Which is a nice book end to the fact that I was the only one who came in during my first year, '07-'08. This part of the banquet seemed to come much earlier than I expected and when I heard my supervisor start saying the words that I knew would call me up there, I got teary. It's very emotional to leave a position that has been good to me and has helped define my identity, especially without knowing where I'm going next. Mary looked down to my table and saw that I was teary. She said, "oh no, she's already crying". By the time I got up on stage I'd stopped and Mary turned back to the table to ask Ryan if he had a hankie. He held up a napkin from the table and all the guests in close proximity to him laughed. Mary thanked me for my service and presented me with a plaque commemorating my time in the Marquette Office of Residence Life.
She shared reflections about my character and work with students. She also talked about how I have deep insight, an uncanny way of expressing myself and a sense of humor that I often showcase in our work group. She started sharing some examples of things that sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite remember whether I'd shared them with her directly. Then she shared a few more, which elicited big laughs from the entire room and I quickly realized they were anecdotes from my blog, which I was fairly sure she'd never read. I was, of course, extremely nervous being in front of so many people but this pushed me over the edge. I was a little embarassed and a little shocked, but of course it was all in good fun. The tone was loving and I appreciated the kind sentiment of her words. She presented me with a wooden flower box with lovely blue and gold perennials and I made my way off the stage. It was over as quickly as it started, which is sort of how I feel about all of it. I cannot believe how fast this entire year has flown, though at times it felt like molasses.
Before we left, I took pictures with my staff and we took pictures with our Hall Director group. After the banquet some of our co-workers decided to get cocktails at Blu, the bar at the top of the Pfister. It was a nice evening full of laughs and some reflection. I made sure to send my old boss from graduate school a little text letting him know that my time in Residence Life was coming to an end. I thanked him for the ways that he helped shape me into a professional though I'd never worked in this field before. And of course, I reflected on just how far I've come since that time. I have built strong skills and made some amazing connections with people over the past five years in Student Affairs. I'm trying to think of it as rounding a bend, rathering than coming to the end of something. I'm hopeful that the next job will come. I'm trying to be patient and open myself up to whatever comes.
Lastly, I learned two important lessons last night:
1. I am a near-thirty year old woman who does not know how to use a curling iron. So, I'll need to work on that but an hour prior to a celebration banquet is not the time to try.
2. If you write something on the Internet, people will read it and use it in ways you do not intend. I'm thankful that I've generally tried to remain positive and appropriate here, so something does not happen that I regret. However, it was, in this instance, the perfect way for my co-workers to find and share some Megan's original gems.
My Res Life Photo History:
Reilly Hall '05-'06, Northern Arizona University
Reilly Hall '06-'07, Northern Arizona University
With Tara, my grad assistant in McCormick Hall '07-'08, now an RHD at MU
McCormick Hall, '07-'08, Marquette University
Cobeen Hall '08-'09, Marquette University
Cobeen Hall '09-'10, Marquette University
ORL RHD & Prostaff '09-'10, Marquette University
Last night was our Office of Residece Life yearly banquet, where all RAs, other student employees and professionals gather to celebrate the end of the year. Of all of the banquets and brunches, this one is my favorite because it is for the hall staff that I work with on a daily basis. We share an hor d'oeuvre reception up in the President's private suite and then work our way down to the main ballroom in our Union. We share a lovely meal with about two hundred and fifty of our closest friends, there are several awards given away and recognition is given for those who are leaving their positions.
After having gone the two previous years, I knew this would mean a bit of recognition for my term of service and that I would have to come up on stage. Usually there are several Hall Directors who are leaving, but this year it's just me. Which is a nice book end to the fact that I was the only one who came in during my first year, '07-'08. This part of the banquet seemed to come much earlier than I expected and when I heard my supervisor start saying the words that I knew would call me up there, I got teary. It's very emotional to leave a position that has been good to me and has helped define my identity, especially without knowing where I'm going next. Mary looked down to my table and saw that I was teary. She said, "oh no, she's already crying". By the time I got up on stage I'd stopped and Mary turned back to the table to ask Ryan if he had a hankie. He held up a napkin from the table and all the guests in close proximity to him laughed. Mary thanked me for my service and presented me with a plaque commemorating my time in the Marquette Office of Residence Life.
She shared reflections about my character and work with students. She also talked about how I have deep insight, an uncanny way of expressing myself and a sense of humor that I often showcase in our work group. She started sharing some examples of things that sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite remember whether I'd shared them with her directly. Then she shared a few more, which elicited big laughs from the entire room and I quickly realized they were anecdotes from my blog, which I was fairly sure she'd never read. I was, of course, extremely nervous being in front of so many people but this pushed me over the edge. I was a little embarassed and a little shocked, but of course it was all in good fun. The tone was loving and I appreciated the kind sentiment of her words. She presented me with a wooden flower box with lovely blue and gold perennials and I made my way off the stage. It was over as quickly as it started, which is sort of how I feel about all of it. I cannot believe how fast this entire year has flown, though at times it felt like molasses.
Before we left, I took pictures with my staff and we took pictures with our Hall Director group. After the banquet some of our co-workers decided to get cocktails at Blu, the bar at the top of the Pfister. It was a nice evening full of laughs and some reflection. I made sure to send my old boss from graduate school a little text letting him know that my time in Residence Life was coming to an end. I thanked him for the ways that he helped shape me into a professional though I'd never worked in this field before. And of course, I reflected on just how far I've come since that time. I have built strong skills and made some amazing connections with people over the past five years in Student Affairs. I'm trying to think of it as rounding a bend, rathering than coming to the end of something. I'm hopeful that the next job will come. I'm trying to be patient and open myself up to whatever comes.
Lastly, I learned two important lessons last night:
1. I am a near-thirty year old woman who does not know how to use a curling iron. So, I'll need to work on that but an hour prior to a celebration banquet is not the time to try.
2. If you write something on the Internet, people will read it and use it in ways you do not intend. I'm thankful that I've generally tried to remain positive and appropriate here, so something does not happen that I regret. However, it was, in this instance, the perfect way for my co-workers to find and share some Megan's original gems.
My Res Life Photo History:
Reilly Hall '05-'06, Northern Arizona University
Reilly Hall '06-'07, Northern Arizona University
With Tara, my grad assistant in McCormick Hall '07-'08, now an RHD at MU
McCormick Hall, '07-'08, Marquette University
Cobeen Hall '08-'09, Marquette University
Cobeen Hall '09-'10, Marquette University
ORL RHD & Prostaff '09-'10, Marquette University
Monday, May 3, 2010
Visiting Hours
Over the past week we have spent every free minute we've had at our new house furiously cleaning. This weekend we logged some serious hours deep cleaning. The highlights today include washing the living room windows, window frames, kitchen cupboards and our pantry.
We had a train of visitors today, which was awesome and definitely made the work more enjoyable! First my Aunt Steph and Uncle Mark stopped by with a beautiful little flowering plant for our garden. We gave them a tour and as they were leaving my Mom came by to drop of a comfy anti-gravity chair and table which she does not need anymore. Then Ry's brother Jon and our friend Megan showed up to visit. They brought a beautiful little jar of flowers, which looked lovely on the triangular alcove above the sink. We gave them a tour and ended up drinking a few Pacifico Claras on the front lawn. After Jon and Megan left we got back to work for a couple of hours. Just as we were shutting up all the windows and getting ready to call it a night, my Dad came by on his bike scoping out an easy route to our house. All told, we had six visitors today!
It was wonderful to see so many loved ones. We marveled at the ways we think our life will change once we move out of downtown and off the Marquette campus. There are so many things that are barriers to having guests, a tough parking situation and round the clock receptionists monitoring everyone that enters, to name two biggies. Also, our new surroundings are so peaceful. Through the windows I could smell our flowering bushes, hear lots of signing birds and watch neighborhood kids riding around on their bikes. I'm sad to leave my ladies, but this is going to be a wonderful, positive new change.
P.S. I'm also extra sore after squating to scrub the baseboards and repeatedly climbing up and down the step ladder. Hopefully home ownership will prove to be positive for my physical health as well...more cooking, more time on my feet doing yardwork.
We had a train of visitors today, which was awesome and definitely made the work more enjoyable! First my Aunt Steph and Uncle Mark stopped by with a beautiful little flowering plant for our garden. We gave them a tour and as they were leaving my Mom came by to drop of a comfy anti-gravity chair and table which she does not need anymore. Then Ry's brother Jon and our friend Megan showed up to visit. They brought a beautiful little jar of flowers, which looked lovely on the triangular alcove above the sink. We gave them a tour and ended up drinking a few Pacifico Claras on the front lawn. After Jon and Megan left we got back to work for a couple of hours. Just as we were shutting up all the windows and getting ready to call it a night, my Dad came by on his bike scoping out an easy route to our house. All told, we had six visitors today!
It was wonderful to see so many loved ones. We marveled at the ways we think our life will change once we move out of downtown and off the Marquette campus. There are so many things that are barriers to having guests, a tough parking situation and round the clock receptionists monitoring everyone that enters, to name two biggies. Also, our new surroundings are so peaceful. Through the windows I could smell our flowering bushes, hear lots of signing birds and watch neighborhood kids riding around on their bikes. I'm sad to leave my ladies, but this is going to be a wonderful, positive new change.
P.S. I'm also extra sore after squating to scrub the baseboards and repeatedly climbing up and down the step ladder. Hopefully home ownership will prove to be positive for my physical health as well...more cooking, more time on my feet doing yardwork.
If They Are Within Our Borders They Are Our Brothers
Ry and I were out for a few beers and zither music on Friday night with our friend Freeburg, who kindly informed me that my blog's been getting a little dusty. I think it's a testament to how busy this time of year is for me. Throw a job interview and mega spring house cleaning into the mix and you get zero blog updates.
Saturday we participated in the annual May Day Immigrants' Rights March organized by Voces De La Frontera. The first march was held in 2005 and it has continued each year since. This is the second year I've participated and Ry has been to six total. Given the recent hateful legislation passed in Arizona, this year's crowd was particularly large and fired up. I also think there were more white supporters and union supporters than in years past, which made me feel good knowing there were many others who want to speak up regarding the need for immigration reform now.
Thousands of people were peacefully assembled outside the Voces headquarters on 5th and National and opening ceremony speakers were on stage when smoke started billowing from the alley next door. Some hateful person started a couch on fire in a dumpster next to the building. I think it was meant to incite panic and fear in the marchers. There was a little bit of panic. I heard a couple of shouts of "la migra" from some march goers who were afraid immigration officials had come to do a raid. Things calmed down in a matter of a few minutes thanks to the calm of the organizers from the speaker's podium and a few police officers who were nearby that pulled the dumpster away from the building. But it was scary nonetheless. I was disgusted that someone would commit such an act of hate at a peaceful demonstration, especially on a windy spring day when fire could have easily spread or injured someone.
We marched up National Avenue from 5th Street all the way to Mitchell Park on 27th street. The news estimated 60,000 people participated, but that seems too high to me. I was impressed to see people of all ages and backgrounds marching despite age and physical impairments. There were kids in wagons, a young boy pushing his sister with a broken leg in a wheel chair, several elderly people in wheelchairs, politicians, academics, priests, nuns and many, many every day working people. We ended the march with a rally in Mitchell Park, where Ry and I only stayed briefly before we got some tamarind and lime ices and walked back.
I was proud to be there and glad I chose to participate despite the cleaning I wanted to be doing at the house. It matters every year, but especially this one. Arizona has taken away the civil rights of every day people (including citizens) who will be needlessly harassed and persecuted.
During the march I realized that we had originally been talking about taking our spring break trip to Arizona, but decided instead to go to Mexico. Though I loved my time living in Arizona and there were many people there I would have liked to see, I felt glad I did not support the state's tourist infrastructure with our money. I also saw it as an ironic twist that our money went to Mexico instead. Besides being hateful, Jan Brewer's choice to sign this bill into law is also shortsighted. Much of Arizona's state revenue comes from tourism and a town like Flagstaff depends on it. I'm interested to see what the economic fall out will be for a state that's already struggling financially. I hate to hope that the state will take a hit, because I know many people who live and work there, but I wonder what else can send such a strong message.
Saturday we participated in the annual May Day Immigrants' Rights March organized by Voces De La Frontera. The first march was held in 2005 and it has continued each year since. This is the second year I've participated and Ry has been to six total. Given the recent hateful legislation passed in Arizona, this year's crowd was particularly large and fired up. I also think there were more white supporters and union supporters than in years past, which made me feel good knowing there were many others who want to speak up regarding the need for immigration reform now.
Thousands of people were peacefully assembled outside the Voces headquarters on 5th and National and opening ceremony speakers were on stage when smoke started billowing from the alley next door. Some hateful person started a couch on fire in a dumpster next to the building. I think it was meant to incite panic and fear in the marchers. There was a little bit of panic. I heard a couple of shouts of "la migra" from some march goers who were afraid immigration officials had come to do a raid. Things calmed down in a matter of a few minutes thanks to the calm of the organizers from the speaker's podium and a few police officers who were nearby that pulled the dumpster away from the building. But it was scary nonetheless. I was disgusted that someone would commit such an act of hate at a peaceful demonstration, especially on a windy spring day when fire could have easily spread or injured someone.
We marched up National Avenue from 5th Street all the way to Mitchell Park on 27th street. The news estimated 60,000 people participated, but that seems too high to me. I was impressed to see people of all ages and backgrounds marching despite age and physical impairments. There were kids in wagons, a young boy pushing his sister with a broken leg in a wheel chair, several elderly people in wheelchairs, politicians, academics, priests, nuns and many, many every day working people. We ended the march with a rally in Mitchell Park, where Ry and I only stayed briefly before we got some tamarind and lime ices and walked back.
I was proud to be there and glad I chose to participate despite the cleaning I wanted to be doing at the house. It matters every year, but especially this one. Arizona has taken away the civil rights of every day people (including citizens) who will be needlessly harassed and persecuted.
During the march I realized that we had originally been talking about taking our spring break trip to Arizona, but decided instead to go to Mexico. Though I loved my time living in Arizona and there were many people there I would have liked to see, I felt glad I did not support the state's tourist infrastructure with our money. I also saw it as an ironic twist that our money went to Mexico instead. Besides being hateful, Jan Brewer's choice to sign this bill into law is also shortsighted. Much of Arizona's state revenue comes from tourism and a town like Flagstaff depends on it. I'm interested to see what the economic fall out will be for a state that's already struggling financially. I hate to hope that the state will take a hit, because I know many people who live and work there, but I wonder what else can send such a strong message.
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