Approaching Burn-out

Me. I am.
I'm taking test number 7 on Monday and finding it very difficult to study. I don't think it is the beautiful day outside, but rather the fact that I am getting tired of this. It is a good thing I only have three more tests to go because it is getting harder and harder to study. I'm not terribly excited about these last three and I think I will be retaking test number 6. Don't get me wrong I look forward to November so much (that is when I plan to take number 9, before the holidays begin) that I will not take a vacation from the tests, but I sure do want to!

The life of an acedemic

http://crookedtimber.org/2007/05/30/parents-and-children/#more-5916

The above is a recent blog entry from someone in the acedemic profession. Bob and I can clearly relate to them.

I'm having trouble knowing what to post after my last one since nothing seems quite as important as it. Thank you all for your comments. I am thankful God made us passionate people and I just need to be reminded what to do with that energy.

Its not supposed to be

Every day we lose more young men and women fighting a war that we shouldn't be fighting. Most of the time I can turn my head or simply speak my disgust about it and our administration dragging us into it. But today I grieve. I found out that one of my former co-workers lost a son last week. I want to do something for her and even though I am sad and angry, nothing can compare to what they are feeling. It is times like this where I want to carry the weight of the world, I want to stop the genocide in Africa, I want there to be no more child soldiers, no more starving people, no more children without healthcare, but how can I, one small person with a regular job actually help. How many peace rallies, how many fundraisers can I attend? And it leaves me feeling pretty miserable, pretty worthless, because what does my job do to help anyone? And so today I will trudge on with a heavy heart for the world and a sad heart for my friend.

Pizza Tonight

Fall is here, classes are starting, and it is time to meet the new history grad students, tonight. I remember a lot from this night a year ago. I remember most of the people I met and I remember some of the thoughts I had. I also remember being the only spouse in Bob's class and how I left feeling very sad. I remember it all being a whirlwind and Bob trying to tell me about the program, about the students, and about his 12 hour day with them. The days that followed the pizza night I learned I was not alone. There were five significant others (SOs) joining my plight. By the time Halloween came, there were six and then I started meeting second and third year SOs. I must say that two of these SOs live outside of Davis, one of them has remained a friend but is not a SO anymore, and one I have not met (so really there are 2 of us). Now I'll be a second year SO. There were 13 students in Bob's program last year, now there are 11 (and the new class has only 9). I look forward to tonight, not only to see who Bob will be working with, who we'll be hanging out with, but to see what the SOs are like. Graduate School is a funny thing, being the wife of a graduate student is even harder to explain, but I think I like it most of the time.

Granite Lake

This weekend, Bob and I (and Lulu of course) headed to Tahoe for one last summer camping trip. We hiked in a mile and a half and camped at Granite Lake. The weather was great and we had a wonderful time. The pictures say more about the area and our trip than I can.

These views are of Tahoe and Emerald Bay and Cascade Lake.

5 for 5

I have to admit, it feels really good. I was so happy all of last night after my mom called to tell me they got the letter on my 5th exam and it was a pass! This was the test I thought for sure I would fail the first time around. It was not my strong field in school. Thanks again to everyone for your support, thoughts, and prayers for each test. So I have one left to be graded (Lateral Forces) and three left to take (Pre Design, Site Planning, and Construction Documents). I hope to take two in October and one in November. I started this process in April, without such high hopes, and now that seems like so long ago! Thanks again everyone, I couldn't do it without you! And for those of you now wondering why my parents get the letter, here is the story. NCARB is the national accreditation board and they are notorious for losing track of people who move, change their name etc., so I have always left my address at their house, knowing that they were less likely to move than I was (since graduating and starting my record with them I have moved three times). Some people chose to have it sent to their offices, but I have had 3 different jobs since then also. So the letter goes to my parents and they call me. The first one was difficult because no one knew where to look for the pass or fail and they had to read the whole letter to me. The third test I took was actually my first multiple choice (there are 3 graphic exams and 6 multiple choice) and my dad called me with the results. I had felt so disappointed after taking the exam I was sure it was a fail and I asked him if he was lying to me. I told him it wasn't funny to joke around, I really didn't believe him. The likelihood of me passing all 9 on my first try is slim. The odds and statistics are against me. Of course it would be great, but I just want everyone to know what could be expected in the next 4 letters. At then end of all this I will have to take an open book test on Oregon's laws and then have an interview with the Oregon State Board. After that I'll get a license number and the precious rubber stamp! I will have another exam to take after this is all done though. I want to also become LEED certified (which stands for Leader in Energy and Environmental Design) but they tell you right away if you pass that exam or not. I would then get to add AIA, LEED after my name. The light at the end of the tunnel is a little brighter today.

September 9

Tomorrow will be our one year Davis anniversary. I think we have adjusted pretty well and the newness has worn off. The new grad students are arriving and some old ones have already left. We have made wonderful friends, but of course we miss the ones back in Oregon. I suppose when we leave here though, there will be things we will miss also so let me focus on things I like about Davis. I like the weather and being able to swim outside and have bbqs and picnics for four months out of the year while not worrying about if it is going to rain. I like wearing my chacos for nine months of the year. I like the farmers market and the co-op. I like how close we are to a convenient airport. I like being able to purchase alcohol at the grocery store like it isn't a forbidden item. I like the fresh tortillas and a bakery that makes tasty sticky buns. I like that the plants outside live year round. I like having strawberries for six months out of the year. I like not having to walk Lulu in the rain. I like playing soccer on Saturdays. I like my book club. When I first started this blog I heart CA was a joke, I was a hard core Oregonian dragging my feet. I did not want to become the Californian I was supposed to hate. Now there are things I like and dislike, but I don't hate California, or the people who live here. Are they bad drivers, yes. Do they have ridiculous prices for housing, yes. But they also have a beautiful state that I have enjoyed exploring this year. Am I proud to be one of them? Maybe not yet, my Oregon roots are pretty deep.

Labor Day Weekend

What a full weekend! It started with a trip to the beach and ended with a bbq on a new deck.

More pics soon

I'll have a wrap up of the month as well as labor day weekend up here soon, after I take test number 6 tomorrow.