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The world of academia – a Moscow perspective

NonSoccerMom — Tue, 02 May 2017 20:08:00 +0000

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to participate in an exchange program which took me to Moscow. People, let me tell you: I never imagined that working in university research administration could provide such amazing travel opportunities. I was selected as a participant in the Eurasia Foundation US-Russia Social Expertise Exchange program,Â and they sponsored my travel to Russia.

I’ve been working in this field since April of 2004, and what better way to celebrate my lucky 13th anniversary than taking a trip halfway around the globe? I was paired up with a fellow research administrator and exchange participant from UMass, and together we headed off for Moscow on Saturday, April 22. We arrived late Sunday afternoon, settled into the hotel and by Monday morning, we were ready to meet Konstantin, our contact/translator for the week.

With my travel buddy, Kim

We were visiting the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences (MSSES), which has a joint relationship with the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA). The relationship between the two institutions is complex and overlapping, and required a complicated flowchart drawn byÂ Konstantin. Honestly, it’s such a complex scenario I’m still not sure I understand but basically: MSSES is a private institution, RANEPA is state-funded, and several of the departments have overlapping sections within each separate university.

Building 9 on the MSSES/RANEPA campus – our temporary office location

Over the course of the week, we had meetings with several staff and faculty members involved with the research enterprise at both MSSES and RANEPA, and we also had the chance to meet with the supervisor of the international department at the Russian Foundation for Humanities. The conversations brought to light both the similarities and differences – and challenges faced – by researchers and administrators in Russia and the United States. Some things were surprising, but others not so much. I guess that seemingly needless bureaucracy and administrative tedium are constants no matter where you are.

We had a couple of very productive meetings with some staff who often get pulled into helping faculty researchers with various aspects of grant management. They had a lot of questions about how it works at American institutions, especially related to internal tracking and the software used by our institutions to monitor grant proposals and awards. It was a really great opportunity to give pointers and explain a few things that may make their jobs easier.

I’m still sorting through my notes and impressions – there was so much conversation and information that it felt like a massive data download. And I’ll plan to get another post up soon that has more pictures of the overall travel experience. Moscow is a beautiful city, and I’m still kind of in shock that I had the opportunity to expand my professional knowledge and experience in such an amazing setting. I’m so glad I took a chance and applied for this exchange program and hope that the connections and contacts I made will continue into the future and prove to be as mutually beneficial as I think they can be.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the US-Russia Social Expertise Exchange or Eurasia Foundation.

Krista, Konstantin and Kim at MSSES

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Updates (Title! Such creative! So exciting!)

NonSoccerMom — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 03:56:14 +0000

I guess I’m back to posting sporadically, which is presumably better than not posting at all. I suppose so, anyway. Even though I really enjoy writing, I find there isn’t much of interest going on in my day-to-day life. At least not much of anything that I could write about in a way to be interesting to others. So in lieu of a totally cohesive story for this post, I’ll just run through a few update-y type things that have happened recently.

My 14-year-old son Lex was assigned toÂ his top choice of high school. I don’t know if I’ve ever written about the craziness of the school system here (I did a cursory search of my old posts and didn’t find anything, so maybe not), but it’s essentially a lottery system for kindergarten and 9th grade. We moved here when he was going into 4th grade, and I was lucky enough to land him a spot in an awesome elementary school. Total dumb beginner’s luck that worked in our favor twice, since he was going into 5th grade there when we needed to get Misty into kindergarten. There’s no way we would have gotten her into that highly-desirable school without the sibling preference weighting factor in the K lottery. Middle school was no big deal, as they actually assign those based on the closest elementary. My point? This is the first time that we’ve truly dealt with the SFUSD lottery assignment process. We toured different schools, he took the required admission test for one of the options, we talked about what order to list our preferences in. One grade-based school requires you to enroll thereÂ if you put it as first choice and get accepted; the others aren’t grade-based admission but there’s also no way to weight your chances at acceptance. It’s a lengthy, stressful process that culminated in a delay on receiving the assignment letters in mid-March due to an error by the school district. In the end, he was assigned to the school he put first on the list, and now I have a small idea of what the college application process looks like from a parent’s perspective. All’s well that ends well, I suppose.
I have accepted a new job. Same university, similar role, but in a central administration office rather than one of the individual schools. A lateral move for now, but with more opportunities down the line. I hadÂ several reasons for considering the position (I was essentially recruited – or, as a coworker likes to say, “poached”), some of which would require a password-protected post, but the main thing is that this will get me back into a part of the job that I really enjoy. I’m really looking forward to it, and will start in my new role on May 8 because of something else that I’m about to mention. There! That was a lot of words to not say much at all.
So, even though I was offered the new job in mid-March, my last day at my current job isn’t until May 5. That’s because I was selected into a US/Europe exchange program and if all goes well, I’ll be in Moscow later this month. I’d give more details, but I don’t really have any. I filled out the visa application and sent off my passport, so now I have A) no passport B) no plane tickets C) no visa D) no idea where I’m staying E) no firm travel dates and F) no clue when I’ll know any of this. The program staff are all very chill about the whole thing and they do this all the time, so I’m trying not to freak out. But theoretically I’m leaving in less than two weeks and since I refuse to do any packing or preparation until I have plane and hotel reservations in hand…it could be a photo finish, is what I’m saying.

So there you have it. I’d say I’ll try to update more regularly, but I think we all know that’s a lie.

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2016 in review

NonSoccerMom — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 04:18:44 +0000

I’m still trying to get back into regular writing (and my sweet husband got me a shiny new Chromebook for Christmas and now I have no excuses) so what better way to do that then an easy Q&A? I’ve done this one at least a few times before but not for 2015 because lazy. Anyway, here we go.

1. What did you do in 2016 that youâ€d never done before?

Went through the high school application process with my 8th grader. Went to a concert (Metallica!) at AT&T Park. Took a family vacation to Europe. Presented at a national conference for work. Attended (and presented at) a conference in Maui.Â Took part in a nationally-released photo project.

2. Did you keep your New Yearâ€s resolutions, and will you make more?

I didn’t make any resolutions (as per usual) and no, not planning on making any.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! My little sister gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl. I love her so.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not this year.

5. Â What countries did you visit?

Greece, Malta, Italy, France, Turkey and Spain. We went on a 10-day cruise through the Mediterranean and it was GLORIOUS. Our flights also took us through SwedenÂ but I don’t count that as a “visit” since it was just a passport stamp and sitting in the airport.

6. Â What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

A solid career track. My job is going well and it’s perfect for where I am in my life, but it’s somewhat lacking in a path for professional growth and I’d like to have a clear plan.

7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched in your memory, and why?

April 11, when my sweet little niece was born. The end of June/early July, when we were on our cruise. November 8, when I realized with horror what our nation had done.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I established my worth in a new job, earning a good reputation and the respect of a challenging group of personalities. Also, taking on a train wreck of a work project and turning it into something respectable, despite my limited knowledge and experience in that particular aspect of my job.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I allowed my emotions and frustration to get the better of me and walked out of a heated meeting with my boss. (I apologized. It’s all fine now.)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had a health situation in October that got out of hand because I tried to ignore it. Nothing life-threatening or anything, but it was incredibly miserable. Lesson learned: go to the doctor BEFORE pain becomes all-consuming.

11. Â What was the best thing you bought?

The cruise.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Rent. The aforementioned cruise. And as always, the federal government and the state of California. I shake my fist at you, taxes.

13. Â What did you get really excited about?

I think planning and preparing for our family vacation was almost as fun as the trip itself. I love the anticipation.

14. What song will always remind you of 2016?

Disturbed’s version of “The Sound of Silence” even though that came out in 2015. I listened to it a LOT and it is hauntingly wonderful. Adele’s “Hello” because they played it on the radio sooooooo muuuuuuuch.

15. Compared to last year are you: Richer or poorer? Thinner or fatter? Happier or sadder?

RicherÂ on paper, but somehow expenses always seem to expand in relation to any additional funds. No real change in my sizeÂ but man, my personal happiness has taken a real nosedive since the election. The next four years are going to be rough.

16. What do you wish youâ€d done more of?

Exercising, especially since I have free access to multiple campus gyms.

17. What do you wish youâ€d done less of?

Getting worked up and stressed out about the election campaign. I had convinced myself it was okay for me to get really immersed in all of the horribleness, thinking that awful excuse for a man would never win. I thought the high levels of stress would be temporary and I’d be over it once we got past election night. I was devastatingly wrong.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

In Texas with the family.

19. What was your favorite TV show?

Supernatural, again (still). The most recent season of American Horror Story (the Roanoke one) was pretty good. Entertaining, at least. I’m really enjoying the new Lethal Weapon series, and surprisingly the new MacGyver too. Didn’t think that one would win me over.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

For someone who commutes via train, I don’t really read as many books as I probably should. I did read The Light Between Oceans, which was very good. Finally read The Exorcist and enjoyed it, though not as much as the movie. I’m currently working on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which is good so far (I started it in 2016 so it counts).

21. Favorite music?

Metallica dropped a new album for the first time in ages so that’s the clear winner. Really though, I just love music. I choose my playlist depending on mood, normally – I have a heavy metal list, a list of upbeat, fast-paced stuff, and a list I’ve named angst/ennui. That one got a lot of use in 2016,

22. Favorite films?

Rogue OneÂ was really good.Â I also enjoyed Star Trek: Beyond.

23. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

It was a Saturday, so the family and I hung out at home mostly. I turned 37.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Being able to retire and live out the rest of my life on a well-appointed yacht, without a care in the world. This will consistently beÂ my answer to this particular question, always and forever.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?

Dark skinny jeans.Â Converse. Infinity scarves. Second verse, same as the first.

26. What kept you sane?

Music. Wine. Family. Same as always.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.

Sometimes you have to suck it up and apologize for the sake of diplomacy even if you aren’t sorry.

The post 2016 in review first appeared on NonSoccerMom.com.

2014 in review

NonSoccerMom — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 04:29:08 +0000

Technically I guess I should have done this on December 31, but I didn’t get around to it so better late than never. (Never seems to have mostly been the theme around here lately. Ahem.) Anyway,Â I used to really enjoy doing this year-end wrap-up post every year, so here it is.

1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?

Experienced an earthquake. Went to a movie sing-a-long (Frozen) at the Castro Theatre. Visited theÂ Point Bonita Lighthouse. Sat in club level seats at a GiantsÂ game. Went to a minor league baseball game. Became the parent of a middle schooler. Visited Lake Tahoe (highly recommend) and Reno (not so much). Attended a conference in Washington, D.C. I’m sure lots of other things too – it has been a busy year!

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more?

No, I generally don’t make resolutions because they inevitably lead to disappointment and feelings of failure. And also I have the memory capabilities of a goldfish so I’d probably forget them before I could accomplish anything anyway!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

One of my best friends from high schoolÂ had an adorable (and tiny!) baby girl. I finally met her at two months old…and she was still 7 ounces shy of how much my daughter weighed AT BIRTH.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. Â What countries did you visit?

None this year, but next year I’ll finally have something fun to report for this question!

6. Â What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

Endless cash flow. Wouldn’t we all? No, seriously – I’d like to feel really fulfilled in and excited by my job. I’m very good at what I do but sometimes it’s less than personally fulfilling.

7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched in your memory, and why?

Hmm. See above re: goldfish memory.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I don’t really think I’ve achieved anything too huge this year. It’s been a long, tough year at work full of both minor achievements and minor failures but nothing that really stands out. In my personal lifeÂ I think it has mostly been status quo.

9. What was your biggest failure?

At work I rearranged some staff assignments without first checking in with the client base which caused a HUGE kerfuffle.Â The client reactionÂ totally took me by surprise and I was able to damage control, but lesson learned. Never again!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing major. Sinus and stomach issues here and there, per the usual.

11. Â What was the best thing you bought?

A pair of super-dark, super-stretchy skinny jeans. They keep their shape through multiple wears, are very flattering and extremely comfortable. Also I got them on sale, which basically makes them the perfect purchase.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Rent. The federal government and the state of California, both of whichÂ take an appalling amount of my paycheck each month. Disney got a significant chunk this year as well.

13. Â What did you get really excited about?

Christmas vacation. Going to Disney was so much fun (see #18 below) and I wish that we could do that every year! Also just having two solid weeks away from a stressful job really helped me put things in perspective.

14. What song will always remind you of 2014?

Same answer as my husband – “All of Me” by John Legend, which I actually did like at first but am now quite sick of. Either that, or “Let it Go” from Frozen.

15. Compared to last year are you: Richer or poorer? Thinner or fatter? Happier or sadder?

Richer, at least on paper. No real change in my size or overall happiness levels.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Running and/or going to the gym.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Lamenting what I do not have.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

At DisneyÂ WorldÂ with my family (including parents, sister and brother-in-law). It wasn’t a traditional Christmas but we had a fantastic time! We flew into Orlando Christmas Eve and stayed until the 28th. It was the perfect length and everyone had so much fun.

19. What was your favorite TV show?

Sons of Anarchy, and now it is OVER and I am SAD. I also binge-watched American Horror Story on Netflix and adored season 1, but have lukewarm feelings about Freak Show so I can’t call this an overall favorite. NCIS is still a long-running fave, along with Supernatural and Hawaii 5-0.

20. What were your favorite books of the Â year?

The Fault in Our Stars was so, so good (still need to see the movie!) and I read Marley & Me during Christmas and really enjoyed that one too…which I guess has also been made into a movie. Maybe I should watch it too.

21. Favorite music?

I just like music, even the pop hits they play ad nauseum on the local mix station. So I don’t really have a favorite (except Metallica of course. Always Metallica.)

22. Favorite films?

Guardians of the Galaxy was fun. We don’t go to the movies a lot but I’m looking forward to the next Avengers movie.

23. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

Stupidly, I went to work. I don’t plan on making that mistake again this year, although my team softened the blow with a Metallica-themed gift and decorations. I turned 35.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Being able to retire and live out the rest of my life on a well-appointed yacht, without a care in the world. This will consistently beÂ my answer to this particular question, always and forever.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?

Boots and leggings. And lots of cardigans. Also scarves.

26. What kept you sane?

I drink a lot of wine, but that probablyÂ benefits those around me more than anything else.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.

Sometimes personal growth is painful.

The post 2014 in review first appeared on NonSoccerMom.com.

2012, Summarized

NonSoccerMom — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:05:30 +0000

If you care to read them, you can find 2010â€²s end-of-year summaryÂ hereÂ and 2011 over here. Â If you write one, let me know in the comments â€“ I love reading these as much as I love writing them!

1. What did you do in 2012 that youâ€d never done before?

Finished graduate school. Interviewed for a job via Skype. Moved to California. Became the boss (which is different from being bossY, because we all know I’ve been THAT for a while).

2. Did you keep your new yearâ€s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Hereâ€s what I wrote for 2012:

Finish grad school.Â Check. I graduated from Arizona State University in May with a MA in Criminal Justice.
Improve my job situation. Â Big, fat check.
Make more of an effort to record family memories.Â Â Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaa. Ahem. Fail. Wait – I started using Instagram. Does that count?
Have more patience with the kids.Â Â You know, I think I may actually have done this. At least somewhat. It certainly wasn’t the original plan for me to be their sole caregiver for the latter part of the year, but doing so has taught me a lot about patience. Whether I always manage it or not, I certainly know how to better approach it by now.

If there’s one thing I’d like to do in 2013, it is plan for the future. I’ve been so wrapped up in the now that I’ve lost sight of where we may end up in twenty or thirty years, and you know. I’d like to be able to retire at some point.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! My good friend BB. Unfortunately, I only got a couple months of enjoying that sweet baby before I moved.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

Not a single one. N and I went to Phoenix in May for my graduation, and obviously I made the trek from Texas to California (and back again for Christmas) but other than that, travel has been sparse. Hopefully that can be rectified in 2013. Traveling is one of my very favorite things to do, and the kids are both finally old enough to take along for the ride.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

More time. I’d like a 36-hour day, is that possible?

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Oh, that’s a hard one. It’s been a big year. July was a banner month – I started a new position at a higher level, moved to my second-favorite city on the planet (Paris is the first, in case you’re wondering), and lived truly by myself for the very first time.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I’m pretty proud both of graduating with a 4.0 and getting a significant promotion. I went from managing proposals to managing people, which is a pretty big change.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I prefer to think of failures as learning experiences and life challenges. It’s only a failure if you allow it to be.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nope. The usual sinus crap, which I hoped to avoid by moving to a totally different climate but no such luck.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

An assortment of comfortable flats, because my beloved 4-inch heels simply aren’t practical when you live in a very hilly city and don’t have a car.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Moving expenses.

13. What did you get really excited about?

Have you really not been paying attention? Moving halfway across the country and up a rung on the career ladder was pretty damn exciting.

14. What song will always remind you of 2012?

Gangnam Style. That song is EVERYWHERE – even in my fourth-grader’s class, apparently.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

â€“ happier or sadder?Â Happier, definitely. I thrive on challenge and change, and this year has definitely offered plenty of both.
â€“ thinner or fatter?Â About the same as always, but sporting some killer leg muscles from all these hills. DEAR GOD, THE HILLS.
â€“ richer or poorer?Â That’s kind of a hard one. I make a lot more money than I did six months ago, but also live in one of the most expensive areas of the country. So all things being equal – about the same as before.

16. What do you wish youâ€d done more of?

Working out. Saving money. Sleeping.

17. What do you wish youâ€d done less of?

Fretting over the future. Things happen when they’re meant to. I know this, and yet I fret anyway.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Visiting family in Texas. We flew into Austin on Christmas Eve to spend a few days with my parents before heading down to The Swamp to have a late Christmas with the in-laws.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

I’ve become somewhat more of a TV junkie in recent months. Now that I’m done with school I have the time for it, I guess. Hawaii 5-0,Â NCIS,Â Sons of Anarchy, Burn Notice and Psych are all still faves. My newest obsessions areÂ Supernatural and Grimm.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

I read embarrassingly little, but hope to rectify that in 2013.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?

I listen to so many types of music, it’s really hard to pick a favorite. But you can’t go wrong with Metallica or Rob Zombie. Or *I* can’t. I do acknowledge that such music may not be the best option for say, my 94-year-old grandmother.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

Y’all, I don’t think I’ve seen a damn thing. Not a THING. And if I did, it obviously wasn’t memorable in the least.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 33, and as per usual don’t really recall the specifics of the day. Oh wait, yes I do. N bought me a Keurig (LOVE!) and we celebrated at home. I believe it was the first time I’d gone to work on my birthday in quite some time, thanks to years of conveniently-timed spring break. It was low-key, but I suppose that’s typical as you age.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Living in the same house (or even state) as my husband. The latter part of the year, anyway. Haven’t lived with him since the beginning of July.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

Same as always until July, when I became a Â scarf-wearing maniac. The weather and logistics of life in San Francisco have forced me to rework my style a bit. Tights and leggings with dresses. Cardigans over everything. Flats instead of heels, and the weather is so wildly unpredictable that it’s smart to always have a scarf and an extra layer in one’s bag (and I don’t carry a purse anymore. Always a larger messenger bag or backpack). Honestly, I probably dress up a little more than I did before, even though my office is more casual. Most of my staff wears jeans on the regular but I rarely wear pants to work anymore, just because I’ve found that a dress with tights and boots is a bit warmer. So I’d describe my style as practical without being boring.

26. What kept you sane?

Wine. You think I’m kidding. Never underestimate the soothing power of a glass of cabernet.

FINE, I’m kidding. FaceTime has been so great in terms of keeping in touch with family, and thanks to cheap airfare both N and my parents have kept us from being too lonely out here. Social media has also helped a great deal. Technology, man. Wave of the future.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

I listed it last year but if this year didn’t prove it nothing will: Anything worth having is absolutely worth working for. And as an addendum, if you want it just do it. You’ll never regret going for your dreams, but you sure as hell will regret living with a raging case of the “what-ifs”. Life’s just too short to spend wondering if you could have done something. Trust me. You can. And definitely should.

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The pursuit of thankfulness

NonSoccerMom — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:30:34 +0000

As was probably obvious in the last post, I’m feeling rather…put upon. And crabby. And because of events out of our control, N’s trip to SF has been delayed by a day. Less than a day, actually, but he was scheduled to arrive tonight and now won’t be here until around 3 pm or so tomorrow. We haven’t seen him in a month so as you can imagine, this delay – while minor in the overall scheme of things – has not improved my mental state.

Maybe it is silly (or cliched) to come up with a list of things that make you happy in an effort to actually be thankful that you have them. But I do this every so often and it did work for me here and here, so I’ll give it a try.

So here we go. In no particular order, a bunch of little things (because duh, of course I’m thankful for my family, friends and health) that make life worth living:

New bronze ballet flats. Re-startingÂ Sons of Anarchy from the beginning, back before every character’s life became a total train wreck. The ridiculously good $1.99 wine from Trader Joe’s. Supernatural on Netflix Instant. Cookie Butter. The way my 4-year-old calls the first meal of the day “brep-tist”. The song “Boston” by Augustana. A perfect pair of skinny jeans, on sale for $20. Grocery delivery. Enjoying a really strong cabernet out of my favorite wine glass. Taking the bus without the kids so I can listen to music and zone out completely. A Gap denim jacket with perfectly long sleeves, even for my freak-show monkey arms. “Go to California” by Rob Zombie. OPI Midnight in Moscow. A mega-cheap, super-convenient dim sum place near my house. Timing the morning commute so that we don’t have to wait more than 5 minutes at each bus stop. Discovering a new show to watch on Fridays, thereby locking up every single weeknight for laziness maximization. Live Free or Die Hard. Calling the landlord for house-related issues instead of shelling out money. Lentil hummus from the local farmer’s market. New friends to have lunch with. Creme brulee coffee creamer. Booking tickets to Texas for two weeks at Christmas. Finding a reliable, available babysitter. Children miraculously entertaining themselves, so that I can write this post.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The post The pursuit of thankfulness first appeared on NonSoccerMom.com.

Just like a grownup

NonSoccerMom — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 01:40:10 +0000

Y’all! I managed to navigate the San Francisco bus system and get from point A to point B ALL BY MYSELF. You may not be impressed, but this is a big thing for me. Here’s the deal. Whenever we travel I have N as a guide (enabler) all the time, see, and so I don’t have to worry about the finer points of public transportation. Get on, get off, show my ticket as needed and look out the window at the scenery, knowing full well that my husband will poke me when it’s our stop.

But since he headed back to Texas this morning it is just me, Google maps and the MUNI bus schedule, and I am pleased to report that I did not get lost one single time, nor did I cry. Huzzah! Basic life skills FTW.

In related news, my first day at work went well. Everyone is very nice and I don’t think it will take long for me to settle in at all. I also was reminded of one of the many reasons to love California – I can virtually guarantee that there’s not an office cafeteria anywhere in Texas that has falafel on the menu. It is damn good falafel, too.

That said, I know the hugeness of this change has yet to fully sink in – although I am occasionally having moments of OMG I LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO NOW WTF HOW DID THIS HAPPEN I CANNOT EVEN. It’s still all shiny and new for the moment, and reality has yet to bite me in the butt. I’m sure it will happen soon and no doubt when it does I’ll cry (AGAIN) for the life I left behind, but with each passing minute I know that moving here was the right decision.

The post Just like a grownup first appeared on NonSoccerMom.com.

Reboot

NonSoccerMom — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 21:47:55 +0000

I know, I know. Believe me, I am very aware that it has been entirely too long since my last post. I could give you a ton of excuses, but that’s exactly what they would be. The truth of the matter is, I’m just lazy. There’s been plenty to write about – finishing school, going to Arizona for graduation and a mini-vacation, Misty’s pre-k “graduation”, putting the house up for sale, which is of course related to the fact that I am soon starting a new job. In California.

Yep. This post is coming to you from a tiny studio apartment at the edge of Union Square in San Francisco. It’s a far cry from the comfortable familiarity of a mid-sized town in central Texas, that is for damn sure. This place is only temporary (thank the tiny baby Jesus in his tiny little manger because holy crap, some of the nearby neighborhoods are…questionable), but will give me a chance to sort out a permanent situation before the kids arrive in early August. In addition to starting a brand-new job, I have to secure daycare, find Lex a school, figure out how to navigate public transportation, and somehow find a place to live that is all of the following:

A – 3 bedroom

B – (relatively) affordable

C – dog and cat friendly, and

D – located in minimally sketchy surroundings

This will be harder than you’d think.

The logistics are going to be a nightmare, there’s no doubt about it. Not to mention, everything about living in an urban area is a departure from what I’m accustomed to. It will take an entire readjustment to my way of thinking before I can call this city home. I’ll have to get used to the fact that it will take ages to get where I’m going, I’ll have to wrangle two kids (one scatterbrained, one mulishly stubborn) using public transportation on the regular, everything costs an arm and a leg (except the groceries at Trader Joe’s, HUZZAH!), and there are incredibly vocal crazy people everywhere. No, really. EVERYWHERE.

But! I’m optimistic. I love a challenge, which is probably obvious otherwise I wouldn’t have accepted a job thousands of miles away in the first place. It’s a great opportunity to do something I’ve always wanted, and I’m grateful to have a husband that is willing to take the plunge along with me. The kids seem excited, as much as they can be with limited comprehension of what this actually MEANS to their wee lives, and I’m absolutely positive it will all work out fine in the end. We’ll move in, get settled, and soon SF will feel just as much home as any other place.

It will be an adjustment, but I’m a firm believer that anything worth having is worth working for. Complacency and acceptance of the status quo are boring to me, and the only way to live to the fullest is by changing up the norm. I’ll of course miss my “old” life – I had worked at that job for over 8 years and it was comfortable. Frustrating and crazy-making at (many) times, but at least I knew what I was doing. I’ve left all of my friends and family behind – no more weekend jaunts to my parents’ place just because the kids need a change of scenery. All of that is over now, and it is time for a new beginning.

That said, my goal is to write here far, far more often than before. Like near-daily, at least at first while I’m here alone. I’ll certainly have more time on my hands, and may as well use it. This blog won’t be just a place for me to moan and whine (as much) anymore (oh, who am I kidding. Come for the stories and brilliant commentary, stay for the bitching) – it can be a useful place to keep friends and family caught up on my life. Those who care to know, anyway. And if you fall into that category, then I promise to try and make it worth your while.

The post Reboot first appeared on NonSoccerMom.com.

2011, in a nutshell (kind of)

NonSoccerMom — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:19:38 +0000

If interested for comparison purposes, you can find 2010’s end-of-year summary here. Â If you write one, let me know in the comments – I love reading these as much as I love writing them!

1. What did you do in 2011 that youâ€d never done before?

Maintained a 4.0 GPA. Â Made a one-day out-of-state trip for a job interview, then turned down the subsequent job offer. Â Went to the Middle East.

2. Did you keep your new yearâ€s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Hereâ€s what I wrote for 2011:

I generally donâ€t make specific resolutions.Â And if you want to know the honest truth, itâ€s because Iâ€ll forget what I resolved to do.

True dat. Â Maybe I could use this entry as a reminder of what I hope to accomplish over the year. Â Resolutions always seem sort of lame to me, but I love a good to-do list so maybe if I look at it from that perspective it will work. Â So:

Finish grad school. Â This should be accomplished in early May.
Improve my job situation. Â Work has been…challenging for several months now and I’d like to improve that in one way or another. Â At this point I’m not picky.
Make more of an effort to record family memories. Â Either I need to blog more reliably or take up scrapbooking again. Â Or start creating professionally printed photo books. Â Now that I’m almost done with school I should have more free time. Theoretically.
Have more patience with the kids. Â Patience may be a virtue but unfortunately is not one of mine. Â I’m hoping things will be easier on this front now that we’ve turned the corner out of age three with Misty.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No, but a good friend is pregnant so I’m looking forward to April. Â A new baby to cuddle that doesn’t keep me up at night! Â Woo!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, and thank goodness for that.

5. What countries did you visit?

Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Mexico. Â Qatar. Â And technically I was in UAE, but never left the airport so I wouldn’t call it a visit. Â Although the duty-free shopping in the Dubai airport is incredibly impressive and possibly a tourist destination all on its own.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

Forward motion. Â As previously mentioned, I’m finishing up my master’s in the spring and would like to use it, you know? Â Although I’m not sure that things are going to pan out along the original plan, I’d like to feel as though I’m moving UP a career ladder rather than just chilling on the same damn rung year after year.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

It isn’t every day that a gal gets to fly halfway across the world (in business class, no less), so I’m not likely to forget that anytime soon.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I think it bears repeating that I’ve managed to maintain straight As in my classwork while working full-time and parenting two kids. Â Of course, none of it would be possible without N – he is the most awesome husband and co-parent any woman could ask for. Â Achieving an entireÂ decade of marriage is pretty impressive too.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I continue to be the opposite of a domestic goddess, whatever that may be. Â The anti-housewife, I suppose. Â A big fat FAIL in the domesticity department, no matter how you look at it.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing really. Â Sinus troubles here and there, although I’ve discovered the wonder of Mucinex and therefore managed to avoid a full-blown sinus infection for an entire year.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

LASIK. Â Hands down.

12. Where did most of your money go?

As usual, our mortgage payment and child care fees ate up a significant chunk of change.

13. What did you get really excited about?

Going from 20/400 to 20/15 vision is pretty damn exciting.

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Not exactly sure…I listen to such an eclectic mix of music that it’s hard to say. Â Probably something by Bruno Mars – like maybe The Lazy Song.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

â€“ happier or sadder?Â Sadder overall, but only because work has been so massively frustrating lately. Â I’d say my personal happiness is about the same as last year.
â€“ thinner or fatter?Â No real change.
â€“ richer or poorer? We’ve taken better control of our finances by going to a mostly cash-based budget, but still have some debt to get paid off. Â So taking all that into consideration, about the same I guess.

16. What do you wish youâ€d done more of?

Distance running – I’ve been copping out with 1-2 mile runs most of the time and would like to get back to a place where a 5K is nothing big. Â Writing here. Â Playing with the kids.

17. What do you wish youâ€d done less of?

Fretting over work and making my husband miserable with all of the constant bitching.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

In The Swamp, splitting days between our families for the last time – my parents are permanently moving to their retirement home in a few weeks.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

Still totally into Burn Notice, NCIS, Psych and Sons of Anarchy. Â I’ve added Hawaii 5-0 to the list this year.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

Other than the usual slew of Nora Roberts between semesters, I didn’t really read much of anything.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?

I listened to a lot of Rob Zombie to get me through increasingly torturous workdays.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

Fast Five. Â It may not be Oscar-worthy, but that’s the one that stands out as most enjoyable. Â It seems I didn’t do a lot of movie-watching in 2011.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I’m honestly not sure. Â I checked my archives and evidently didn’t write about it. Â I’m sure we just celebrated at home. Â I turned 32.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Access to a reliable, inexpensive babysitter. Â I generally don’t mind living a couple hours away from family but sometimes it is frustrating to not have ready access to grandparents-as-free-childcare.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Second verse, same as the first. Â I wear what is comfortable for me, which includes black and gray 95% of the time.

26. What kept you sane?

Friends and family, especially my husband. Â I would have gone off the deep end long ago if I didn’t have him to help me keep it all together.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Not all good memories have to involve spending vast quantities of money. Â Being a homeowner is totally overrated. Â White wine makes my teeth sensitive sometimes, but red wines do not. Â Anything worth having is worth working for.

The post 2011, in a nutshell (kind of) first appeared on NonSoccerMom.com.

Obligatory post-trip update

NonSoccerMom — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:56:48 +0000

Okay, so I got back from Qatar on November 3. Â Sue me, okay? You read this blog, you get what you pay for.

Anyhow. Â Qatar, yes. Â A couple of coworkers and I were sent to our campus in Doha to meet with some researchers face-to-face prior to a big proposal deadline. Â And I am here to tell you that lo, it was awesome.

First of all, I love air travel. Â I don’t really care about the destination as long as it involves taking a plane. Â I love everything about it. Â Waking up early to get to the airport. Â Searching for a magazine at an over-priced newsstand. Â Hauling ass through the terminal to make a connection. Â I don’t even mind taking off my shoes and pulling out my laptop to get through security. Â I just really enjoy the entire experience, especially the actual flight. Â There’s nothing quite like knowing you have absolutely nowhere else to be, so you may as well relax and enjoy the ride. Â (And the free champagne.)

Now. Â That being said, it turns out that around hour ten of an international flight is when I start to get restless and starting thinking things like OH MY GOD this flight will never END and I am going to be ON THIS PLANE for the rest of my LIFE. Â Because at that point we still had over five hours to go and well, that can start to feel a little dire. Â When you have enough time to watch SEVEN ENTIRE MOVIES on one flight, you know it is a long one.

But we did eventually land, although it was in Dubai and we had to make a connection into Doha from there. Â Fortunately that flight was only an hour and we were literally the only people in business class (HELLS YEAH, business class, BTW – I definitely would have died had I been stuck in coach for fifteen hours) so it wasn’t bad at all.

And upon leaving the airport, I immediately decided that I love Doha even more than air travel. Â While I do realize that it can get up to a horrifying 120 degrees in the summer, the weather is merely pleasantly warm this time of year. Â Everything is clean and shiny new (SO MUCH construction – there are cranes in the background of almost every photo), the people are pleasant and overall it was a phenomenal experience. Â Doha is a very international city. Â Only about 20% of the residents are native Qatari, everyone else is an expat. Â Australia, Britain, the US, you name it and someone of that nationality lives in Doha. Â Arabic is the official language but English is very widely spoken so there’s no trouble whatsoever in terms of getting around. Â Not even for this central Texas gal.

Okay, enough blathering. Â On to the photos! Â You can find the full set here, should you be interested in such things.

So to sum up: Â Doha = AWESOME. Â Air travel = also awesome, though admittedly less so after 15 hours on a single flight. Â Whether you’re in business class or not.

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