So it has been a week since my birthday (May 14). The last time we "spoke", I listed just a few activities I would be getting into this month. Well, I have done them and more, and June is booked too.
Let's go: The first weekend of May, I went trapeze-flying (sure did!) and it was Ah-mazing! I was suspended in the air flying across a huge human net as shown in the circus, which is where this all derives. While there, I also did acro-yoga (there is such a thing), which reminded me a lot of my cheer leading days from elementary through high school, so that was fun. I guess my friend and I bonded more as we climbed all over each other while trying not to hurt one another-good thing we're friends :) . I also did the silks, which is what you see the ladies & gents in the circus do when they look like caterpillars blossoming. It was a four hour adventure, followed by dinner.
The next week and weekend (which included my actual b-day) I went salsa dancing for my birthday with my hubby and some friends at Esteban's in Naperville the weekend prior to my b-day-absolutely awesome. There was a free lesson before the open dance and that was hiliarious. We danced the night away. They put my name on the screen and gave me a shout out. I took Crumbs cupcakes and balloons, and the dinner we ordered was tasty. I received some fab gifts too. My hubby showed up at home bearing gifts days before my b-day--how sweet. We had a private dinner date at Japonais restaurant on my b-day and the weather was gorgeous. I attended a jazz-nastics dance recital for my 3-year-old cousin (she was fabulous, of course) and lunch afterwards, and did a little shopping for the house and hubby.
All of these activities came right after my DC trip, so I am always just on-the-go, or as my hubby likes to call me "pack-a-bag-and-go" LOL. I should tell you that the most fantastic birthday news I received this year and on my actual day was an e-mail stating that my dissertation has been published!! It's OFFICIALE :). The e-mail arrived while at my private bday dinner with my hubby. I am so excited! Remember I said that I completed the dissertation in December 2012, and that it had to go through copy editing and then publishing, which is a lengthy process. The copy editing was completed in March 2012 and the final stage, which was publishing is now completed also. Whoo Hoo!! It takes a while on this road- what I can say? So, I have been a doctor technically for months now, it is just the long process of publishing the dissertation afterwards. The graduation ceremony is scheduled for July 26, which is also our wedding anniversary-double the celebration!!
PS- I am working on some professional development classes I plan to teach and some other exciting endeavors I can't discuss yet, so again, I am always on-the-go...
XOXO
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
May Day
Well, May has arrived and you know what that means... official birthday (birth-month) celebrations begin! (from May 1-31). You have to understand that when on the road to PhD, your life can become inundated with school, or at least for me because I like to put forth quality and excellence in my work, whatever it is. This PhD was in addition to full time working and other personal and professional responsibilities. There are many steps in the PhD process, so when the program is complete, you have to find your social life again :).
I am being more intentional about (trying to be available, when able of course) meeting with friends or relatives. Last week, I traveled to DC (I love to travel as you know) on business and when I returned to Chicago, I attended a faculty event on campus (must keep the networking up), only going home from the airport to change clothes in between, went to dinner the next day with a new friend, lunch the day after with a friend I have not seen in a little while, worked over the weekend, brainstormed wedding ideas with my cousin, met for lunch the next day with an old friend from out-of-town that I have not seen in years, had a lunch meeting with a colleague the day after, and have more gatherings ahead for this week (and beyond). There are many plans in the works, which is just the nature of my life! In fact, my hubby has nicknamed me "Pack-A-Bag-And-Go" because he says I am always ready to do something or go somewhere LOL. I couldn't even challenge him on this one :). He also says that people gravitate to me naturally and willingly, which is great because I like to connect with others too. Believe it or not, I still have those shy qualities from my childhood.
Ready for my trapeze flying, women's day, birthday (mine and others') and other life event celebrations, segway tour, photo shoots, horseback riding, and so forth...Cheers!!!
I am being more intentional about (trying to be available, when able of course) meeting with friends or relatives. Last week, I traveled to DC (I love to travel as you know) on business and when I returned to Chicago, I attended a faculty event on campus (must keep the networking up), only going home from the airport to change clothes in between, went to dinner the next day with a new friend, lunch the day after with a friend I have not seen in a little while, worked over the weekend, brainstormed wedding ideas with my cousin, met for lunch the next day with an old friend from out-of-town that I have not seen in years, had a lunch meeting with a colleague the day after, and have more gatherings ahead for this week (and beyond). There are many plans in the works, which is just the nature of my life! In fact, my hubby has nicknamed me "Pack-A-Bag-And-Go" because he says I am always ready to do something or go somewhere LOL. I couldn't even challenge him on this one :). He also says that people gravitate to me naturally and willingly, which is great because I like to connect with others too. Believe it or not, I still have those shy qualities from my childhood.
Ready for my trapeze flying, women's day, birthday (mine and others') and other life event celebrations, segway tour, photo shoots, horseback riding, and so forth...Cheers!!!
Mission Accomplished
So the last few weeks have been incredibly busy (more than usual). My regular work schedule met a short travel experience to Washington, DC (April 22-24) as part of a faculty development program for which I was recruited. It is a new and APA-sponsored 1-year long program (I began in 2012-Yep, during my PhD program). Part of this program's completion is to shadow faculty. While I have been teaching for 4 years, I decided to get involved because it was an honor for someone to recruit me (think of me) and because I always seek opportunities for advancement and growth.
I was in DC for one shadowing experience with a full-time professor who has her own business, research lab, and working on some new endeavors...everything I want to do. We instantly related and I now have a new official "unofficial mentor". I got a bonus shadowing experience with the president of our DC campus (he too is an unofficial mentor for me), which was amazing for him to open his schedule and his work to me, and share his contacts. We even had breakfast together the next day, which was the day for me to get to my second shadowing experience at Howard. Several and great opportunities have derived from my shadowing experiences to position me for endless possibilities. Working with the two of them provided tremendous support, useful and thoughtful career planning, inside information, and the full gamut of longevity in this field...something for which I am grateful this young and this early into my own career. I began teaching at 25 and have developed a plethora of skills-shadowing these (and meeting other) innovative and renowned scholars, however, has given inspiration to continue.
While there, I stayed with a colleague who also graciously served as my chauffeur and tour guide. Her hospitality was absolutely refreshing given the the long days I worked. I got to do a little touring (by car and foot), but not much since the goal was to work. We went to some restaurants, a bakery, a couple stores, a few neighborhoods, I got on the Metro train once, and of course took some pictures of landmarks. As a 'thank-you' and being the Chicago native that I am, I took Garret's popcorn (in cans) to them all as gifts. Interestingly, I almost did not make it through the airport security check with the three cans of popcorn in my carry-on luggage:). Overall, mission accomplished in DC: work & network.
I was in DC for one shadowing experience with a full-time professor who has her own business, research lab, and working on some new endeavors...everything I want to do. We instantly related and I now have a new official "unofficial mentor". I got a bonus shadowing experience with the president of our DC campus (he too is an unofficial mentor for me), which was amazing for him to open his schedule and his work to me, and share his contacts. We even had breakfast together the next day, which was the day for me to get to my second shadowing experience at Howard. Several and great opportunities have derived from my shadowing experiences to position me for endless possibilities. Working with the two of them provided tremendous support, useful and thoughtful career planning, inside information, and the full gamut of longevity in this field...something for which I am grateful this young and this early into my own career. I began teaching at 25 and have developed a plethora of skills-shadowing these (and meeting other) innovative and renowned scholars, however, has given inspiration to continue.
While there, I stayed with a colleague who also graciously served as my chauffeur and tour guide. Her hospitality was absolutely refreshing given the the long days I worked. I got to do a little touring (by car and foot), but not much since the goal was to work. We went to some restaurants, a bakery, a couple stores, a few neighborhoods, I got on the Metro train once, and of course took some pictures of landmarks. As a 'thank-you' and being the Chicago native that I am, I took Garret's popcorn (in cans) to them all as gifts. Interestingly, I almost did not make it through the airport security check with the three cans of popcorn in my carry-on luggage:). Overall, mission accomplished in DC: work & network.
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