Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Blogs...Are they dying?

Mine is. How very sad.

I'm not going to make a "New Year's Resolution" to post more. Mostly because I don't really see the necessity. But I will post more... probably.

Things I will do this year:
Look for a new job. Not that I don't like the one I have now. I've actually grown to somewhat enjoy what I do. I don't like the ornery students who yell at me and think I'm doing everything I can to make sure they don't get their money. And I really don't like the start of each term when things get so crazy busy that I can't get one piece of paperwork done during my regular hours, so I have to stay late (with no overtime) to get things accomplished. But I do like getting things done. I like being busy. I like the students who don't feel entitled, who do what they're supposed to do without complaining, who thank me for my help. The main reason for the new job search is that... well... I've got a Bachelor's degree but I'm making about as much as a high school graduate could make. This is not OK. If it were up to my supervisors, we'd all be making more than we are, but it's not up to them. The school has no money. The state has no money. We won't be getting any more money any time soon. Therefore, no one will be getting any kind of raise in the foreseeable future (at least, no one in staff positions from my director and her counterparts in other departments, down to the peons like me--I'm not sure what's happening with faculty and the "higher-ups"). There's a position open at U of U (exactly what I do at UVU) that pays $4000 more than I make currently. I think I'll be applying for that one.

Buy a car. It's time. I've been relying on public transportation, my sisters, and my friends to get me where I need to go for the last... it'll be nine years this coming May. I've done my duty to the environment. I've saved myself thousands of dollars (not that any of it is in my bank account). I will have the money soon (new car projected to be in my possession sometime in March). So, yes. Sarah Heywood will finally own a car again. I know all of you who have been my chauffeur at one point or another are saying, "It's about freakin' time."

I will get in shape. I'm doing a Weight Loss Challenge with my family this year. We all want to get in better shape, but most of us suck at trying to do it on our own. We decided to do a family challenge to help encourage each other to actually get it done this year. We've got money on the line. Whoever does the best by family reunion (in late June) gets the pot. We're talking a pretty large pot, too, so I'd really like to win. I've been doing really well so far, but it's still early in the year. I hope I can keep it up!

I'll look into grad school. I know I said, "It'll never happen." But it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind. I've been thinking (and only thinking, not acting in any way whatsoever) that it might be fun to do a Master's in library studies, and work in a YA/Children's section. Anyone who knows me knows I really love YA literature. I love books in general... the feel, the smell, the weight of them in my hands... and I would love to work in a place where I could be surrounded by them. But if I could be surrounded by YA literature, that'd be heaven. (If you question the validity of YA literature, please see me. We'll chat.)

These are the things I will do. Notice I didn't say I WOULD get a new job. But I'll look. And I didn't say I WOULD go to grad school, but I'll look. I don't like to set my goals too high (haha). I hate disappointing myself and making promises I can't keep. Who knows if I really will be able to find a new job? Who knows if I can really afford grad school? We'll see... We'll see.