I am going to the South Island this week for work and don't know if I'll have internet access. But just in case, a) [insert freak out about my talk here, this time it is to the big wigs!] and b) yay, I'm traveling afterward! Nothing like using a free flight from work to keep traveling costs down. I scored a sweet deal on a car --$100 for three days (and split between 3 people, so $33 each) and we'll be hostel-ing it, so costs should be low for our 3 day trip. Work covers expenses the rest of the time. I'm sure I can go grocery shopping during the week when work is covering it and stretch it out to cover part of the time when I'm on my own dime. :)
Oh! and I had my belated Thanksgiving today. It was lovely, if not a bit hot for the holiday.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Yet Another Roommate...
Well, I swear! I go through them like tissues! The newest roommate has decided to move in with her on-off again boyfriend. Too bad for me, because she has been amazing--pays everything on time, is clean and pleasant, and is hardly ever home. She is really friendly and nice, but honestly, we never hang out and we aren't even facebook friends--both of us are too busy with our own lives to make plans to hang out. I don't blame her for wanting to live somewhere where she can pal around with her housemates.
As for me, well, this couldn't come at a worse time. I'm gone for the next week and a half for a conference and some traveling, and then my mom and sister come immediately after for their trip. I don't know how I'm going to have time to wade through the dozens of psychos that answer Trademe ads, and then show the new person around and teach them all the little rules.
Honestly, I may just use my $2K travel fund and keep the place empty until my mom and sister leave on 9 Jan. It is a really long time, but my roommate's bond should cover 3 weeks of that, and then it is just 3 or 4 more weeks of rent to pay. That way, my mom and sister have a room and bed all to themselves! I can also double the garage rent again since my roommate won't be sharing the garage spot anymore.
Not to mention, this could cause my landlord to pull the trigger on selling my place...in which case I'd be moving out, too.
As for me, well, this couldn't come at a worse time. I'm gone for the next week and a half for a conference and some traveling, and then my mom and sister come immediately after for their trip. I don't know how I'm going to have time to wade through the dozens of psychos that answer Trademe ads, and then show the new person around and teach them all the little rules.
Honestly, I may just use my $2K travel fund and keep the place empty until my mom and sister leave on 9 Jan. It is a really long time, but my roommate's bond should cover 3 weeks of that, and then it is just 3 or 4 more weeks of rent to pay. That way, my mom and sister have a room and bed all to themselves! I can also double the garage rent again since my roommate won't be sharing the garage spot anymore.
Not to mention, this could cause my landlord to pull the trigger on selling my place...in which case I'd be moving out, too.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Ridin the High
It got higher! Love my job. I just got back from a trip during which I experienced what might be the peak of my career. I don't know what could top it, honestly...
Honestly!! The least of it is that I got paid to do something that other people can never do. And even if they find another way to do it, they pay oodles of money. The most of it is, well, I got to do something that hardly anyone in my career field actually gets to do. I am one very fortunate and thankful human being.
Honestly!! The least of it is that I got paid to do something that other people can never do. And even if they find another way to do it, they pay oodles of money. The most of it is, well, I got to do something that hardly anyone in my career field actually gets to do. I am one very fortunate and thankful human being.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
On a High
My boss has lately taken on much more than she can handle. Even she doesn't know how she keeps everything ticking over smoothly and how no projects have gotten severely compromised in the process. Simultaneously, I am going through an incredible growth spurt, career-wise. I finally kind of feel that I know what I am doing, where I am going, and how to handle any roadblocks that come my way.
This is my chance!
Whenever possible, I take tasks off of her plate. I have asked her to send tasks to me if she thinks I can help out with them. I volunteer for tasks she normally does. The day-to-day running of the multi-million dollar, decade-long project has pretty much fallen to me because she simply just doesn't have time to deal with the smaller tasks.
It's awesome! She is there if I need some guidance, but basically I am running the show.
The next year is going to be an incredible test of my abilities and how far I can stretch my time management, mental capacities, and life balance skills. My job tasks have grown and grown over the past 3 years, but I haven't had to say 'no' to anything yet--I have grown into them and along with them. I feel like the day I have to say 'no' to new tasks is coming, but I know that I will not want to because it will be (yet another) incredible opportunity. And so it goes. I have to start focusing and creating goals for myself, so that I know what will be beneficial for me to say 'yes' to in the future.
I guess I first have to ID my overall career goal:
Become skilled in subject X so that I can work in the US for a specific company in a particular capacity (sorry I can't be more specific!).
Now I have to ID skills necessary to get the job:
- The dreaded speaking skills:
- presenting scientific info to scientific conferences (poster and oral forms)
- appropriate/effective powerpoint presentations
- presenting scientific info to media (TV, radio, print)
- presenting scientific info to organizations that will use the info (from a business perspective)
- lead field trips, again to all of the above audiences
- teach classes, to undergrad and grad students
- mentor MSc students and assist with mentoring PhD's in specific skills
- introducing and running meetings
- Written
- write manuscripts for publication in scientific journals
- write short articles for press releases
- write short articles for government, businesses, other scientific audiences
- write abstracts for conferences
- grant proposals
- Field skills (#3-5 can be very specific; I'll keep a list to myself)
- Laboratory skills
- Software/computer skills
- Interpersonal skills (this comes in handy more than you would think!!)
- Project management
- budget creation
- project creation and planning ($ and time)
- reporting
- garnering new sponsors ($$)
- milestone management/keeping others on task
- database creation and maintenance
- organization of large meetings, workshops, and seminars
It's hard to imagine that any opportunity that comes my way won't be able to help in one of these categories, but it is good to list it all out, anyway. Eventually, I will feel like I have enough experience to try my hand at getting a similar job in the US in my specialty, and I'll have enough background knowledge from the above list to get the job done, plus be experienced enough to have several back up plans.
I feel like the luckiest duck of them all.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
One Down, Two to Go
With the completion of my recent meetings and presentation, I now have two more presentations to give in the next 3 months, the first of which will be in 3 weeks. Luckily, I can present nearly the same talk at all three, just tweaking a bit for each audience.
I realized last night, when meeting a plethora of new people (yes, I was supposed to go to bed early, but that didn't happen--too much fun stuff going on!), that I really only can talk about my job with any sort of passion. It is my go-to conversation subject, and I can't help but try to relate everything to it. It must be quite boring for others that have no interest in it. I wish I had a few other things going on in my life that I was equally/more excited about.
I do like travel quite a bit, but it is only sometimes polite to bring up, since not everyone gets that opportunity or even wants to travel internationally. In NZ, most everyone is from another country, which means, by default, they travel quite a bit (with the exception of a lot of Kiwis, and even they travel more than most Americans).
I also really love music. I can talk about that all day long, too. But unless the person I'm talking to is interested in the exact same underground indie bands as I am, we're not going to have that much to say to one another. It also comes off as pretentious if you're name dropping little-known bands; it sounds like you're trying to prove you're more with it than the other person. Plus there is the fact that I no longer have whole weekends to devote to discovering new music; work takes up quite a bit of my energy and thought. And I refuse to pay $80 to see just one band.
Even when I'm not working, I'm often thinking of my projects. They're just that interesting to me and require that much planning and fore-thought (esp. since my thought processes are much slower than they used to be--I think there are some health issues at play here).
In my free time, I can be found watching terrible reality shows and girly movies and reading frivolous, non-thinking books. Maybe it is the intensity with which I need to think at work, but when I get home, all I want to do is let something effortless entertain me and veg. I'd like to read more high-brow novels, but I don't often have the capacity for concentrating after a work day. I'd like to cut down my TV time, but I'm not sure what else would require less thought. :)
And of course, I love money and personal finance. However, as most people know, you don't bring that subject up upon first meeting someone. Like politics, it is kind of a tricky subject.
But I'd love another hobby of some sort. Something creative, like painting or collaging or anything, really, to get me away from the computer. Or something active and social, like Tae Kwon Do or maybe a team sport.
In the meantime, the next few months are going to be packed and insane. I apologize in advance for not having much blogging time. Next week, in particular, I get flown in an NZ military helicopter to an amazing location to do fieldwork. It is going to be insane, and I can't wait! I just keep falling more and more in love with my work--it brings me opportunities that I never thought I'd be lucky enough to get to do.
I realized last night, when meeting a plethora of new people (yes, I was supposed to go to bed early, but that didn't happen--too much fun stuff going on!), that I really only can talk about my job with any sort of passion. It is my go-to conversation subject, and I can't help but try to relate everything to it. It must be quite boring for others that have no interest in it. I wish I had a few other things going on in my life that I was equally/more excited about.
I do like travel quite a bit, but it is only sometimes polite to bring up, since not everyone gets that opportunity or even wants to travel internationally. In NZ, most everyone is from another country, which means, by default, they travel quite a bit (with the exception of a lot of Kiwis, and even they travel more than most Americans).
I also really love music. I can talk about that all day long, too. But unless the person I'm talking to is interested in the exact same underground indie bands as I am, we're not going to have that much to say to one another. It also comes off as pretentious if you're name dropping little-known bands; it sounds like you're trying to prove you're more with it than the other person. Plus there is the fact that I no longer have whole weekends to devote to discovering new music; work takes up quite a bit of my energy and thought. And I refuse to pay $80 to see just one band.
Even when I'm not working, I'm often thinking of my projects. They're just that interesting to me and require that much planning and fore-thought (esp. since my thought processes are much slower than they used to be--I think there are some health issues at play here).
In my free time, I can be found watching terrible reality shows and girly movies and reading frivolous, non-thinking books. Maybe it is the intensity with which I need to think at work, but when I get home, all I want to do is let something effortless entertain me and veg. I'd like to read more high-brow novels, but I don't often have the capacity for concentrating after a work day. I'd like to cut down my TV time, but I'm not sure what else would require less thought. :)
And of course, I love money and personal finance. However, as most people know, you don't bring that subject up upon first meeting someone. Like politics, it is kind of a tricky subject.
But I'd love another hobby of some sort. Something creative, like painting or collaging or anything, really, to get me away from the computer. Or something active and social, like Tae Kwon Do or maybe a team sport.
In the meantime, the next few months are going to be packed and insane. I apologize in advance for not having much blogging time. Next week, in particular, I get flown in an NZ military helicopter to an amazing location to do fieldwork. It is going to be insane, and I can't wait! I just keep falling more and more in love with my work--it brings me opportunities that I never thought I'd be lucky enough to get to do.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
What. A. Day.
So I didn't sleep a wink last night, had a killer headache that no amount of advil cured all day, and had still have a terrible stomachache. I was seriously dreading giving a talk and running a meeting after pulling an all nighter after getting out of bed this morning. It turns out, this is when I thrive. When the pressure is on like that, and I have low expectations of myself, I absolutely kill it.
I probably gave the best presentation of my life today. I was funny, I was smooth, I didn't trip up, I looked at the audience, only a few 'um's, and I said nearly everything I wanted to say. Where have I been all my life??
My boss was extremely happy, the audience asked interesting and interested questions (like they didn't tune me out for the entire thing, like they actually listened!), and I may have gotten a major funder of our larger project to give us more money to expand my study beyond even what we dreamed of. That, my friends, is a slam dunk.
Not only that, but a LOT of moving parts had to come together to make today's meeting work. Everything went off without a hitch, and I anticipated my boss's every need before she even had to say a word. During the breaks, I was witty and social and a great hostess and introduced everyone to everyone else and invited all the people standing alone into the fold so they felt included.
Maybe, in order to get the life I want, and to be who I want to be and the best of who I really am, I need to sleep less. (Or maybe, in my sleep deprived haze, I have a false sense of what happened. I am running on adrenaline.)
I always knew I could do it, but under these conditions? Really? I don't understand myself. How does that work?
Ah, tomorrow is another similar day. This time, though, I sleep. I'm not pushing this luck.
I probably gave the best presentation of my life today. I was funny, I was smooth, I didn't trip up, I looked at the audience, only a few 'um's, and I said nearly everything I wanted to say. Where have I been all my life??
My boss was extremely happy, the audience asked interesting and interested questions (like they didn't tune me out for the entire thing, like they actually listened!), and I may have gotten a major funder of our larger project to give us more money to expand my study beyond even what we dreamed of. That, my friends, is a slam dunk.
Not only that, but a LOT of moving parts had to come together to make today's meeting work. Everything went off without a hitch, and I anticipated my boss's every need before she even had to say a word. During the breaks, I was witty and social and a great hostess and introduced everyone to everyone else and invited all the people standing alone into the fold so they felt included.
Maybe, in order to get the life I want, and to be who I want to be and the best of who I really am, I need to sleep less. (Or maybe, in my sleep deprived haze, I have a false sense of what happened. I am running on adrenaline.)
I always knew I could do it, but under these conditions? Really? I don't understand myself. How does that work?
Ah, tomorrow is another similar day. This time, though, I sleep. I'm not pushing this luck.
Yup, Freak OUT
I didn't sleep at ALL last night: toss, turn. Check alarm. Toss, turn. Set extra 4 alarms. Rinse. Repeat. Count down the minutes til the alarm went off. Yikes.
I have to present this afternoon. And I'm in charge of today's all day meeting. OMG, I hope I get through this without passing out or sounding completely idiotic. Lord help me, the meeting starts in a half hour. Tomorrow is the exact same.
I owe myself some ridiculous pampering this weekend.
I have to present this afternoon. And I'm in charge of today's all day meeting. OMG, I hope I get through this without passing out or sounding completely idiotic. Lord help me, the meeting starts in a half hour. Tomorrow is the exact same.
I owe myself some ridiculous pampering this weekend.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
The Usual Freak Out
I know a 50-something scientist that flat out refuses to give talks. No matter how hard we beg, how great her research findings are, whatever, she says she won't do it. It is frustrating for her colleagues to have to present her work, and we wonder what is wrong with her.
I don't want to be like that.
Tomorrow I have to give a presentation! I always freak out about these, and tonight is no exception. I am in charge of putting the two-day seminar together AND I'm speaking at it. That has made the past few weeks pretty crazy, on top of being worried about giving my talk.
When is this going to stop? I remember in grad school I had to give a little talk every week for this one class I had. I got a little anxious before each one, but nothing major, because my class was filled with my five best friends. Um...not intimidating. And somehow, giving a talk to your grad school friends during a class or for your Master's defense (or any situation where you are forced to) isn't as scary as volunteering to talk and saying, this is what I have, look at me! In science research, yes, it is just a part of your job: you give presentations. Those that don't (and there are quite a few) are looked upon as silly (like the above-mentioned researcher).
With each talk I give, it seems like I get a little more nervous instead of less. I don't get it. With each talk, I start out fine, then get really freaked out about a minute into it, and lose everything that I practiced. I resort to everything I know NOT to do: 'um', 'uh', read off the slides, look down instead of at the audience or just face my slides, etc.
I always put a joke in my talks, too. I hope it goes over well tomorrow.
When not worrying about it, I've just been flat out denying the existence of the talk in my head, which has become my MO lately. I should be practicing now, while my roommate is out and I can talk to myself as much as I want, but I'm blogging instead.
OK, let's psych myself up. After all:
1) I recently gave a TV interview. This is way less nerve-wracking than THAT.
2) I have given two talks in the past two years and didn't die.
3) My boss, while going over our seminar schedule, muttered, "Sense...'(my talk title)'...oh yes, you are speaking, looking forward to that--you always give great talks!" I'm pretty sure she is thinking of someone else, though. She has only seen me give one talk thus far.
Oh, and my first journal article was published this week. I'm super proud of it. I taped it up on my door at work and everything. :)
I don't want to be like that.
Tomorrow I have to give a presentation! I always freak out about these, and tonight is no exception. I am in charge of putting the two-day seminar together AND I'm speaking at it. That has made the past few weeks pretty crazy, on top of being worried about giving my talk.
When is this going to stop? I remember in grad school I had to give a little talk every week for this one class I had. I got a little anxious before each one, but nothing major, because my class was filled with my five best friends. Um...not intimidating. And somehow, giving a talk to your grad school friends during a class or for your Master's defense (or any situation where you are forced to) isn't as scary as volunteering to talk and saying, this is what I have, look at me! In science research, yes, it is just a part of your job: you give presentations. Those that don't (and there are quite a few) are looked upon as silly (like the above-mentioned researcher).
With each talk I give, it seems like I get a little more nervous instead of less. I don't get it. With each talk, I start out fine, then get really freaked out about a minute into it, and lose everything that I practiced. I resort to everything I know NOT to do: 'um', 'uh', read off the slides, look down instead of at the audience or just face my slides, etc.
I always put a joke in my talks, too. I hope it goes over well tomorrow.
When not worrying about it, I've just been flat out denying the existence of the talk in my head, which has become my MO lately. I should be practicing now, while my roommate is out and I can talk to myself as much as I want, but I'm blogging instead.
OK, let's psych myself up. After all:
1) I recently gave a TV interview. This is way less nerve-wracking than THAT.
2) I have given two talks in the past two years and didn't die.
3) My boss, while going over our seminar schedule, muttered, "Sense...'(my talk title)'...oh yes, you are speaking, looking forward to that--you always give great talks!" I'm pretty sure she is thinking of someone else, though. She has only seen me give one talk thus far.
Oh, and my first journal article was published this week. I'm super proud of it. I taped it up on my door at work and everything. :)
Monday, November 07, 2011
Sister Saga, Part a Million
Aaaaaannnnnnddddd, we're back to where we started.
Sister and Crazy BF are broken up again. They got engaged not long after I came back to NZ. Who is really surprised?
Sister got a restraining order against him and is pressing charges for attempted assault and battery (his grandpa walked in the room before he could do anything serious, thank God). I just hope this sticks.
More than anyone, I really feel sorry for the Grandpa that he lives with. I know what it feels like to feel responsible for someone that continues to make bad choices. In the Grandpa's case, he either throws his grandchild out on the streets to fend for himself, or allows the grandchild to live with him, bringing all that worry and heartache on himself. It is not easy, but it is something that you do out of love.
I am still staying out of her life for my own sake. Even if she stays away from this one very messed up dude, she has a lot of work to do to stay away from them all AND to start taking care of her health. It still feels very selfish, but the right thing to do.
Sister and Crazy BF are broken up again. They got engaged not long after I came back to NZ. Who is really surprised?
Sister got a restraining order against him and is pressing charges for attempted assault and battery (his grandpa walked in the room before he could do anything serious, thank God). I just hope this sticks.
More than anyone, I really feel sorry for the Grandpa that he lives with. I know what it feels like to feel responsible for someone that continues to make bad choices. In the Grandpa's case, he either throws his grandchild out on the streets to fend for himself, or allows the grandchild to live with him, bringing all that worry and heartache on himself. It is not easy, but it is something that you do out of love.
I am still staying out of her life for my own sake. Even if she stays away from this one very messed up dude, she has a lot of work to do to stay away from them all AND to start taking care of her health. It still feels very selfish, but the right thing to do.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Three Years of Culture Shock
GD it! I've about had it with this country!
My first year living here I dealt with moments like I dealt with today on a regular basis, and somehow, 3 years later, they still surprise me.
Shopping in New Zealand is the WORST. I almost think they do it on purpose, after today!
I wanted to buy a special cable to hook my netbook up to my TV. After looking online, I found what kind of cable to buy, and it was listed as $1. ONE US DOLLAR. Which is, maybe, $1.50 NZ max including conversion rate and US tax.
Fast forward to conversations in two electronics stores:
"No, we don't have that cable in New Zealand, even though it would work fine here."
"You have to buy this $180 thingamajig instead, but we don't stock it so I'd have to order it for you."
WTF?!
Yes. I am going to buy something for $180 when I can get it for a dollar. That makes sense. /sarcasm
My first year living here I dealt with moments like I dealt with today on a regular basis, and somehow, 3 years later, they still surprise me.
Shopping in New Zealand is the WORST. I almost think they do it on purpose, after today!
I wanted to buy a special cable to hook my netbook up to my TV. After looking online, I found what kind of cable to buy, and it was listed as $1. ONE US DOLLAR. Which is, maybe, $1.50 NZ max including conversion rate and US tax.
Fast forward to conversations in two electronics stores:
"No, we don't have that cable in New Zealand, even though it would work fine here."
"You have to buy this $180 thingamajig instead, but we don't stock it so I'd have to order it for you."
WTF?!
Yes. I am going to buy something for $180 when I can get it for a dollar. That makes sense. /sarcasm
Saturday, November 05, 2011
First Class
That's me, baby!
Ha. I forgot to mention in my last post that I'm shy of a mere 7,000 points to get to fly Business Class to the U.S. for FREE on my next trip!
Actually, I have several options:
a) earn the points between now and June by using my cc for everything. Doable but annoying considering the transfer fees to convert currency.
b) buy the points. Less time consuming but expensive.
c) convert my American airmiles to United/Continental to top it up. Big time factor and $$ involved, plus the fact that I'd lose at least half of the points in the conversion.
d) just get an Economy ticket and cash in the rest (48K points) in gift cards for shopping while in the US. That will net me $480 in shopping $$. Very tempting...
e) apply for another reward cc and fly Business class AND get $500 in free shopping.
OR: use a) or c), plus b) to top up my airmiles account to get a Business class ticket. Use e) to get $500 in shopping rewards.
I'll be applying for the Citi ThankYou Rewards card to get 50,000 points. :) Hey, I'm going to be spending loads of money when my mom and sister come in December, anyway--might as well get something else out of it!
Ha. I forgot to mention in my last post that I'm shy of a mere 7,000 points to get to fly Business Class to the U.S. for FREE on my next trip!
Actually, I have several options:
a) earn the points between now and June by using my cc for everything. Doable but annoying considering the transfer fees to convert currency.
b) buy the points. Less time consuming but expensive.
c) convert my American airmiles to United/Continental to top it up. Big time factor and $$ involved, plus the fact that I'd lose at least half of the points in the conversion.
d) just get an Economy ticket and cash in the rest (48K points) in gift cards for shopping while in the US. That will net me $480 in shopping $$. Very tempting...
e) apply for another reward cc and fly Business class AND get $500 in free shopping.
OR: use a) or c), plus b) to top up my airmiles account to get a Business class ticket. Use e) to get $500 in shopping rewards.
I'll be applying for the Citi ThankYou Rewards card to get 50,000 points. :) Hey, I'm going to be spending loads of money when my mom and sister come in December, anyway--might as well get something else out of it!
Friday, November 04, 2011
>$2200 Free. Ka-Ching!
I almost forgot to check my credit card statements this month. Whoops! I don't normally use them when I'm in NZ--the transfer of NZD to USD is time-consuming and painful, even with the high conversion rate as of late. Instead, I use my NZ debit card.
The only downfall of that debit card is that I don't get rewards points for what I spend. In the US, it was de riguer to buy everything with credit to get the points. I always loved getting that $50 gift card to Target--as much as once per 3-4 months with 5% cashback--just for buying stuff I had to buy anyway, like groceries and gas. That $50 gift card was essentially costing nothing ($1000 in unavoidable, normal spending).
Those were the days...
I noticed when checking my credit cards for any suspicious activity (everything was at $0 as expected) that Chase Sapphire had rewarded me my 50,000 airmiles for spending the planned $3,500 USD on my trip last month.
That 50,000 airmiles puts me at 126K and change for United/Continental. A round-trip flight to my parents' house is 80K. Hurrah! One of my 2011 goals is done:
Goal 10: Play the credit card game, amass enough air points to travel home for free next year.
Current market rate for a flight home next summer is $2200 USD. Now in free flavor.
So I just have to say to myself: Absolutely fabulous planning, my dear.
Why, thank you!
The only downfall of that debit card is that I don't get rewards points for what I spend. In the US, it was de riguer to buy everything with credit to get the points. I always loved getting that $50 gift card to Target--as much as once per 3-4 months with 5% cashback--just for buying stuff I had to buy anyway, like groceries and gas. That $50 gift card was essentially costing nothing ($1000 in unavoidable, normal spending).
Those were the days...
I noticed when checking my credit cards for any suspicious activity (everything was at $0 as expected) that Chase Sapphire had rewarded me my 50,000 airmiles for spending the planned $3,500 USD on my trip last month.
That 50,000 airmiles puts me at 126K and change for United/Continental. A round-trip flight to my parents' house is 80K. Hurrah! One of my 2011 goals is done:
Goal 10: Play the credit card game, amass enough air points to travel home for free next year.
Current market rate for a flight home next summer is $2200 USD. Now in free flavor.
So I just have to say to myself: Absolutely fabulous planning, my dear.
Why, thank you!
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Hilariously
I shared my recent frustrations with one of my bosses today, and she came up with the same solution that I did to my newly restricted work hours: ignore it. Put in my extra hours as necessary, then when I want time off, say I'm working from home. She thinks it is as stupid as I do. Love it!
I thought that was awesome. :) She also kind of gave me a promotion--I'm now managing someone one day a week (I was doing this anyway, but very unofficially)--and several more amazing opportunities, including one directing a mini-project where I'd manage the work of a PhD student.
Never mind that I don't have my PhD. Because of that, I initially suggested that I assist the student, but then she said no, no--the PhD candidate would actually be helping ME.
I know this is all coming about because my boss recently became insanely busy, but also because I have been handling several of her normal responsibilities without any problem, and I did it willingly and without really asking her if I could--it was obvious that she was too busy to do them so I stepped up because I knew I could do a good job and that she would appreciate it.
On the flip side, I had to lay down the law with my other boss via email the other day who seemed to be trying to mess up one of my favorite projects with a crazy plan that was masked as 'concern'. Ugh. I am now assuming that everything she does is part of some underhanded attempt to destroy my reputation and career, which is what she did (and is still trying to do) to my former colleague. It is amazing, there are only two options: 1) she is an outright, manipulative LIAR or 2) she has a mental illness. It is not a nice feeling to think that, and I may be taking it too far by believing that. I want to not believe it, so I'm going to attempt to give her the benefit of the doubt from now on. I won't be passive about saying what I think, though--and that is what scares her the most. She chooses to hire people based on who she thinks will not know enough or dare to challenge anything she says. In science, this is a very bad thing; it can only grow in an environment where everyone questions everyone and everything.
I seemed to have turned a corner in my career; work feels different since coming back from my trip last month. After nearly 5 years out of school, I found the perfect job for my personality and interests. After 3 years in that job, I guess I feel like I've earned my stripes and can handle almost anything. I have a very very VERY long way to go before I am where I want to be (especially compared to where my mentors and bosses were at my age and where my peers are today), but this confidence thing? Speaking and stepping up? Taking risks instead of avoiding scary situations? Demanding respect? They are very surprising, new, and welcomed facets to my personality. I just hope it continues; I am enjoying it very much, but I know that they are vulnerable and likely to disappear under the weight of even small criticisms. I also know, from observing others, that new traits can go overboard and be overbearing to others in their insistence to flourish, and that they sometimes take a while to mature into balance with the rest.
Maybe this is what happens in your 30's?
I thought that was awesome. :) She also kind of gave me a promotion--I'm now managing someone one day a week (I was doing this anyway, but very unofficially)--and several more amazing opportunities, including one directing a mini-project where I'd manage the work of a PhD student.
Never mind that I don't have my PhD. Because of that, I initially suggested that I assist the student, but then she said no, no--the PhD candidate would actually be helping ME.
I know this is all coming about because my boss recently became insanely busy, but also because I have been handling several of her normal responsibilities without any problem, and I did it willingly and without really asking her if I could--it was obvious that she was too busy to do them so I stepped up because I knew I could do a good job and that she would appreciate it.
On the flip side, I had to lay down the law with my other boss via email the other day who seemed to be trying to mess up one of my favorite projects with a crazy plan that was masked as 'concern'. Ugh. I am now assuming that everything she does is part of some underhanded attempt to destroy my reputation and career, which is what she did (and is still trying to do) to my former colleague. It is amazing, there are only two options: 1) she is an outright, manipulative LIAR or 2) she has a mental illness. It is not a nice feeling to think that, and I may be taking it too far by believing that. I want to not believe it, so I'm going to attempt to give her the benefit of the doubt from now on. I won't be passive about saying what I think, though--and that is what scares her the most. She chooses to hire people based on who she thinks will not know enough or dare to challenge anything she says. In science, this is a very bad thing; it can only grow in an environment where everyone questions everyone and everything.
I seemed to have turned a corner in my career; work feels different since coming back from my trip last month. After nearly 5 years out of school, I found the perfect job for my personality and interests. After 3 years in that job, I guess I feel like I've earned my stripes and can handle almost anything. I have a very very VERY long way to go before I am where I want to be (especially compared to where my mentors and bosses were at my age and where my peers are today), but this confidence thing? Speaking and stepping up? Taking risks instead of avoiding scary situations? Demanding respect? They are very surprising, new, and welcomed facets to my personality. I just hope it continues; I am enjoying it very much, but I know that they are vulnerable and likely to disappear under the weight of even small criticisms. I also know, from observing others, that new traits can go overboard and be overbearing to others in their insistence to flourish, and that they sometimes take a while to mature into balance with the rest.
Maybe this is what happens in your 30's?
Oily October
During this month, several major events occurred around NZ: the disastrous Rena oil spill (which still isn't resolved), and NZ winning the Rugby World Cup!
Both of these events affected my budget for October.
In my personal life, I continued to have issues at work, but also gained a few awesome opportunities and went on a course I've been meaning to do for quite a while. Two friends at work left due to the aforementioned work issues. I have removed myself from my sister's problems for my own sake.
It has been a rough month.
Rent: (25%) $840. Lovely that it is so stable.
Groceries: (18%) $602.14. Whoppingly overbudget, due to several factors.
Internet: (2%) $54. Hope to reduce this soon.
Electricity: (2%) $52.56. I love summer!
Eating out: (4%) $124.80. You'd think that my inflated grocery bill would have helped here. Nope.
Charity: (4%) $125.69 (some went to the Rena cleanup effort)
Cell phone: (1%) $20
Medical: (3%) $101.66. Saw several 'doctors'.
Misc: (8%) $265.63.
Savings: (13%) $435
Total: $2,621.48 (underbudget)
Income: $3,340.22.
Total leftover for short-term savings: $718.74 (22% of my income)
35% savings rate
Commentary on selected categories:
Groceries ($602.14) were the big surprise this month, but there are good reasons for it: 1) I had to stock up on items after returning from a month-long vacation and 2) I saw a nutritionist and I am buying different foods now. More expensive foods...
I hope to switch up my internet plan from Orcon to Vodafone. I hate paying Orcon for a phone line I never use ($45 a month!), but they do not offer naked broadband to my apartment, so I'm stuck switching to Vodafone's cheaper plan & contract. Hope to do this at the next billing cycle.
Eating Out: ($124.80) Blame the RWC! My friends and I went out every weekend and ended up starving after every evening was over. Enter takeaways, pizza at the local kebab shop, etc. My friend had a leaving do and we went out to eat. My friend had a party and she doesn't eat certain things, so I had to splurge to buy a cake that she could eat. And I got desperate after work one night around 9:30 after all the shops had closed, and spent way too much on a crappy italian dish.
Medical: ($101.66) I had a check up ($17), got a bunch of allergy meds refilled ($15), bought protein powder for smoothies ($30) after a nutritionists appointment, and paid $40 for thyroid support pills after a naturopath appointment (they don't do jack).
Charity: ($125.69) Some to Rena, some to the Heart Association, some to my friend's cousin's memorial scholarship fund, some to two charity events that I'm participating in this and next month. I love that this is overbudget. I may need to increase this line item, anyway.
This month, short-term savings will go towards funding several insurances I need to buy: life, contents, and disability.
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