Happy Turkey Day, everyone!
So today's thankfulness topic may be a little bit of a cop-out, but it's very true--I'm thankful for life, my life in particular. As I was flying this morning, heading to Texas to spend this weekend with some of my best friends in the entire world, it occurred to me that my life is VERY blessed. I'm so thankful for all of the wonderful gifts that God has given me--my family, friends, job, health... the list gets more detailed and goes on and on.
Suffice it to say, despite the ups and downs we experience, this life we live is pretty sweet. I'm thankful for my circumstances, I'm thankful for the joy I find (or try to find) in every day, and I'm thankful for life.
In honor of today being the kickoff of Hanukkah... L'chaim, and Happy Thanksgiv(ukkah)ing!
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
A Week of Thankfulness #2: Home
In the spirit of the holidays beginning, and Thanksgiving being in TWO DAYS, I've decided that this week, I'm going to blog every day about something that I'm thankful for. Yesterday, I talked about sisterhood; today, I want to talk about home.
I really like the multiple definitions of home, as defined by good ol' dictionary.com:
1. a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household.
2. the place in which one's domestic affections are centered.
If you think about #1, I suppose my home now is Bloomington, IN, and for that, I'm thankful, although it's strange to think that my "usual residence" is no longer in the state of Texas. In fact, the place I consider my hometown, where I lived full-time for 10 years and part-time for 6--S'nangelo (San Angelo for the uninitiated)--isn't even the place I return for the holidays anymore, considering my parents moved to a different city (and different state) around the same time I did last year. But, I'm thankful for the 16 years that San Angelo gave me, and I'm VERY thankful for the year and half that Bloomington has given me, especially as it has meant full-time, gainful, awesome employment. Bloomington is a COOL town, and IU is a COOL place, and I'm thankful for my "usual residence," even though it's somewhere new (and winter is a new thing for me).
I've also called a few other places my "usual residences"--College Station, TX, for a magical 4 years, and Tallahassee, FL, for a fantastic 2 years. I'm thankful for all those cities did for me and gave to me; they were pretty cool towns to call home.
Now, though, we're approaching into the territory covered by definition #2, and I love the way that dictionary.com phrases this--"the place in which one's domestic (familial) affections are centered." Even though my hometown isn't my "place of usual residence" anymore, I still have MANY domestic affections centered in The Wool and Mohair Capital of the World (that is a real nickname, y'all). San Angelo will always be my hometown; reppin' the 325 'til I die (forgive me).
Then, there's College Station, TX, a place where my familial affections find their epicenter, thanks to the Aggie Family. Being a Former Student of Texas A&M University means the world to me, and I am SO thankful for the values that Aggieland instilled in me. My heart beats a little faster when I drive down Highway 6, headed for a beautiful place that I'll always call home.
In an unexpected turn of events, Tallahassee, FL (and, more specifically, Florida State University) became home for me during my time in graduate school. Especially in my coworkers, my students, and my cohort-mates, I found a new place to center my domestic affections. FSU is a special place, and the Higher Ed program (and the LifeNet) have become my home and family more than I could have ever predicted. I'm thankful for the work that the professionals and students at that school do, and I'm thankful for the confidence that I gained during my time in Talla-classy that prepared me for my current home and position.
Finally, here's the real crux of this post--I'm thankful for the people who exist in my life who give me places to "center my familial affections." There's my extended family who live ALL over the country (and world), but especially in DFW, who give me a chance to call those places my home. There's all my best friends who, again, live all over the country, giving me more "homes" than I can count. In fact, this Thanksgiving, I get to call Austin, TX my home, thanks to several of my best friends from college.
That's the real beauty of home, I think--it exists wherever your family exists. And I'm thankful for my family and friends, who give me a reason to find home wherever they are. In the end, the old saying is true--home IS where the heart is.
So, for my family and friends--you are my heart, and my home, and I'm thankful for you!
I really like the multiple definitions of home, as defined by good ol' dictionary.com:
1. a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household.
2. the place in which one's domestic affections are centered.
If you think about #1, I suppose my home now is Bloomington, IN, and for that, I'm thankful, although it's strange to think that my "usual residence" is no longer in the state of Texas. In fact, the place I consider my hometown, where I lived full-time for 10 years and part-time for 6--S'nangelo (San Angelo for the uninitiated)--isn't even the place I return for the holidays anymore, considering my parents moved to a different city (and different state) around the same time I did last year. But, I'm thankful for the 16 years that San Angelo gave me, and I'm VERY thankful for the year and half that Bloomington has given me, especially as it has meant full-time, gainful, awesome employment. Bloomington is a COOL town, and IU is a COOL place, and I'm thankful for my "usual residence," even though it's somewhere new (and winter is a new thing for me).
I've also called a few other places my "usual residences"--College Station, TX, for a magical 4 years, and Tallahassee, FL, for a fantastic 2 years. I'm thankful for all those cities did for me and gave to me; they were pretty cool towns to call home.
Now, though, we're approaching into the territory covered by definition #2, and I love the way that dictionary.com phrases this--"the place in which one's domestic (familial) affections are centered." Even though my hometown isn't my "place of usual residence" anymore, I still have MANY domestic affections centered in The Wool and Mohair Capital of the World (that is a real nickname, y'all). San Angelo will always be my hometown; reppin' the 325 'til I die (forgive me).
Then, there's College Station, TX, a place where my familial affections find their epicenter, thanks to the Aggie Family. Being a Former Student of Texas A&M University means the world to me, and I am SO thankful for the values that Aggieland instilled in me. My heart beats a little faster when I drive down Highway 6, headed for a beautiful place that I'll always call home.
In an unexpected turn of events, Tallahassee, FL (and, more specifically, Florida State University) became home for me during my time in graduate school. Especially in my coworkers, my students, and my cohort-mates, I found a new place to center my domestic affections. FSU is a special place, and the Higher Ed program (and the LifeNet) have become my home and family more than I could have ever predicted. I'm thankful for the work that the professionals and students at that school do, and I'm thankful for the confidence that I gained during my time in Talla-classy that prepared me for my current home and position.
Finally, here's the real crux of this post--I'm thankful for the people who exist in my life who give me places to "center my familial affections." There's my extended family who live ALL over the country (and world), but especially in DFW, who give me a chance to call those places my home. There's all my best friends who, again, live all over the country, giving me more "homes" than I can count. In fact, this Thanksgiving, I get to call Austin, TX my home, thanks to several of my best friends from college.
That's the real beauty of home, I think--it exists wherever your family exists. And I'm thankful for my family and friends, who give me a reason to find home wherever they are. In the end, the old saying is true--home IS where the heart is.
So, for my family and friends--you are my heart, and my home, and I'm thankful for you!
Monday, November 25, 2013
A Week of Thankfulness #1: Sisterhood
This week is Thanksgiving, one of the BEST holidays of all time (second only to Christmas). Evidence:
Item #1: Centered around gathering loved ones together and eating FOOD.
Item #2: Encourages a spirit of thankfulness.
What more could one want from their holiday?
So, in the spirit of this time of year--one of my very favorites, for the aforementioned reasons + a few more--I decided that this week, I'd write a series of posts chronicling some of the things I'm most thankful for. Today's post, to kick off the series: I'm thankful for sisterhood.
When I talk about "sisterhood" as a concept, I really want to address how multifaceted that word is, and what those facets mean to me.
First, there's the idea of a sister. I don't have any biological female siblings (just my big brother, who's pretty darn cool), but I do have some extraordinarily close family and friends who I would categorize as my "sisters." First, there's my VERY awesome sister-in-law; I really couldn't have asked for a better woman to marry my brother. Then, there's my closest girlfriends from high school, college, and graduate school, who to this day all provide love, support, challenge, and sanity. I couldn't be more thankful for these female peers, who are more than just friends to me; we are FAMILY.
Then, there are the organizational sisterhoods that I have been a part of. More than I can say, I'm thankful for my Maggies, who (I always said) are the sisters that God gave me since He didn't give me any biological ones. My sophomore year of college, I needed to immerse myself in a group of women who would challenge me and set an amazing example of what women could do at Texas A&M, and I most definitely found that in the Mags. And now, I am SO thankful for finding a new (and life-long) sisterhood in Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. My joining a sorority and becoming Greek AFTER college was completely unpredictable, and yet I cannot sing the praises enough of the wonderful women I've met so far (and of my sisters far and wide who I haven't yet met!). Gamma Phi has provided a wonderful balance point for me here at Indiana, a chance to get out of my own head and be a part of something bigger than myself. It will also continually provide me the chance to support and encourage young women in their college careers, and to surround myself with amazing women who are doing amazing things across the world. Which leads me to my final point...
Third, I am thankful for being a woman, and for the worldwide sisterhood of womanhood. There is strength in numbers, there is power in support, and one of the things I have valued the most throughout my life is the example of strong women--my grandmothers, mom, aunts, cousins, friends, mentors, advisors, colleagues--who strive to build a network of other supportive women in their lives, and who have supported ME through good times and bad. The women in my life, from those who have advised me to those I now advise, consistently challenge me to be better and to grow and mature, and they consistently provide wonderful examples of kindness, strength, friendship, and love. I am so thankful for the women that are already in my life, and the ones I have yet to meet.
To all the ladies out there--We are sisters, you and I, and I am thankful for you.
Item #1: Centered around gathering loved ones together and eating FOOD.
Item #2: Encourages a spirit of thankfulness.
What more could one want from their holiday?
So, in the spirit of this time of year--one of my very favorites, for the aforementioned reasons + a few more--I decided that this week, I'd write a series of posts chronicling some of the things I'm most thankful for. Today's post, to kick off the series: I'm thankful for sisterhood.
When I talk about "sisterhood" as a concept, I really want to address how multifaceted that word is, and what those facets mean to me.
First, there's the idea of a sister. I don't have any biological female siblings (just my big brother, who's pretty darn cool), but I do have some extraordinarily close family and friends who I would categorize as my "sisters." First, there's my VERY awesome sister-in-law; I really couldn't have asked for a better woman to marry my brother. Then, there's my closest girlfriends from high school, college, and graduate school, who to this day all provide love, support, challenge, and sanity. I couldn't be more thankful for these female peers, who are more than just friends to me; we are FAMILY.
Then, there are the organizational sisterhoods that I have been a part of. More than I can say, I'm thankful for my Maggies, who (I always said) are the sisters that God gave me since He didn't give me any biological ones. My sophomore year of college, I needed to immerse myself in a group of women who would challenge me and set an amazing example of what women could do at Texas A&M, and I most definitely found that in the Mags. And now, I am SO thankful for finding a new (and life-long) sisterhood in Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. My joining a sorority and becoming Greek AFTER college was completely unpredictable, and yet I cannot sing the praises enough of the wonderful women I've met so far (and of my sisters far and wide who I haven't yet met!). Gamma Phi has provided a wonderful balance point for me here at Indiana, a chance to get out of my own head and be a part of something bigger than myself. It will also continually provide me the chance to support and encourage young women in their college careers, and to surround myself with amazing women who are doing amazing things across the world. Which leads me to my final point...
Third, I am thankful for being a woman, and for the worldwide sisterhood of womanhood. There is strength in numbers, there is power in support, and one of the things I have valued the most throughout my life is the example of strong women--my grandmothers, mom, aunts, cousins, friends, mentors, advisors, colleagues--who strive to build a network of other supportive women in their lives, and who have supported ME through good times and bad. The women in my life, from those who have advised me to those I now advise, consistently challenge me to be better and to grow and mature, and they consistently provide wonderful examples of kindness, strength, friendship, and love. I am so thankful for the women that are already in my life, and the ones I have yet to meet.
To all the ladies out there--We are sisters, you and I, and I am thankful for you.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Musings on an October Day
Sometimes, one gets the urge to write, and so one must indulge oneself, no matter if one's thoughts are cohesive. (One also occasionally sounds like the Queen of England. We are not amused.)
~
It's FINALLY feeling like fall in Indiana, and Mother Nature isn't the only one dealing with changes. It seems as if everything is in flux right now, but not necessarily in a bad way. I've made a few life changes on my own account for which I'm VERY proud of myself:
FIRST: I started taking a modern dance class once a week. It is the day when I leave work at 5 p.m. like normal people do, and it is the day when I pretend to be Jody Sawyer from Center Stage and just dance my little heart out (regardless of my feet!).
SECOND: I was invited, accepted, and initiated into Gamma Phi Beta sorority as an alumna initiate, and I couldn't be happier about my new sisterhood. I am thrilled to join a long history of women who believe in inspiring "the highest type of womanhood," and I am already so impressed by the alumnae and undergrads that I've met who are now my sisters. I can't wait to get more involved with the chapter here at IU, and to get to fully experience being a Greek!
~
Work continues apace. I am in the midst of my second year as a professional at IU, and my fourth year (SO weird to think about) in a student affairs role as a para/professional. On the one hand, there are moments when I am 1000% confident in who I am as a colleague and advisor; I relish the times when I (finally) know an answer to a student's question or when I am able to provide historic or institutionally contextual perspective to a discussion. I'm expanding my network and deepening my friendships on campus, and I'm FINALLY feeling like a Bloomington "townie." On the other hand, and I have been assured that I am NOT alone in this, there are moments when the dreaded "impostor syndrome" still plagues me, and when I feel like I have been working at this job for a little over a month instead of a little over a year. Thankfully, I have a supportive supervisor and encouraging colleagues, and so I strive to make it through each week a little wiser and a little more equipped professionally.
~
Nerd Alert: the GREAT news is that I'm getting the chance to take part in some awesome professional development opportunities this fall - not only is IU hosting this year's Indiana Student Affairs Association Drive-In Conference (yay day-long pro.dev.!), I also had a presentation proposal accepted at an upcoming regional conference in Ohio! ACUI, one of my professional organizations (the Association of College Unions-International, for those of you who are curious), is hosting my region's conference in a couple of weeks, and I'll be presenting on how to talk with and teach college students about fiscal responsibility in programming (using my own students as a case study). Yeah, I know, I'm a big nerd. But I really like my job and my students are really smart, and I can't not brag on them! I'm also excited to get to talk with other professionals in the midwest about the work they're doing, and see if I can't get some really great ideas to bring back here to our Union.
~
I'm getting the travel bug again. It happens every couple of months, so I'm right on schedule. While the bug will be partially satiated by the aforementioned conference in Ohio, I'll REALLY be getting my travel fix for Thanksgiving, when I get to make a grand return to the motherland for some turkey with good friends and another best friend's WEDDING festivities! (Which will be held at The Salt Lick. Yes, you may indulge in jealousy, while I indulge in delicious barbecue.)
~
I realize, at the end of all this, that it's like a newsletter for my life. But I really have gotten the blogging itch today, and I realized that it's been two and a half months since I last updated this blog, and so I felt some routine life updates were in order. I've been pondering some deeper issues that will hopefully become blog posts sooner rather than later, but in the meantime, I wanted to put it out to the universe that I'm alive and pretty darn content with life.
(As a treat for making it all the way to the end of this post, you now get to watch what must rank as one of the cutest videos of all time. You're welcome.)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
10 Years
There comes a special time each summer when my little heart jumps for joy, and it can be summed up in six words:
So.
You.
Think.
You.
Can.
DANCE.
(yes, I'm blogging about reality TV right now for no other reason than this is one of the greatest shows on television.)
I can't believe it's the 10th year of this absolutely fabulous show. As a dancer myself for 15 years (those of you who know my athletic ability--or lack thereof--might well be shocked by this), seeing the ever-amazing routines danced out on that stage always makes my heart go "pitter-pat."
I don't have cable anymore (I'm finally free of the curse that is Comcast), so I'm catching up on this current season on Hulu (if ANYONE spoils it for me I'll hurt you!!!), but in honor of the 10th year of my very favorite reality show, I decided to make this fun little post featuring my favorite routines EVER on SYTYCD.
This originally began as a Top 10 list, but as I've spent the last HOUR on youtube looking up all my favorite routines, I just couldn't limit myself. Don't call this a comprehensive list, but I think it's as close as possible, and it's even categorized for your perusing pleasure!
Cassidy's Favorite SYTYCD Routines EVER, in No Particular Order
So.
You.
Think.
You.
Can.
DANCE.
(yes, I'm blogging about reality TV right now for no other reason than this is one of the greatest shows on television.)
I can't believe it's the 10th year of this absolutely fabulous show. As a dancer myself for 15 years (those of you who know my athletic ability--or lack thereof--might well be shocked by this), seeing the ever-amazing routines danced out on that stage always makes my heart go "pitter-pat."
I don't have cable anymore (I'm finally free of the curse that is Comcast), so I'm catching up on this current season on Hulu (if ANYONE spoils it for me I'll hurt you!!!), but in honor of the 10th year of my very favorite reality show, I decided to make this fun little post featuring my favorite routines EVER on SYTYCD.
This originally began as a Top 10 list, but as I've spent the last HOUR on youtube looking up all my favorite routines, I just couldn't limit myself. Don't call this a comprehensive list, but I think it's as close as possible, and it's even categorized for your perusing pleasure!
Cassidy's Favorite SYTYCD Routines EVER, in No Particular Order
To Give You Tears/Chills:
Jeanine & Brandon, Battlefield -->This dance firmly cemented in my mind that Jeanine was going to be the Season 5 winner. Which she was. I win all the things.
Mellisa & Ade, This Woman’s Work -->Need to cry today? Watch this dance.
Travis & Heidi, Calling You -->You'll see a LOT of dances from Season 2 on this list. It's partially because Season 2 was arguably the best season of all SYTYCD, and partially because Travis Wall is a freaking genius. This dance also made me like Heidi, which is a miracle in itself.
Hok & Jaimie, The Chairman’s Waltz -->Emmy-nominated, Wade Robson, HUMMINGBIRD, music from Memoirs of a Geisha. You don't really need to know more.
Love Stories:
Jeanine & Jason, If it Kills Me -->Travis Wall as dancer is phenomenal. Travis Wall as choreographer? Indescribable. He's a genius. (I think I said that.) Jeanine absolutely deserved to win season 5. (Oh, I mentioned that too?) Well... there's not much else to say, except WATCH 'TIL THE END. OMG the CHEMISTRY.
Katee & Joshua, No Air -->NappyTabs (Napoleon & Tabitha, husband & wife hip-hop duo) created a beautiful story with this dance. It's no wonder Katee & Joshua were finalists in this season because this dance surprises and thrills me every time. Katee's got MOVES.
Dominic & Lauren , Ain’t No Sunshine -->Two words: RUMBA. CHEMISTRY.
Audrey & Matthew, Unchained Melody -->Travis Wall: genius. That's all.
Lauren & Kent, Collide -->Travis Wall: genius. I sound like a broken record. Also, KENT!
Not So Love Stories:
Katee & Twitch, Mercy -->Katee really shone in this dance, and this is where I REALLY first started liking Twitch, who's now a fixture on the show as a judge & All-Star. Killer combo.
Chelsie and Mark, Bleeding Love -->Another Emmy nom for this show, and another time I may or may not have teared up watching an incredible routine. I dare you to take your eyes off of Chelsie during this routine. GO ON, I DARE YOU.
Danny & Anya, Apologize -->"Apologies" (yuk yuk) to any Danny/Anya fans out there, but I really did not like either one of these contestants; they were consistently called out for their lack of personality, and rightfully so. However, if you just watch this ONE dance, you will wonder how in the heck I could say that because OMG the CHEMISTRY.
Comfort & Adechike, Fallin’ -->I can't. *weeps in a corner*
Sick Jazz:
Neil & Sabra, Sweet Dreams -->THE PART WHERE HE HOLDS HIMSELF UP OVER THE TABLE OMG.
Danny & Neil, Are You the One? -->Neil was probably my favorite contestant in Season 3, as you might be able to tell from his presence in this category. He is adorable, a, and b, is a fantastic dancer. Him and Danny as rival princes? Just stunning.
Season 2 Top 4, Sexy Back -->I reiterate all the things about Season 2, and leave you with this: WADE ROBSON.
Season 2 Top 10, Ramalama (Bang Bang) -->Season 2, Wade Robson, blah blah blah blah ZOMBIES
Courtney & Mark, The Garden -->I just need Sonya Tayeh to choreograph my life. Kthanks.
Sick Hip-Hop:
*Note:* So every dance but one in this category is from Season 2. This is for several reasons: Travis Wall, Shane Sparks, krumping, and Ivan. See below for which genius thing belongs to which dance.
Travis & Benji, Gyrate -->The two whitest boys on the show, being blessed by their mad dancing skills and the genius of Shane Sparks. (Side note: Travis should have won Season 2, looking back. But in the end, he's turned out with a much more successful career so I don't know that he really missed out on all that much...)
Travis & Martha, Clap Back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJh4EEtiGkM -->I present to you the advent of krumping on SYTYCD, featuring for the very first time the one and only Lil' C.
Season 2 Top 16, Poison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZPh27qPg40 -->This number goes to show you that a simple group dance that is well-choreographed to AWESOME music can take you very far. Also, IVAN and TRAVIS.
Allyson & Ivan, Sexy Love -->Ivan wins all the things. As does Shane Sparks.
Twitch & Alex, Outta Your Mind -->The only non-Season 2 hip hop number to make this list, this piece is made more amazing by the fact that Alex is a classically trained ballet dancer.
Miscellaneous AWESOME:
Danny & Lacey, Hip Hip Chin Chin -->Wasn't a big fan of Lacey (Benji's sister) or Danny, despite their mad talent, but HOLY MOLY are they talented. Samba is HARD, y'all.
Billy & Robert, Ganesh -->BOLLYWOOD.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
"It Might Be a Quarter-Life Crisis...
...or just a stirring in my soul." - John Mayer
Happy July, everybody! It's a gorgeous 70-degree day here in Indiana, and I would apologize to those of you who are dealing with hotter heat on this July day, but I feel like living through 23 summers of 100+ degree weather entitles me to a little smugness on a gorgeous day like this. :)
I find myself in a reflective mood today, and for a multitude of reasons. It's now July, and summer, for all intents and purposes, is winding down. The new fiscal year has started (holla back, all my fellow budget managers!), our office is wrapping up a search for a new colleague (I can't believe it's been almost a year since I was experiencing such a search myself!), and our students return from their holidays and travels in about a month and a half.
This, my first summer on the job, has proved to be a wonderfully restorative one. My supervisor, student leaders, and I have taken time to take stock, discuss goals for the coming year, and really enjoy the 9-5 grind of this office (as opposed to our late-night grind during the school year). In addition, I have travels up ahead to take time off from work: in about 27 hours I'll be flying out to Portland, Oregon, to see some of my best friends and to celebrate my birthday (see below for more on that), and then in a few weeks I'm making an extended trip down to my homeland - the great state of Texas - to celebrate some dear friends getting married. Summer travels are my favorite, and I can't wait to put this summer's trips on the books.
Another reason I find myself reflective at this point in the summer, as I alluded to above, is that it's almost my birthday! (In lieu of presents, dear friends, just come visit me in Bloomington. ;) ) I will be 25 years old this year (if you couldn't guess from my brilliant lyrical title), and the whole idea of a "quarter-life crisis" really has me thinking about where I am right now. This Buzzfeed article has been making the rounds among my peers on Facebook, and according to its purpose, it got me thinking about if I'm in the middle of my "quarter-life crisis."
And I can honestly say...I'm not. (yet, anyway. I'm still kickin' it at 24! :) )
But seriously, all the anxiety and questions that psychologists say come along at this point in my life - who am I, why am I here, what am I doing, and so on - happened at this exact point LAST YEAR. Ya know, that whole job search thing really got me pondering the deep questions of life. Was it a good idea to go to grad school? Is higher education the right field for me? Was it smart to pick up and move halfway across the country? Will I EVER be able to manage my own budget? (The jury's still out on that one, folks...) Will I be FOREVER ALONE?
A year later, I still don't know all the answers, but I know that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I've got faith that God is using me to His (and my) best purpose where I am right now. I've got some of the best friends and family that a girl could ever ask for, and those numbers are growing day by day and week by week. I really, really do like my job a whole, whole lot; even on the days when it seems like things are going to hell in a handbasket (and they happen MUCH more often than I'd like), I know that my students and I are learning invaluable things that are going to help us later on in life. I'm constantly learning, growing, and developing, and more than anything, I'm THANKFUL.
I'm thankful for almost 25 pretty solid years on this earth, and I can't wait for 75 more. (Ya know, one has to assume that "quarter-life" refers to the fact that I'm going to live to be 100... I'll take it.)
So I wish everyone a HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, and a FABULOUS mid-summer week. May all of you find joy in your days!
Happy July, everybody! It's a gorgeous 70-degree day here in Indiana, and I would apologize to those of you who are dealing with hotter heat on this July day, but I feel like living through 23 summers of 100+ degree weather entitles me to a little smugness on a gorgeous day like this. :)
I find myself in a reflective mood today, and for a multitude of reasons. It's now July, and summer, for all intents and purposes, is winding down. The new fiscal year has started (holla back, all my fellow budget managers!), our office is wrapping up a search for a new colleague (I can't believe it's been almost a year since I was experiencing such a search myself!), and our students return from their holidays and travels in about a month and a half.
This, my first summer on the job, has proved to be a wonderfully restorative one. My supervisor, student leaders, and I have taken time to take stock, discuss goals for the coming year, and really enjoy the 9-5 grind of this office (as opposed to our late-night grind during the school year). In addition, I have travels up ahead to take time off from work: in about 27 hours I'll be flying out to Portland, Oregon, to see some of my best friends and to celebrate my birthday (see below for more on that), and then in a few weeks I'm making an extended trip down to my homeland - the great state of Texas - to celebrate some dear friends getting married. Summer travels are my favorite, and I can't wait to put this summer's trips on the books.
Another reason I find myself reflective at this point in the summer, as I alluded to above, is that it's almost my birthday! (In lieu of presents, dear friends, just come visit me in Bloomington. ;) ) I will be 25 years old this year (if you couldn't guess from my brilliant lyrical title), and the whole idea of a "quarter-life crisis" really has me thinking about where I am right now. This Buzzfeed article has been making the rounds among my peers on Facebook, and according to its purpose, it got me thinking about if I'm in the middle of my "quarter-life crisis."
And I can honestly say...I'm not. (yet, anyway. I'm still kickin' it at 24! :) )
But seriously, all the anxiety and questions that psychologists say come along at this point in my life - who am I, why am I here, what am I doing, and so on - happened at this exact point LAST YEAR. Ya know, that whole job search thing really got me pondering the deep questions of life. Was it a good idea to go to grad school? Is higher education the right field for me? Was it smart to pick up and move halfway across the country? Will I EVER be able to manage my own budget? (The jury's still out on that one, folks...) Will I be FOREVER ALONE?
A year later, I still don't know all the answers, but I know that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I've got faith that God is using me to His (and my) best purpose where I am right now. I've got some of the best friends and family that a girl could ever ask for, and those numbers are growing day by day and week by week. I really, really do like my job a whole, whole lot; even on the days when it seems like things are going to hell in a handbasket (and they happen MUCH more often than I'd like), I know that my students and I are learning invaluable things that are going to help us later on in life. I'm constantly learning, growing, and developing, and more than anything, I'm THANKFUL.
I'm thankful for almost 25 pretty solid years on this earth, and I can't wait for 75 more. (Ya know, one has to assume that "quarter-life" refers to the fact that I'm going to live to be 100... I'll take it.)
So I wish everyone a HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, and a FABULOUS mid-summer week. May all of you find joy in your days!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
And Then There Was Softball
I've written about summertime often before on this blog, because it's my favorite time of year, associated with my best memories. These include, but are not limited to:
- my birthday and the "lower middle-class pool parties" my parents would throw when I was little (a.k.a. a slip-n-slide, two or three two-foot-deep kiddie pools, and a hose)
- celebrating one of the greatest holidays, July 4th, as well as growing up believing that the 4th of July fireworks were in honor of my birthday (which I know for a fact my older brother, whose birthday is in December, is still bitter about)
- trips to the greatest water park in the entire world, Schlitterbahn (the hottest, coolest time in Texas!)
- trips out of the sweltering West Texas heat to Ruidoso, New Mexico, with good family friends
- from my time at Texas A&M, summer meant two words: Fish Camp
- perennially good summer things such as baseball, BBQ, cookouts, beaches, swimming pools, floating the river, "The Sandlot," "Heavyweights," "Dazed and Confused," lightning bugs, thunderstorms, watermelon, ice cold Shiner Bock, Blue Bell ice cream, et cetera
As you can tell, summer is associated with lots of good past times and pastimes for me. And now that I'm on my own in the wide world, it's time for me to make some good memories of the present. Many good times are definitely nigh - this summer's plans include a trip to Portland, OR; a roadtrip to Texas and two good friends' weddings, and a family vacation/wedding in Puerto Rico. And aside from vacations, I've got some great things rolling here in Bloomington, including working on summer projects with fellow staff and our students, cleaning out my Netflix queue, and... softball.
Now, for those of you who know me well, that last word may seem a little... incongruous with your image of me. And you would not be incorrect. Team sports have never been a "thing" that I do. Ever. In fact, I made it from sixth grade through senior year of high school without taking an organized physical education class (still a point of pride for me, although my mother would tend to disagree with you as my lack of P.E. credits almost prevented me from graduating). One time, when I was in fifth grade, my brother tried to teach me to play tennis, and five minutes in I hit him in the face with the tennis racket (accidentally, I promise!). Let's let my history with organized sports boil down to this little gem - a few years ago, I asked my dear father why he and my mom never put me in tee-ball or soccer when I was a little kid; why I grew up taking dance as opposed to being able to catch and throw a ball and have some semblance of "normal" athleticism. His answer: "Well, Cassidy, when you were a baby, we put a ball in front of you, and a dolly. You went for the dolly, so we pretty much just went with it." Thanks, Dad. Thanks a lot.
Now, all of this isn't to say that I'm a nightmare at athletic things; I can (occasionally) catch a football, baseball, and/or softball and have been known to throw with some accuracy (thanks to my brother for the front yard catch sessions!). I can (occasionally) make a basket playing basketball, and can play decent defense (again, thanks to my brother for the driveway guarding lessons). Soccer isn't really a strong point; hand-eye coordination is hard enough so you can kiss feet-eye coordination goodbye. I knew from a young age I'd never be an Olympian, but I'm not completely hopeless at sports in general, and base/softball in particular, thanks (as always) to my brother's sports career/obsession/tutelage. Even so, it should be a surprise to everyone that a) I was approached to be on a summer co-rec softball team (God bless my coworker Megan for having such faith in me), and b) that I agreed to play.
And, in the end, I'm kind of enjoying myself. I'm playing the best position for me: left field. (The league we're in asks the men on the team to bat with their weak hand, so almost all of the batters have to be lefties, which means right field sees a LOT more action than I do... which I have zero problem with.) I'm getting to meet some great other young professionals here in Bloomington (although, in a hilarious twist of fate, I am the youngest person on the team). Our team even had our first win this past Sunday, a sweet, sweet victory that I tried my hardest to contribute to (unfortunately my stats were not quite up to par; I had one really solid hit in the three times I was up to bat, but it went right to the shortstop). I'll grant you, it's sometimes a little hard to muster up the enthusiasm to go out and do something that I'm not really good at, which I'm sure everyone can sympathize with - why play a game where your skills are mediocre (on a good day) when you can stay home and watch "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"? (which I'm really very good at). But, in the end, I'll admit it - I'm having a lot of fun. And there have been a couple of really beautiful moments - where I make a good catch, or actually throw the ball the distance it needs to go, or make good contact with the ball when I bat, or can make a REALLY awesome "Rookie of the Year" reference in play - that have made some of the less Hall-of-Fame/more bonehead moments worth it.
Overall, I think we have to face facts: in my mid-20s, we're not going to be able to make me into the next Jennie Finch. But if, by the end of the season, I'm able to be a pivotal part of at least one play, and I'm walking away with some good friends, I'll be satisfied. (Our team coaches may have something else to say about those outcomes; I blame their competitiveness on those darned team sports.)
Supposedly, next up for our team is a bowling league for the winter. I managed to bag a passing grade in my bowling-by-correspondence course I took in high school (I really, truly am not joking), so we'll see how this goes. In the meantime, if you happen to find yourself in Bloomington, come cheer for our softball team. We're the ones in the awesome baby-blue jerseys who, hopefully by our next game, have the most awesome walk-out songs on the field (DJ'd, of course, by yours truly - that I can do).
- my birthday and the "lower middle-class pool parties" my parents would throw when I was little (a.k.a. a slip-n-slide, two or three two-foot-deep kiddie pools, and a hose)
- celebrating one of the greatest holidays, July 4th, as well as growing up believing that the 4th of July fireworks were in honor of my birthday (which I know for a fact my older brother, whose birthday is in December, is still bitter about)
- trips to the greatest water park in the entire world, Schlitterbahn (the hottest, coolest time in Texas!)
- trips out of the sweltering West Texas heat to Ruidoso, New Mexico, with good family friends
- from my time at Texas A&M, summer meant two words: Fish Camp
- perennially good summer things such as baseball, BBQ, cookouts, beaches, swimming pools, floating the river, "The Sandlot," "Heavyweights," "Dazed and Confused," lightning bugs, thunderstorms, watermelon, ice cold Shiner Bock, Blue Bell ice cream, et cetera
As you can tell, summer is associated with lots of good past times and pastimes for me. And now that I'm on my own in the wide world, it's time for me to make some good memories of the present. Many good times are definitely nigh - this summer's plans include a trip to Portland, OR; a roadtrip to Texas and two good friends' weddings, and a family vacation/wedding in Puerto Rico. And aside from vacations, I've got some great things rolling here in Bloomington, including working on summer projects with fellow staff and our students, cleaning out my Netflix queue, and... softball.
Now, for those of you who know me well, that last word may seem a little... incongruous with your image of me. And you would not be incorrect. Team sports have never been a "thing" that I do. Ever. In fact, I made it from sixth grade through senior year of high school without taking an organized physical education class (still a point of pride for me, although my mother would tend to disagree with you as my lack of P.E. credits almost prevented me from graduating). One time, when I was in fifth grade, my brother tried to teach me to play tennis, and five minutes in I hit him in the face with the tennis racket (accidentally, I promise!). Let's let my history with organized sports boil down to this little gem - a few years ago, I asked my dear father why he and my mom never put me in tee-ball or soccer when I was a little kid; why I grew up taking dance as opposed to being able to catch and throw a ball and have some semblance of "normal" athleticism. His answer: "Well, Cassidy, when you were a baby, we put a ball in front of you, and a dolly. You went for the dolly, so we pretty much just went with it." Thanks, Dad. Thanks a lot.
Now, all of this isn't to say that I'm a nightmare at athletic things; I can (occasionally) catch a football, baseball, and/or softball and have been known to throw with some accuracy (thanks to my brother for the front yard catch sessions!). I can (occasionally) make a basket playing basketball, and can play decent defense (again, thanks to my brother for the driveway guarding lessons). Soccer isn't really a strong point; hand-eye coordination is hard enough so you can kiss feet-eye coordination goodbye. I knew from a young age I'd never be an Olympian, but I'm not completely hopeless at sports in general, and base/softball in particular, thanks (as always) to my brother's sports career/obsession/tutelage. Even so, it should be a surprise to everyone that a) I was approached to be on a summer co-rec softball team (God bless my coworker Megan for having such faith in me), and b) that I agreed to play.
And, in the end, I'm kind of enjoying myself. I'm playing the best position for me: left field. (The league we're in asks the men on the team to bat with their weak hand, so almost all of the batters have to be lefties, which means right field sees a LOT more action than I do... which I have zero problem with.) I'm getting to meet some great other young professionals here in Bloomington (although, in a hilarious twist of fate, I am the youngest person on the team). Our team even had our first win this past Sunday, a sweet, sweet victory that I tried my hardest to contribute to (unfortunately my stats were not quite up to par; I had one really solid hit in the three times I was up to bat, but it went right to the shortstop). I'll grant you, it's sometimes a little hard to muster up the enthusiasm to go out and do something that I'm not really good at, which I'm sure everyone can sympathize with - why play a game where your skills are mediocre (on a good day) when you can stay home and watch "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"? (which I'm really very good at). But, in the end, I'll admit it - I'm having a lot of fun. And there have been a couple of really beautiful moments - where I make a good catch, or actually throw the ball the distance it needs to go, or make good contact with the ball when I bat, or can make a REALLY awesome "Rookie of the Year" reference in play - that have made some of the less Hall-of-Fame/more bonehead moments worth it.
Overall, I think we have to face facts: in my mid-20s, we're not going to be able to make me into the next Jennie Finch. But if, by the end of the season, I'm able to be a pivotal part of at least one play, and I'm walking away with some good friends, I'll be satisfied. (Our team coaches may have something else to say about those outcomes; I blame their competitiveness on those darned team sports.)
Supposedly, next up for our team is a bowling league for the winter. I managed to bag a passing grade in my bowling-by-correspondence course I took in high school (I really, truly am not joking), so we'll see how this goes. In the meantime, if you happen to find yourself in Bloomington, come cheer for our softball team. We're the ones in the awesome baby-blue jerseys who, hopefully by our next game, have the most awesome walk-out songs on the field (DJ'd, of course, by yours truly - that I can do).
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