And So it Begins. . .

What, you may ask? School is the reply. Yes, for those of us fortunate enough to be in a doctoral program at a certain university, classes began on Thursday, and what a day it was. Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be killer days for me because all of my classes, including the one I teach, are scheduled on those two days. I suppose there's something to be said for getting all of your classes over with on two days instead of having them spread out, but I haven't figured out what it is yet. More time to do homework - somehow I don't think so - but it would be nice if that really happened. Those MWF hours will be filled with meetings, office hours, working box office, and other assorted ventures. Oh happy, happy, joy, joy - NOT!

The week started with an announcement I wasn't expecting. In the grad assistant meeting we were told that the diagnostic test was going to be that afternoon and those of us (including me since they only administer the test in the fall) needed to meet at 12:45 p.m. to go to the testing center. This was the first any of us, including the new people, had heard about this. We were not thrilled by this news. I was so not prepared to take a test, but test I did that afternoon. Tuesday I started getting sick - allergies which quickly morphed into a sinus infection - and did not get my syllabus written that evening. I went home from my last meeting and crashed. Spent Wednesday evening after an all day training for new grad assistants writing my syllabus and discovered a mistake on it later (after I had passed it out mind you) - grrr!!! Thursday I had to copy said syllabus, tell the Voice & Movement prof I was dropping his class & replacing it with another class, go to my first class, go teach, go to my second class & try to find a few moments to eat the lunch I brought. And so it will go every Tuesday and Thursday, with the added attraction that Tuesday evenings will be the other class I'm taking. We also have auditions this Thursday and I am so not looking forward to that. The upside is that the musical has been shifted to the spring semester so no one has to hear me sing. I suppose we should all be thankful for that!

All in all it was a very hectic week. I'm hoping that once I get myself into a routine things won't feel so rushed. Not feeling well doesn't help, but I'll be seeing the doc tomorrow morning. Antibiotics here I come!

It's Almost Break Time

Tomorrow begins the last week of my second summer class. It has really gone faster than I thought it would. I love this class and the prof is amazing. I have learned so much and I know how to draw now. I mean really draw, not just stick figures and lollipop trees. We learned how to draw hands, tennis shoes, faces, and trees. I never thought I could actually draw something that might resemble anything real, but I can. I now have more confidence in my visual artistic abilities thanks to this class, and I think all of us feel the same way. Who knew you could go on field trips in grad school? We got to see an art exhibit every Friday and lead a discussion about a piece of our choosing. Now I know how to really see an artwork as opposed to look at an artwork. This class is the best class I've had since I've been here. Too bad they aren't all like that. However, I did come to a major decision this summer. The PhD in playwriting is not for me - I don't feel the need to repeat my MFA program (which was so much better anyway). I've decided that when I grow up I want to work at a non-profit that has new play development as part of their mission so I'm switching to acting/directing from playwriting. I want to be more well rounded and this will allow for that. Who knows? If I do end up teaching somewhere I'll have a better skill set this way too. And, I'm getting a chance to go home to Kansas soon - woo hoo! I'll be gone for two weeks and can't wait to get on that plane. It's too bad I have to come back, but I'm hoping for better things this fall. After all, it can't get too much worse (I hope)!