Matt's opinion

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Update

I've be blogging a lot recently, the trouble is it's been in my head and not on this website. I like to try and 'step away' from a situation and assess it as best I can. The key word there is try, because it's a lot harder than it sounds.

So much has been going on in the past few weeks that I can't even begin to tell or explain it all. I've been torn between my research, classes, new friends, substituting, and my life at home. You know how there's so much that you want to do in a day, a week, even in your lifetime, that you start out on a trek and you end up being on too many trek's all at once. The first thing I'm going to do is cut back on substitute teaching. Every day that I'm available (2 days a week) I get calls. If I don't accept one job, there's another one waiting, then another.

This week I decided not to sub because I wanted to be prepared for next week while I'm away doing field work. I must have gotten 10 calls, most in the early morning hours between the two days. I understand that subs are in need and I get paid to do it, but other than the measly $9 an hour I get there is absolutely no appreciation from the schools, the teachers, or the district. No wonder there's a shortage.

Like I've said I'm getting ready to do field work all week next week. I start out on Sunday when I leave for my thesis study area in Suwannee, FL. I'll be there until Wednesday morning when I come back to Tampa only to leave for the keys that afternoon. Now some of you may not see those places as work at all, but rest assured I won't be vacationing. I'll be trapsing through the mud and murky waters in the tidal creeks along the Suwannee River and involved in drilling cores on mangrove islands in Florida Bay. Sure there may be a day of snorkling but I think you get the drift that it's not all fun and games.

That's it for now, just wanted to let you all know I'm still hangin around. Drop me an email if you want.

2 Comments:

  • Just tell the people calling you that you have an infectious disease. My personal favorite is The Plague. Yes, THAT plague. Or Ebola, that's a scary one too. Or you can just be uncreative and say you have the flu and are highly contagious...if you want to take the easy way out.
    Ooh, better yet, make up your own disease! I think tomorrow I might have a case of Photo-delta-phobia-itis. That's where I have a contagious disease (itis) that makes me afraid (phobia) that the light (photo) will change me (delta). Not sure what it'll change me into but that's where you can have creativity to do what you please.
    As for me, I just got pissed off at the incompetance of a coworker, so I'm gonna go vent elsewhere.

    Back to you, Matt.
    (and try to enjoy yourself a bit out there...i know it'll be tough not being at home to get all those annoying calls early in the morning)-Justin

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:36 PM  

  • Are you going to GSA in Salt Lake in October? I'm not presenting but am going to the conference anyway to see people and escape my research and classes for 5 days.

    I've been a bit overwhelmed with research and classes this semester too (and I'm not even substituting). I guess that's what grad school's all about though...

    I hope you manage to have somewhat of a good time in the field next week!

    Cheers!
    ~Julz

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:06 PM  

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