january 2008
- first year as a doctor
- enjoyed a very long break in between semesters, which included some time in albuquerque to do research and visit.
- spent a weekend in dubuque with my niece amanda
- remembered that the sun does exist in winter time (just not often in iowa.)
- stopped working part-time at pier 1
- moved out of my apartment that i loved into a gorgeous house with roommates brad and christine.
february 2008
- started my second semester at loras which involved teaching stats for the first time, as well as covering my colleagues stats class as she was out for maternity leave.
- went to ABQ for mike's going away party.
- broke driver's side car window in snow-related incident.
- start the best part-time job ever at the diamond jo
march 2o08
- difficult time for students when one of our students sadly passed away from meningitis :(
- went to las vegas for a conference with mom and had a great time!
- spring break in TX
april 2o08
- got to see sara who was back from hong kong for a conference in chicago! woo!
- went to st. louis for yet another conference and got to see my fam.
- teaching of 5th class ends and relief of only having 4 ensues
- two quick/weird trip to TX in one week
- i think it finally stopped snowing sometime this month. it was a record breaking winter.
may 2008
- went to may commencement as a faculty member and then realized that it had been 10 years since my own graduation.
- moved for the third time this year into my current apartment which i love
- discovered that couches can defy gravity
- start of heart-breaking romance end begins.
- family weekend during memorial day to hang out with mom and dad on their 34th anniversary. (we weren't sure if it was 34 or 35 and i had to use some good detective skills.)
- scary F-5 tornado in iowa!
- first summer class taught at loras.
- visited my friend jody in her new hometown of charlotte, nc. we got to go to the beach and get wicked sunburns.
- crazy iowa floods!
- relationship break ends in not the way i had hoped..
- july 4th with the doyles!
- went to my cousin ashley's wedding and discovered what being a reader really involved.
- found out break-up was even yuckier than expected
- took a much needed trip to new orleans to plan january-term class and to do some serious soul-searching. met ray nagin at mass there.
- went to texas and las vegas to visit friends and get some closure.
august 2008
- realized i should have done more work over the summer
- made some new friends
- started dating again...kinda sorta.
- jack-up knee dancing after an irish hooley
- year two as a faculty member begins
- went to erin and brent's wedding and made some new friends in WI.
- started teaching at the community college
- made a few more new friends including a locally famous dog
- started watching Six Feet Under series because it's awesome
- visit my brother and his family in st. louis
- miss the last of six weddings i was invited to over the summer. only was able to go to two and was sad to miss the others. but congrats!
- get some debts consolidated
- went to a surprise 40th birthday party for my brother
- caught up with some duhawks at homecoming! 10 years?!
- job interview at a school i thought i wanted to work at. found out that i didn't and that staying put is a good plan.
- went to see the aggies beat iowa state. whoop!
- OBAMA IS ELECTED!!! WOO!!!
- slight set-back on the "moving on" front
- girl weekend with mom, aunt deb, and cousin kelli
- JUMBIES and mom and dad in the same weekend. woo!
- jocelyn came to visit and gave talks about new orleans and hurricane katrina
- fun Milwaukee weekend
- visited jeremy in rock island and discovered the genious that is Flight of the Conchords
- two family thanksgivings! yum!
- finished a very busy fall semester with the stress of getting ready for january term
- start an earring side business for fun and no-profits yet
- had fun at the christmas gala
- new Diamond Jo opens!
- said good-bye to Grandma Parks :(
- rang in the new year in milwaukee after some fun in chicago. viva the year of kate!
- turned 33...what the?
- J-term class to New Orleans and back
- took a mini-break to TX
- spring semester starts and i'm not at all prepared for two new courses and stats. (lemented 8 a.m. classes)
- exhaustion from j-term lingers
- started the match.com thing again
- fundraiser for new orleans. the students did a good job though i still have a lot of beads and some coffee for sale if anyone is interested. ;)
- signed up for a gym membership
- awesome spring break! spend a few days in dubuque with dennis and then the rest of the break in albuquerque catching up with friends i haven't seen in too long. this included some high quality time with my friend haley and baby kate (and dan too of course.)
- discover how cool park farm winery is
- happy to get a contract for next year even if it didn't have a raise on it
- finished watching Six Feet Under series. wow!
- conference in des moines. caught up with old friends, made some new friends, and had a great time connecting with my colleague
- good times with dennis, erin, and brent at the casino on a random monday night
- fun easter weekend with mom that involved sushi, wine, shopping, and a champagne easter brunch
peace friends!
