Elle Woods Ain't Got Nothin' on Me

The thing about blogging your dating life is that if you have no dating life there is nothing to write about.

So as I start Graduate School, I thought that maybe I have something new to write about.
And I miss writing about things.
So, without further ado, I introduce to you.... Manny Mondays!!

Let's be honest... This will most likely only last until the season premier of the Bachelorette...

But as my Monday nights are currently free- and by free I mean those hours after 10 pm when I get home from class and can't sleep- I am going to attempt to write. Maybe I'll write about graduate school. Maybe I'll write about dating. Maybe I'll write about something completely different. Who knows. But, as those of you who write know, it is an urge that bubbles up, and sometimes just needs an outlet. And if me and David Sadaris are ever going to be best friends, traveling abroad, and discussing our craft, I have to have a craft to discuss.

I definitely jumped into the deep end without much thought, embarking on this advanced degree. I haven't been in school since 2001, and the thought of homework and papers and projects strikes fear in my heart and sends a chill down my spine. And MATH. Don't even get me started on MATH!!!!!! You guys I've been doing MATH!!!!

I took one day of math in my undergrad Freshman year, to maintain my status in the Honors Program, and then decided that graduating Cum Lade wasn't all that important, and that maybe instead of one semester of Calculus I would drop said class, and suffer through four semesters of Spanish.

Y, no hablo Espanol...

Regardless, for various personal reasons, reasons for another post, another time, jump in I did. Starting the application process in Mid October, I assumed I would be starting in September. And yet, they were still accepting for a Spring start, and one GMAT prep course, on GMAT test, and one full application process later, I started class in January.

My friends, I'm thinking there will be some good stories to share.

Like orientation night.

Orientation night was the week before Christmas, on a Wednesday evening, and there were two things on my mind as I prepared.

The first thing on my mind was the pictures. They told us to wear business professional clothing, as they were going to take pictures of us for the program. Of course I bought an entirely new outfit, because I'm me, but a few days before the
BIGGEST.
ZIT.
OF.
MY.
LIFE!!
appeared on my chin. This sucker was huge. And because I lack restraint, it soon became a wound rather than just a pimple.

The second thing on my mind was plain old me. A true Gemini, I have two selves. I turn them on or off, but there is no in between. My first inclination is to go into a room full of strangers and sit in the back glaring at everyone, but I knew that wasn't a good way to start this adventure. And so I brought my other self, which was perhaps a little much... As a friend said to me, "You went full out Gap on them, didn't you?!?"

Yes. Yes I did.

As I walked in for pictures, I took a deep breath, willing my introvert self to retreat so my alter-ego, whom I lovingly call "Gap-Linda," could fully emerge. "Look," I said to the two photographers in the room, pointing to my chin. "Do you guys use photo-shop, because I have the BIGGEST zit right now!! I don't want it to follow me around my ENTIRE graduate career!!!!"  They just stared at me. And so I turned it on even more, "I mean, come on, LOOK AT THIS SUCKER!! It's HUGE!!" They still just stared at me. And so I awkwardly sat down, smiled, they took a snapshot, and I was on my way to talk to more people and make more of a spectacle of myself.

(not my best picture, but good news- they DO use photoshop!! No zit!!)

In the first few weeks of school I fell out of my chair, I walked into a closet instead of the exit, and I busted out the Oklahoma classic, "The Farmer and the Cowman" to blank silent stares. As is always the case with me my laugh is a bit too loud, my enthusiasm a bit too eager.

Someone took a picture the first night of class. Something about being studious makes people touch their faces, for some reason.

The last three months (already three months!) have been some of the hardest ever. Graduate School and working full time is no joke, my friends.

But I can feel myself stretching and growing.

And I'm meeting new people, and learning new things, and I have a whole slew of things percolating in my head waiting to be put down in a deprecating truth spew of words, aka personal essay. In class tonight instead of taking notes, I made a list of 10 weeks- 10 WEEKS- worth of portable readable nonsense....

Be excited.
Manny Mondays.
It's at thing now.