Jenny’s Journies

Sunday, 31 August 2008 @ 10:15am.

Hold yard sale to make some extra cash. Check.

Clean and organize bedroom, study room, and living room. Check.

Help dog adjust to new life in Michigan. Check. (He’s still mopey on some days, which is sad.)

Complete paperwork for home, bills, and employment. Check.

Hire a Sears contractor to install a new furnace. Check.

Clean and repair gutters and live to tell about it. Check. (Though where is the Icy Hot when you need it the next day?)

Catch up with friends. Check.

Prepare for first day of classes. Check.

Finish dissertation draft… not a check yet… getting there…

File taxes… not yet…

Saturday, 23 August 2008 @ 10:38am.

My grandmother used to joke that instead of a to-do list, you could call it a “honeydew”/”honey-do” list. The only thing is, I’m pretty much the one tackling most of the items on the main to-do list these days, but I am grateful for when my mom has been a help here and there.

In the past week I have learned a tremendous amount, particularly about cars, furnaces, bank loans, and pushing paper through offices. I can’t even count the number of emails, phone calls, scanned documents, seeing people in person, etc. that I’ve had to do in order to take care of business. The semester hasn’t started yet, and I’m already feeling swamped. Part of this is due to the fact that I have been overseas for almost 2.5 years with only a couple of breaks, but I also think that life is busier or a faster pace in the U.S. than other places in the world.

I’m still on the hunt for a decent used car… In the meantime, I am walking and busing everywhere. This stretches out my schedule, but I try to be positive and think about how the walking=exercise and the buses=time to read books.

My mom and I are having a yard sale today. We are decluttering and organizing and it feels good.

Tuesday, 19 August 2008 @ 5:56pm.

I’ve been in the U.S. a week now and I’m slowly adjusting. Pluto and I have jet lag, but we’re managing well enough. I’ve been busy cleaning, organizing, and decluttering my house. My mom and I are gearing up for a big yard sale on Saturday. Need some quick cash. I’m on the hunt for a decent used car and I have to figure out a new heating and cooling system for the house. Major charges are just around the corner. Sigh…

What I miss about Melbourne:

* My partner! He’s lives and works there. Humprh.

* Familiarity (e.g., routine, dog park, day trips).

* Public transportation.

* Cooler weather (the humidity is a bit rough here in Michigan right now).

What I like about being stateside so far:

* My mom and the cats.

* Taking care of business.

* Choices, choices, choices (hello tons of cereal choices at the grocery store!)

Oh and on Sunday, my mom and I went to the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. We had fun walking around, people-watching, and listening to music.

Thursday, 14 August 2008 @ 8:39pm.

Before I left Melbourne, I saw a license plate that said “SM1LE.”

Pluto and I arrived safe and sound in Ypsilanti. We’re adjusting. Jet lag is a bit of a bear to deal with unfortunately. Pluto and the cats are not yet getting along… Let’s hope that changes soon! He’s a hit with the neighborhood kids so far, which is good.

I’ve been running around with various errands. Too much to do and school hasn’t even started yet!

Being in Michigan is bittersweet… It’s nice to be back to familiar territory and seeing my mom in particular, but I miss my partner and Melbourne very much.

Saturday, 09 August 2008 @ 1:10am.

I’m about to head to sleep after watching a lot of television, but it was worth it. I just had to write a posting, too, to tell everyone to watch the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony if possible. It is beyond words!

Sunday, 03 August 2008 @ 9:00pm.

“Coffee culture grinds Starbucks’ Australian Operation” (8/03/08): Click here for information regarding Starbucks’ withdrawal from the Land of Oz.

What’s the go with Qantas and safety issues lately? Here’s a recent link for an article titled “Qantas cabin crew rule out strike” (8/03/08).

Question of the Day: Do you think this weekend’s total eclipse of the sun brings good or bad luck?