A Conversation with
Elizabeth
1998
Really Slow
From:
Elizabeth
To:
LMixson@PEC.com
Sent: Monday,
December 21, 1998 3:04 PM
Subject: Really Slow
It is really slow here. I do have some "housekeeping" type work,
but it is boring as anything and it is always there (clean out files,
label books, etc.) I remember you talking a long time ago about
the budget for your job and it going over, etc. I agree that if
you weren't hired to manage that, and weren't given budget information,
that you shouldn't be held responsible. Did the evaluation impact
on any forthcoming raise or anything? What happens to you now,
anyway, now that it seems this project is wrapping up? Or is it
wrapping up? Our raises here are totally dependent on evaluation.
It's a good thing my eval. was okay, because the raise was not
outstanding. I can't imagine what it would have been with a poor
evaluation. I can't seem to get quite relaxed.
My weekend was VERY mixed. I did get my hair cut on Saturday.
I'm not TOTALLY pleased with how she does it, but it is a close as I can
get to the way it was done in Tuscaloosa. I may have told you that
when I first moved here I carefully explained about how to cut my hair,
and it was totally botched. I drove all the way to Tuscaloosa to
have it redone. That may sound extreme, but when it is botched, it
won't grow out right at all. Otherwise, I watched the
"impeachment" for the rest of Saturday morning, which I found surreal. I
had a nasty fight with my neighbor, which was really horrible. We
share some "common" areas, like the stairs, and a really nice sort of
large balcony. He walks his dog in the mud and then the dog tracks
the mud all up and down the stairs. Last week we got into it about
that, but he said it was "his boots" not the dog. I think I told
you that story, because I started to ask him if he wore boots shaped
like dog paws. Well, this weekend was the cigarette butts.
When he walks the dog twice a day, he smokes, and then he throws the
butts in the common area. After a week there is a stack of butts.
The thing is, he and his "companion" walk right over the butts when they
leave. I told them to quit the littering--but of course--then his
"companion" got into it and said they couldn't be HIS, because he quit
smoking (HA)--he smokes early morning when she's not watching him, and I
know very few people who quit cold. Anyway, it was nasty. I
tried watching the movies I rented, but just could not get into them.
In fact, one of them, I found myself asking, "Did you actually rent this
for some reason." It must have sounded good on the jacket.
So, I have four half-watched movies, except I did watch the one about
Queen Victoria all the way through. Oh--I did go by the law school
just before it closed up for the entire break and one of my grades was
posted. I got an A. A friend wanted me to get her grade as
well, which I did, and left a message for her on her voice mail.
(We use secret numbers so our names are not on the board). Oh--I
am reading a really good book, which I thought at first I would not be
able to get interested in, although I had read a lot of recommendations
to read it. It is The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
I'm really enjoying it. Its well over 500 pages, which means I
won't get much else read, but it is worth it. Basically it is
about a missionary family who go to Africa, the Congo, in the 60's, at
about the time of the Congo's move for independence. The book is
chapters written by the wife and her four daughters, alternating.
Each has a different perspective on their situation, which is rather
grim at times. For example, at the part I am at now, there is a
drought, and armies of ants started moving, looking for food, waves on
waves of ants. The village had to flee to the river and the ants
devoured everything (live chickens) left behind. I am very
restless because there are some areas of my life which I need to, but
can't quite seem to get "organized." The biggest one is exercise.
I can't believe that after this weekend, when I had to sweep up a mound
of trash that my butt-throwing neighbor dumped on my doorstep (which he
did in retaliation for my accusing him of littering), my muscles are a
little sore. Sweeping is certainly not strenuous exercise, but
maybe those side muscles never get used. Also, I've got to find a
way to travel more and get out of Montgomery. It's like I get
stuck here. Also, I've got my VW to do something about, which is a
sore point, as it is sitting and rotting. Additionally, I've got
to do some serious budgeting before I launch into this new school year.
Otherwise, I'll easily be overspending. I'm very excited about
finishing this law degree, but it is a long haul. Gainesville
would be a long drive I'm sure.
Well, Happy Birthday. If you could have anything you wanted for
your birthday what would it be? (I suppose you might wish to have the
thing with Julie straightened out.) (My wish list includes a laptop, a
Saturn, a trip to the Grand Canyon, and a month with nothing to do,
except what I choose). Elizabeth
Updated: 04-14-2024