Life's Pleasant Surprises: It's Official - New Side Hustle Edition

I alluded to this possibility here, but it's now official: I'll be doing some contract work for a small company this summer. It's approximately 20 hrs/week, which is do-able, and I get to telecommute, which is awesome. However, there may be a handful of downsides to this gig.

Reasons my new job is great:
1. Mo' money, less problems! The extra cash flow will allow me to pay on loans, build my E-Fund, and/or facilitate our upcoming move.
2. Moving on up... career-wise. This contract work will diversify me even more and potentially lead to more summer contract work. 
3. Summer lovin', had me a blast... this work will end before school starts, so there are no ethical qualms about working through the year (although with my other side-hustle, my ethical qualms are very, very, VERY few, which I discuss in this very old post here).

Reasons my new job might be not-so-great:
1. 20 hrs/week is nothing to scoff at - particularly during my not-going-so-well exam reading.
2. ... yeah, it's mostly the time and time management thing.

So really, this is a 95% awesome development. I'll make around $3,000 this summer for my work, have an awesome new line on my resume and CV, and force me into a schedule (even if that schedule means ZERO sleep). 

*For those wondering, I got my job through a fellow graduate student who is working full-time for this company. I don't even remember how the conversation came up that her company would need some help this summer, but the second she mentioned it I threw in my name for consideration. She's been wonderful to work with, and totally gets the whole still-in-school-in-the-summer thing, so my contact person for the company is 110% wonderful! And even though I'm terrible at networking, it's already paid off!*

Three Things I'm Thankful for This Thursday

1. The Internet. Do we ever just step back and say, "Holy crap, look what I can do on this crazy thing called the Internet!"

2. Our new apartment (signing the lease *fingers crossed* tomorrow!)

3. In-door plumbing. Because obviously. 

Also, if you haven't seen this (because you've been living under a rock) this will make you really grateful for EVERYTHING!

"Everything is amazing and nobody is happy" by Meowbay

Hey, No Big Deal, But...

I just submitted my first article for publication. NBD, right? 

Nope, pretty big deal. Let's all do the happy dance.

Now, this doesn't mean I'm going to be published; I think it's more likely that it's returned to me ripped apart. But that's fine; I'll never learn if I don't try, right?

Hope you are having a productive day too!

Reading for Exams is Not Going As Planned

I'm really not sure how people do this. I mean, all I've been doing for a week is reading (and watching Buffy on Netflix, but that's beside the point). I've managed to make it through four texts on my list (I'm reading chronologically to follow the discourse); interestingly enough, three of the four texts I've already read, and I'm wondering if that's made this reading more, rather than less, difficult.

I'm also supposed to be taking notes on my reading, but for all my education, that's proving to be one of the most difficult aspects of this exam prep stuff. I feel like I'm writing unintelligible things and that I'll never have enough in notes to move onto the next text (so I don't write the notes and move on anyway.

Also, in the past week, I've managed to:
1. Come down with not one but two debilitating migraines.
2. Not put on pants one entire day.
3. Go three days without taking a shower.
4. Make a package of ramen that was probably two years old in a desperate attempt to find food.

I really have to figure something out about this exam thing (I'm also already a day behind in my reading schedule, which is unacceptable. The whole point of having a schedule is sticking to it, and if I average getting behind a day every week, I'll never finish my reading in time. 

I'm going to finish up my notes for four texts today, do two more shorter texts and notes, and edit and submit a paper for publication (!) Graduate-student-super-drive... ACTIVATE!

Three Things I'm Thankful for This Thursday - Creep on my iTunes edition

1. NPR. How would I be able to handle cleaning the apartment if I couldn't listen to This American Life, The Moth, or Radiolab?

2. Also film podcasts. Filmspotting and Doug Loves Movies (I rock the Leonard Maltin game).  The BF and I listen to these while we cook/eat dinner.

3. All Songs Considered's Austin 100 - top songs from SXSW for free! I've fallen in love with this song, which always makes me feel happy: 



What are you thankful for today?