Random Ramblings

So...a lot has happened this I last posted. We elected a new President (finally!). California decided that it's going to make discrimination ok in the state constitution. I won't go further into this because I feel like there has already been so much rhetoric and debate about this issue, and really what more can I say that hasn't already been said. It's just sad to realize a large percentage of the people who voted for prop 8 are those who have been victims of discrimination themselves. but enough about that.

One of my dear staff members is leaving and getting married this month. Although I am nothing but happy for her, this does leave me in the predicament of losing an excellent employee. At first the problem was just finding someone who isn't an idiot and can do the job sufficiently. But now I can't hire anyone at all as USC has just imposed a hiring freeze across the university until June 2009. Great. So now I'm down one staff member which means my work load is going to increase...by a lot.

This hiring freeze also affects my own job finding prospects. I know I have been saying for years that I'm going to leave financial aid. And i really think that time has come and I was going to start really applying for jobs after the new year. I was thinking that if I wanted to begin my career in advising, the easiest thing would be to get an advising position at USC, get some experience and then move to another university. But now with this hiring freeze, that doesn't seem feasible. I might have to just try to get a job at another university without any advising experience which might prove to be difficult. We shall see.

I suppose that's all that's been going on. Oh, can I just mention how angry I am at the economy for making plane ticket prices go down. I bought tix to hawaii for $766 back in August thinking that they'll just keep getting more expensive. But no...since the economy has gone down the crapper, and gas prices have plummeted, the cost of my same exact flight is now $272 cheaper. UGH!

Ok, now that is all. Oh, and go see Changeling. It's good.