Laughs, Creepers, and a box of food

When I was considering a title for this post, I could not imagine anything better then what title I gave it. It explains the essence of what this week has been about. Let me break it down for you.

Laughs -
This week especially I have been well accepted into the Georgia State family. This is a fabulous feeling. Basically this means that they feel comfortable enough now to crack jokes at the way I say words. First there is the southern word y'all. I don't really understand the point of putting it together. I say you all. Or as the "Midwest" supposedly changes it to you guys. I find it hard now to say either of these phrases. Saying you guys just reaffirms that I am indeed from the Midwest and no one knows what the heck I'm talking about. On the other hand saying y'all feels so foreign that I am unable to even utter it without thinking hard before saying it. Its like learning a new language...I think I need Rosetta Stone. Second is the word both. So I may be the only one that says it funny, but apparently there is a hint of an "L" in the middle of the word for me. The first time I said both my coworkers asked me to repeat it 5 times before they realized what I was trying to say to them. Third, the word bag. Bag is a bag here too just like it is in Iowa and Missouri. What is different about my version of a bag and the southern version of a bag is how long I say the "a". Jamie K is probably one of the only people that has ever gotten made fun of for saying this so strangely to people. To us its just a bag. Not a "beg" as some try to tell me I am saying. Eh. I am happy to not be losing my words because I am proud of my roots. Yes I said PROUD of my roots - which are in the Midwest. My branches may be sprouting in the south it would seem. The laughs because of my language are not the only laughs happening.

I was in a giggle mood most of the week which had to have made life interesting for my coworkers. Since I am new many, OK all, have not witnessed those days as I am sure some of you have. I just find everything enjoyable on days like that, and my coworkers were convinced I was on something. I hope many of my weeks include at least one day where I am in this kind of mood. I mean really how much better can a day get when you start it off by having "California Girls" by Katy Perry stuck in your head. 3 days in a row this happened. This promoted me to ponder why there are no songs about Midwest girls - leave out the country, I'm talking top 40 here. NOTHING. If you know of a good top 40 song written specifically with Midwest girls in mind please let me know.

Creepers -
Many close to me know this story but it got worse on Monday night. I can down to the common area for my nightly e-mail and coffee break. I settled in at a chair and plugged in my lap top. I was searching for frames to decorate my office with when in walked creeper. He has a name and I do know it, but I would rather call him creeper. I am not a mean person and have a hard time being flat out rude to people. This is something that I am going to have to change, because I will not deal with this any more. He came in shouting my name at the top of his lungs even though there was not anyone else around. Geez. He started asking me about my weekend and I am careful to only share generalizations. I said I went to the pool and the park. Then he proceeded to ask me what kind of swimsuit I was wearing. REALLY! What the heck? Remember that this whole time I am clearly working on something and not really looking at him or making eye contact, yet he is still talking to me. At this weird outlandish question, I quickly picked up my phone and sent a "HELP" text to Andrew. He noticed and said something like "why you always texting people when I'm talking to you?" to which I reply, because I am busy. Thank GOD for super fabulous friends because at that moment Andrew called and I began to talk to him. To my surprise he stayed in the area for a while longer while I tried to subtly explain to Andrew what was happening - we carried on with some small talk - until he left. Very creepy. Since Monday I have avoided the common area (hence no updates till now). Now whenever I leave my apartment I put my headphones in and listen to music before I even arrive here so that I can fully ignore if I need to.

Box of Food -
There now sits in my office a huge box of random food and another of bottled water. How did it get there? Basically I cleaned out some goodies bags that were cluttering my office. I hate clutter. I am not a fan of having random things around that you never use. Graduation items were also cleaned out from which 7 stuffed puppy dogs emerged. Remember that I was in a goofy mood. Well this meant that those dogs got placed in my coworkers office. HA. What was fabulous about the whole situation was that he knew it was me. What the heck? These dogs then got transferred back to my office and then back to his again. Now they are in the hands of some lovely new GSU students (given away as prizes).

Other things from the week:
*I am currently still wrestling with the issue of where my professional line is located. Basically I am unsure of exactly what is okay for me to do outside of work with the Inceptors and what is not acceptable as a professional. I know this will come with time, but it has caused me a bit of confusion this past week.
*Church - I went to a beautiful church this Sunday, but I am still on a quest to find the perfect one for me. I will be praying a lot this week for guidance.
*Students - I really adore students. I mean I love parents, but students are the reason I even have parents to work with. I have always said I would have an open door policy because I think students need to know they are free to come in and talk whenever they need. I can put off sending an e-mail or making a phone call to talk with a student for 5 minutes or more. This week I really felt like the students were beginning to see me as a person they can go to if they have problems or concerns. Many came to my office to discuss their classes, future, other students, or just to say hey. I could not be happier to have already begun to build these relationships with them.
*Parents - The Parents Association hit it big this week. I fell in love with some parents that are totally awesome. Since this is a big portion of my job I am super happy to have success. Talking with each new set of parents is interesting. Each session has its own set of personalities. Some are meek, others crazy and so on. Its fun trying to work my way through each new day and what the parents will be like. Oh Parents I heart you all!
*Sunburn and Society- my summer goal is to spend one day during the weekend at the pool and the other out in the community. This weekend I spent Saturday at the pool. It was hot (as if that's anything different then normal), but the wind was blowing so it didn't seem so bad and the passing clouds left a nice shade about every 15 minutes. I put sunblock on the same as last week, but this week I should have reapplied. The sun is awesome. I feel so refreshed after spending a few hours in the sun. This week I got a little red on my legs - still dealing with that a bit. My freckles are totally out and my Johnson birthmark is quite prominent. The other day of me weekend is taken by something very Atlantan. Last week I went to a park, this week the High Museum. It was awesome. I discovered I am more an Early European art fan then Modern art. Oh and the exhibit The Allure of the Automobile was going on which was pretty freaking cool. I don't even like cars that much, but it was still cool. While driving to and from the museum I noticed a bunch of places I need to go and eat or drink including a Gastropub and a wine place. I really need to get comfortable going places alone.

Well this week has started my settling in process. I am still the newbie at work and around town, but I now have a grasp on what I need to accomplish at work and at home.