February and March and well...most of April

Just in case you were thinking of calling me a blogging slacker I'd just like to recap what I've been doing the last few months

Since January I've...

Sung in an Opera-What a great way to end my last night (s) in Monmouth and Salem. Noah's Flood was one of my favorite ensemble experiences and made me realize that I can still enjoy performing without having it consume my life.  I know I will continue to have many more opportunities here in the Rogue Valley to pursue singing.

Started a new job-I can't say enough how much I love working at SOU.  Starting a new job is always tough, and this was no different.  I can't accurately describe both the depth and breadth of training and knowledge I have had to absorb in the past few months and continue to expand upon.  My new coworkers are a great group of people and working with students is so rewarding.  Some of my coworkers have remarked that they are surprised that I am still so cheerful and positive now that I've settled into my job, but I just tell them that I truly enjoy my job, even the tough parts.  It's teaching me how to be firm, but kind. My works challenges my beliefs and perceptions of people in a way that has made me a more compassionate  and understanding human being.

Moved across the state-The very next day after finishing Noah's Flood we moved down to Medford and settled into our new apartment and two days after that I started my new job at SOU.  We live in a cozy apartment complex and are in very close proximity to so much!

Went to Hawaii-When I was hired, I requested that I be able to go on our longstanding family vacation to Hawaii.  This was the first time I had been to Hawaii, and it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.  We had a blast from the minute we stepped off the plane. We ate too much, drank too much, got sunburned, snorkeled, zip-lined and hiked Kilauea. The best part is we will be able to return probably every other year since we are now part owners in a timeshare.  We decided probably every other year would be best as we still have to save up for the plane tickets!

Finished my MBA-That's right I am officially a Master in Business Administration, with a nonprofit management focus.  I fought tooth and nail to the very end to turn out a killer Capstone project and was rewarded with an A.  I will be walking at commencement at June and will proudly strut across the stage.

Found life after grad school-I've finally emerged from the haze of grad school, but am still adjusting to life without term papers and weekly forum discussions and midnight deadlines.  This has almost been a more difficult transition, because I am such a busy body sometimes.  I am doing my best to live in the moment as they say, and enjoy life without looking ahead to what's next.  I'm at a place of great peace in my life.


And what have I learned from the last months you say?

Singing in an opera, starting a new job, moving, finishing a master's degree and going to Hawaii all within three months may not be the best idea I ever had, but I made it.

Salt is an important nutrient. Salt is particularly important for those of us with naturally very low blood pressure which can make one prone to feinting episodes. When in doubt, toss a little salt on your food.  I definitely have noticed the difference in my energy levels.

And damn...it feels good to be a gangsta.

Karen Adams, MBA, ESA...



NBD.

10 things about Medford...

I've completed my first week at SOU and living in Medford.  I am really going to enjoy my work and we love being in Medford.  A lot of our belongings are still in boxes, so I have yet to find my camera, but I promise pictures will arrive eventually.  In the meantime here are ten things that are great about our life in Medford (and Ashland too) so far.

1. Riding the bus.

As a staff member at SOU I get free bus passes.  Every morning Bryce zips me over to the front street station (it takes about 5 minutes to get there), then I hop on the 7:00am bus to Ashland.  Yes, it is about a 40 minute ride, but it is also 40 minutes of peace and tranquility.  Being a graduate student while working full-time I take advantage of every opportunity to read. Plus, we save a lot of money on gas, and I'm not a big fan of driving.

2. My job.

It's all about customer service to students and parents. I thrive on learning, and there is A LOT to learn from varying information databases, to phones, emails, and of course federal regulations concerning student confidentiality, financial aid,etc.   It's not the kind of career I imagined as a college student, but it fits both my skills and values perfectly.

3. Food 4 Less.

Having come from little old Monmouth, Food 4 Less is like a wonderland of grocery shopping.  It's like Costco and Winco had a baby, a low cost, good quality baby. :)

4. Central heating and air.

Bryce calls it climate control.  We had electric wall heaters in our old apartment, and no air conditioning.  It gets pretty hot in the summers here, so we are looking forward to our air conditioning in particular.

5. Our location.

We are five minutes or less away from the Rogue Valley Mall, Costco, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Petco, Trader Joe's, REI, Ulta, and a lot more. And of course we are no more than fifteen minutes away from all of our family too. There is also lots of camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities nearby.

6. Walk-in closets.

We have one, enough said.

7. SOU.

In many ways it feels like WOU which is comforting, but at the same time has its own unique qualities and cultural aspects.  SOU is a hidden gem in many ways, sitting in the heart of Ashland, and I don't even need to explain how cool Ashland is.

8. Hockey.  

We're going to a Spartans game tonight; I haven't been to a hockey game in years.  There's nothing like watching people beat the crap out of each other, while ice skating, and call it a game. :)

9. Having a washer/dryer in my bathroom closet.

It sounds weird, but it really kind of works.  I love "fluffing" my work clothes in the dryer on cold mornings.

10. Knowing and seeing you made the right decision.

     We are so very happy here.