In less than 30 days, I will begin the comprehensive exam process--an open-note, at-home version that gives me one week with each question. That means for five weeks, I'll be eyes-deep in urban geography, political ecology, and pastoralism in America. The timeline took me a bit by surprise; I'd been anticipating a February start date. Instead, I'll begin just a week after the semester recommences and wrap up with time to spare before spring break--a break I fully intend to give myself for the first time ever.
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My baby is now a month old, & we are seven weeks into the semester. This week, I returned to class. Next week, I return to my part-time job (for part of that part-time, doing most of the hours from home). The week after that, I start teaching my Community Gardens & Community Orchard special topics class. Two days ago, I mailed a check to the Association of American Geographers to renew my membership. This morning, I got an e-mail notifying me that registration for the Dimensions of Political Ecology conference at the University of Kentucky is open. I sat at my desk, surrounded by the piles of books for my comprehensive exams. My color-coding materials--sticky tags, Post It notes, highlighters, note cards--are scattered as I read Vasishth and Sloane's "Returning to ecology: An ecosystem approach to understanding the city." My baby is sleeping in a bassinet next to me.
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I'm not good at taking it easy. Three days after coming home from the hospital, I thought I was feeling good. I fed our baby & told my husband I was running to Target--my first time away from Baby--to pick up a few items for this weird post-partum body. By the time I walked into the store, I was regretting my decision. I ended up waddling around the store in pain, holding back tears. I'd strained my body already. By the time I got home, all I could do was stand in the kitchen & cry while my husband took my shoes off. He helped me into bed, & I vowed to take my time with the rest of my recovery.
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