New Year, New Decisions

2013... Amazing. Since the Mayan Apocalypse did not happen on schedule, I guess I have to think about what's next. 

These aren't New Year's Resolutions. Rather, these are the start of my next five-year plan...

Professional plans...
1. Resign my position at UO.
The University of Oregon has been an amazing safety net for me. It was a half time job, working within my comfort level, with some wonderful colleagues. It provided almost exactly my mortgage money every month, health benefits, and great flexibility. I am grateful. However, now, after 5 years of half-time pay for well over half-time hours (it is hard for me to watch the clock when students are desperate), I realize that I can't afford the time commitment to this "half-time" job. June 15 will be my last day as an employee of the University of Oregon. Though, of course, I will ALWAYS love my Ducks!

2. Maintain my contract with Alaska
This work is exceptionally interesting, with an opportunity to travel, working with quality people here in Eugene and in Alaska. We are in the second year of our second 6-year contract. Years 4 and 5 may be very busy.

3. Apply to the University of Oregon School of Law, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program
Yes, I am nuts. My friend Suzy Harris, an attorney, agrees, but she says she "gets the compulsion."

When Dave finished law school (1984? 85?) and we moved to Hawai'i, it was sort of my turn for the next degree. I worked for a while at the Aloha Animal Clinic in Kahala, as the business manager. Then, Dave passed the Bar, got a position at Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn & Stifle, we got pregnant with Jacob, and I looked around for the next thing. I wanted to go to law school, but Dave and I talked and I eventually believed that law was not a good career for me. So I earned my Masters in Special Education instead. This has been an amazing career for me and has had important impacts on me professionally, and more importantly, personally. And it has been this career that led to my involvement in the COAST (see #4). But now I am 52, and have done what I want to do in the Education world, and am ready for my second career. 

My second career needs to fill some spiritual aches I have... I'd like to leave the world a little better than I found it. 

I briefly toyed with the idea of working in Doha Qatar this weekend. The position is for the Director of Research for a small private school for kids with learning disabilities. I chatted with the school's director at length last spring about this position. At that time, the position was still being developed, and it looked like I had a great chance of becoming the Director of Research for Aswaj Academy. Then the school's governing Board decided to wait a bit with that position, and develop it more fully. Great pay, interesting locale, the job posting states they'd like the successful candidate to start in February, but will wait for the right person to complete current contracts. So I put together my application, letter of interest, etc. 

Then, after meditating, I realized that I am truly ready to go to law school. And will have the income needed to do that. So I won't apply to Qatar. Who knows, maybe in four years...

4. Conduct preliminary research on the COAST, and submit two grants
Sidney and I are working on the preliminary research for the COAST. I'm a bit behind on my tasks, which include getting districts in the Portland Metro area to agree to let us talk to parents of children with Autism. The preliminary research will involve 50 parents of kids with Autism and 50 parents of kids without disabilities filling out the COAST and another, recognized, Autism tool. We are just looking for evidence that our tool is AT LEAST as effective as the other, already accepted tool. Future research will be conducted to show that our tool is better.

Step 1: Apply for Human Subjects Research Approval. I'm working on that, and will have that done by mid- to late-January. Then, hopefully, in February/March, we can conduct the preliminary research.

Then, on February 13, Sidney and I are meeting with Dr. David Amaral at the MIND Institute in Sacramento. This meeting is a Very Big Deal.

After we have our preliminary data analyzed, we are poised to submit two grants for future research and development. We are hopeful that Dr. Amaral and the MIND institute may want to partner with us in some way.

Now that I think about it, the combination of moving forward with the COAST research and attending law school are tied as primary reasons to NOT go to Qatar this summer.

5. Five years out?
The COAST will be up and running, and I will likely still be involved in Autism research. Sidney's got an idea for another tool that we may develop.

Once I've finished law school, I'll look to working in defense of the environment, possibly starting at MC Mehta's ashram in India. Or the Peace Corp. Or ???


Personal Plans...
A. Breed the Wolfhounds, and show them more often
I am keenly aware that my amazing F*ck Off Huge Dogs have a very short life expectancy. Irish Wolfhounds typically live 8 to 10 years, and my girls are 4 1/2. Miss Molly has been at the breeders since June, being shown and waiting to come into heat so we can breed her. 

PUPPIES!!! 

yes, I hope to have a litter of wolfhound puppies this spring.

B. Fix up the house
I need a new roof, carpeting, weather-proofing under the house and in the attic, a better front entrance way (expanded deck to the front door, landscaping). Some additional electrical for outdoor lighting. Painting inside and out. You know, the "Weekend To Do List". Two pre-requisites for this... my shoulder surgery needs to heal up, which is taking much longer than I had thought it would, and I need to fill the "Repair Fund" cookie jar. If I have puppies, that could help with the cookie jar.

C. Spend more time traveling
Jerry is headed to Scotland for a semester study abroad. He leaves January 22. I'll save my pennies and try to visit at the end of his stay. Later, we'd like to visit other parts of Mexico and Central America. I'd like to explore the US. Visit Canada. Go to Europe, Asia, Africa. Some of those trips will be within the next five years, some may be in conjunction with post-law school employment. 

D. Family and Friends
Not really the last thought; more and more you are all my first thoughts. I will spend more time with family and friends (but not so much time that you get sick of me...). My visits may include the wolfhounds in the back of the truck, because I will try to merge A. with D. Travel for dog shows is tax-deductible. And Jerry built me that adorable travel trailer...