It's so hard to believe that a year ago this weekend, I was at Transy. A year ago, I was hanging out with my sisters. A year ago, we were at McCarthy's for one last drink. A year ago, I was rolling out of bed for the last time in Forrer Hall. A year ago, I ate my last breakfast in Forrer's cafeteria (though I'm not sad about that). A year ago, I was goofing off with Bethany while we got ready for graduation. A year ago, I finished my last May term & was about to walk across a stage in front of hundreds of people to accept my diploma from Dr. Shearer. A year ago ...
So much can happen in a year, yet so little as well. Since last May, I have ...
- spent 6 weeks in Europe with mom (& survived).
- worked at OCHS (teaching & sports program) & Bath & Body Works.
- moved to Wales to work on my masters.
- got a job in Germany.
- got a job in Wales.
- traveled.
Now some would say that quite a bit has happened in a year for me, but I don't think so. I'm still stuck in the "I don't know what I want to do with the rest of my life" rut that so many my age are in. I do know I'm ready to get off the island ... even if it means swimming or paying $200 more to come home. But mom won't stand for that as she is coming to visit at the end of the June & her ticket is non-refundable. I think dad would go for it though. :-)
But still ... a year ago, it was I who was to walk across the stage, praying I didn't trip & fall.
But alas, I am here ... in Wales ... not able to graduate until I finish my dissertation ... not able to graduate until next July ...
So I'll stop procrastinating & being all nostalgic & get some work done. Because the sooner I get it finished, then ... well, I can't say the sooner I can come home because of my plane ticket. I can say the sooner it is finished, the sooner I don't have to worry about it ... I guess.
26 May 2007
24 May 2007
Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backwards
Dixie Chicks sounds from my laptop as I sit down to write this blog. Finally, I can just chill ... listen to music ... maybe read a non-academic book ... until tomorrow comes around. To say that I have been stressed this past week would be the biggest understatement of the year. It also justifies why I haven't written in a while.
Yesterday (Wednesday) I turned in an essay that was meant to be 2000 words on the use of rhetoric in JFK's & MLK's 1963 civil rights speeches. I wish I could say I wrote 2000 words. I wish I could say I wrote 1900 words. But I must 'fess up & admit that I wrote 5,741 words. Those who know me should not be at all surprised that I would ever stay within a "suggested" word count. And I did email the professor ahead of time to ask if I would be penalized for going over the word limit. Now you probably ask why on God's green earth I would choose to write almost 4000 words more than I needed. Well, my analysis dictated that. When you analyze Kennedy's "Civil Rights Address" & King's "I Have a Dream," you know you're going to be in for the long haul. Both speeches are 5 pages each! Plus I have to pull out all those big, master words that show I know what I'm talking about. Oh, & I had to provide historical context since my professor is an Australian ... living in Wales. :-) Now if I was a good student, I would have started the paper weeks ago, which I did. I printed the speeches & read them! But that was it. So Friday saw me in the library. Saturday found me in London working on my dissertation while I waited for my train back to Swansea. Sunday ... well ... I slept. Monday was a visit to the library & Tuesday was an even longer visit to the library. Of course Tuesday was the night before the paper was due, so I pulled an all nighter, managing to get in 3 hours of sleep before I was back in the library for one last read through. Was I stressed? You bet!
On top of the paper, Lucy & her boyfriend of 18 months just broke up. Major drama with that one which stressed everyone out as we were trying to console her (dinner & movie night as Zoe's was a much needed night in for us!) & work on her essays. Then Zoe & I were going to her home (Pontypool, about 2.5 hours from Swansea) for a day but her car broke down the day before we were to go. So we didn't go; we didn't get her mom's home cooking. Instead, she got a car that is at a garage where they are trying to fleece her. Luckily, she used some law lingo on them & the manager is sticking with the original quote of 120GBP for the work they have done when the mechanic told her it would cost 350GBP to get the car back without any work or 700GBP to fix it. Both prices were too steep &, frankly, it would be better to buy a new car!
The worst part of being stressed has been the amount of food I have been eating. When I'm stressed, I do one of two things. 1. Clean. 2. Eat. This has been an eating stress. I bought crap at the grocery (i.e. chocolate, ice cream, & rich tea biscuits which Zoe introduced me to). I either snacked on those or the oranges I keep in my room ... or I didn't eat at all. I know it's not healthy, but sometimes you just forget to eat! Monday night I did manage a nice dinner since Valerie, my American housemate who was returning home (I'm jealous) yesterday, & I went to dinner at the restaurant where I work. Tuesday, the two of us made pasta. Last night the "crew" as I affectionally call our group of 4 went to a movie (Blades of Glory, SO funny!), dinner (I love vege burgers!), & the bar. Though, by 11pm we were all calling it a night because we were so tired from the all-nighter paper writing the day before!
Yesterday (Wednesday) I turned in an essay that was meant to be 2000 words on the use of rhetoric in JFK's & MLK's 1963 civil rights speeches. I wish I could say I wrote 2000 words. I wish I could say I wrote 1900 words. But I must 'fess up & admit that I wrote 5,741 words. Those who know me should not be at all surprised that I would ever stay within a "suggested" word count. And I did email the professor ahead of time to ask if I would be penalized for going over the word limit. Now you probably ask why on God's green earth I would choose to write almost 4000 words more than I needed. Well, my analysis dictated that. When you analyze Kennedy's "Civil Rights Address" & King's "I Have a Dream," you know you're going to be in for the long haul. Both speeches are 5 pages each! Plus I have to pull out all those big, master words that show I know what I'm talking about. Oh, & I had to provide historical context since my professor is an Australian ... living in Wales. :-) Now if I was a good student, I would have started the paper weeks ago, which I did. I printed the speeches & read them! But that was it. So Friday saw me in the library. Saturday found me in London working on my dissertation while I waited for my train back to Swansea. Sunday ... well ... I slept. Monday was a visit to the library & Tuesday was an even longer visit to the library. Of course Tuesday was the night before the paper was due, so I pulled an all nighter, managing to get in 3 hours of sleep before I was back in the library for one last read through. Was I stressed? You bet!
On top of the paper, Lucy & her boyfriend of 18 months just broke up. Major drama with that one which stressed everyone out as we were trying to console her (dinner & movie night as Zoe's was a much needed night in for us!) & work on her essays. Then Zoe & I were going to her home (Pontypool, about 2.5 hours from Swansea) for a day but her car broke down the day before we were to go. So we didn't go; we didn't get her mom's home cooking. Instead, she got a car that is at a garage where they are trying to fleece her. Luckily, she used some law lingo on them & the manager is sticking with the original quote of 120GBP for the work they have done when the mechanic told her it would cost 350GBP to get the car back without any work or 700GBP to fix it. Both prices were too steep &, frankly, it would be better to buy a new car!
The worst part of being stressed has been the amount of food I have been eating. When I'm stressed, I do one of two things. 1. Clean. 2. Eat. This has been an eating stress. I bought crap at the grocery (i.e. chocolate, ice cream, & rich tea biscuits which Zoe introduced me to). I either snacked on those or the oranges I keep in my room ... or I didn't eat at all. I know it's not healthy, but sometimes you just forget to eat! Monday night I did manage a nice dinner since Valerie, my American housemate who was returning home (I'm jealous) yesterday, & I went to dinner at the restaurant where I work. Tuesday, the two of us made pasta. Last night the "crew" as I affectionally call our group of 4 went to a movie (Blades of Glory, SO funny!), dinner (I love vege burgers!), & the bar. Though, by 11pm we were all calling it a night because we were so tired from the all-nighter paper writing the day before!
12 May 2007
The Gower
This is potentially the most beautiful part of Wales. It is an hour's bus ride from Swansea, but only about 10 miles!). This is at Rhossili & Worm's Head. The tide was actually out when we were here, so you can see all of Worm's Head. You have only a 2 hour span if you wish to cross over to Worm's Head & come back before you will be trapped by the tide!! Valerie & I took a picnic lunch, found a little sheltered spot & enjoyed the sun. Oh, & sheep randomly roam the cliffs ...
06 May 2007
Handicap(ping)
First off, I am declaring myself handicapped. I ran on the beach (at 8am, thank you!) on Friday with Zoe. How I got dragged into doing this, I don't know. But I did! Not sure how I feel about running on sand ... definitely an experience. But the whole handicapped bit comes the next day ... when my butt hurts & my knees aren't handling the stairs well. So, if I ever go running on the beach again (she wants me to go on Monday) then please provide a wheelchair once I stop.
Second, I have found my new calling in life! That would be handicapping horse races. I won money on BOTH the KY Oaks (fillies) & the Derby as I had money on BOTH the winners. Also got an exacta on the Derby which paid out $100. My sentimental favorite was 3rd (Curlin, owned by a TU prof Martha Gehringer's brother). So for once, I handicapped the races correctly & won money instead of losing. Go me!
Second, I have found my new calling in life! That would be handicapping horse races. I won money on BOTH the KY Oaks (fillies) & the Derby as I had money on BOTH the winners. Also got an exacta on the Derby which paid out $100. My sentimental favorite was 3rd (Curlin, owned by a TU prof Martha Gehringer's brother). So for once, I handicapped the races correctly & won money instead of losing. Go me!
04 May 2007
An Early Cinqo de Mayo
So a few thoughts on celebrating Cinqu de Mayo on the 3rd of May.
1. Make more food than you think you need, especially when feeding 2 guys & 2 girls with the appetites of 2 guys (i.e. Matt, Freddy, Valerie, & me)
2. When making margaritas, don't try to make your own sweet & sour mix like we did. First you have to squeeze tons of lemons because you can't buy lemon juice on its own. Then you have to figure out the ratio. And I'm not good at math.
3. Must buy festive lime green pitcher for margaritas.
4. By pass on the salt. It's overrated. But eat the lemon wedges. Better than putting them in the drinks.
5. Make sure the guys know that if you cook, they clean.
6. Don't try writing a dissertation essay after having had a homemade margarita.
7. Don't plan Mexican & Margarita night on the night you have to write an essay that is due the next evening.
8. Don't agree to go for a beach run at 8am the next day.
1. Make more food than you think you need, especially when feeding 2 guys & 2 girls with the appetites of 2 guys (i.e. Matt, Freddy, Valerie, & me)
2. When making margaritas, don't try to make your own sweet & sour mix like we did. First you have to squeeze tons of lemons because you can't buy lemon juice on its own. Then you have to figure out the ratio. And I'm not good at math.
3. Must buy festive lime green pitcher for margaritas.
4. By pass on the salt. It's overrated. But eat the lemon wedges. Better than putting them in the drinks.
5. Make sure the guys know that if you cook, they clean.
6. Don't try writing a dissertation essay after having had a homemade margarita.
7. Don't plan Mexican & Margarita night on the night you have to write an essay that is due the next evening.
8. Don't agree to go for a beach run at 8am the next day.
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