Yeah I'm a geek, what?

As some of you may know, Brian and I play these online games. My gateway "drug," and first true love, was City of Heroes. We then moved on to the heavier, more life consuming (for some), World of Warcraft. Both are fun, but with a joyous heart I would like to announce we are now back to City of Heroes. I have thought of a long list of things I love about City of Heroes and I might post that list at a later date, but for now I leave you with my newly redesigned, Mistress Melter. She is wearing costume designed by Anne and Brian which features her powers of fierce fire and bone chilling ice.

Please oh, Please oh PLEASE!

I feel as though I am pregnant (I'm not) and I can't tell anyone because it is too early in the pregnancy (again, I am NOT pregnant) and something might happen. So by writing this blog I am sure that I will jinx myself, but alas I will write it anyway. So to make a long story short, I have been in grad school working on my PhD (with no Masters) for 4 years now. When I began I hoped to be done this May, but as my study start date kept getting pushed back, I knew that my May 2009 graduation date was no longer, we quickly passed by August 2009 as well, but December looked promising. Well I didn't get as many subjects as I had hoped this Spring, so I needed more participants in the Fall and there went December 2009 graduation. I had begun to accept the idea of a May 2010 graduation. Well yesterday my professor told me I could be done with my data collection after this group of women were through (which is in a few weeks) and I could begin writing my dissertation. He said I can count on and plan for a December 2009 graduation!! Now I can put the countdown back on my Facebook profile, heh. I will help someone in my lab with the next group of women in the Fall, but I will not need to include them in my dissertation. This being said, it might all change. And I know it's not a huge deal one way or the other. I just want to be done and officially have the degree, so I don't have to worry about anything happening to take it away from me. Thank you all for all of your support through the years. I will keep you posted and let me know when we'll be celebrating. Now back to work, so I can get done!

Well

Life over the past couple of weeks has been a crazy mess, emotionally and physically. The clean up has begun, so hopefully I'm on a road to a full recovery. Things are just really busy. The past couple of weeks have been full of long work days with little sleep on either end, but that's life. With the good the bad and the ugly, I have found I have the most amazing friends at this point in my life. Friends on which I can depend. Friends who love me unconditionally, which is quite an amazing feat. They have yet to tell me to stop complaining and talking about the same issues over and over again. They help without question or motive. They have true concern for my well being and are always there to bring a smile to my face! Through these crazy weeks I have had an awesome time with many friends. For everything, I am truly thankful. You have no idea how much your friendship means to me.

Whew!

From one trip to another. This semester is flying by and for that I am thankful. It means progress is being made. I'm sure there will come a point in my life when I wonder where all the time went and I'll find myself wishing I had it back. Of course, the good times roll by faster than the bad, but there's not much I can do about that. When it all comes down to it, it will be the people I miss the most. So now, I cherish the time I have and enjoy the memories we make. (Some of you there are not near enough memories being made. We should remedy that)!

The trip. I'm heading to The Big Easy tomorrow for a conference. It should be fun. This will be the first time I will present my own research (yay for finally being done with THAT poster)! I am also taking some work with me so I can get some major data entry done. I'm going to take advantage of the evenings with no friends and get some work done! Sad I know, but hey, since I'm going for work I might as well work!

Well I hope everyone is doing well. I have been crazy busy the last few weeks, and at this point I'm not too sure how to slow down. The semester's almost over! Hope to see you on the other side!

The grass is always greener

I spent a long weekend in Washington DC this past weekend and like every trip to DC, it was great. Washington DC is special to me for many reasons, one of them being the freedom and liberation that is public transportation. I love that you can walk around a city and take the subway or bus anywhere. I have been to DC 4 times so far. Each time has been a trip of significant personal growth, reflection, and hope. This past trip was nothing short of that. Many possibilities for the next step presented themselves including fellowships in which to apply and ideas for postdoctoral projects. As the end of my graduate school career approaches (hopefully), the next step weighs heavy on my mind. Where do I go from here? Will choosing one way rule out another way forever? Will I regret not going for something? Will I always wonder if I could have done it? Does it matter at all? I would love, at some point in my life, to spend sometime working in Washington DC. At this point, I do not want to live there forever, maybe just a year or two. Again DC gives me such a sense of freedom and peace. I am getting restless with the career/academic aspect of my life. I know the grass is always greener. DC may be so appealing because, to this point, I have no real responsibility there. Once a job and everyday life sets in along with the high cost of living, I know it will be just as stressful and trying at times as it is now. And I will be far from my friends and family. Logistically, Houston is a better choice. Or there's the CDC in Georgia:) We'll see. No need to worry about it all until the offers are on the table. In the end, I may not have a choice! And after all the debate, it is no longer just my decision. It would be easier to make the decision on my own, but it would be a much lonelier life. There are more important things in life, than a career. Again, we'll see where life takes us. I guess it is a true blessing that life is full of possibilities. And at this point I don't think there is a right or wrong decision. I feel no matter what I will find more happiness than which I could have ever planned (hopefully, heh).

Yay Mondays

Yes, I know it is no longer Monday. While I dread Mondays like everyone else (especially the Monday after Spring Break), Mondays are by far the most productive day of my week. I think the reason behind this is pure anxiety and guilt (again especially after Spring Break) is this. It is a vicious cycle. I work hard in the lab at the beginning of the week, towards the end I work on my lesson for Franklin that week, and then I spend a day in Franklin becoming completely neglectful of my lab duties. While many grad students, not in my lab, are working from sun up to sun down on the weekends as well, my weekends are lazy- full of sleep and computer gaming. After that, say 4 day, lapse in laziness and/or neglect for my lab work, Monday rolls around great anxiety in tow. When Monday hits, I work diligently to complete as many tasks for the week as I can. I should really space out the task over the week to reduce anxiety and apathy for my job in the following days, but I just can't. I am fine with sitting around, but I cannot sit around knowing I have a long list of things to do. I MUST get them ALL done on Monday. I know the reality is they can't ALL be done on one day for various reasons, but I try. None-the-less it makes for a very productive Monday which leaves me with a great sense of accomplishment and tired.

Tired- ah that is why I am up at 6:10 in the morning. I have really been up since about 2:30. I fell asleep on the couch about 10 o'clock, due to my very productive Monday, and then woke up around 2:30. I got ready for bed, climbed in and laid there for an hour (yes I say 'an' hour, so I write 'an' hour whether it be correct or not). Now I am here. The night started with productive work for school and has ended in this fabulous post.

On a side note, I am stressing out about a hotel room reservation. I am going to New Orleans in April for a scientific meeting. Normally we would share hotel rooms and split the cost. I don't want to share a hotel room and I think I have waited too long to look for a roommate. I would really rather stay with my Korean lab mate (who is male), than some girl I don't know, but I think that is social unacceptable. SO I am trying to find a room that is reasonably priced (100-150) in a nice enough hotel in hopes to save my lab some money. The secretary also booked flights for us without our consent, which is not a huge deal, but she booked us to stay 6 nights. The hotel bill alone will be quit hefty. I have spent hours over analyzing the situation, and I think I might just speak with my professor tomorrow. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Again I am tight, even with money that is not mine!

Well I think I am off, unfortunately to get ready for school. Even though I am really tired, I know if I go lay down for a few hours, I will not wake up until late this afternoon. Hopefully I can avoid another late night nap on the couch tonight, but that's doubtful. Hope you all have an awesome day!

Show me the money

So I have decided that financial responsibility does not come until you actually have money to spend, or you have something specific in which to save. Yes, I understand the idea of credit card debit, but that is not an option for us. If we do not have the money, the item does not get bought. When money is short, the decision not to buy is easy. The hard part comes when there are funds available. This is when my inner tightwad battles the desire to purchase something.

I have always been the one to save, for the most part. I remember a time in second grade when Jason and I were in a close race for the most class dollars (you received money for doing good things and then you could buy items at the class store). Rather than buy items at the class store, Jason and I saved all of our money; then it became a contest. In the end, I spent a good deal of money on a putt-putt trip with my teacher. Though it was hard to let go of all of that cash, it was money well spent and still one of the greatest memories I have of my elementary school days. I'm not sure what Jason's reward was for ending up with the most money.

Well now, as well all know, the money is real. Now it comes down to making smart decisions. My folks taught me to save because you never knew what will happen. Though it is never fun to shell out money on something you don't want to pay for (for me it is usually my car), it is nice to have the money and not worry too much about it. Today my inner tightwad lost out, and a new computer was purchased. I "need" a new desktop. My laptop is great, but it is starting to wear out. That worries me because a great deal of my PhD work, and thus the work of the past 4 years, is on my laptop. I do back up my hard drive, thanks to you John, but I need to get into the habit of doing it regularly to reduce the risk of important files being lost.

This new purchase will keep me in line for the next few months. Hopefully, we will make wise decisions concerning our money. Brian gives me total control of the finances, which puts my control freak mind at ease. I have to admit, I had a hard time when we each had our own account and I didn't know what his looked like. I would also like to think the control freak aspect of myself only comes out at times, like with money, but I would probably be lying. Hmmm sounds like another blog in the making...