Poor Reggie. 8 February, 2010

Reggie, my laptop, died.

Well, his motherboard fried out. Now he is on nis way to Texas to (hopefully) get fixed, and he’ll be out of commission for probably a month. So for the past 9 days I have been laptop-less, and I read four books, plus kept up with the readings for my classes. Go me. Now I have a rental, which means I probably won’t be half as productive as I was, but I’ll actually get around to catching up with 304 grades.

In other news:

• I thought I was going to have to go to a boring IRB training in order to keep my ORCA check, but Oliver called the office and since we already submitted our IRB applications (and got them approved!), we don’t have to go! Hooray!
• Suzy made awesome fried rice last Thursday to go with the amazing egg drop soup that I made. Mmmm grease.
• We were assigned groups for our major paper in Evolutionary Psych. My group is doing the evolutionary purpose of amusement parks. Everyone else is doing boring things like altruism and music and parenting strategies. Go us.

I’m a slacker. 27 January, 2010

Here are the different ways in which I am a slacker:

• I forget to call my family (sorry!).
• It’s been almost two weeks since my students turned in their first assignments, and I haven’t even looked at them yet.
• I haven’t started writing my aggression paper (which I wanted to have finished by January, and now it’s almost February).
• I’ve only met with Dr H once this semester, and it was not about my paper.
• I spaced the career fair today, and only remembered as I walked through the Wilk, saw the signs for it, and realized that it ended as soon as I had a free hour.
• I haven’t “officially” applied for any jobs yet, but my “resume” is up on a couple sites.
• I haven’t started researching for my presentation (due Monday).
• I realized that I never did the Eprime tutorial last semester like I was supposed to.
• I will most likely miss all of the abstract deadlines for conferences this summer, because I have yet to start my paper.
• I really need to get my hair cut (as of November), but keep forgetting to call and make an appointment.
• My room is a disaster and I haven’t finished unpacking from Christmas break.
• I need to get the oil changed in the car.
• I haven’t updated any of the three blogs I have in forever (until now).
• I’m making a list of all the things I haven’t done instead of actually doing them.

In other news, I read. A ton. For my classes (both fairly reading intensive), for research, and for my own pleasure. I’m currently reading four different books and making minimal progress in each. I think I need to just choose one, finish it, and then move on to the next.

I finished Superfreakonomics. On the plane on the way back to Utah, actually. It was fantastic, especially the epilogue about monkey prostitution. My favorite chapter was the one about the thinktank of geniuses who come up with bizarrely simple solutions to the world’s problems. I mean, “garden hose to the sky” as a solution for the ozone problem? How much simpler can you get? Anyway, If you want your mind blown (in a good way), I highly suggest this book.

2010. 4 January, 2010

According to nearly everyone that I’ve spoken with, 2009 was the WORST YEAR EVER. Facebook statuses read “Good riddance, 2009!” and “So happy for the new year!” and other random utterances that indicate displeasure with the past year.

I don’t honestly think that 2009 was the WORST YEAR EVER for me. That would have to go to 2004, when I spent most of the year in and out of doctor’s offices and emergency rooms. Maybe it was the most interesting year in recent memory though.

To recap:

• Winter semester–I take 5 psych classes to finish up my major.
• Joining my first research team (thanks Sam!).
• Being a TA and dealing with my least favorite group of students ever (and being reassigned to Psych 111 at the end of Winter semester).
• Meeting future awesome friends (in 304, no less! I do love some of my students).
• Going to Oregon with Dr H.
• Intern drama (which will never be discussed here, but only on my private blog (and maybe in-person)).
• Spending fifty million hours laughing and complaining with Mandi.
• Gchat with Adrian (in which I plotted to take over the world).
• Being re-reassigned back to 304 for Fall semester.
• Taking Shakespeare and Film and getting an A- (the same grade that Laura got)!
• My creative writing professor telling me that I was a clever writer and deserved an imaginary gold star.
• Working on my independent project with Dr H and getting awesome results.
• Joining Dr S’s research team, and meeting all of the other awesome RAs.
• Tuesdays in Psych Central.
• Going to the opera with my Shakespeare class.
• Having awesome students again.
• Becoming awesome at Beatles Rock Band.
• GLEE.

Yeah, there were some really not-so-great things that happened and a lot of decidedly neutral things, but the year was actually okay.

Bring it, 2010.

Why thank you! 8 December, 2009

I got lots of compliments on my hair, hat, and boots today.

I’m not so sure it was the hair itself that garnered the praise, but maybe the combination of the soft, luxurious red curls peeking out from an equally soft creme-colored knit hat was an irresistible combination. Add in a pair of adorable pale blue wellies bedecked in pink dogs (worthy of praise on their own) and the cute factor increases exponentially. For everyone who made their approval known (and those who were too stunned to speak), I thank you.

Looking fabulous rocks!

It’s been real, Virginia. 30 November, 2009

See you in two weeks.

(I have been insanely busy. I might get around to updating on Saturday.)