(Written a few nights ago)
1. I am a graduate student. I’m in the Sociology department at a school in Georgia.
2. I’m in my 2nd year.
3. I focus on crime, family, and variables that influence those. (How broad!)
4. I’m reluctant to talk about my work because I’m so much more comfortable regurgitating information I’ve learned in the last year and a half.
5. This is a change from when I was an undergrad and designing and running my own experiment was easy and something I was confident about.
6. I’m not sure why the change happened but now I’m much more comfortable learning.
7. Which leads to…. I fear that I won’t cut it in the field because I don’t have many strong convictions and don’t have much to offer. (Oh, insecurities, I wear you like my oldest, most snug pair of jeans. Sigh.)
8. In other news, I’m from Nebraska and this is my first time “away from home” so to speak.
9. I went to college about 45 minutes from home.
10. The (biggest) reason I agreed to go to school so close to home was because of the concession my parents made: Go to undergrad here and you can go wherever you want for your grad coursework.
11. I keep trying to figure out the best way to segue out of school related stuff… I sneeze often.
12. Often in this sense doesn’t mean many times a day, just many times a sneezing fit. We’re talking 7 or 8 each time I sneeze, on average.
13. I’ve been sneezing this much since I was in 10th grade, at least. That’s as early as I can remember people laughing at/with me for sneezing a lot. Back in Algebra II with Mr. Wisdom.
14. I used to think that friendships were doomed after 4 years.
15. I just sneezed 7 times in a row.
16. I had a series of friends (Jenn and Lauren, Jenna, Jorge) and for most of them, the friendship significantly changed after the 4 year mark. With Jorge it took longer. With Liesal it hasn’t changed. With Chase, I don’t think I ever considered him my best friend.
17. There are some girls from high school I’m friends with on facebook but wasn’t good friends with in high school. I’d like to talk more to them, congratulate them on things; have a friendship with them, but I hesitate because I think that they’ll think of me like I was still high-school-Jessica.
18. Sometimes friendships need to end. Sometimes they don’t. It all comes out in the wash.
19. I make a lot of to-do lists. But with a twist. I often make calendars during class. On the left side of a page in my notebook I’ll make the actual calendar and use the right side to write out dates and events. Yeah, this habit gets me made fun of.
20. Chase and I don’t go to bed (or sleep) at the same time. Chase “puts me to bed” around 12 most nights and then stays up til about 3. I get up around 8 most mornings, he gets up around noon. It works for us (right now).
21. I’m a chapstick addict. I probably have 5 different tubes right now. One in my purse, one in my backpack, one in a pair of jeans, one on my desk, one on my dresser. All Chapstick brand Vanilla Mint.
22. Dude. I can’t believe I’m only on 22. I don’t like biting into apples. I won’t eat it if it’s not sliced up. I think it’s because my front teeth are sensitive.
23. I’m pretty poor these days. Chase and I are both full-time students without jobs. Eek.
24. I enjoy hiking.
25. I wish I went camping (the real kind) more often. I’ve only gone once and it wasn’t really what I’d consider camping. Well… maybe Nebraska camping, but that was lame.
26. I want to whitewater raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon sometime before I die. It’s only about $2,000 per person for the trip. Reservations generally need to be made 9-12 months in advance, I think.
27. I’m only going to 50 this time. I’ll save the other 50 for another time. I can’t do 100 at once. That’s a lot!
28. Next semester I really want to take a class with my friends but think the class I’m going to take instead (they’re scheduled for the same time) will be more useful. I’m SO TEMPTED to say fuck it and take the fun class instead. Gah.
29. I’m going to Disney next weekend. All I can reeealllly think about is how I’ll probably spend more money than I can afford to.
30. OH, AND MY SISTER WILL BE HERE AND GO TO DISNEY WITH ME. That’s worth noting too.
31. I have a gym membership but only go a few times a month. I wish it was closer. I HATE that I have to drive 15 minutes to get there.
32. In July, Chase and I are moving closer to said gym. It’s also closer to a grocery store, friends, etc.
33. Today I let Chase convince me to buy some donuts and I ate 2.5 of them.
34. I’m trying to give up Dr. Pepper but I’m failing badly.
35. I didn’t buy any at the store today in an attempt to quit but I’ll probably start buying them daily until I give in and buy another case.
36. It’s not even the taste that I crave, it’s the mental crutch. I feel like I’m being rewarded every time I drink them.
37. The best concert I’ve ever been to was Papa Roach. How… sad?
38. There’s only one boy/man I’ve had a crush on since moving to Georgia. He reminded me of a more professional, better looking, taller Twofer from 30 Rock.
39. Chase and I have been dating for 3-4 years and I still get sad when it’s been awhile since I’ve had a crush on someone. Eh. Dating one person doesn’t mean I still can’t think other boys are pretty. As long as that’s all that happens: looking.
40. My office is on the 4th floor of a building without an elevator. My knees hurt by the end of the trek upstairs. I’m not sure what that means.
41. My favorite song right now (Conversation 16 by The National) is pretty depressing. I’m not sure what that means, if anything.
42. I like individual sports better than team sports. I hate teams. I can be uncoordinated on my own, thankyouverymuch.
43. Tennis is my favorite.
44. I like running, I’m just never convinced I can actually keep running without dying, so I can’t run that long without a break.
45. I’ve got a bookcase with books I haven’t read yet. Some of them probably won’t ever get read.
46. (5 left!) I really really really really really want a DSLR camera but can’t afford one.
47. After this, I’m going to bed.
48. I used to work at a psych hospital.
49. I LOVED working there. It was really inspiring, helping kids get things back on track.
50. I wish I could work at a psych hospital around here part time but the closest one is at least 45 minutes away. Le sigh.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
What I Do Best
Picture Entry!
Chase's mom and sister visiting:
A tree that's had the kudzu cut away from it (in the run-down cemetary nearby.
Linny, hanging out next to me on the couch
FALL! This week's been color-awesome.
I'm having a hard time motivating myself to work on my thesis. (I'm a broken record.) I'm good at my classes and good at things that have a clear, concrete deadline but I'm bad at abstract jobs. I've got a 20 minute presentation next Wednesday that will be based on my review of 15 or so articles and I've read about 4 of the articles. There was a point where I was EXCITED! about the class but my excitement's boiled down. I'm over it. Next! (This is problematic.)
Solution: break things up into little goals. Hold self accountable to those goals. Go!
(Side note: That 20 page paper I had to write a few weeks ago? I did well on! I got a B+ (basically). I think little by little I'm getting better at working on things before they reach that critical must-do-now point but I've still got a long way to go.)
Next entry: friends
Chase's mom and sister visiting:
A tree that's had the kudzu cut away from it (in the run-down cemetary nearby.
Linny, hanging out next to me on the couch
FALL! This week's been color-awesome.
I'm having a hard time motivating myself to work on my thesis. (I'm a broken record.) I'm good at my classes and good at things that have a clear, concrete deadline but I'm bad at abstract jobs. I've got a 20 minute presentation next Wednesday that will be based on my review of 15 or so articles and I've read about 4 of the articles. There was a point where I was EXCITED! about the class but my excitement's boiled down. I'm over it. Next! (This is problematic.)
Solution: break things up into little goals. Hold self accountable to those goals. Go!
(Side note: That 20 page paper I had to write a few weeks ago? I did well on! I got a B+ (basically). I think little by little I'm getting better at working on things before they reach that critical must-do-now point but I've still got a long way to go.)
Next entry: friends
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Lately
It's probably bad form to only blog once a week but eh, it's my form. I've been pretty busy lately. I had visitors last week, 20 pages to write on top of classes, and this week rebelled and read a book I bought at ASA this fall (a non-sociological book, mind you): Three Cups of Tea.
It's about a mountaineer who got lost after climbing K2 (and becoming quite exhausted after having to help save a co-climber instead of sleeping for a few days) and happened to end up in an impoverished village in Pakistan. He saw the crappy conditions they lived in and the generosity they had for this stranger and vowed to make a difference in their lives. He flew home to America, saved money for a year, and then made his way back to Pakistan to build them a school. More than ten years and 30 schools later, he'd made a career of helping develop schools for students in Pakistan. (He later moved on to building schools in Afghanistan too.) YOU SHOULD READ IT!
After such a school-centered week it's been nice to relax and read for leisure, something I don't often get to do. I've got to get back into the swing of things this week and I'm not sure how well that's going to go. I feel like I have a few big things to do for the rest of the semester but overall it's a lot of little stuff. I need to keep working on my thesis too.
Also, Daylight Savings Time has made me a sleepy lass. It's 10:37 and I'm thinking about bedtime... Hmmm.
It's about a mountaineer who got lost after climbing K2 (and becoming quite exhausted after having to help save a co-climber instead of sleeping for a few days) and happened to end up in an impoverished village in Pakistan. He saw the crappy conditions they lived in and the generosity they had for this stranger and vowed to make a difference in their lives. He flew home to America, saved money for a year, and then made his way back to Pakistan to build them a school. More than ten years and 30 schools later, he'd made a career of helping develop schools for students in Pakistan. (He later moved on to building schools in Afghanistan too.) YOU SHOULD READ IT!
After such a school-centered week it's been nice to relax and read for leisure, something I don't often get to do. I've got to get back into the swing of things this week and I'm not sure how well that's going to go. I feel like I have a few big things to do for the rest of the semester but overall it's a lot of little stuff. I need to keep working on my thesis too.
Also, Daylight Savings Time has made me a sleepy lass. It's 10:37 and I'm thinking about bedtime... Hmmm.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Whine
What better place to complain than my own blog?!
Chase and I had guests this week (his mom and sister) and they were here Thursday and Friday. We had TONS OF FUN and I'm realllllly not ready to buckle down and do my homework. I just want to hang out and play. Which is something I can't really afford to do right now. I planned on getting something like 6 pages written yesterday and only added about 2 sentences (and revised my intro). I'll get it done, don't get me wrong, but I know it could be done a lot easier if I didn't fight it, if I just sat down and wrote.
I've been reading articles about time management lately. All of them suggest limiting your access to distractions (like the web), using a timer of some sort, and taking breaks often. I tried using a timer a few days ago, it helped. I can't really muster up the resolve to use it right now. I've kind of got a headache, I don't want to write, I feel like I deserve a break.
(Insert paragraph I just wrote and deleted about not having enough free time and being asked to focus/read too much.)
Chase and I had guests this week (his mom and sister) and they were here Thursday and Friday. We had TONS OF FUN and I'm realllllly not ready to buckle down and do my homework. I just want to hang out and play. Which is something I can't really afford to do right now. I planned on getting something like 6 pages written yesterday and only added about 2 sentences (and revised my intro). I'll get it done, don't get me wrong, but I know it could be done a lot easier if I didn't fight it, if I just sat down and wrote.
I've been reading articles about time management lately. All of them suggest limiting your access to distractions (like the web), using a timer of some sort, and taking breaks often. I tried using a timer a few days ago, it helped. I can't really muster up the resolve to use it right now. I've kind of got a headache, I don't want to write, I feel like I deserve a break.
(Insert paragraph I just wrote and deleted about not having enough free time and being asked to focus/read too much.)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Currently
In other news, this is what I'm into:
Current Reads: Uhhh. Today involves an article on epigenetic systems and Organizations Evolving by Howard Aldrich. Snooooze. It's mostly snooze-worthy because I have to read it, not because of its topic. I don't do well with assigned readings, I don't like taking orders from others.
Current Albums: I alternate between High Violet by The National and Ratatat's latest: LP4. Ratatat is really useful to listen to while reading, it's mostly instrumental electronic music... basically the backtrack to rock songs, without any lyrics. It sucks me in and acts like a soundtrack to my Oh-So-Exciting homework.
Current Films: The last good movie I watched was Hot Tub Time Machine and before that... I'm not really sure. I know we saw Inception and thought it was JAWESOME but other than that, nothing really comes to mind. We haven't been out to a lot of movies lately, we've been poor.
Current Guilty Pleasures: Brownies, Dr. Pepper, Potatoes after 8pm
Current Colors: Autumn tones: burnt orange, mustard yellow, fiery red. Yum.
Current Link: This!
Current Fetish: Dr. Pepper. Lame? Yes. True? Yes.
Current Drink: DR. PEPPER!!
Current Songs: Conversation 16 by The National
I think the kids are in trouble
Do not know what all the troubles are for
Give them ice for their fevers
You're the only thing I ever want anymore
Live on coffee and flowers
Try not to worry what the weather will be
I figured out what we're missing
I tell you miserable things after you are asleep
Current Outfit: My too-big Community Olympics shirt from last summer with baggy shorts. It's Sunday, I haven't showered yet.
Current Fragrance: B.O.?
Current Blog: Eh. I don't wanna say.
Current Wish List: Money! More time to watch tv without feeling like I should be doing my homework. To lose 10 pounds. To find the motivation to go to the gym consistently. A fridge full of fruits and veggies (and meat).
Current Triumph: I was nice to Chase on his birthday even though Nebraska played horribly and really pissed me off.
Current Bane of my Existence: Bills, school.
Current Celebrity Crush: Um, hello. Sam Jaeger as Joel Graham on Parenthood.
Current Indulgence: Dr. Pepper, two episodes of Say Yes to the Dress this morning, sleeping in til noon.
Current Excitement: None. I have homework to look forward to all day.
Current Mood: Tired, but positive. It'd be a good day to curl up with Us Weekly or People and just zone out.
Current Reads: Uhhh. Today involves an article on epigenetic systems and Organizations Evolving by Howard Aldrich. Snooooze. It's mostly snooze-worthy because I have to read it, not because of its topic. I don't do well with assigned readings, I don't like taking orders from others.
Current Albums: I alternate between High Violet by The National and Ratatat's latest: LP4. Ratatat is really useful to listen to while reading, it's mostly instrumental electronic music... basically the backtrack to rock songs, without any lyrics. It sucks me in and acts like a soundtrack to my Oh-So-Exciting homework.
Current Films: The last good movie I watched was Hot Tub Time Machine and before that... I'm not really sure. I know we saw Inception and thought it was JAWESOME but other than that, nothing really comes to mind. We haven't been out to a lot of movies lately, we've been poor.
Current Guilty Pleasures: Brownies, Dr. Pepper, Potatoes after 8pm
Current Colors: Autumn tones: burnt orange, mustard yellow, fiery red. Yum.
Current Link: This!
Current Fetish: Dr. Pepper. Lame? Yes. True? Yes.
Current Drink: DR. PEPPER!!
Current Songs: Conversation 16 by The National
I think the kids are in trouble
Do not know what all the troubles are for
Give them ice for their fevers
You're the only thing I ever want anymore
Live on coffee and flowers
Try not to worry what the weather will be
I figured out what we're missing
I tell you miserable things after you are asleep
Current Outfit: My too-big Community Olympics shirt from last summer with baggy shorts. It's Sunday, I haven't showered yet.
Current Fragrance: B.O.?
Current Blog: Eh. I don't wanna say.
Current Wish List: Money! More time to watch tv without feeling like I should be doing my homework. To lose 10 pounds. To find the motivation to go to the gym consistently. A fridge full of fruits and veggies (and meat).
Current Triumph: I was nice to Chase on his birthday even though Nebraska played horribly and really pissed me off.
Current Bane of my Existence: Bills, school.
Current Celebrity Crush: Um, hello. Sam Jaeger as Joel Graham on Parenthood.
Current Indulgence: Dr. Pepper, two episodes of Say Yes to the Dress this morning, sleeping in til noon.
Current Excitement: None. I have homework to look forward to all day.
Current Mood: Tired, but positive. It'd be a good day to curl up with Us Weekly or People and just zone out.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Chase: Wonder Student
I don't have much to say about this (on my blog, in person's another story) but it's MOMENTOUS! so I'm writing about it.
Pictures = interactivity!
I forgot to get a picture of him BEFORE he went to school on his first day, so I had to settle for after school pictures. (These are after his first day of class, on 9/27/10. It was rainy out.)
Here he is walking in the door.
Linny says "Hi Dad!" (Note all that Chase took to school... we've since bought him a bag.)
He looks like he's going to serenade me. :)
Obligatory front-on shot.
A few days later I came home to find him on the couch, STUDYING!
Ah!
Linny did not appreciate the flash photography. :)
He was studying again when I came home yesterday and this brings me to two exciting points:
-Yaye for Chase and focusing!
-Yaye for him finally knowing how I feel when I'm trying to study and he's playing games. HA.
I like that I've gotten to write this. I'm SO PROUD of him for taking the steps necessary to get back into school. Yaye Chase!
Pictures = interactivity!
I forgot to get a picture of him BEFORE he went to school on his first day, so I had to settle for after school pictures. (These are after his first day of class, on 9/27/10. It was rainy out.)
Here he is walking in the door.
Linny says "Hi Dad!" (Note all that Chase took to school... we've since bought him a bag.)
He looks like he's going to serenade me. :)
Obligatory front-on shot.
A few days later I came home to find him on the couch, STUDYING!
Ah!
Linny did not appreciate the flash photography. :)
He was studying again when I came home yesterday and this brings me to two exciting points:
-Yaye for Chase and focusing!
-Yaye for him finally knowing how I feel when I'm trying to study and he's playing games. HA.
I like that I've gotten to write this. I'm SO PROUD of him for taking the steps necessary to get back into school. Yaye Chase!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Ramble
I went to the gym tonight. It's the first time I've gone in who knows how long. I've still been active, walking Linny, going on (2) bike rides... doing stuff. But I know that for me nothing compares to the gym. It's the only place I feel willing to push myself; to do the squats and the lunges and the planks. I could do them at home if I had will power, but home's for lounging, not lunging.
Anywho, I spent 35 minutes on the stationary bike reading an article (hell yeah for being productive) and then spent about 15 minutes on the other stuff (the lunging, squatting, and planking). I've been trying to eat healthier for the last oh, 5 or 6 months but I can't hold myself to it. Or I'll eat one piece of crap but then eat healthy at the next meal, telling myself that at least now I'm eating right. In the past I've had success with the food stuff after committing to good intense workouts so I'm gonna try that again. Here goes nothing.
I didn't post last week because I had too many excuses. :) I had a bit of a cold (the congestion) and was really tired. I got my homework done, watched my tv shows, and played online but other than that I was pretty lazy. Except for Monday and Tuesday night. On Monday, Ashley and I went on a walk (I proposed the walk) and a few minutes after we started walking it started pouring so we (and Linny and Ashley's two dogs) spent the next hour walking through some passing showers. It was chilly. On Tuesday, Ashley and I spent the evening at a local marching band exhibition. Some friends from Nebraska had written things about Harvest of Harmony on Facebook and it made me nostalgic for the band atmosphere, which is funny considering I was never in band. All of my friends were band nerds but I wasn't. The bands that performed were pretty amusing and one of the high schools even did a tribute to Queen that thoroughly impressed me. The night ended with a performance from the UGA marching band. Their band was about 4 times as big as any of the other bands and the sound really reflected it. It was really cool to hear such a big sound after I'd gotten used to what a "big sound" sounded like from the high schoolers.
Saturday I spent the day with a few other Sociology students at the Women and Girls in Georgia conference on campus. There were some interesting presentations on qualitative studies of women in Georgia, some theoretical cases made for why we should focus on women and girls, and a panel presentation featuring some women in important positions in Georgia. The panel was most entertaining. There were 5 panelists including two state senators, a house representative, and two (I'm assuming non-profit) executives of organizations directly related to politics/policy. They told of their decision to get involved in politics and the challenges they've faced. It was really inspiring. Personally I never plan to run for public office but I'm not shutting myself off to it. I want to make a difference in the world (aww, corny) and I don't know what my vehicle for change is going to be. All in due time. Regardless of my personal convictions, they really highlighted the roadblocks women and family-oriented persons are up against. After that was a short documentary about a woman who fought against workplace discrimination in the 70's (she fought for her right to do a "man's job"). She's around 75 now and it was really funny and touching to hear her vim and vigor over an issue we take for granted. It was a good conference, especially considering the price and location (free and at home) and I was worn out my the time it was over. So that night Chase and I stayed home and watched a movie.
Yesterday felt like Saturday and I slept in and then spent the day reading. And here we are... Monday. I'm trying to be more productive than I was last week. I've set a goal for myself... every day this week I want to work on school stuff for 8 hours. If I had taken my lunch to school today I'd probably already be done, but as it is I've got 1 hour and 15 minutes left. Anddddd.... I should go read.
(Oh, and Chase started school last week. I've got a few pictures of his first week and want to post an entry with that stuff in it. :) And I've taken a few pictures of Fall around here but I'll save those for when they're a bit more dramatic... it's still pretty leafy and green here.)
Hope all's well with you.
Anywho, I spent 35 minutes on the stationary bike reading an article (hell yeah for being productive) and then spent about 15 minutes on the other stuff (the lunging, squatting, and planking). I've been trying to eat healthier for the last oh, 5 or 6 months but I can't hold myself to it. Or I'll eat one piece of crap but then eat healthy at the next meal, telling myself that at least now I'm eating right. In the past I've had success with the food stuff after committing to good intense workouts so I'm gonna try that again. Here goes nothing.
I didn't post last week because I had too many excuses. :) I had a bit of a cold (the congestion) and was really tired. I got my homework done, watched my tv shows, and played online but other than that I was pretty lazy. Except for Monday and Tuesday night. On Monday, Ashley and I went on a walk (I proposed the walk) and a few minutes after we started walking it started pouring so we (and Linny and Ashley's two dogs) spent the next hour walking through some passing showers. It was chilly. On Tuesday, Ashley and I spent the evening at a local marching band exhibition. Some friends from Nebraska had written things about Harvest of Harmony on Facebook and it made me nostalgic for the band atmosphere, which is funny considering I was never in band. All of my friends were band nerds but I wasn't. The bands that performed were pretty amusing and one of the high schools even did a tribute to Queen that thoroughly impressed me. The night ended with a performance from the UGA marching band. Their band was about 4 times as big as any of the other bands and the sound really reflected it. It was really cool to hear such a big sound after I'd gotten used to what a "big sound" sounded like from the high schoolers.
Saturday I spent the day with a few other Sociology students at the Women and Girls in Georgia conference on campus. There were some interesting presentations on qualitative studies of women in Georgia, some theoretical cases made for why we should focus on women and girls, and a panel presentation featuring some women in important positions in Georgia. The panel was most entertaining. There were 5 panelists including two state senators, a house representative, and two (I'm assuming non-profit) executives of organizations directly related to politics/policy. They told of their decision to get involved in politics and the challenges they've faced. It was really inspiring. Personally I never plan to run for public office but I'm not shutting myself off to it. I want to make a difference in the world (aww, corny) and I don't know what my vehicle for change is going to be. All in due time. Regardless of my personal convictions, they really highlighted the roadblocks women and family-oriented persons are up against. After that was a short documentary about a woman who fought against workplace discrimination in the 70's (she fought for her right to do a "man's job"). She's around 75 now and it was really funny and touching to hear her vim and vigor over an issue we take for granted. It was a good conference, especially considering the price and location (free and at home) and I was worn out my the time it was over. So that night Chase and I stayed home and watched a movie.
Yesterday felt like Saturday and I slept in and then spent the day reading. And here we are... Monday. I'm trying to be more productive than I was last week. I've set a goal for myself... every day this week I want to work on school stuff for 8 hours. If I had taken my lunch to school today I'd probably already be done, but as it is I've got 1 hour and 15 minutes left. Anddddd.... I should go read.
(Oh, and Chase started school last week. I've got a few pictures of his first week and want to post an entry with that stuff in it. :) And I've taken a few pictures of Fall around here but I'll save those for when they're a bit more dramatic... it's still pretty leafy and green here.)
Hope all's well with you.
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