10,000 Miles

Amazing....

Procrastination.

Yup. I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now, but I thought I'd take a break and update the good old blog. Procrastination is my middle name. I'm just thankful I've learned to perfect my mad procrastination skills over the past 4 years. You would think I wouldn't do it seeing as it usually causes frustration and stress, but it's just how I operate. I need the pressure of a deadline in order to work efficiently.

Anyway, the last few weeks of the semester are always killer. Grad school is certainly no different. And, just like the crazy person I am, I've been adding more things to my plate. I'm trying to set up my schedule for next semester along with a job and research stuff. It's great fun. But, I only have a few more hurdles to get over before I can head home for about a month of rest, relaxation, great food, family, and friends. Ahhh...

First off, Thanksiving break was great. I had a blast with the fam, and I was very thankful to reconnect a bit with Craig. It seems we are in different phases of life and don't get to talk quite as frequently as we used to, but it was really great to spend some time with him over the weekend. He's my only brother and I love him with all my heart. While I understand not being quite as close to him now as we once were, it still kinda stinks. But, like I said, I'm thankful for the time we do spend. The twins are just incredible. I'm such a lucky auntie! They are getting so big and learning to crawl and walk. It's so wonderful. So, all in all it was a great trip home.

Now it's back to the grind. I presented a poster at the Indiana Rehab Association Conference today, which was really fun. It's a very small organization of professionals from around the state who work in the rehab field. It was a great chance to meet and network with some really nice people. So, that was fun.

Now, I should get back to writing my counseling demonstration paper that's due tomorrow and finish cutting out snowflakes for our porch decorating contest!!

Magic.

I don't care how old you are, falling snow has a magical quality unlike anything else. It can create warm and fuzzy feelings despite the bitter cold and biting wind. Today it snowed in Muncie for the first time, and I found myself looking at the sky and smiling. It was beautiful. The first snowfall of the year. Magical. I was also lucky enough to witness a few children coming out of school and cheering with joy that it was snowing. It warmed my heart. It's the little things in life. Like falling snow. :) I hope you read this and smile. From my heart to yours.

To Love Somebody.

HALLOWEEN!

Pics from the fantastic Halloween weekend! :)

Great friends. Great costumes. Great times.

Group Shot: Hippie, 80's workout girl, Amy Winehouse, Lady Bug, Pirate, Angelina

The Pirate and the 80's girl! Arrrrrrgh!

Not too sure what was going on. A contest of some sort. Perhaps a new dance craze?


Aww, Lady Bug and Sebastian the Bee with "Amy."

Life According to Henry Roth...

Ok, let me explain.... First off the movie Dedication is an amazing quirky romantic comedy that "follows a misogynistic children's book author who is forced to work closely with a female illustrator instead of his long-time collaborator and only friend." I bought it on a whim one time because I enjoy Many Moore a great deal. It's an Independent Film that has a certain flare for real life that I can't get enough of. Anyways, there are several lines in the movie about life. I pasted them below because they are interesting analogies to think about depending on what's going on in your life. I will admit most of them are depressing at the very least, but they fit in with Henry Roth's character very well. He is the classic angry pessimist who has very little happiness in his life until he meets Lucy and falls in love in a strange, but more natural way than most Hollywood Blockbusters portray. So, yeah. That's my post for today. :)

Life is a horrible little giggle in the midst of a forced death march towards hell.

Life is nothing but the echo of joy disappearing into the great chasm of misery.

Life is nothing but the occasional burst of laughter rising above the interminable wail of grief.

Life is a single skip for joy.

Relaxed.

I'm so glad to say that I feel more relaxed than I have in about a month. I had a great weekend at home. It was my last weekend at Salamonie, and it was cold, rainy, and quiet. Mom and dad came out and ate dinner with me on Saturday night which was a lot of fun. I got some studying done, which was even better. But, thankfully school is on a down swing at the moment. We all have about a week to catch our breath before we start in with the next round of research papers, presentation, and such before Thanksgiving break. The icing on the cake was that class was canceled last night! So, I had a nice nice of relaxing and working on my Halloween costume! Great times. So, the motto for the week is relaxation. This weekend we are having a Halloween party, and I can't wait to just be able to have fun and be in Muncie ALL weekend. I mean I have some work to start doing, but I can do it on my own time. It'll be wonderful!

Bittersweet.

I want so badly to hate the middle of October. It is a bittersweet mix of beautiful fall leaves, cooler temperatures, thoughts of Thanksgiving and Christmas added with the stress of midterms, papers, and a general sense of anxiety produced by the mid semester rush. Fortunately, the leaves, the weather, and the crisp fall leaves make everything better and I am left with only a mild dislike for this part of the school year.

Speaking of midterms ... they are almost over. I've finished a paper, a video session, and two tests already. I have one more exam and a paper to do this week. Then freedom for a couple of weeks before gearing up for finals. How time flys! I can hardly believe we're talking about having a Halloween party already! It's insane how fast time goes. But, it's been a blast so far -- minus the 3 hour psychopathology midterm I took last week. haha. Yikes. Talk about intense! But, I think I kicked it's butt, so it's all good.

I went home this weekend for my second to last weekend at the reservoir. It was a good weekend. I helped mom and dad outside and got to see Craig and the boys on Saturday. Saturday night was very eventful at work. Never a dull moment at Salamonie - even on a Saturday night in late October. A man fell about 20 fee while swinging across a revine and had to be air lifted. We had two stray dogs, but no firewood to sell to the cold campers. And to top things off the entire property's power went off around 8:30. Talk about freaky. Apparently someone ran into an electrical pole on 124. Yikes. It was a whilrwind night for sure. Next weekend is my last weekend. I'm very excited, but it's weird to think that it's the last time I could work there. Bittersweet.

So, things are going well. Just the usual crazy schedule, but still having fun!

Fall Camping Trip 2008

A bunch of my fellow first year classmates and I decided to go on a Fall camping trip. So, being the experienced DNR employee that I am, I reserved two campsites for us. We had a blast! We stayed in a HUGE tent that Kirstenn was kind enough to let us borrow. We made lots of s'mores and hotdogs and went hiking. It was actually the Celebrate Fall weekend at Salamonie, so there was a hay ride and lots of fun fall/Halloween stuff going on. It was pretty chilly, but we survived under mounds of blankets and a bit of snuggling. All in all it was a wonderful weekend, and we really got to know each other a lot better and had some great bonding experiences. We're already planning another trip for the spring and maybe that time the guys can go. Below are some pics from our adventures.

Us in front of our HUGE tent! It took all 8 of us plus Kirstenn to set it up! haha

The chef. (My roommate)

Saturday afternoon. Lounging around the fire.

Hiking!Getting ready to play some cards!

Another week down.

It has been a fairly uninteresting week. I've been battling a head cold along with my roomie and it seem like the rest of our cohort. I spent most of Tuesday on our couch watching TV, drinking lots of water, and resting. Fortunately it really helped me feel better yesterday. I feel even better today! Thursday's are always long days, but tonight a bunch of us are going to Puerto Vallarta tonight after class for some Mexican food and MARGARITAS! I'm very excited.

I'm meeting with my professor tomorrow to discuss his experience working at The Cancer Center here in Muncie. I am considering a career working with people diagnosed with terminal illnesses, so we're going to discuss some career options. I'm also excited to hear more about what he does because it's something I feel compelled to do. I know that I don't have to have everything figured out right now, but there is a part of me that is dying to figure out what I want to do with my life and my degrees. I'm slowly starting down that path. More on that after Friday.

This weekend I'm headed home again to work Friday and Saturday night. Saturday morning I'm headed to Atlanta, IN with the fam and and some close friends to hit up a fantastic fall festival. It's been SO long since I've been able to go with them to one of those. Before I was always rowing. So, that should be a great time! Sunday I'm celebrating the twins' 1st birthday. Crazy huh? Can't believe they turned one last weekend. I'm very excited to see them. I got them two little Ball State baseball hats that they can wear for a while. I can't wait to see them on! hehe. Anuty Marla is very proud of her two beautiful nephews. :)

Hope everyone is having a great week!

The Last Lecture.

My best friend, Lindsay sent me a belated birthday present that truly touched my life and warmed my heart. It was a very appropriate gift seeing as that she has touched my life in so many ways in the 10 years we have been friends. The gift was a book titled The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow. If you haven't heard of Randy Pausch I'll tell you about him and his incredible story. He was a Computer Science professor at Carnegie Mellon who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and eventually given only a few months to live. Well, he entered a program at Carnegie Mello to do a last lecture. He decided to do it before he passed away as a way to share some of his life lessons with his children and people all over the world. So, anyways, I'll post a link to the actual lecture, but the book is incredible. It summarizes his lecture and gives some background on his life and family. Check it out. I can only hope that it touches your life as much as it has touched mine.



http://www.thelastlecture.com/index.htm -- This is a link to the book, the lecture, and about Randy and his family. Check it out!

And I just want to say that I grow more thankful every day for the amazing friends and family that I am blessed with.

Martian Child

For those of you who have not seen the movie Martian Child, I suggest that you do so. It is a fantastic movie about a little boy who believes he is a martian from Mars. John Cusack stars in it along with his sister and Amanda Peet. It's very moving, and quickly becoming one of my favorite movies. It's just very touching. :)

On other fronts -- not much to report. Things are moving right along. Classes are good. Tomorrow i meet with my professor to set goals for my pre-prac experience and what I want/need to do to be the best counselor I can be. Things are still going great. Here's to another week in grad school!

Oooooh, I learned a great deal more than I knew before about the Paralympics. A very special event that I am actually hoping to write a research paper on for my into to rehab class. More to come on that later...

2 weeks down!

Week two has officially come to a close. I'm still loving it. I'm meeting more and more people all the time. We're working on expanding our group of pals. It's been super hot this week, but other than that I have no complaints. I made it through our pre-practicum baseline video session. 10 minutes of role playing the therapist while being recorded so that we can discuss and set goals with our professor. Fun times let me tell ya! haha. We were all dreading it, but managed to survive and think that it was not at all as bad as it seemed. I think most of us actually had fun doing it. We'll see when I see my video... haha. Thursday was a long day, but that's to be expected with 2 classes. We all made up for it by hittin the Bee's after class for drinks and food. It was a grand time and we even had 3 new peeps join us!

Well, I'm headed north to work this Friday and Saturday night then back Sunday for our department picnic and loads of reading. :) Good times in Muncie!

P.S. If you read this blog could you please leave me a comment. I'm just curious if anyone actually does. haha.

First Publication!!

I just got word today that my very first ever publication has been submitted and is now under review by a very prestigious APA journal - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. It is a piece that I was very luck to have my name attached to. I helped collect data and review and theorize and such. So, that's very exciting! Next thing is my thesis to be published. Whoa! Needless to say I'm a very happy camper.. not to mention luck and very grateful for being able to work with such great researchers who have become close friends. The HirtLab rocks!

First week of grad school and Labor Day

I just want to say that I SURVIVED! haha. I never had any doubt, but my first week of grad school is over with, and I had an absolute blast. I started my 'nanny-ing' job for some good family friends who are professors here at BSU. I pick their two girls up from school, bring them home, help with homework and such till Jonathan and Theresa get home. I got to go to the barn where they keep their horses for the first time last week, which was awesome. I don't have a ton of experience with horses, but I'm excited to learn more about them. Spending time with the girls has been fun, and I think it will be a really great thing to give me a break from school work and such. Children can be so refreshing when you're caught up in a world of overworked and stressed grad students!

So, classes were really great. I really like all of them. I'm taking Intro to Rehab Psych, Psychopathology, Theories and Techniques of Counseling, and Pre-Practicum. I don't know that I have a favorite class, but Thursdays are definitely my favorite day of the week! Having class from 2-9 makes for a long day, but I met some really awesome people who have the same two classes. We've decided to make a weekly study group/hang out between our classes and then we ended up at Applebee's for drinks and some food last week. This Thursday is drinks and then movie night at Justin's. So, it's been a great adventure.

In my pre-prac class (a class designed to get you ready to see clients in Spring semester's practicum class) we started with role playing on the first night of class, which scared us all I think. But, the funny thing is, we all ended up loving it after we broke the ice a little bit. This week we have a 10 minute role playing session that will be recorded and watched with our professor to see where we are all starting out. I'm a wee bit nervous, but I know it'll be a blast.

Labor Day was pretty uneventful. I went home to work at Salamonie all 4 days, and what an adventure work was. Talk about busy. Yikes. We had a few mini crisis as well, but nothing TOO out of the ordinary. I got to hang with mom, dad, Toby, and Ann which is always great. Great food too! So, I had a blast at home, but it's good to be back in Muncie starting week 2. Wish me luck! haha.

Change...

"Change; we don’t like it, we fear it, but we can't stop it from coming. We either adapt to change or we get left behind. And it hurts to grow, anybody who tells you it doesn’t is lying. But here's the truth: the more things change, the more they stay the same. And sometimes, oh, sometimes change is good. Oh, sometimes, change is ... everything."

I think this speaks to my life and how I'm feeling at the moment...

Lazy Saturday.

This is the first lazy Saturday that I have been able to enjoy in a while -- not to mention probably the last. I am truly enjoying just lounging around the apartment and being a bum. I only wish I could be a bum for about 10 more days instead of starting class on Monday. Well, scratch that. I'd go crazy. I can't wait to dive in head first to my new classes.

There is nothing quite like the first week of classes. It holds the promise of so much for the year to come. New adventures are everywhere and are just waiting to be taken advantage of. It gives me chills just thinking about it. And yet, I still feel a bit like a wee freshman staring a huge unknown world in the face. But this time I can look at it and smile instead of cower and be frightened. Bring it on!

Amy and I went to see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 last night. Such a great movie. It made me very thankful for all of the wonderful friends and family I have in my life. And, while not very many of them are actually here with me right now I know they're still there supporting me every step of the way. So, here's to the promise of a new start -- new place, new people, new friends, new classes, new adventures!

Back in shape...

So, I've pretty much been takin it easy and given up any sort of regular exercise routine since I stopped rowing. Talk about the stupidest thing I've ever done. Now I'm 100% out of shape and overweight -- yuck. I've been fighting an inner battle ever since I stopped working out to try and start again. After a few unsuccessful and pitiful attempts to get started again, I just went back to not workin out. It's so weird. To do it with a team is one thing. I am great at pushing myself and I can handle getting up at the butt crack of dawn to work out to the point of exhaustion. But, without that team part it is just SO hard to do. I know that I need to do to get back in shape, but actually getting out there to do it is so difficult. Something that I think most people in this world struggle with.

But, I just got back from about 20 minutes of joggin mixed with a bit of walking. Baby steps. And all the time I was thinking this totally sucks, but it'll be SO worth it! So, here goes nothing. A new chapter of my life is unfolding even as I write this, so I made the decision to add getting back in shape to entering the world of being a grad student in Muncie.

Words of encouragement are welcome! I need all the help I can get with this one.... Time to shower!

Muncie, Day 3

It's official. I'm all moved in, unpacked, have a BSU student ID and a parking permit. Our apartment is decorated and put together, and I must say that it feels very much like a home. I'll have to post some pics soon. The yellow walls really are fabulous though. It'll be great during the drab winter months I'm sure. :)

Today has been a lazy day. I slept in and have been lounging and reading. Amy and I finished off the decorating this morning, so we're pretty much ready to start classes. I'm having dinner with Theresa and Jonathan Thursday night and then Andy and her mom are coming up from B-town on Friday to visit me! I couldn't be more excited! Especially when right now I feel I'm lacking friends - minus my roommate - and it will be wonderful to spend some time with someone close to me. I'm very excited to start class and meet new people.

I think that's all for now. I'm off to make some dinner and watch Bella with Amy. :) Tomorrow is another day!

P.S. Congrats to the USA women's rowing team! Way to go ladies!

MUNCIE!

Ok, so I pretty much have neglected to update this thing all summer. What can I say? Things have been busy? Well, they actually were, but I think it's mostly just the slow dial up internet we have at home. Anyways...

I'm currently sitting in my new apartment in the midst of just about everything I own. It's thrown about my room - part put away part just a mess. Yikes. I've actually stopped unpacking to decorate. haha. I'm starting to get hungry, but I'm not ready to wander to the kitchen to see what kind of scraps I can scrounge up for a dinner. Perhaps a bowl of cereal will suffice.

On the drive down here this afternoon after saying bye to mom, dad, and Toby, it struck me that I'm a 22 year old graduate student. I am indeed an adult who can hold down a full time job, and is moving to a completely new place to start a Masters degree. Crazy! I guess sometimes I just don't really remember that I've actually completed a college degree.

So, I'm in Muncie, and I have a week to set up shop and get aquainted with things. I'm excited!

Canada!

It's 6 AM. My car is packed. I'm drinking a cup of coffee, and I'm ready to hit the road. I'm off to meet Craig up in Coldwater, MI and then begin our adventure up North to meet mom and dad. Be back sometime later this week. Ciao!

Summer Update.

Well, now that it's been almost a month since my last update, I thought I'd write a few lines about what's been going on. First off I'd like to say that while I was swimming today I got bit on the big toe by a deer fly and now my whole big toe is swollen. haha. SO not cool!

Other than that, mom and dad are in Canada getting our camper ready to pull home. We're selling it and giving up our oasis on Manitoulin Island. I'm more than a little sad about this. I've spend most every summer up there since I can remember. I have so many great memories with my grandparents and wonderful friends we've made over the years. It's hard to give up, but I know deep down in my heart that I will go back some day. The time is not right for the family to keep it with the lot rent and terrible gas prices, and I understand that. But Canada holds far too many precious things for me to leave it for good. So, Craig and I are meeting and heading up to help tear apart the deck and shed next week and saying farewell to Providence Bay, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada for a while. It's not really a vacation per say, but I'm excited to get to spend time just the four of us. It's been quite some time since we've done something just the 4 of us. I'm also excited about the 13 hour car trip with my bro. I feel like we've missed out on the small details of each others lives the past few years, which is certainly natural, but it'll be really great to have the chance to catch up, have some QT, and just talk. We'll have a blast despite the hard work of tearing things down.

Speaking of having a blast... I've had a great two days off. The sun was shining nice and hot. Ann, Toby, and I have been enjoying the pool finally and catching some rays. Today we repotted the beatiful plants that we got from so many loved ones when Grams passed away. They look beautiful, and there are about 15 of them for my new apartment next year. Speaking of, Amy and I found a great two bedroom apartment to rend in Muncie on our search. And we did search. We spend almost an entire day looking and not having a whole lot of luck, but the last place we tried was just what we needed. We move in August 2nd! I can't wait!

Still no luck with an assistantship, but I'm still looking and applying and keeping my fingers crossed.

Work has been well a rollercoaster. We've had our fair share of storms this spring. It's been a bit freaky actually. I almost think Mother Nature is making up for the lack of rain and storms last summer. I am a fan of a good storm, but when servere, tornado producing weather continually seems to present itself on Friday nights when campers are trying to set up and enjoy a weekend camping it gets a bit old. Two weeks ago we had a houseboat flip out in the water and a camper blow over and was destroyed. Last weekend we lost power from about 7PM Friday night until about 11:00 AM Saturday. Not fun. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for calm weather for a bit. The flood damage down south is absolutely devestating. Mother Nature.... don't get on her bad side! It teaches us to appreciate what we have because in a moments notice it could all be gone or under water.

That's all for now!

Rainy Nights.

Well, the weather has been kinda crappy the past few days. I worked 4-midnight last night, and it rained almost the entire night. I think that the gate made $36.00 in 8 hours. That's just sad. Luckily Kirstenn was working night accountant and kept me company for most of the shift. We tried to watch Grey's but the TV was cutting in and out. So, needless to say I was bored out of my mind. It's sunny right now, and looks absolutely beautiful outside. So, as soon as I'm done writing this I'm headed out for a nice jog. Can't pass this up since the rain is due to set in tonight and will be sticking around through Monday! UGH. Stupid rain.

On other fronts - I'm going to Muncie with my future roommate, Amy to look for an apartment. I'm very excited to finally nail down a place to live. I'm still looking desperately for an assistantship. Umm, I think that's about it...

Oh sweet summer...

I know it's been too long since I updated last, but things have been a little crazy. I know, what else is new, huh? Well, I'm officially moved back home and settled in as much as I can be. I had my last final on Friday, graduated Saturday, moved out of my apartment Sunday, and started work Monday morning at 8. Wahoo! Welcome to summer! haha. Since then things have been much more calm. I've been working full time at the reservoir again. Summer number 5 baby! Oh yeah! It's been really slow since camping season hasn't really started up yet. Soon enough!

So, I've been trying to relax my mind, read as many books as possible, and have some fun. That's all for now. Boring, I know, but when something interesting happens I'll let you know!

GRADUATION!

It's hard to believe it, but I graduate today! WAHOOO!! Here's to 4 amazing years of my life and to many more to come!

Triumphant!

It's official! Defense Day is OVER! I defended my honors thesis @ Noon yesterday, and I couldn't have had a better day. Defense went so much better than you could ever expect. I actually had fun doing it. There were some great ideas thrown around, and I'm excited to see what directions we can take this project in the future! It was such a wonderful experience. One that up until about 11:45 I wasn't sure I really wanted to take part in! Buuut, once everyone got there and started asking me how I was and stuff I relaxed. To make matters even better we were celebrating our last lab meeting later that afternoon, and that was such a great way to end my day. Ed was amazing and brought pizza and breadsticks for us, and even brought a "Congratulations Marla" cake for all of us to enjoy. We had a blast.

It's an amazing feeling to be done. Well, I mean I still have to make the small revisions my committee suggested and then take it to have it bound. But the biggest part is OVER. It hadn't really hit me until this morning when I woke up. I was just exhausted last night, but today I feel like I can breathe again. It's a huge weight that's been lifted, and yet at the same time it's such an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. I don't say this too often, but I'm proud of myself for the way this year has turned out. :) I'm so excited to see what I can accomplish at Ball State in the next two years! WAHOO!

So, graduation is edging closer every minute. It's still a bittersweet feeling for me, but I'm so excited for summer. I think I've planned things so that I will get to say my goodbye's to everyone before I head out on Sunday and then start work on Monday! So, it should be an emotional week and weekend, but I'm excited for it.

Poster Session and Honors Banquet

What a week indeed. My paper is done, well at least until after defense and I have to make revisions. My poster is done, and we had an absolute blast presenting them last night to the faculty and the other various people who came to see. It was a great night. This semester has been a challenge for sure, but there is no way I could have kept my sanity without the wonderful other people in my lab or my thesis class. We've all become very close over the past year, and last night confirmed that even more. Sometimes it's hard to remember that we're actually researchers and scientists at the earliest part in our careers. I cannot wait to hear what fantastic things my honors buddies are up to in years to come. There will be wonderful things discoverd I can assure you. :)

So, here is to finishing the second major step in the finishing process of this thesis project. All that's left is defense on Wednesay and then a celebration with my lab people that I'm really looking forward to. Then it's revisions/binding, final exams, and graduation. The moment I've been waiting for for 4 years now. As the day approaches faster, the more sad I get about leaving all of these wonderful people.....

Here are some great pics..

Lile and I in front of my poster!

Three of my favorite 'social' Hirt Lab women!


Three Amigos! :)

For more info check out our website. They did are really great job with pictures and stuff.. psych.indiana.edu

I feel the earth move under my feet...

Earthquake anyone? haha What a strange feeling to wake up to. This morning around 5:30 my bed felt like it had wings and was swaying in a hammock motion. My desk was rattling, and outside everything was eerily quiet. Then it was over. A few seconds later the birds started chirping, and I lay in bed wondering what the heck had just happened. Couldn't have been an earthquake... or could it? Did I dream it? No. Surely not. Haha. Well, I didn't. Apparently it was a 5.2 on the scales, and most of Bloomington as well as other parts of Indiana felt it. Indiana hasn't been shaken since 1925. So, on this beautiful Friday morning, the whole campus is abuzz with excitement about a natural phenomenon that usually doesn't happen in these parts too often.


Ok, now for news on other fronts of my life...
First off, this week has been hellish. I've been working my butt of trying to get my thesis manuscript done so that my committee has time to read it before my defense on Wednesday. AND we have a poster session tonight for the entire faculty, and so I needed to have my poster done and printed in advance. Well, it's all done. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. The weather has been really beautiful the last few days. I worked my butt of running around the psych building collecting the last draft of my results section from Ed and hurrying to make final final corrections before printing off all 51 pages and making 3 copies of it. But, you know what. It's done. The poster is done, and looks pretty darn cool. It was a huge weight lifted, and I was able to relax the rest of the day.

I'm ready and excited for our poster session tonight. It's a really great opportunity for the faculty and grad students to ask us questions and just talk to us about the work we've spent all year doing. Then they treat us to a nice dinner. I found out earlier in the week that I will be receiving a Excellence In Research award for my efforts this year, and I'm so honored. So, the session will be great prep for defense, and then we're having our 3rd annual Honors Thesis Bar Crawl right after! Wahoo! What way to celebrate with some really great people who I really do love. We're a great group.

In other news, I found out I was not accepted for the Burris assistantship. BOO! But, I'll find something. I'm pretty bummed about it, but life goes on. No time to wallow in that.

Graduation is fast approaching. I'm excited, and yet saddened. I've had an amazing four years here in B-town, and it will certainly be hard to leave that behind and move home for the summer knowing I'll be going somewhere else in the fall. But, such is life, and I can't wait to start the next chapter.

Road Blocks.

Things that stand between me and and summer:

* Finishing my thesis
* Poster Session for entire faculty/ Honors Dinner
* Honors Thesis Bar Crawl
* Dinner with Helen and Nigel
* 10 Page final reserch paper for my G402 class
* Thesis DEFENSE
* Last lab meeting/celebration
* Health Psych Final
* Revisions of my theisis
* Binding my thesis
* Cognitive Psych Final
* Novice Year Rowing Reunion
* Saying goodbye.... :(
* Packing up ALL my crap (and I have a LOT of it)
* La Cha with the family and moving home

Music and Lyrics

I just want to say that I'm slightly obsessed with the movie, Music and Lyrics. I've seen it twice in the last oh like 4 days. The music, Drew and Hugh make for an amazing combo. It's just such a sweet and romantic movie with some great one liners in it. And, I'm in love with the soundtrack. haha. So, if you haven't seen it. GO DO IT! NOW! P.S. who knew Hugh could sing?? H-O-T! hehe. Oh yeah, and watch out for Hugh's amazing dance movies - he has such a strange but catchy hip popping movie. Check it out!

Synopsis: In New York, the washed-up singer Alex Fletcher has a decadent career singing his old hits in amusement parks, school reunions or dinner parties to survive. In the 80's, he was a successful singer of the band POP with Collin Thompson, but when his partner split, his solo-career was a complete failure. His manager and friend Chris Riley schedules a meeting with the successful teen singer Cora Corman and Alex has a chance to be promoted in a show if he delivers a new song for Cora's concert in the end of the week. Alex has difficulties to put lyrics in his melody, but he accidentally discovers Sophie Fisher, who is temporarily watering his plants and proves to be a sensitive poet and efficient lyricist. Their song is approved by Cora, but they disagree about her interpretation, while they fall in love for each other.

Some pics...

Hugh actually learned to play the piano for the movie!

One of my favorite scenes. Hugh is teaching them his sweet moves.

Some great lines...

Alex Fletcher: The best time I've had in the last fifteen years was sitting at that piano with you.
Sophie Fisher: That's wonderfully sensitive... especially from a man who wears such tight pants.
Alex Fletcher: It forces all the blood to my heart.
--------------
Alex Fletcher: You seem angry - click your pen!
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Alex Fletcher: It doesn't have to be perfect. Just spit it out. They're just lyrics.
Sophie Fisher: "Just lyrics"?
Alex Fletcher: Lyrics are important. They're just not as important as melody.
Sophie Fisher: I really don't think you get it.
Alex Fletcher: Oh. You look angry. Click your pen.
Sophie Fisher: A melody is like seeing someone for the first time. The physical attraction. Sex.
Alex Fletcher: I so get that.
Sophie Fisher: But then, as you get to know the person, that's the lyrics. Their story. Who they are underneath. It's the combination of the two that makes it magical.

Little 500, Interviews, and Thesising.

Well, it is officially time for Little 500 in Bloomington. So that means that pretty much the entire town of Bloomington is in an uproar. People are causing trouble, drinking 24/7, skipping class, playing corn hole and beer pong like it was their job (too bad you can't put those skills on a resume), and enjoying the madness that comes with the ever famous bike race. The weather has been beautiful all week, and so people have been really been taking advantage of it. It's always a great time on campus, but it signifies the closing of another year. We're three weeks away from graduation. That thought alone is still a bit scary, although I'm less overwhelmed than previously. Now, I'm just ready - and yet not. I've been having lots of nostalgic moments lately remembering all the great times I've spent here in Bloomington. I was walking through campus yesterday. The trees were blooming and it was a beautiful sunshine day. I couldn't help be on top of the world and yet be a little sad. I have fallen in love with this great college town, and I will be sad to leave it. There' s just nothing like it. While I don't think that college has necessarily been the best 4 years of my life - I do think that they've been great ones. I've learned so much and grown up a lot the last four years. Tears were shed, but so many more laughs were had with some really great people. I'm truly lucky. But, all good things must come to an end, and that's ok. I will forever have the memories I've made, but I'm beyond excited about making new ones and opening that next chapter. I think the best years of my life are yet to come - perhaps right around the corner.

Speaking of which, I had an interview in Muncie yesterday for an assistantship at Burris (Laboratory School) in the counseling center there. It went really well. I think I have a good shot at it, and I think it would be a great position for me. So, that's exciting. Also, on the graduate school front - I might possibly have a new roommate for next year. I met Amy at orientation, and we hit it off. So, we're toying with the idea. I think things are coming together really well. Better than I could have expected. It's amazing to think back a few months ago when my future was so uncertain and seemingly blank. It's amazing to have something filling that void now. BSU - Here I come! Watch out! haha.

So, I'm off to start work on what still stands between me and graduation. I just have a few more (very important) things to get out of the way before I can be free. Oh how I dream of summer days relaxing by the pool or reading in the gatehouse at Salamonie. I can't wait!

Stuff...

1. I'm procrastinating.
2. I now have an interview at Burris Lab School in Muncie for an assistantship which sounds pretty promising. BUT, it's just one more thing I have on my plate.
3. I set a time, date, and room for DEFENSE! Wednesday, April 23, 2008 @ 12:00PM in PY228! Eeek!
4. I need to order bar crawl t-shirts.
5. I need to write my discussion section.
6. I need to finish my results section.
7. I need to prepare my discussion of the discussion presentation for Thursday.
8. I have a poster to finish by next Friday.
9. I love Amos Lee - new singer. Check it out.
10. I love it when my bro calls me just to say hello.
11. It's finally spring.
12. It's Little 500!
13. I need to get to work and stop writing in my blog.
14. Ok, work time.

What a week!

Well what a week it has been. Whew. I get tired just thinking about it. Two tests, a paper and 2 assistantship applications due, plus the every day stress of trying to get my thesis finished and poster made and trying to keep up with friends and family.... That's enough to stress anyone out. But, luckily I made it through the week as I always do. I was pretty exhausted last night, but I aced my health psych test yesterday and so the week ended on a good note. I cam home to an empty apartment (the roommates are in MI this weekend for a race) and relaxed in front of the TV for a bit and ate some dinner. I was feeling better after that. Vicky and I had planned on doing dessert and a move so we hit up Olive Garden and went to see '21'. It was a splendid evening, and the perfect relaxing ending to an insane week.

Movie Review:
I was surprised how much I enjoyed the movie. I had heard some serious mixed reviews, but I thought it was pretty great. It was extremely entertaining and funny with yet a serious and suspenseful side to it. The new starlet Jim Sturgess (of Across the Universe and The Other Boleyn Girl) is such a cutie and a talented actor. Not to mention the surprise I had seeing the star chica from Win a Date With Tad Hamilton - Kate Bosworth. She is very grown up and a far cry from the girl from Frasier's Bottom who wins a date with a superstar. I'm a sucker for Kevin Spacey anyways, but the flick was indeed something I'd recommend. Check it out.

So, great company, great entertainment, and great food (I ordered chocolate gelato at Olive Garden! YUM!) made for a great Friday night. Today I'm taking it easy. I still have lots to do, but I'm doing it at my pace instead of warp speed. I'm relaxing in some comfy clothes and enjoying the sunshine. I'll get around to work in a little bit. I think Kara and I are getting together for dinner and some movie time tonight which will be fabulous. So, here's to a weekend of relaxation with a little bit of productivity mixed in. Ahhh... how splendid.

Going... Going... GONE...

Yup. It's official. I've gone crazy! aaahahahahahaha Sweeeet!

Night's I'll Remember.

Well, not a whole lot to update. I'm just chugging along trying to get everything accomplished that I need to this week. But, I want to dedicate this post to my wonderful friends and roommates.

I have enjoyed living with these wonderful people this year. I will surely never forget the nights we've spent messing around and just hanging out or the times we spend just being stupid and goofy. I totally have a test today and should have been studying last night, but fortunately my roomies and I had a blast. And Fuzz came over for a bit also. It was a great night! I've always heard it said that you'll never remember the nights you spent studying, but you'll always remember the good times you had - so live it up! haha. See the pics below. I documented! :)

I have some of the best friends in the world. :)

"True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils."

Creepy Hugs.

Two peas in a pod.

Hi Andy! :) I love candid shots!

"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere we go."

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

Interesting.

I was messing around during a study break today, and I found this burried in my documents on my PC. I thought it was interesting. So, I'll share it with you. It's something a dear friend, who I have drifted from over the past 6 months, wrote for me. Check it out.

There is a thin line between what has been and what is to come. It is in that sliver of time and space that you will find every bit of who you are at this exact moment. Nothing matters more than the breath you just took and the beautiful image that just flashed in your mind. For that brief second, you just are. That is the present. It is called the present because it is a gift. Be grateful for the gift you give yourself of being alive and recognizing your place in the world at this exact moment. Love that line you are walking right now that is the present. That line is your life. Walk it. Love it.

Thunderstorms and Big Dreams.

I happen to be listening to the song "Dreaming Out Loud" by One Republic, and it just seems to ring true right now. :) I love it when songs speak to your life.

So, yesterday I made the trek up to Ball State for the Graduate Fair and our Counseling Psych Masters orientation. I had a blast! The odd thing is that my parents called me on Friday saying that I had a letter of acceptance from IU. So, for a brief period I was wondering about the possibility of going here instead. You can't help it. No matter how made up your mind is, a letter of acceptance opens up a whole other path for your future that you can't help wonder about. But, I put those thoughts aside yesterday. I learned a lot about the program. The graduate students we were able to talk to were fabulous, and they really seemed to have a pretty close bond. The faculty was pretty great too. They do some fabulous stuff, and stuff that speaks to a lot of my interests as a future therapist. But, I think the best part of yesterday was the other prospective students I got to meet. I met some really great people, and we almost bonded instantly. It was weird, but great at the same time. So, I hope that some of them choose Ball State and I get to enjoy the next two years with them. All other feelings aside - I know I made the right choice and I am overwhelmed with excitement about my future there. Two years just almost doesn't seem long enough. haha. YAY!


Other than that yesterday was awesome because mom and dad came to B-town. Andy's (my roommate) parents were in from Canada for their second home race of the season, and mom and dad HAD to meet them. Andy and I have been talking about this for some time now. We knew they would hit it off, which of course they did. So, I got back to B-town and hung with them for a bit and then we all went out to dinner at Olive Garden. It was a perfect ending to a great day. Another reason I'm excited about going to BSU - being close to the fam and to my IU pals. So, today it is thunderstorming pretty good, and I have to get back to work. This week is a monster for me. Two tests, a paper proposal, and a presentation in thesis class. Not to mention all the other things that are going on like trying to find an assistantship. Thinking about scheduling classes for next year. Checking in on my summer job. Planning my defense. Groceries. Rent. Life.

Wish me luck! I just might need it!

Summer Dreams.

The weather down here has been pretty nasty the last few days. Rain and some warmer temps, but still in the 40's. There is some partly sunny skies in the forecast for tomorrow, which I'm extremely excited about, but spring cannot come soon enough. The only good thing about rainy days is that it makes it easier to get work done - although it can be arugued that naps are more highly contemplated on rainy days.

Needness to say I've been dreaming of summer days. Not only because of the weather, but because of what it summer brings with it. I'm not sure I could juggle any more balls at once. My life is pretty darn crazy right now. There have definitely been points before where I've felt this overwhelmed with things, but I think there are more emotions tied in with this year - or perhaps just different ones than I am used to. I'm working really hard to stay on top of my honors thesis. There are so many things that still need to be done, and the weeks are dwindiling. My friends are all talking about how they are SO excited that we only have 4 weeks of school left (*GULP) while I hate the thought of it because that means even less time to accomplish everything that needs to get done. I hate talking about it even though it means being 4 weeks closer to summer and graduation. So, honors thesis, thesis committee, defense date, finishing my paper, applying for assistantships, visiting Ball State for orientation, parents coming down Saturday, roommates, oh yeah those things called classes that have tests and papers, researching narrative therapy, socializing with friends, staying in touch with long distance friends, trying to enjoy my senior year, Little 500, laundry, cooking, studying, meetings... AHHH! haha On the other hand, it absolutely amazes me how much someone can have on their plate and still 1 - accomplish it and 2 - survive it all. Soon enough it will all be over.

So, until then I have been dreaming of summer. I cannot wait to be at home with nothing harder to do than decide if I want to swim first or mow the yard first and then swim before heading to work and reading as many books as I can get my hands on. Oh yeah! Vacationing in SanFran with Cass! :) So, here's to summer and the last weeks of my senior year! Let them be great and full of awesome memories and hard work!

Easter.

I hope that everyone had a Happy Easter. Mine was cut a little bit short due to the amount of work I needed to catch up on. I ended up going home Saturday around 2 after working hard on my introduction to my thesis. It's always nice to be home. Mom made rubins and I made cheesecake for Easter dinner at the Houck's on Sunday. It was a great night!

But, probably the most enjoyable thing about the weekend was the twin's baptism on Sunday. They did splendidly! No crying. No fussing. It was a beautiful cerimony. I'm very happy to have been a part of it as a proud Godmother. :) I'm very proud of Craig and Emily, and I love my nephews more than I know how to express.


After church, we came back to Gary and Claudia's for some fun and food. We ate some great food and played cards and played with the boys. It was a great time. Then it was back to B-town for me. Boo! I didn't want to leave. Being home this much in the last few weeks has just made me even more eager to have this semester over with! It will happen soon enough. On one hand I'm still thankful for having 5.5 weeks left because of the amount of work I have to do. Although I will say, I've been an extremely productive human being the past 4 days or so. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you really have to. I guess 4 years of college will teach you how to master that huh? haha.

Well, the weather is getting nicer. It's still pretty cold here in B-town, but the sun has been shining for a whlie. But, I think it's supposed to rain like 4 days next week. BOO! I'm ready for summer!!!! That's all for now.

Birthday Fun!

Oh what fun turning 22 can be!!

Yesterday was an absolutely amazing day! First off it was the first day of Spring! I love it when that falls on my bday. The weather was gorgeous! After the last few days of rain, waking up to sunshine and birds chirping was exactly what I needed for my bday! So, I went to class, which was actually really interesting, and then my dear friend Kara took me to lunch at Noodles and Co. Lunch was fantastic. We had SO much food, but it was all very delicious. As usual we had some great convo as well. :)

I then proceeded to go to thesis class and they sang to me. It was a good class, but it was a great reminder of just how much work we all have and how little time we have to accomplish it. Yikes. Dale's so great at cracking the whip! But, nothing could ruin my bday mood. I came home and relaxed till dinner. Of course we went to Cheeseburger In Paradise - one of my favorite places in B-town to eat. It was a very interesting group of people. I have some very distinct groups of friends - rowers, roommates, old rower pals, and psychology. It worked out really well. I have such amazing friends.

Speaking of amazing. My very dear roomate made me her mother's famous 'lazy daisy' cake. Oh My GOSH! It's SO good! So, we came back to the apartment and had some champaign (from last year's 21st bday that never got opened) and cake! It was great times. I had big plans to hit up The Upstairs after this, but was way too pooped. So Kara brough over some Leo and we watched The Beach and ate some popcorn. Perfect ending to the perfect day! Enjoy the pictures!

P.S. I just wanna say that I'm a very lucky girl. I have some truly amazing and beautiful friends. They make life worth living, and make the sun shine even on cloudy days. I am very loved. :)

Cheeseburger drinks are the BEST!!

Me. Britt. and Megan. Psych pals!

Two of my favorite old rower pals who I miss greatly. I'm so glad they were able to make it!

Fuzz. Cass. and Me. Cheers! A couple of the best people I know.

Roomates! Love these girls with all my heart!

Miss Kara Marie! We're so silly! What would I do without her?
THE 'Lazy Daisy' Cake!! YUM!

Rainy Tuesday.

I'm sitting here listening to the rain hit the window of my apartment. It's relaxing. Maybe a little too relaxing. I need to go get busy and eat lunch and get started with my G402 reading notes, CogLab assignment, and thesis work. I might throw a trip to Target in there as a study break. I have a lot to accomplish, but it'll get done. I work well under pressure. :) One of my (many) strengths.

Well, I'm settling back into the routine of class and studying after a crazy week at home. I have mixed emotions about the seven weeks of school that are left. I'm sad that it's that long, but at the same time thankful because I have SO much to accomplish between now and graduation. It's scary.

I'm ready for warm sunny weather and spring flowers. We've had a bit of a taste of it, but now it's back to rain and mildly warm weather. Bleh. Here's wishin for warm weather.

Lately I've had the itch to travel. I've been looking at everyone's spring break pics of the sunny beach and condos in Florida. I miss the beautiful state of FL. In reality I was just there last year, but training trips for rowing for a week in December hardly quench the thirst for warm beaches, palm trees, sunsets, waves, and great dining. Don't get me wrong, I have some great memories from my trips to Tampa, but I long to hit the St. Augustine trail once again. Eh, it'll give me something to dream about. :)

What a week...

Well, what a week that was. I'm back in Bloomington now trying to face the reality that is school. My teeth are doing very well. They still hurt a little bit, and trying to keep food out of my holes is far from fun. But on the whole they're doing great. My bruises are starting to go away which is good. I'm not quite ready for the insane 7 weeks that are about to fly by, but here's to getting started and finished!

To catch up on the end of spring break.....

The end of the week was full of emotions, family, birthday celebration, and babies. Craig and Em came home Thursday night. We had the memorial service on Friday afternoon for Grandma. It was a beautiful service. We are truly blessed with an amazing set of friends and family. It was so great to get to see some of the people who came to pass on their sympathy and love to our family. It's strange who death brings family together almost like nothing else in life. Its a blessing in disguise. We had a good time remembering Grams and making picture boards and gathering things to set around like her craft painting things and favorite ingredients for cooking. She would have loved it. Thank you to all of the wonderful people who have touched the lives of the Alexanders from near and far. Love to all of you.

Saturday we decided to go ahead with the celebration of Craig's bday and mine. We know that is what Grams would have wanted. She was there with us having fun too. We had a great time with the twins, Aunt Cheri, and Gary and Claudia. It was a packed house with lots of food, and love. Couldn't have asked for a better Saturday. Craig got a Wii, which also provided hours of entertainment into the wee hours of the morning and then again the next day. haha Watch out for the baseball game though... my arm is sore!


It was a nice way to end a week that started with such sadness and loss. It made the pain just a little bit more bearable for all of us. Family is something that comes first on my list. It's a beautiful thing, and it's wonderful to see my brother have one of his own now. We are each other's life support, and I couldn't ask for a better one.

Wisdom Teeth and Interviews.

Well, I now lack 4 wisdom teeth. Monday morning came and went, and it was a lot less painful than I ever expected. My surgery went really well. I was put to sleep and before I knew it they were done and I was headed to recovery. After stopping with mom and dad to get a new cell phone (crazy, I know!), I returned home to start what has been a successful recovery thus far (*knock on wood*). I've been eating soft things, following all the directions, rinsing with mouthwash, and irrigating with warm water. Fortunately I do not look like a chipmunk, but I do have some slight swelling. So, wisdom teeth removal has been a success so far!

Speaking of success, I believe that my interview with U of Memphis could be considered that as well. I know, how much more do you think I could squeeze into my life this week?? Gotta roll with the punches, baby. I got to speak with Dr. Rice, and I think our interview went really well. I think I am pretty set on Ball State, but it sounds like I may have some options which is never a bad thing considering a few short weeks ago I was picturing myself moving back to Huntington for a year as my only option. Grandma would be proud, and it warms my heart to know that she's up there with grandpa looking down on everything I do.

I Believe In Angels...

What an unexpected start to spring break. My dear grandma, Mary Ellen Alexander passed away late last night. I am thankful to have been home and have the chance to see her one last time. She did not suffer, but her body simply could not hold on any longer. She has been fighting one heck of a battle for the last 2 years of her life, and has done wonderfully. She's met every obsticle with an impressive amount of determination including losing her leg just a few months ago which is something we never dreamed she would recover from. Thankfully she has made it through with flying colors until she just couldn't fight any longer. That day was yesterday. And with the least amount of pain and suffering she drifted off into that great unknown to be with more people she loves.

I believe that the world works in mysterious ways and that everything works out for a reason. There is a reason I had to come home to get my wisdom teeth taken out instead of heading off to Florida for spring break. I believe this is it. So, I dedicate this post to an amazin woman that I have been fortunate enough to know and make memories with for alost 22 years. She is a huge part of who I am, and I will never forget her. May she rest in peace and happiness with her husband and others who have passed before her.

I love you, grandma.

A Wave of Emotions...

Well, what a week it has been! It's actually not quite over yet. I'm taking a break from working on my thesis write up. My eyes are starting to cross from all of the statistics I'm reporting. ha ha

Well, it's been a very eventful week indeed. I've had a lot of balls in the air. But, two tests and a paper are down, and I'm feeling pretty good about them. It was a struggle. Senioritis is alive and living in my apartment for sure. Speaking of which - senioritis is something that you truly cannot understand until you experience it as a senior waiting to graduate. I always just thought it was a major cop out and seniors should just suck it up and finish the freaking semester. I mean it's not THAT bad... Well, yeah it is. I suppose you can use it as a crutch when you're a senior, but there is some truth to the "I just don't care. Get me out of here. I'm grumpy, tired, emotional, scared, happy, sad, bored, anxious all at the same time, and I'm tired of it!" attitude. I certainly am feeling it. I am torn between wanting to get the heck out of this place, and yet I absolutely LOVE Bloomington. I have had some tremendous experiences here, and have grown up so much over the last four years. It's hard to believe that it's been that long already. My future is uncertain, and that makes me nervous, but I'm anxious to get started with the next chapter of my life. I suppose it is a conflict between wanting to grow up and become professional and wanting to stay young forever. Such a crazy time!

Speaking of uncertain futures... mine has very recently become less cloudy. I was ever so graciously accepted into Ball State's rehab psych masters program! My first acceptance! Let me tell you, after 5 rejections, that one little acceptance is oh-so-sweet! The whole job of applying to graduate school has really taken it out of me, as well as my fellow schoolmates who are doing the same. It's a tough process, and one that should not be taken lightly. It's a lot of work, and there is a lot of emotion that gets put into it. But, finally I feel appreciated and worthy of graduate school! So, I have a phone interview with U of Memphis over spring break, and I'll be waiting on IU's response as well. But, I'm extremely excited about BSU! YAHOO!!!

OK, only 2 more classes and finishing up this results section draft for my thesis and then it's time to head home for some fun... oh yeah and I'm have oral surgery over break... stupid wisdom teeth!

The M&M Me.

This way just WAY too much fun not to share with you all! haha I like my new look! I just created it this afternoon!

P.S. Is it spring break yet???! UGH!

Rainy Monday

Well, thankfully I don't really have the rainy Monday blues. The weather was so beautiful yesterday that it's kinda hard to really have it out for Mother Nature today even though she's sending a little rain (which is supposed to turn into a wintery mix later I guess) our way. I have actually had a great start the the week. Got up early and got in a nice jog before it started raining. I love the smell of spring! It's not quite getting green enough to be beautiful, but just the warm breeze is enough for me right now. So, I'm holding on to yesterday and this morning to make it through the rest of the week's nasty weather.

So, I just finished taking my second cognitive psych exam. I feel ok about it. I think it's hard to judge on these tests. I didn't think I did well last time, but ended up with a B, so we'll see. There was a lot of material, and I found it sort of ironic to be taking a test all about memory. haha.

The weekend was great. I have a LOT going on this week, so I tried to prep as much as I could for it, but with being sick and it being the weekend I didn't get as much done as I should have. Such is life. I'll deal with it like I always do. That's the good and bad part of being a senior - you really know how to procrastinate, but you also know how to make it work. So, one test down, one test to go on Wednesday + my thesis intro draft #1 + some gender studies reading notes.

As I was saying... the weekend was a lot of fun. Friday night I got to catch up and spend some time with Laura - someone I miss not seeing every day. We had some good food and went to see Definitely, Maybe (very cute movie!). It was great just to chat and be goofy as usual. Saturday night was Hirt Lab Movie night. So all the people I work with in our lab got together in one of our newly remodled classrooms and piggedo out on pizza and wathed Casino Royal (again, great movie!) which I had never seen. It was very chill, but a great way to spend my Saturday night. Good food and great company - you really can't go wrong! I'm really luck to have such great people to work with. They're a lot of fun, and I'm gonna miss all of them next year. Hopefully I'll be able to come for a visit, and I'm planning on hanging with them at SPSP or MPA next year when I present my project. Exciting stuff.

Hmm.. what else. It's raining. I'm waiting to go to class. Oh yeah, I'm going to see a talk tonight by Robert Saplosky. He's a professor of bio and neurology at Stanford. He wrote a great book called Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers. I haven't read all of it yet, but he's doing a talk on it. It's about stress and coping and such. Should be fun.

The Twins.

As requested by Aunt Cheri - here are some pics of the newest addition to the family! The twins are growing faster that I ever imagined! Both are such adorable little stud muffins!

This is G-man right after his first haircut!

Huddy in his ExerSaucer

Peanut's first big boy carseat ride!

As always.. more pics to come later....