They call it "self regulation" in grad school - all of those crazy things we do to stay sane.
It's amazing how often "self regulation" turns into bad habits :)
I'm trying to do homework - I really am. I've just felt so distracted the last few days. Yes, life is changing - fast... I just don't think I've figured out of I like the changes or not yet. I started out sort of liking grad school, and I'm liking it more every day. It's just.. different. Very different. I'm a dork and love the vast majority of the material we're studying... and I love the empowerment that comes with knowing how to design studies and such (stats? fun? who am I?!)... I'm not quite sold on Columbia (yet), but I think those sentiments have so much more to do with the whole "home is where the heart is" thing. I need to go out and meet people, too. You know - in between classes and homework and such.
I also need to remember why I'm here. Furman taught me a lot about myself and how I learn. My brain just does not seep in information when I'm not passionate about the material. I recognize that I will not be passionate about every ounce of material I study (although grad school is wonderful because all of my classes are at least somewhat relevant to my immediate future!) - but if I do something every day to remind me where I am going, I will be so much more content with where I am.
So it's time to find a community or two.
It's hard trying to "replace" the communities I've relied on for the past few years - friends at Furman, Spearhead, Greer... now scattered around the country. I need to find something Spearhead-esque here. I know there are some local homes for kids with autism... my goal this week is to find some. I do actually have some time to volunteer in the mornings, and those hours would even pay off later when it comes time to find internships. I need to network, but really - I need those kids back in my life. My campers in Greenville are my heros and my inspiration. I miss them :(
I also need to find a church. Young adults (ie 20-30s) often slip through the cracks in parishes - unless you're married, have kids, or are a emo-esque highschooler, many churches don't have a lot of programs fro you. I know one of the local parishes does "theology on tap" -- which I think would be SO fun (and Cory would love it too!). Beer and Catholic theology? Yes, please.
I need something to do other than hang out with the people in my program (who are GREAT.. but few) and "nest." Yes, nest. My mother used the term a few weeks ago to describe my rabid searches for vintage-inspired fabrics and cheap-but-chic furniture... I'm nesting. She pointed out I've always done it - whenever I'm in a new place, I meticulously craft away at my environment until its comfy and cozy and me.
Hey - I'm slowly getting close!
Since I moved in, I've repainted the coffee table, dresser (twice), side table, desk... and then I reupholstered two barstools, painted a giant canvas (Herbert!), recovered 3 bulletin boards, and put together fabric panels to go in the living room. And two for my bedroom. And covered picture frames in all of my scraps.
Hey -- it looks awesome.
I've become absolutely obsessed with Amy Butler fabrics. The girls helping design our wedding decor introduced me to her -- and I'm HOOKED. She does these fun, vintage inspired prints... and while her fabric is pricey, I just buy tiny quantities and use them in very visual places (fabric panels, for example). Fortunately for my soul (and unfortunately for my budget), a lot of local shops carry her gorgeous lines. It's amazing.
I really want to get a sewing machine, but I know it would be the end of me -- I'd blow my entire stipend on fabric and pillow forms. BUT when I'm done "nesting" and the wedding gets close, I may indulge and do some of the runners and linens for the reception. With Amy Butler fabric.
It's so bad.
I made a yard and a half go a looong way... but by the end, I was pulling the "don't spare any part of the buffalo" mentality. Picture frames and glue guns are awesome for using up little corners of fabric...
H'okay. I need to go study. I'm getting used to this whole read-every-spare-second-you-get grad school thing, but I'm not too good at it yet. I've spent the day moving around furniture (Cory scoffed when I told him -- but the stuff is HEAVY -- even if my apartment is tiny) and painting. And putting together my bookshelf.
aka NOT doing the stats homework I promised myself I would do today.
:)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
bring it on home . little big town
One of those songs I never really had paid much attention to :) Beautiful lyrics..
You've got someone here
Wants to make it all right
Someone that loves you more
Than life right here
You've got willing arms that'll hold you tight
A hand to lead you on through the night right here
I know your heart can get
All tangled up inside
But don't you keep it to yourself
When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
The weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me
You know I know you
Like the back of my hand
You know I'm gonna do
All that I can right here
Gonna lie with you
Till you fall asleep
When the morning comes
I'm still gonna be right here
Yes, I am
So take your worries and
Just drop them at the door
Baby, leave it all behind
When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
The weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me
Baby, let me be your safe harbor
Don't let the water come
And carry you away
When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
The weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me
You've got someone here wants
To make it all right
Someone that loves you more
Than life right here
You've got someone here
Wants to make it all right
Someone that loves you more
Than life right here
You've got willing arms that'll hold you tight
A hand to lead you on through the night right here
I know your heart can get
All tangled up inside
But don't you keep it to yourself
When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
The weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me
You know I know you
Like the back of my hand
You know I'm gonna do
All that I can right here
Gonna lie with you
Till you fall asleep
When the morning comes
I'm still gonna be right here
Yes, I am
So take your worries and
Just drop them at the door
Baby, leave it all behind
When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
The weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me
Baby, let me be your safe harbor
Don't let the water come
And carry you away
When your long day is over
And you can barely drag your feet
The weight of the world
Is on your shoulders
I know what you need
Bring it on home to me
You've got someone here wants
To make it all right
Someone that loves you more
Than life right here
Saturday, August 22, 2009
too soon
I don't really know how to write this post, but I feel like I should. So here it goes.
I'm in Greer this weekend a little unexpectedly. Mark Winburn passed away on Friday - he has been one of Cory's closest buddies for years, and I've been blessed to have him in my life since Cory and I started dating. He was one of the first friends of Cory's I really got to know... a simple, happy, sweet soul. We're really, really going to miss him.
It's been a surreal few days. Cory called with the news around lunch time on Friday, so I came up Friday afternoon. We sat and talked for a few hours, then went to bring bagels to Mark's parents. Visiting with them was hard - there's no way to find the correct words for something so.. misplaced. His mom was beautiful - so pained, but so graceful. She wanted to hear all about our experiences with Mark. As could be expected, the sadness became laced with laughter. We'll never really know if he almost hit that horse. That replaced light in that random lamp post will eventually burn out. His personality, wit, and joy were so deep that even now - even at the saddest point - his stories make us laugh.
The story that keeps running through my head is the time Cory, Mark, me, and one of my girlfriends went out to dinner. Mark had just settled into his new house, and Cory was still (as always) settling into his. For thirty minutes straight, Cory and Mark talked about their rosebushes. How they water them, how they fertilize them... I don't even know how they kept coming up with plant-related conversation topics. My friend and I kept our own conversation going, then we'd turn back to see if the guys had moved on. Nope. Those boys talked about their "manly" gardening tactics the entire time.
Mark's mom said the florist is using Marks prized flowers for the arrangements in the church. He would have wanted it that way - he was so proud of the darn things.
He's Winburn. He and Cory were supposed to be old souls together. He was supposed to be in our wedding. He was supposed to be a part of our lives for a long, long time. Cory's a pallbearer at the funeral on Monday. Mark was supposed to walk down Cory's aisle - Cory wasn't supposed to walk him down his. It's a sobering realization knowing that our "supposed to" and God's "supposed to" can be so tragically different.
Monday will be hard, but it will also be a celebration. As short as it was - Marks life is truly something to celebrate. Cory put it so well - Mark never met a stranger. He never had an acquaintance. Once he met you, you were in. You were a part of his life.
If only we could all have that kind of love. We miss you so much, Mark!
I'm in Greer this weekend a little unexpectedly. Mark Winburn passed away on Friday - he has been one of Cory's closest buddies for years, and I've been blessed to have him in my life since Cory and I started dating. He was one of the first friends of Cory's I really got to know... a simple, happy, sweet soul. We're really, really going to miss him.
It's been a surreal few days. Cory called with the news around lunch time on Friday, so I came up Friday afternoon. We sat and talked for a few hours, then went to bring bagels to Mark's parents. Visiting with them was hard - there's no way to find the correct words for something so.. misplaced. His mom was beautiful - so pained, but so graceful. She wanted to hear all about our experiences with Mark. As could be expected, the sadness became laced with laughter. We'll never really know if he almost hit that horse. That replaced light in that random lamp post will eventually burn out. His personality, wit, and joy were so deep that even now - even at the saddest point - his stories make us laugh.
The story that keeps running through my head is the time Cory, Mark, me, and one of my girlfriends went out to dinner. Mark had just settled into his new house, and Cory was still (as always) settling into his. For thirty minutes straight, Cory and Mark talked about their rosebushes. How they water them, how they fertilize them... I don't even know how they kept coming up with plant-related conversation topics. My friend and I kept our own conversation going, then we'd turn back to see if the guys had moved on. Nope. Those boys talked about their "manly" gardening tactics the entire time.
Mark's mom said the florist is using Marks prized flowers for the arrangements in the church. He would have wanted it that way - he was so proud of the darn things.
He's Winburn. He and Cory were supposed to be old souls together. He was supposed to be in our wedding. He was supposed to be a part of our lives for a long, long time. Cory's a pallbearer at the funeral on Monday. Mark was supposed to walk down Cory's aisle - Cory wasn't supposed to walk him down his. It's a sobering realization knowing that our "supposed to" and God's "supposed to" can be so tragically different.
Monday will be hard, but it will also be a celebration. As short as it was - Marks life is truly something to celebrate. Cory put it so well - Mark never met a stranger. He never had an acquaintance. Once he met you, you were in. You were a part of his life.
If only we could all have that kind of love. We miss you so much, Mark!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
"almost no fat banana bread"
Got it from allrecipes.com... and it's yummy! Thought I'd share my breakfast for the week :)
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c white sugar
1 1/4 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 t vanilla
1/2 t cinnamon
2 egg whites
2 1/2 mashed bananas
1/4 c applesauce (no sugar)
1/4 t salt
1) Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease 8x4 loaf pan.
2) In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add egg whites, bananas, appleasuce, and vanilla. Stir until just combined. Pour into pan.
3) Bake 50-55 minutes until toothpick comes out clean (** mine was almost too done in 45 minutes, so watch the time! I also used a bigger pan, though..)
mmmmmmmmmmmm :)
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c white sugar
1 1/4 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 t vanilla
1/2 t cinnamon
2 egg whites
2 1/2 mashed bananas
1/4 c applesauce (no sugar)
1/4 t salt
1) Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease 8x4 loaf pan.
2) In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add egg whites, bananas, appleasuce, and vanilla. Stir until just combined. Pour into pan.
3) Bake 50-55 minutes until toothpick comes out clean (** mine was almost too done in 45 minutes, so watch the time! I also used a bigger pan, though..)
mmmmmmmmmmmm :)
calm before the storm
It's days like today when I feel a tad closer to my not-so-secret goal of living a life like Rachael Ray :)
I slept embarassingly late, spent most of the day balancing the ugly budget (thank you, random car repair bills), and plotting my weekly recipes :) I'm excited to be making Tikka Masala tonight -- I've been craving some good Indian food...
With our final orientation out of the way and my first TA assignment done (writing learning objectives and lab syllabi for developmental psych!), I'm finally getting a feel for my New Life. This term, I'll take 12 hours of classes (Stats, Intro, Cognitive Assessment, Academic Intervention), TA for two sections of Developmental Psychology (140 students!), work on some Fragile-X/Autism studies, and partake in some other random academic adventures, I'm sure... I'll be busy. Really busy. But happy :)
I'm still not a huge fan of the long distance thing, though. Cory and I had a great weekend in Charleston, too, which just made it all harder. We went down for a looong but wonderful meeting with Duvall -- they're doing our catering and flowers and decor for the wedding -- and it was amazing. I was so excited that Cory came - I finally felt like we were planning our wedding -- not just some big, pretty party. He managed to keep the meeting "us", too -- prank texted my mom, re-named ranunculus "redonkadonk", and came up with some fun ideas to make everything very Bridgette and Cory.
A few sneak peeks? We're talking about serving a few special drinks in mason jars :),using tons of beautiful patterns and prints, AND passing miniature pralienes in the middle of dancing! We're also on a mad hunt for blue sweedish fish. Anyone have any ideas?
Cory and I came back to Columbia Saturday night, and he left early on Sunday. During the week, it's like we divide and conquer -- he goes to work, I go to school -- and weekends are when we can actually catch up and enjoy each other's company. I don't get cell phone service in my apartment, and he doesn't get it in his office. When we finally do get to talk, I appreciate him a little more :)
I also appreciate him more when I do dumb things and have to fix them alone -- such as accidentally throwing my keys into the dumpster with my trash... yeah, that was fun.
Being apart helps me stay motivated to meet new people, too. Summer was so crazy that I'm really basking in quiet independence, but I know that after a few weeks, I'll be craving some new social adventures :). My grad class is really fun - very diverse, very passionate about what they do.
It's interesting, though -- I think we're all still used to putting up our best front for interviews and trying to anticipate the future. The result is a bizarre, subtle competitive vibe.. which freaks me out a bit. Our program is very "chill" (i.e. we learned about our classes yesterday -- classes start on Thursday), so we're having to let our guards down a bit. Which is good for us, I think. I'm interested to see how we all work together in classes. I'm excited to get to know them :).
In the meantime, back to quiet, relaxing, calm-before-the-storm life...
I slept embarassingly late, spent most of the day balancing the ugly budget (thank you, random car repair bills), and plotting my weekly recipes :) I'm excited to be making Tikka Masala tonight -- I've been craving some good Indian food...
With our final orientation out of the way and my first TA assignment done (writing learning objectives and lab syllabi for developmental psych!), I'm finally getting a feel for my New Life. This term, I'll take 12 hours of classes (Stats, Intro, Cognitive Assessment, Academic Intervention), TA for two sections of Developmental Psychology (140 students!), work on some Fragile-X/Autism studies, and partake in some other random academic adventures, I'm sure... I'll be busy. Really busy. But happy :)
I'm still not a huge fan of the long distance thing, though. Cory and I had a great weekend in Charleston, too, which just made it all harder. We went down for a looong but wonderful meeting with Duvall -- they're doing our catering and flowers and decor for the wedding -- and it was amazing. I was so excited that Cory came - I finally felt like we were planning our wedding -- not just some big, pretty party. He managed to keep the meeting "us", too -- prank texted my mom, re-named ranunculus "redonkadonk", and came up with some fun ideas to make everything very Bridgette and Cory.
A few sneak peeks? We're talking about serving a few special drinks in mason jars :),using tons of beautiful patterns and prints, AND passing miniature pralienes in the middle of dancing! We're also on a mad hunt for blue sweedish fish. Anyone have any ideas?
Cory and I came back to Columbia Saturday night, and he left early on Sunday. During the week, it's like we divide and conquer -- he goes to work, I go to school -- and weekends are when we can actually catch up and enjoy each other's company. I don't get cell phone service in my apartment, and he doesn't get it in his office. When we finally do get to talk, I appreciate him a little more :)
I also appreciate him more when I do dumb things and have to fix them alone -- such as accidentally throwing my keys into the dumpster with my trash... yeah, that was fun.
Being apart helps me stay motivated to meet new people, too. Summer was so crazy that I'm really basking in quiet independence, but I know that after a few weeks, I'll be craving some new social adventures :). My grad class is really fun - very diverse, very passionate about what they do.
It's interesting, though -- I think we're all still used to putting up our best front for interviews and trying to anticipate the future. The result is a bizarre, subtle competitive vibe.. which freaks me out a bit. Our program is very "chill" (i.e. we learned about our classes yesterday -- classes start on Thursday), so we're having to let our guards down a bit. Which is good for us, I think. I'm interested to see how we all work together in classes. I'm excited to get to know them :).
In the meantime, back to quiet, relaxing, calm-before-the-storm life...
Thursday, August 13, 2009
cheap eats
So I'm pretty sure I'm not the only fresh college grad out there googling "cheap eats." As such, I do not understand how/why "Frito Pie" pops up as an actual sustainable way to survive. SERIOUSLY!? I can stick crisco in a pan for under $3 and call it a cheap eat -- but it could also actually kill me.
Yuck!
Yuck!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
oh, right. THIS is what school feels like
Graduate student workshops from 8:30am until 5:00pm. Yum. School is back.
Carolina is comfortable. It's like a mix between the demanding academic environment of Furman and the big-school culture of Vandy. I can do this. I have done this.
TA training is good, but it's been a huge transition from camp. As I sit in my still-not-clean apartment, I'm pretty disappointed with my seeming inability to maintain the thrice-a-day cleaning regimen I spent my summer enforcing. Dust really bothers me, but I'm so tired from the early mornings, day-long chit-chat, and too-late nights to do much about it. Exercise is on my to-do list, too. Today, I checked of exercise as walking -- in my pajamas -- to the mailboxes.
Hey, it's a start.
I'm getting super excited about Cory and my engagement pictures... so I really should somehow mentally tack exercising to those. We're getting them done on labor day, on his family's farm in Greer. For some of them, I'm wearing a pleated white cotton sundress, and he's wearing something blue and adorable (er, manly).. and we're going to gallavant on the tractors and in the fields. Our photographer is Stephen Blackmon, and he's awesome. Really young and fresh, so I think the pictures will be really vibrant and "us." Maybe Jake will even behave for a few ;)
I'm always excited about marrying Cory, but some days I feel *extra* excited for no special reason -- and today is one of those days. It's the most important, life-changing, beautiful, sacred day of our lives. When I think about our two beings coming together, I'm in awe. Our lives were pretty crazy before we met each other.
Granted, our lives are probably crazier now... but in a fulfilled, meaningful way. :)
I just hope -- and pray -- that we continue to be inspired by each other forever. Cory is my hero. The way he interacts with people, loves people, invests in people - it's incredible. He can put a room at ease, but never in a superficial way. His personality just lends itself to humbly inspiring other people.
I'm a lucky girl.
Yes, our kids (a looong way down the line - no fears) will be strange. We'll probably need to hire a lawyer by the time the first one reaches kindergarten. But we'll have a happy, quirky, loving family. We'll laugh a lot. We'll probably end up adopting a pudgy red-headed toddler with autism. Our kids will be able to identify the Carolina fight song before typical children recognize their ABCs. It'll be an adventure.
::sigh::
THIS is why I do not watch movies like the Notebook. I become a pile of sleep-deprived, love-struck mush.
I'm going to bed :) More graduate workshops to rest up for in the morning!
Carolina is comfortable. It's like a mix between the demanding academic environment of Furman and the big-school culture of Vandy. I can do this. I have done this.
TA training is good, but it's been a huge transition from camp. As I sit in my still-not-clean apartment, I'm pretty disappointed with my seeming inability to maintain the thrice-a-day cleaning regimen I spent my summer enforcing. Dust really bothers me, but I'm so tired from the early mornings, day-long chit-chat, and too-late nights to do much about it. Exercise is on my to-do list, too. Today, I checked of exercise as walking -- in my pajamas -- to the mailboxes.
Hey, it's a start.
I'm getting super excited about Cory and my engagement pictures... so I really should somehow mentally tack exercising to those. We're getting them done on labor day, on his family's farm in Greer. For some of them, I'm wearing a pleated white cotton sundress, and he's wearing something blue and adorable (er, manly).. and we're going to gallavant on the tractors and in the fields. Our photographer is Stephen Blackmon, and he's awesome. Really young and fresh, so I think the pictures will be really vibrant and "us." Maybe Jake will even behave for a few ;)
I'm always excited about marrying Cory, but some days I feel *extra* excited for no special reason -- and today is one of those days. It's the most important, life-changing, beautiful, sacred day of our lives. When I think about our two beings coming together, I'm in awe. Our lives were pretty crazy before we met each other.
Granted, our lives are probably crazier now... but in a fulfilled, meaningful way. :)
I just hope -- and pray -- that we continue to be inspired by each other forever. Cory is my hero. The way he interacts with people, loves people, invests in people - it's incredible. He can put a room at ease, but never in a superficial way. His personality just lends itself to humbly inspiring other people.
I'm a lucky girl.
Yes, our kids (a looong way down the line - no fears) will be strange. We'll probably need to hire a lawyer by the time the first one reaches kindergarten. But we'll have a happy, quirky, loving family. We'll laugh a lot. We'll probably end up adopting a pudgy red-headed toddler with autism. Our kids will be able to identify the Carolina fight song before typical children recognize their ABCs. It'll be an adventure.
::sigh::
THIS is why I do not watch movies like the Notebook. I become a pile of sleep-deprived, love-struck mush.
I'm going to bed :) More graduate workshops to rest up for in the morning!
and it begins
I am finally starting to feel - at least a little bit - like I'm in grad school. I'm not sure if it was the 8 hours of online TA/IRB training or actually piecing together a semblance of a class schedule, but I'm starting to feel legit.
Let the madness begin!
My cohort (all 7 of us! big class!) went out to the Flying Saucer yesterday for a little pint-night get together. It was nice meeting everyone - a very fun, young, dynamic group. We're all interested in different things, which is wonderful. I think we're going tubing on Sunday, too...
I received my TA assignment for the fall, and it looks like I'm assisting two different professors with Developmental Psychology. One of the professors (my mentor)focuses on developmental issues (FX, autism, etc.), but it looks like the other professor is interested in aging. I guess I'll learn a lot about... a lot. I'll also probably be buried in paperwork - I'm only assigned to two sections, but each section has 70 students -- YIKES! We're not in TR anymore...
I'm starting to feel extra grateful for that move to Nashville last summer. I got to practice the whole "find an apartment, meet new people, live off of nothing, go with the flow" lifestyle... and I got pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. Even my IRB training was cut in half because of the Vanderbilt red tape. AND I'm dusting off some old "last summer" recipes that helped me cook on a tight budget. It's so fun!!
Tonight, I made my absolute favorite healthy summer stretch-a-buck meal: curry chicken salad. It's DELISH... a palm of raisins, 20ish green grapes, a pound of sauteed chicken, palm of diced onions, a diced golden delicious apple, a little bit of light dukes, a stalk of diced celery, garlic salt, pepper, and yellow curry powder. Pecans are awesome in it, but they can be pricey (unless your fiance can hack-saw them out of a tree for you.. in which case, hooray!). You can also stuff it in a green pepper and bake it in the oven.. or eat it on a piece of whole wheat toast.. mm.. The stuff lasts for three meals, and it probably costs about $9 to make (when chicken is on sale). Granted, that's if you have ingredients on hand (and I unfortunately did not)... but those frustrating stock-the-pantry grocery runs are inevitable. Now I have all sorts of random veggies and fruits to add to other things :)
Also on my yummy cheap food list? The return of instant pudding. Fifty cents of fat-free, sugar-free, freeze-it-like-a-popsicle bliss. Tonight I added bananas and graham crackers, tomorrow I have big plans for dark chocolate hershey kisses. Seriously, it's perfection.
The only culinary credit I can give to camp (other than the grilled-versus-slathered philly... a la K Cox) is sugar free drinks... so I've now been converted to store-brand sugar free crystal light. Pink lemonade in particular. I make a big slightly-too-strong pitcher of it, then dilute each glass with water, a splash of club soda (I can't kick the fizzy-habit all together... I'm trying, people), and a little bit of lime juice. It's soooo good, and it's a good fraction of the price of soda. AND less caffeine! We all win.
Clearly I'm a little (too) excited about cooking again. Amazing what 9 weeks of camp food will do...
Anyways. Tomorrow is the first big grad student workshop. I'm not super excited -- it's going to be a lot of policies, fees, etc... but it will be nice to meet some more people and actually get a feel for how the next five years of my life are going to run. I figured out a few of my classes by poking around online -- I'm taking a stats course, an introduction to school psychology class, and a basic assessment course... plus some sort of elective and hopefully a class on teaching (so I can teach ASAP).
Classes = books = homework. Am I truly diving into this again? Oof..
I really am ready, though. Everyone says the first year is the hardest, so I figure coming fresh out of a few Brewer and stat classes will keep the momentum up. 4 classes, 2 sections of TA-ing, and research on the side. How hard could it be?
Oof.
:) Just another adventure...
Let the madness begin!
My cohort (all 7 of us! big class!) went out to the Flying Saucer yesterday for a little pint-night get together. It was nice meeting everyone - a very fun, young, dynamic group. We're all interested in different things, which is wonderful. I think we're going tubing on Sunday, too...
I received my TA assignment for the fall, and it looks like I'm assisting two different professors with Developmental Psychology. One of the professors (my mentor)focuses on developmental issues (FX, autism, etc.), but it looks like the other professor is interested in aging. I guess I'll learn a lot about... a lot. I'll also probably be buried in paperwork - I'm only assigned to two sections, but each section has 70 students -- YIKES! We're not in TR anymore...
I'm starting to feel extra grateful for that move to Nashville last summer. I got to practice the whole "find an apartment, meet new people, live off of nothing, go with the flow" lifestyle... and I got pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. Even my IRB training was cut in half because of the Vanderbilt red tape. AND I'm dusting off some old "last summer" recipes that helped me cook on a tight budget. It's so fun!!
Tonight, I made my absolute favorite healthy summer stretch-a-buck meal: curry chicken salad. It's DELISH... a palm of raisins, 20ish green grapes, a pound of sauteed chicken, palm of diced onions, a diced golden delicious apple, a little bit of light dukes, a stalk of diced celery, garlic salt, pepper, and yellow curry powder. Pecans are awesome in it, but they can be pricey (unless your fiance can hack-saw them out of a tree for you.. in which case, hooray!). You can also stuff it in a green pepper and bake it in the oven.. or eat it on a piece of whole wheat toast.. mm.. The stuff lasts for three meals, and it probably costs about $9 to make (when chicken is on sale). Granted, that's if you have ingredients on hand (and I unfortunately did not)... but those frustrating stock-the-pantry grocery runs are inevitable. Now I have all sorts of random veggies and fruits to add to other things :)
Also on my yummy cheap food list? The return of instant pudding. Fifty cents of fat-free, sugar-free, freeze-it-like-a-popsicle bliss. Tonight I added bananas and graham crackers, tomorrow I have big plans for dark chocolate hershey kisses. Seriously, it's perfection.
The only culinary credit I can give to camp (other than the grilled-versus-slathered philly... a la K Cox) is sugar free drinks... so I've now been converted to store-brand sugar free crystal light. Pink lemonade in particular. I make a big slightly-too-strong pitcher of it, then dilute each glass with water, a splash of club soda (I can't kick the fizzy-habit all together... I'm trying, people), and a little bit of lime juice. It's soooo good, and it's a good fraction of the price of soda. AND less caffeine! We all win.
Clearly I'm a little (too) excited about cooking again. Amazing what 9 weeks of camp food will do...
Anyways. Tomorrow is the first big grad student workshop. I'm not super excited -- it's going to be a lot of policies, fees, etc... but it will be nice to meet some more people and actually get a feel for how the next five years of my life are going to run. I figured out a few of my classes by poking around online -- I'm taking a stats course, an introduction to school psychology class, and a basic assessment course... plus some sort of elective and hopefully a class on teaching (so I can teach ASAP).
Classes = books = homework. Am I truly diving into this again? Oof..
I really am ready, though. Everyone says the first year is the hardest, so I figure coming fresh out of a few Brewer and stat classes will keep the momentum up. 4 classes, 2 sections of TA-ing, and research on the side. How hard could it be?
Oof.
:) Just another adventure...
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
just a note
The ice cream truck just drove by my apartment playing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." In August.
let me be brave...
An inspirational Catholic woman :)
"It's hard for us to believe: the amazing Eunice Kennedy Shriver went home to God this morning at 2 a.m.
She was the light of our lives, a mother, wife, grandmother, sister and aunt who taught us by example and with passion what it means to live a faith-driven life of love and service to others. For each of us, she often seemed to stop time itself - to run another Special Olympics games, to visit us in our homes, to attend to her own mother, her sisters and brothers, and to sail, tell stories, and laugh and serve her friends. How did she do it all?
Inspired by her love of God, her devotion to her family, and her relentless belief in the dignity and worth of every human life, she worked without ceasing - searching, pushing, demanding, hoping for change. She was a living prayer, a living advocate, a living center of power. She set out to change the world and to change us, and she did that and more. She founded the movement that became Special Olympics, the largest movement for acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities in the history of the world. Her work transformed the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the globe, and they in turn are her living legacy.
We have always been honored to share our mother with people of good will the world over who believe, as she did, that there is no limit to the human spirit. At this time of loss, we feel overwhelmed by the gifts of prayer and support poured out to us from so many who loved her. We are together in our belief that she is now in heaven, rejoicing with her family, enjoying the fruits of her faith, and still urging us onward to the challenges ahead. Her love will inspire us to faith and service always.
She was forever devoted to the Blessed Mother. May she be welcomed now by Mary to the joy and love of life everlasting, in the certain truth that her love and spirit will live forever."
- statement issued by Eunice Kennedy Shriver's family
"It's hard for us to believe: the amazing Eunice Kennedy Shriver went home to God this morning at 2 a.m.
She was the light of our lives, a mother, wife, grandmother, sister and aunt who taught us by example and with passion what it means to live a faith-driven life of love and service to others. For each of us, she often seemed to stop time itself - to run another Special Olympics games, to visit us in our homes, to attend to her own mother, her sisters and brothers, and to sail, tell stories, and laugh and serve her friends. How did she do it all?
Inspired by her love of God, her devotion to her family, and her relentless belief in the dignity and worth of every human life, she worked without ceasing - searching, pushing, demanding, hoping for change. She was a living prayer, a living advocate, a living center of power. She set out to change the world and to change us, and she did that and more. She founded the movement that became Special Olympics, the largest movement for acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities in the history of the world. Her work transformed the lives of hundreds of millions of people across the globe, and they in turn are her living legacy.
We have always been honored to share our mother with people of good will the world over who believe, as she did, that there is no limit to the human spirit. At this time of loss, we feel overwhelmed by the gifts of prayer and support poured out to us from so many who loved her. We are together in our belief that she is now in heaven, rejoicing with her family, enjoying the fruits of her faith, and still urging us onward to the challenges ahead. Her love will inspire us to faith and service always.
She was forever devoted to the Blessed Mother. May she be welcomed now by Mary to the joy and love of life everlasting, in the certain truth that her love and spirit will live forever."
- statement issued by Eunice Kennedy Shriver's family
Monday, August 10, 2009
the coffee table is repainted... and other signs that my life is totally changing
So when I haven't blogged for a very long time, I always find it necessary to briefly summarize the this-and-thats that have characterized my recent existence.
First up?
Yep, the coffee table has received an "every time I look at this thing I get sad, so I better repaint it" makeover. :) As did most of my stuff. It's kind of strange living in Columbia. By myself. Playing Suzie-Homemaker has lightened the emotional load for the meanwhile, but I know that eventually it will all hit me. Furman is over, college is over (WHAT?!), and I'm on to the next adventure.
I actually really like living on my own -- so far. I loved my college roommates, so the idea of trying to replace them for a year kinda made me cringe. Besides... I know full well that in a year, my carribean-blue vintage side table will be replaced with a wonderful yet slightly less delicate husband... who I know is only excited about my DIY reupholstered barstools because he knows they make me happy :).
Life as a stipend-dependent grad student is far from glamorous, but it finally feels like me. Furman was wonderful, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to receive that caliber of education and meet those fabulous people... but I became very burnt out of the Furman lifestyle. I wanted to put nails in the wall, drink wine while I cooked dinner, stretch my independence a bit. I've never enjoyed being spoon-fed life. I like trial and error. I'm comfortable now.
The best part? I have someone to share this comfortable, cozy, fresh adventure with! Cory came down last night to help me around the apartment and get ready for his graduation... and the entire time he was visiting, I had this overwhelming feeling of comfort. We had spent the summer in the place -- and the environment -- where we fell in love. Mixing in wedding-filled weekends and The Big Move to Columbia made that love seem more real than ever. Not going to lie -- I'm not excited about long distance. It's a good thing we have so many more adventures to look forward to :)
Moving in has been an adventure in and of itself. The apartment opened in mid-July, but I've been working at camp during the week and hopping up and down I-26 on weekends, so Friday was my first night actually living here. I still don't have my couch or desk (among other things), but I do have cable (plus three channels... woohoo!). And groceries (already made zucchini fritters... thought of you, Jessie). And a bed that doesn't smell like mold and sound like a sinking lifeboat (thank you, Camp Spearhead).
Speaking of Spearhead... I cannot believe its over. My job was much different this year - I was designing and implementing a vocational program for some very promising and brimming-with-personality young adult campers. I had a ball... and I learned a lot. Some hilights included:
- My little brother (Pat) came to work at camp for the last few weeks! He is now "engaged" to twins with down syndrome. He also got smacked by an elder camper (I'll call him Herbert) who didn't want to go to bed. The same camper also told Pat over and over that he needed a haircut.
- Pat returned to camp with a haircut.
- Cory and I went up in a hot air balloon and got an aerial view of the tree stump where we got engaged. He "re-proposed".. which was romantic and ironic, all at the same time.
- I worked with 16 amazing camper workers. The toughest campers to work with quickly became my favorites, and I now appreciate the immense number of steps it takes to clean a bathroom, the lyrics to every Michael Jackson song known to man, and the relative unimportance of being pelted with a piece chicken in the long journey of a friendship.
- By the end of camp, I had sufficiently abandoned my Furman-esque desire to look put together. When I did randomly decide to wear my hear down (6th week, mind you), I approached one of my camper workers and asked him to go to the dining hall. He responded, "You'll have to ask my boss, Bridgette."
-- "T, I am Bridgette."
- (puzzled expression)
-- "See, look? (pulled my hair back in a ponytail) My hair is down."
- "HAHAHAHA YOUR HAIR IS DOWN! Okay, I'll go to the dining hall."
- Cory and I taught E how to mop. To do so, we had to figure out some fun, creative way to emphasize that once the floor was wet, it didn't need to be mopped again. So I told E (who liked to shake her hair in the wind and pretend she was on baywatch) that the wet floor had sharks in it... and to mop away from the sharks. To emphasize, I put my hands like a fin over my head and ran towards her.
-- "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" (blood curdling scream)
- "E! What's wrong?"
-- "I thought you were a shark. You scared me."
- Weekends of weddings! TYNER AND ZEKE ARE MARRIED!, played at showers for all of the lovely marriages coming up this fall, and enjoyed pulling together details for our Big Day... so much love in the air :).
- I finally painted! Couldn't find affordable art/furniture, so I repainted an end table, the coffee table, a dresser, and a beautiful giant canvas... the later of which now hosts a giant blue crab. I named him Herbert. I can't afford a dog, so my guard-pet is a two dimensional crustacean... he's beautiful and slightly intimidating.
So many more thoughts, but not nearly enough energy to write them. Expect more blog posts soon, though... I tend to write more when I'm far away from my best friends and the love of my life... particularly when I'm also embarking on a new and exciting journey.
PS. My amazing fiance graduated with his masters today! Hooray! He is celebrating by plowing a dingo around pleasant ridge for the next three days. To each his own :)
First up?
Yep, the coffee table has received an "every time I look at this thing I get sad, so I better repaint it" makeover. :) As did most of my stuff. It's kind of strange living in Columbia. By myself. Playing Suzie-Homemaker has lightened the emotional load for the meanwhile, but I know that eventually it will all hit me. Furman is over, college is over (WHAT?!), and I'm on to the next adventure.
I actually really like living on my own -- so far. I loved my college roommates, so the idea of trying to replace them for a year kinda made me cringe. Besides... I know full well that in a year, my carribean-blue vintage side table will be replaced with a wonderful yet slightly less delicate husband... who I know is only excited about my DIY reupholstered barstools because he knows they make me happy :).
Life as a stipend-dependent grad student is far from glamorous, but it finally feels like me. Furman was wonderful, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to receive that caliber of education and meet those fabulous people... but I became very burnt out of the Furman lifestyle. I wanted to put nails in the wall, drink wine while I cooked dinner, stretch my independence a bit. I've never enjoyed being spoon-fed life. I like trial and error. I'm comfortable now.
The best part? I have someone to share this comfortable, cozy, fresh adventure with! Cory came down last night to help me around the apartment and get ready for his graduation... and the entire time he was visiting, I had this overwhelming feeling of comfort. We had spent the summer in the place -- and the environment -- where we fell in love. Mixing in wedding-filled weekends and The Big Move to Columbia made that love seem more real than ever. Not going to lie -- I'm not excited about long distance. It's a good thing we have so many more adventures to look forward to :)
Moving in has been an adventure in and of itself. The apartment opened in mid-July, but I've been working at camp during the week and hopping up and down I-26 on weekends, so Friday was my first night actually living here. I still don't have my couch or desk (among other things), but I do have cable (plus three channels... woohoo!). And groceries (already made zucchini fritters... thought of you, Jessie). And a bed that doesn't smell like mold and sound like a sinking lifeboat (thank you, Camp Spearhead).
Speaking of Spearhead... I cannot believe its over. My job was much different this year - I was designing and implementing a vocational program for some very promising and brimming-with-personality young adult campers. I had a ball... and I learned a lot. Some hilights included:
- My little brother (Pat) came to work at camp for the last few weeks! He is now "engaged" to twins with down syndrome. He also got smacked by an elder camper (I'll call him Herbert) who didn't want to go to bed. The same camper also told Pat over and over that he needed a haircut.
- Pat returned to camp with a haircut.
- Cory and I went up in a hot air balloon and got an aerial view of the tree stump where we got engaged. He "re-proposed".. which was romantic and ironic, all at the same time.
- I worked with 16 amazing camper workers. The toughest campers to work with quickly became my favorites, and I now appreciate the immense number of steps it takes to clean a bathroom, the lyrics to every Michael Jackson song known to man, and the relative unimportance of being pelted with a piece chicken in the long journey of a friendship.
- By the end of camp, I had sufficiently abandoned my Furman-esque desire to look put together. When I did randomly decide to wear my hear down (6th week, mind you), I approached one of my camper workers and asked him to go to the dining hall. He responded, "You'll have to ask my boss, Bridgette."
-- "T, I am Bridgette."
- (puzzled expression)
-- "See, look? (pulled my hair back in a ponytail) My hair is down."
- "HAHAHAHA YOUR HAIR IS DOWN! Okay, I'll go to the dining hall."
- Cory and I taught E how to mop. To do so, we had to figure out some fun, creative way to emphasize that once the floor was wet, it didn't need to be mopped again. So I told E (who liked to shake her hair in the wind and pretend she was on baywatch) that the wet floor had sharks in it... and to mop away from the sharks. To emphasize, I put my hands like a fin over my head and ran towards her.
-- "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" (blood curdling scream)
- "E! What's wrong?"
-- "I thought you were a shark. You scared me."
- Weekends of weddings! TYNER AND ZEKE ARE MARRIED!, played at showers for all of the lovely marriages coming up this fall, and enjoyed pulling together details for our Big Day... so much love in the air :).
- I finally painted! Couldn't find affordable art/furniture, so I repainted an end table, the coffee table, a dresser, and a beautiful giant canvas... the later of which now hosts a giant blue crab. I named him Herbert. I can't afford a dog, so my guard-pet is a two dimensional crustacean... he's beautiful and slightly intimidating.
So many more thoughts, but not nearly enough energy to write them. Expect more blog posts soon, though... I tend to write more when I'm far away from my best friends and the love of my life... particularly when I'm also embarking on a new and exciting journey.
PS. My amazing fiance graduated with his masters today! Hooray! He is celebrating by plowing a dingo around pleasant ridge for the next three days. To each his own :)
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