I have my own domain name! I'm excited about this. We've been talking about it for at least a year, and finally sat down and did it. I'm working on getting the blog ready to move and installing things. I came across a post last week that made me know it's time to host my own blog. I'd never really thought about the issue of ownership much, but really google owns my blog. So having full ownership over the content and photos makes me happy. This moving is happening. Unveiling soon.
But the unveiling is second to finishing this semester. I gave a final presentation this afternoon. I have one more to do next week. And then I am essentially done with coursework. I still have to finish an independent study by the end of the summer, but that is so different than going to class. Tomorrow I teach, then all I have left is to give the final exam (and finish grades). I am so ready to move to the summer schedule.
The biggest news of the week is that my second year research paper has been signed off on and submitted for publication to a big name academic journal. There is a good chance it'll get rejected, but there is an ok chance that it'll get a "revise and resubmit" (or slim chance of the holy grail "accept"). This paper that I've been talking about for the last 18 months, it's done. I can also use this as an en route master's thesis. Double dip where you can...
Simon is ten months old today. Ten months! (monthly post coming soon) I can hardly believe it. He's started to balance stand and is getting pretty good at it. He can manipulate a toy or clap while standing. And today he took steps. Actual steps. Only one or two at a time then sit. I'm guessing walking in the next two weeks. Oh boy. Actually that might be the biggest news of the week. It's hard to compare kid milestones and school milestones both are so epic.
Showing posts with label PhD School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PhD School. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Balancing Act
My Twitter profile reads: navigating my way through grad school and now parenthood. trying daily to find the right balance.
Sometimes I'm not so sure I'm doing a great job of it. Something's always got to give. Lately I feel like it's Simon - though the blog may not be the best evidence of that. I hit the ground running with Simon was 5.5 weeks old with this third year of grad school by teaching two classes and trying to finish my thesis (second year project that will count for my Masters). I feel like I haven't stopped. Christmas was nice - I seem to remember a break then, but that was so long ago now.
For the Fall semester I was supposed to be working 2.5 days a week. In reality it was 4. Thankfully Rob was home with Simon, but I wasn't. This semester I was supposed to work 3 days a week and be with Simon the other 2, in reality that hasn't happened either. It's been 4 or even 5 days almost the whole semester. On some of these "extra" days I've just brought the kid with me, but some times it isn't appropriate, or I just get more done when I'm not chasing a mobile baby who wants to be a toddler. (OMG he's getting so big so fast and he's just started balance standing without holding on to anything.) So he's been going to extra days at daycare.
And I'm torn. Because he loves it there. Kids! Toys! Food! And honestly, I don't mind leaving him. Except that it's not being the mom I want to be. I've already struggled with and come to terms with the fact that I'm really not cut out to be a full time Stay at Home Mom, but I DO want to be home with Simon more days than not. Yesterday, after church we had such a fun day, the three of us playing and laughing. Rob was wrestling Simon and he was crawling to me to keep him "safe" while he giggled so hard. And I realized, I've been missing far to much of that, and when I am with him, I'm fried. Today, I picked him up early, and pushed through the tired and we had the BEST afternoon. An hour at the park and peek-a-boo and chase at home.
But I've gotten so much done this year academically. I taught 2 classes in the fall (bad idea, but live and learn) and one this spring. I finished my coursework (as of next Wednesday) and my thesis is done. Like actually done. As in the paper I've been talking about for the last 18 months is being sent to my readers. When I talk about my paper, it is going to be a different one. This. Is. Huge. And I'm on to the next thing with an abstract due, and another project that's just been waiting to be written up, and fellowship applications to finish. It's never ending.
I've been asked a few times recently how I "do it all" and the easy answer is that I don't. Our apartment is mostly a disaster and I don't really cook all that much. Balance is so hard to find. And I'm finding that I'm giving up some of the "me" things in order to make up the Simon time that school eats away at. And that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. But the "me" time is important too.
There are two more weeks to this semester, and I switch to a summer schedule. It will be three days a week. And I am going to really work to keep it to that, and to make those days count. Because when I have time to take Simon to the playground and watch him go down the slide by himself, I smile. And I want time for me too. I don't self identify as "just" a mom, or student, or wife, or woman. I am all of these things and more. And giving all parts of me the time they deserve is a key to this balancing act of life.
So while student and mom have been taking precedence lately, I really would like to get back to wife and woman. Rob might appreciate that too.
Sometimes I'm not so sure I'm doing a great job of it. Something's always got to give. Lately I feel like it's Simon - though the blog may not be the best evidence of that. I hit the ground running with Simon was 5.5 weeks old with this third year of grad school by teaching two classes and trying to finish my thesis (second year project that will count for my Masters). I feel like I haven't stopped. Christmas was nice - I seem to remember a break then, but that was so long ago now.
For the Fall semester I was supposed to be working 2.5 days a week. In reality it was 4. Thankfully Rob was home with Simon, but I wasn't. This semester I was supposed to work 3 days a week and be with Simon the other 2, in reality that hasn't happened either. It's been 4 or even 5 days almost the whole semester. On some of these "extra" days I've just brought the kid with me, but some times it isn't appropriate, or I just get more done when I'm not chasing a mobile baby who wants to be a toddler. (OMG he's getting so big so fast and he's just started balance standing without holding on to anything.) So he's been going to extra days at daycare.
And I'm torn. Because he loves it there. Kids! Toys! Food! And honestly, I don't mind leaving him. Except that it's not being the mom I want to be. I've already struggled with and come to terms with the fact that I'm really not cut out to be a full time Stay at Home Mom, but I DO want to be home with Simon more days than not. Yesterday, after church we had such a fun day, the three of us playing and laughing. Rob was wrestling Simon and he was crawling to me to keep him "safe" while he giggled so hard. And I realized, I've been missing far to much of that, and when I am with him, I'm fried. Today, I picked him up early, and pushed through the tired and we had the BEST afternoon. An hour at the park and peek-a-boo and chase at home.
But I've gotten so much done this year academically. I taught 2 classes in the fall (bad idea, but live and learn) and one this spring. I finished my coursework (as of next Wednesday) and my thesis is done. Like actually done. As in the paper I've been talking about for the last 18 months is being sent to my readers. When I talk about my paper, it is going to be a different one. This. Is. Huge. And I'm on to the next thing with an abstract due, and another project that's just been waiting to be written up, and fellowship applications to finish. It's never ending.
I've been asked a few times recently how I "do it all" and the easy answer is that I don't. Our apartment is mostly a disaster and I don't really cook all that much. Balance is so hard to find. And I'm finding that I'm giving up some of the "me" things in order to make up the Simon time that school eats away at. And that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. But the "me" time is important too.
There are two more weeks to this semester, and I switch to a summer schedule. It will be three days a week. And I am going to really work to keep it to that, and to make those days count. Because when I have time to take Simon to the playground and watch him go down the slide by himself, I smile. And I want time for me too. I don't self identify as "just" a mom, or student, or wife, or woman. I am all of these things and more. And giving all parts of me the time they deserve is a key to this balancing act of life.
So while student and mom have been taking precedence lately, I really would like to get back to wife and woman. Rob might appreciate that too.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Lab Rat
Since Simon was five months old we've been going to the Child Development Lab at the campus I work on to participate in infant research. The research is about infant locomotion and cognitive development. We are doing a diary study, where I've been filling out a daily checklist of motor and language activities since December and will continue until about 18 months.
We also did a reaching study, and today we rode the bus for the second of five visits for an "A not B" study. We left early and took the subway to the Express Bus. Simon got his own seat before deciding to take a nap on my lap.
Then when we got to the lab he was in his best mood of the entire day. I'm so glad he used it up for the study. First he crawled to me down the paths. After five tries down path A, I moved to path B and he came right to me. Rob and I love this "thinking" face; he started it a couple of weeks ago and the pout is priceless.
After the paths we moved on to tunnels. Five tries on tunnel A, then I moved to tunnel B. He didn't even look to see where I was and just zoomed down tunnel A. Then when I wasn't at the end he was a little confused until he saw me. Then he came to get the new toys.
Oh how he loves to play with new toys. We'll go back again when he can take 10 steps by himself. I've got myself a little Lab Rat.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Ten random things for Tuesday.
1. Rob brought me flowers last night. Just because. It made me smile.
2. Simon woke up just before I left this morning all smiles. But at some point over night he sneezed and there was dried snot all over his face. Adorable and disgusting at the same time.
3. I've been cooking more lately because Rob's working at night and really, I don't love cooking. Baking I like, cooking is just necessary.
4. I'm having all kinds of weird food cravings. Rob told me that's just how I eat. I'm the crazy woman who craves healthy food when pregnant and the weird combos all the rest of the time. At least I'm getting back to normal.
5. I weight one pound less than I did when I got pregnant. Ideally I'd like to lose 5 more pounds. In order to do that I need to stop eating donuts.
6. Simon is belly crawling (a post in itself). Exciting and terrifying.
7. He is also getting his two bottom teeth. I hope they pop through soon because he is chewing off his fist.
8. I can't believe January is almost over. I am nowhere near ready for the semester to start on Friday.
9. This paper that I am always talking about. It's the same paper every time. Multiple drafts. But this time for reals, I only have three paragraphs to go and it will be "adviser to view" ready.
10. I heart daycare. It's awesome.
2. Simon woke up just before I left this morning all smiles. But at some point over night he sneezed and there was dried snot all over his face. Adorable and disgusting at the same time.
3. I've been cooking more lately because Rob's working at night and really, I don't love cooking. Baking I like, cooking is just necessary.
4. I'm having all kinds of weird food cravings. Rob told me that's just how I eat. I'm the crazy woman who craves healthy food when pregnant and the weird combos all the rest of the time. At least I'm getting back to normal.
5. I weight one pound less than I did when I got pregnant. Ideally I'd like to lose 5 more pounds. In order to do that I need to stop eating donuts.
6. Simon is belly crawling (a post in itself). Exciting and terrifying.
7. He is also getting his two bottom teeth. I hope they pop through soon because he is chewing off his fist.
8. I can't believe January is almost over. I am nowhere near ready for the semester to start on Friday.
9. This paper that I am always talking about. It's the same paper every time. Multiple drafts. But this time for reals, I only have three paragraphs to go and it will be "adviser to view" ready.
10. I heart daycare. It's awesome.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Grinch
I can't believe it's Christmas Eve. I'm so not mentally ready. Physically we've been prepping. We have a tree. I made stockings. Oh, I am glad I made the stockings. I had a little procrastination on Pinterest weekend in mid-November. If it weren't for these things, and the presents family have been mailing in, it would be just like any other weekend.
Mentally I'm spent. This semester was HARD. And not really so much because of the baby factor. That was part of it. But teaching two classes (instead of my usual one) meant double the students and their issues and grading. I feel like I spent most of my week dealing with teaching and that left very little work for my research and class that I was taking. I spent four days this week grading. And trying to finish the last bit of data entry for my thesis, which was due in October, but the final meeting about was yesterday. I have until January 17 to write the results and discussion. I'm spent. But in May I will have my En Route Masters and in August I will hopefully be ABD. Aren't you proud of me mom? And because Christmas Eve and Day are on a weekend, it just doesn't seem like I get any time off. Hence the meeting yesterday, where I only cried twice. But that's because I'm so dang tired because someone - I won't name names - has decided that eating during the day is not nearly as much fun as having an all night party recently.
But last night I did something I've only done twice before. I put Simon to bed, I pumped, and I went to sleep with my head buried under a pillow. And Rob took the night shifts. Where Simon refused the bottle. But did figure out that it was the bottle or nothing, and he went back to sleep. I feel better this morning. Not like the zombie I was yesterday and the day before. We might try it again tonight.
Last night we went to the local Pub for dinner. Simon rocked eating the mushy peas. And I mentioned that I had seen somewhere on Pinterest Christmas Tree Waffles. And we were planning on waffles this morning anyhow. And Rob made me these.
Then we Christmas facetimed with my Dad and siblings and opened some presents, and I think I might just be feeling a little Christmassy now.
I'm not checking school or student emails until January 2 for a self-proclaimed vacation. Kicking myself a little for not pulling out the camera this morning. I will NOT forget for the next round of presenting.
Merry Christmas to one and all!
Mentally I'm spent. This semester was HARD. And not really so much because of the baby factor. That was part of it. But teaching two classes (instead of my usual one) meant double the students and their issues and grading. I feel like I spent most of my week dealing with teaching and that left very little work for my research and class that I was taking. I spent four days this week grading. And trying to finish the last bit of data entry for my thesis, which was due in October, but the final meeting about was yesterday. I have until January 17 to write the results and discussion. I'm spent. But in May I will have my En Route Masters and in August I will hopefully be ABD. Aren't you proud of me mom? And because Christmas Eve and Day are on a weekend, it just doesn't seem like I get any time off. Hence the meeting yesterday, where I only cried twice. But that's because I'm so dang tired because someone - I won't name names - has decided that eating during the day is not nearly as much fun as having an all night party recently.
But last night I did something I've only done twice before. I put Simon to bed, I pumped, and I went to sleep with my head buried under a pillow. And Rob took the night shifts. Where Simon refused the bottle. But did figure out that it was the bottle or nothing, and he went back to sleep. I feel better this morning. Not like the zombie I was yesterday and the day before. We might try it again tonight.
Last night we went to the local Pub for dinner. Simon rocked eating the mushy peas. And I mentioned that I had seen somewhere on Pinterest Christmas Tree Waffles. And we were planning on waffles this morning anyhow. And Rob made me these.
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| green waffles with chocolate and powdered sugar and a bacon tree trunk |
Then we Christmas facetimed with my Dad and siblings and opened some presents, and I think I might just be feeling a little Christmassy now.
I'm not checking school or student emails until January 2 for a self-proclaimed vacation. Kicking myself a little for not pulling out the camera this morning. I will NOT forget for the next round of presenting.
Merry Christmas to one and all!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Mid-terms
Last week I gave mid-term exams. Here is what I said to my students at the start of the exam.
"To take the exam you need a scantron and a pencil. (pause to sell scantrons to students who didn't bring them and hand out pencils) On the scantron please put my name and the course section number 4882 in the period spot.
There are two important pieces of information you need to make sure you include. Your name, if there is no name on the test I cannot give you a grade. (class laughs) And the test version number. There are four versions A, B, C, and D. Put this letter in the Test No. spot. If you do not have a version number I also cannot give you a grade because I won't know what test you took. (class laughs again)
Any questions? (pause) No, ok, we are ready to begin. Please put away all laptops, phones, books, and notes. Don't make it look like you are cheating. If it looks like you're cheating you probably are. (more laughter) Begin."
Do you even want to know how many tests I got back without version numbers? At least they all remembered their name...
As the student turn in the exams I check them, because I'm nice like that and if they are missing something I hand it back to them. Then they get all embarrassed and put the version on for me.
This is my life.
"To take the exam you need a scantron and a pencil. (pause to sell scantrons to students who didn't bring them and hand out pencils) On the scantron please put my name and the course section number 4882 in the period spot.
There are two important pieces of information you need to make sure you include. Your name, if there is no name on the test I cannot give you a grade. (class laughs) And the test version number. There are four versions A, B, C, and D. Put this letter in the Test No. spot. If you do not have a version number I also cannot give you a grade because I won't know what test you took. (class laughs again)
Any questions? (pause) No, ok, we are ready to begin. Please put away all laptops, phones, books, and notes. Don't make it look like you are cheating. If it looks like you're cheating you probably are. (more laughter) Begin."
Do you even want to know how many tests I got back without version numbers? At least they all remembered their name...
As the student turn in the exams I check them, because I'm nice like that and if they are missing something I hand it back to them. Then they get all embarrassed and put the version on for me.
This is my life.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Saturday - 7:30am
I was going to say I don't know why it seems I only blog every other week. But I know exactly why. I'm working like crazy. My 1.5 days away from Simon turned into 4 this week, and 3 the week before that and will be 3 again this week. I bought an electric pump. I kind of hate it, but it is necessary for the time I'm away and I really do want to keep breastfeeding. And I will full time again once I finish my project. So this week I taught a double load (4 classes) because my colleague was on her honeymoon. That's a lot of going to Staten Island. A very inconvenient time for me but oh well. Inconvenient because I have to present my second year research project (essentially my master's thesis) on the 18th in what will count as an oral defense. But oh, yeah, because I slacked off while pregnant thinking in some delision that I would have more time AFTER Simon came, it's not quite done. So I've spent every waking hour where I am not teaching or feeding (and even some when I am feeding) working on this. I have to practice at 11. I have 3 hours to finish - and somewhere in there get dressed and brush my hair... Here's a pic of what's going on right now with the boys in the house.
More blogging soon. I hope. I miss my blog.
More blogging soon. I hope. I miss my blog.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Cohort: Beer Garden
Saturday we met up with a couple of grad school friends at the "original" Beer Garden. We took Simon. And just to show how "baby friendly" this place is during the day, you should have seen the 15 strollers and all the kids running and dancing (there is a dance floor). The photographic proof is in the party that was taking place one table over. Look closely, it's a first birthday! Am I getting an idea for next year? Maybe.
Svetlana and Marko had lots of fun with Simon. At the end of the day we were wiped. But oh, so much fun to hang out with friends and not think about school/work/the disaster area that was our apartment.
After the Beer Garden, we stopped for a coffee to keep us going for the evening. You know for all the work we didn't do all day.
Next time, I will plan more in advance so everyone can make it...
Svetlana and Marko had lots of fun with Simon. At the end of the day we were wiped. But oh, so much fun to hang out with friends and not think about school/work/the disaster area that was our apartment.
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| Marko testing that Simon really can stand - if you hold him up. |
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| This may be my favorite. |
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| Someone is very interested in the french fries... |
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| Drool face. |
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| It's pictures like this where I can see that I really do still have 10 lobs to go... |
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| Big boy at the table. |
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| Deep in thought. |
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| Watching the big kids play. |
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| Konked out. |
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| Simon's starting to grasp things. :) |
Next time, I will plan more in advance so everyone can make it...
Monday, September 19, 2011
Anonymous
Today has been one of those days where I kind of wish I blogged anonymously. Then I could tell the Internet all about it. Instead Rob gets an earful of venting when I get home. Since I don't want to publicly state it all, the short version is today I got to spend my afternoon dealing with the crap part of teaching that I really really hate. The part that extinguishes any of the growing feeling of "OK, maybe I could stay in academics and teach" completely. The part that reminds me why I stopped wanting to teach 10 years ago. The thing is I don't actually disagree with the problem. I disagree with being notified of it 3 weeks into a semester and the quick fix is to change the curriculum I've been working on for almost a year (and would affect almost 600 students). We're working on a solution. But seriously, I've cursed more today than I have in the past year. Probably not really, but it feels like it.
Today I am STILL dealing with a paperwork issue that should have been resolved in JUNE when I made a special trip in while 37 weeks pregnant to find some documents were missing. They were sent. I am now told they are missing again and the person who can fix it does not return email or phone calls.
Not anonymously, Simon was with me. And it was the first day I was kind of glad he was. BUT due to some miscommunication, the babysitter didn't show, so that was fun... And he went through 3 outfits by 2 o'clock. His current onesie has both poo and pee stains and I just don't care. Because he's not getting another outfit before pajama time. Which is soon.
BUT Simon smiles now. And he laughs. And Ellen down the hall can get him to do almost a real belly laugh. And it's so cute it makes me cry. So despite all the stress, there is good. And I'm kind of most excited that the fall TV season starts tonight.
Today I am STILL dealing with a paperwork issue that should have been resolved in JUNE when I made a special trip in while 37 weeks pregnant to find some documents were missing. They were sent. I am now told they are missing again and the person who can fix it does not return email or phone calls.
Not anonymously, Simon was with me. And it was the first day I was kind of glad he was. BUT due to some miscommunication, the babysitter didn't show, so that was fun... And he went through 3 outfits by 2 o'clock. His current onesie has both poo and pee stains and I just don't care. Because he's not getting another outfit before pajama time. Which is soon.
BUT Simon smiles now. And he laughs. And Ellen down the hall can get him to do almost a real belly laugh. And it's so cute it makes me cry. So despite all the stress, there is good. And I'm kind of most excited that the fall TV season starts tonight.
Monday, September 12, 2011
A Day in the Life: 12th of September
I started blogging four years ago on Wednesday. One of those early, first month I was blogging posts was a rundown of my crazy day. I was thinking today that I should do a play-by-play post and remembered that early one. You can read about that day, I started at 5:15, I'm guessing I went to bed the night before between 10 and midnight. It's funny how my life is so different, yet still very much the same.
I'm going to start this day at midnight, due to no longer sleeping through the night.
Midnight - Go to bed after folding baby laundry and finishing prepping for my class today.
2:ish am - FEED THE BABY
4:54 am - FEED THE BABY
6:15 am - FEED THE BABY
6:20 am - Alarm goes off, it's NPR so I let it play
6:25 am - Put baby back in bassinet and hit snooze so I can sleep 10 more minutes before getting up
7:14 am - Overslept, wake to radio, get up start shower and ask Rob to please change and dress the baby. So glad I laid out clothes and diapers last night.
7:35 - Pump for five minutes so baby has a snack
7:48 am - Leave for CSI with Simon. Only 10 minutes late, but no time for either of us to have breakfast (and I never got around to packing lunch either)
8:05 am - on the 7 train.
8:34 am - on the Express Bus to SI
10:00 am - arrive at the lab where I work, FEED THE BABY drink some water, eat an energy bar
10:10 am - Simon charms the office ladies, I check my mailbox
10:15 am - check email and respond to students, count photocopies for class, random class prep stuff, meet with a student, Anna (a fellow grad student, who has generously agreed to childcare) arrives and I go over Simon's care (diapers, bottle, etc...)
10:55 am - FEED THE BABY
11:10 am - teach my class
1:10 pm - finish class meet with a student, pick up the baby, who is freaking out in the hall, on the way to the office with student to fix a schedule problem.
1:15 pm - give Simon back to Anna so I can sign some papers
1:20 pm - FEED THE BABY who is like OMG I am starving and you never FEED ME
1:50 pm - Simon is asleep. Eat an energy bar, drink some water. Answer student emails, work on online class prep.
2:10 pm - meet with Patty
2:15 pm - meet with another student
2:30 pm - head to office to fix more scheduling things.
2:45 pm - BABY woke up and OMG you left me alone and I don't know where I am and I am going to FREAK OUT
2:50 pm - FEED THE BABY
3:00 pm - Simon is happy, start working on the three things I MUST finish before leaving (two of them are sending two sentence emails...)
3:30 pm - Simon has had ENOUGH of work today. Meet with Naomi.
3:50 pm - Finish last email. Pack up.
4:00 pm - leave the lab
4:15 pm - Express Bus back to Manhattan, think about reading for class on Wednesday, take a nap instead.
5:15 pm - On the 7 train
5:48 pm - Arrive home and OMG I woke up and I don't care that you are wearing me in the carrier I don't know where I am and am going to FREAK OUT, and I'm really wet and I think you forgot to feed me today.
5:50 pm - change the baby
5:53 om - FEED THE BABy
6:00 pm - ask Rob to please turn on the US Open because I'm still FEEDING THE BABY
6:10 pm - hand the baby to the Daddy and eat a pudding cup
6:50 pm - FEED THE BABY
7:00 pm - Pour a glass of wine, and blog, the veggie lasagna (thank you Tammy!) is almost done.
7:02 pm - Simon FREAKS OUT again. Rob has him, he's not wet, dirty, or hungry. Rob plays his least favorite game "Cry Until Your Tired" Simon lost around 7:20. He sleeps until he'll be ready to eat again soon.
Kind of ready for bed now. The rest of the night will include eating dinner, watching tennis, watching Bachelorpad #guiltypleasure, and bed by 10:30 - I hope. And of course there will be more FEEDING THE BABY.
Tomorrow we go to the doctor for our 2 month shots.
*Simon travels in the Ergo carrier on these trips. He pretty much sleeps the entire time. I can feed him in it if I need to.
*I do NOT eat enough on CSI days. Kind of no time, but I'm working on it. Usually if I pack something I eat it, but it might take a couple of hours. The second energy bar today actually took two "sessions"
I'm going to start this day at midnight, due to no longer sleeping through the night.
Midnight - Go to bed after folding baby laundry and finishing prepping for my class today.
2:ish am - FEED THE BABY
4:54 am - FEED THE BABY
6:15 am - FEED THE BABY
6:20 am - Alarm goes off, it's NPR so I let it play
6:25 am - Put baby back in bassinet and hit snooze so I can sleep 10 more minutes before getting up
7:14 am - Overslept, wake to radio, get up start shower and ask Rob to please change and dress the baby. So glad I laid out clothes and diapers last night.
7:35 - Pump for five minutes so baby has a snack
7:48 am - Leave for CSI with Simon. Only 10 minutes late, but no time for either of us to have breakfast (and I never got around to packing lunch either)
8:05 am - on the 7 train.
8:34 am - on the Express Bus to SI
10:00 am - arrive at the lab where I work, FEED THE BABY drink some water, eat an energy bar
10:10 am - Simon charms the office ladies, I check my mailbox
10:15 am - check email and respond to students, count photocopies for class, random class prep stuff, meet with a student, Anna (a fellow grad student, who has generously agreed to childcare) arrives and I go over Simon's care (diapers, bottle, etc...)
10:55 am - FEED THE BABY
11:10 am - teach my class
1:10 pm - finish class meet with a student, pick up the baby, who is freaking out in the hall, on the way to the office with student to fix a schedule problem.
1:15 pm - give Simon back to Anna so I can sign some papers
1:20 pm - FEED THE BABY who is like OMG I am starving and you never FEED ME
1:50 pm - Simon is asleep. Eat an energy bar, drink some water. Answer student emails, work on online class prep.
2:10 pm - meet with Patty
2:15 pm - meet with another student
2:30 pm - head to office to fix more scheduling things.
2:45 pm - BABY woke up and OMG you left me alone and I don't know where I am and I am going to FREAK OUT
2:50 pm - FEED THE BABY
3:00 pm - Simon is happy, start working on the three things I MUST finish before leaving (two of them are sending two sentence emails...)
3:30 pm - Simon has had ENOUGH of work today. Meet with Naomi.
3:50 pm - Finish last email. Pack up.
4:00 pm - leave the lab
4:15 pm - Express Bus back to Manhattan, think about reading for class on Wednesday, take a nap instead.
5:15 pm - On the 7 train
5:48 pm - Arrive home and OMG I woke up and I don't care that you are wearing me in the carrier I don't know where I am and am going to FREAK OUT, and I'm really wet and I think you forgot to feed me today.
5:50 pm - change the baby
5:53 om - FEED THE BABy
6:00 pm - ask Rob to please turn on the US Open because I'm still FEEDING THE BABY
6:10 pm - hand the baby to the Daddy and eat a pudding cup
6:50 pm - FEED THE BABY
7:00 pm - Pour a glass of wine, and blog, the veggie lasagna (thank you Tammy!) is almost done.
7:02 pm - Simon FREAKS OUT again. Rob has him, he's not wet, dirty, or hungry. Rob plays his least favorite game "Cry Until Your Tired" Simon lost around 7:20. He sleeps until he'll be ready to eat again soon.
Kind of ready for bed now. The rest of the night will include eating dinner, watching tennis, watching Bachelorpad #guiltypleasure, and bed by 10:30 - I hope. And of course there will be more FEEDING THE BABY.
Tomorrow we go to the doctor for our 2 month shots.
*Simon travels in the Ergo carrier on these trips. He pretty much sleeps the entire time. I can feed him in it if I need to.
*I do NOT eat enough on CSI days. Kind of no time, but I'm working on it. Usually if I pack something I eat it, but it might take a couple of hours. The second energy bar today actually took two "sessions"
Sunday, April 24, 2011
NOLA: in pictures
New Orleans: April 7-12, AERA and vactaion
Carriage ride to cemetery and through French Quarter
 |
| at the conference with my poster |
 |
| daily dose of fried and powdered sugar |
 |
| beignets - Cafe DuMonde |
 |
| resting at Audubon Park |
 |
| Rookery at the Park |
Monday, April 18, 2011
Whirlwind
March 30 saw my departure to Montreal for four days. I went for a conference and felt my poster went over well. I heard some interesting papers. It was also cold and exhausting. Late nights and early mornings. I needed my afternoon naps! Since I was there with school people, we did manage to get a lot of school work done. Which is good, because I have done almost nothing since then. I got home and had one day for rest and recovery, two full days of school, and one day for running errands that desperately needed to be done (and the laundry so I could repack). I have no pictures from this trip as I forgot to have one taken in front of the poster, and there wasn't much else that we did - although we did take a couple of hours to walk around the old city before leaving.
April 7 saw my departure to New Orleans for another conference. This one longer and doubled as a vacation and it was somewhere WARM! I wore shorts. The weather forecast said temperatures in the 80s, but I had honestly forgotten what that feels like. This conference was ok, it was a different group of researchers so I got the feeling that people weren't as interested in what I was doing here as they were in Montreal. But that was ok, because I GOT TO WEAR SHORTS! Not to the conference, but outside. Thank you Mom for buying me spring maternity clothes, I would have been miserable in jeans the whole time. We walked around the French Quarter and ate lots of fried food. Everything in New Orleans seems to be fried. I came home and really needed a salad. The first two days were just Mom and I. Then Chip and Rob came down to join us. Rob and I stayed two extra days, and just having time where we weren't thinking about work or school was great. It was like a real vacation or something. I did "school" going to the conference, but we had our free time. We took a carriage ride through the city and went to the cemetery and rod the St. Charles Street trolley through the garden district. Rob and I also spent a morning walking through Audubon Park. And we spent some time just hanging out at the hotel. Oh, the life on vacation - I feel like I need another one...
I was home for three days (two for school, one for errands, luckily I was well rested) and headed to Indiana on the 16 for my baby shower. I am still here and so grateful to everyone who came.
Picture posts to come when I get home to my camera cord. And it is FINALLY SPRING BREAK, meaning once I get home I get to stay there for SIX DAYS with no classes or teaching. I am so excited.
Oh, and traveling 3 times in 3 weeks is CRAZY, especially while pregnant, but both Simon and I are holding up.
 |
| day 1 - in the French Quarter |
 |
| 28 weeks pregnant - at lunch outside somewhere |
I was home for three days (two for school, one for errands, luckily I was well rested) and headed to Indiana on the 16 for my baby shower. I am still here and so grateful to everyone who came.
Picture posts to come when I get home to my camera cord. And it is FINALLY SPRING BREAK, meaning once I get home I get to stay there for SIX DAYS with no classes or teaching. I am so excited.
Oh, and traveling 3 times in 3 weeks is CRAZY, especially while pregnant, but both Simon and I are holding up.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Oh, Blog How I Miss You
I have so many partially written posts in my head, and not enough time to take pictures and write them. I am in crunch time at school. Here is a quick run-down of things that deserve their own posts that may or may not ever get written.
- We have a crib! Bought at Ikea from the "As Is" section for $50. I am proud of our thriftyness. We also picked up the dresser that was mine from about age 12 from some friends who we lent it to when we got married and didn't need to. Chance had it that they were given a new/old dresser from another friend who was moving right around the time we needed it back. I lined the drawers with new paper. It smells nice.
- We have the sweetest crib bedding, thanks to Aunt Emily. I am hoping once we get the mattress in it fits right.
- I am presenting my research at a conference in Montreal in two weeks. I haven't finished the poster yet. I need to work on this.
- I turned in what may be the worst paper of my life for a class, but at least it's done.
- I'm teaching my History of Pyschology class next week. A two hour seminar that really needs to get started.
- I am 24 weeks and some change now. We have hit viability! (But please stay inside for awhile longer.) I have another ultrasound next week WOO! And have switched to twice monthly appointments.
- Today is St. Patrick's Day. New Yorkers celebrate this holiday in style. Or loudly. Or disorderly. It made for an interesting walk.
Until I have more time...
- We have a crib! Bought at Ikea from the "As Is" section for $50. I am proud of our thriftyness. We also picked up the dresser that was mine from about age 12 from some friends who we lent it to when we got married and didn't need to. Chance had it that they were given a new/old dresser from another friend who was moving right around the time we needed it back. I lined the drawers with new paper. It smells nice.
- We have the sweetest crib bedding, thanks to Aunt Emily. I am hoping once we get the mattress in it fits right.
- I am presenting my research at a conference in Montreal in two weeks. I haven't finished the poster yet. I need to work on this.
- I turned in what may be the worst paper of my life for a class, but at least it's done.
- I'm teaching my History of Pyschology class next week. A two hour seminar that really needs to get started.
- I am 24 weeks and some change now. We have hit viability! (But please stay inside for awhile longer.) I have another ultrasound next week WOO! And have switched to twice monthly appointments.
- Today is St. Patrick's Day. New Yorkers celebrate this holiday in style. Or loudly. Or disorderly. It made for an interesting walk.
Until I have more time...
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Snowbound
I haven't blogged much this month. I blame it on the snow. We have had snow approximately every three days. Which, since I am still on school break and can do my research from home, means I don't really leave the apartment all that much. I do try and leave at least every other day for some errand or other, or just to take a quick trip to Manhattan to meet Rob for his lunch or afternoon break.
We are supposed to get up to 10 inches over night tonight. Yesterday the snow was pretty with giant flakes falling softly. This morning, and now afternoon, the snow is still falling heavily. Our balcony has about half an inch right now and since it is covered I can only imagine what the street is like. I have a few goals for today, and one of those is to venture out (a short distance) and I am hoping that the snow is still pretty in the neighborhood. Pictures will come. That is if I mange to accomplish my goals today.
The one that is for sure. I WILL win the battle against the dishes. Our kitchen has become my own war zone. You see, I really really hate to do the dishes. So I usually don't. Rob is awesome like that in that he is in charge of most kitchen cleaning. BUT, since I've been home this month and only partially working, really there is no excuse for me NOT to do them. It really started last week. There was one pan that needed to cool. Then then next day it was a different pan and some cups. Then the next day, my lunch dishes. You get the picture. We are dirtying more than we are cleaning. And by we I kind of mean I. Again with the being home for all meals (and baby means no more meal skipping.) So, sometime in the last week it's gotten out of control. And each day one of us is washing all the dishes that will fit in the drying rack on the towel on the counter. But we never seem to quite get all of them. And then there is the problem of eating more. But TODAY, today I am finally going to win this battle. I did all but a few. And as soon as I finish my lunch, I am putting those away and will finish the job. And then I will have won the battle of the dishes. And this will remind me for at least a couple of weeks not to let it get out of hand. That is goal 1 for today. And there are no pictures because it is kind of embarrassing.
Goal 2 for the day is to finish coding the next two moderators for my research. I haven't blogged much about school. But I am moving along on my, what is officially the Second Year Research Project (because it is theorized to be mostly conducted during the second year of the grad program) but what will effectively become my (enroute) Master's Thesis. (Mom, feel free to critique the grammatical accuracy of this sentence, I know it's a mess.) I am conducting a meta-analysis looking at how video game play affects information processing, specifically visuo-spatial and attention. A meta-analysis is like a literature review with statistics. I am hoping that my preliminary conclusions, that video game play (VGP) can have a POSITIVE impact on certain skills will hold up. This would give me something nice to add to the literature that says VGP and media are ruining the next generation.
I am lucky that this project is moving. I think it will actually be finished during my second year. And this will definitely help me progress quickly through my PhD program and that is my plan. Baby will not slow me down. Much. I hope. I am presenting a poster for this meta-analysis at two conferences this spring. At SRCD in Montreal in March and at AERA in New Orleans in April. What this really means is I have about 6 weeks to finish the analysis so that I can get the poster done in time. Yikes! Luckily I am moving along. And I was the happy recipient of a grant this year which is paying for my travel and allowing me to purchase my very own copy of the statistics software we use. It is a specialized software and as these things go not cheap. I got a student discount and now have to run parallels so that I have Windows on a Mac. But I can work from home. Which I have been doing all month. Probably not quite as much as I should. But an hour or two a day looking at a ginormous spreadsheet does add up. So today Goal 2 is to go through two more columns for the analysis. I will spare you the detailed description of that.
Goal three is to venture out after Goal 1 is completed to accomplish Goal 2 at the cafe down the block.
Part of goal three will also be to take some pictures along the way. This way I can get a Wordless Wednesday in to accompany this post. I think this may be the most in depth writing on mundane things that don't matter that I have written to date.
I will post a baby update with new belly pic this week.
We are supposed to get up to 10 inches over night tonight. Yesterday the snow was pretty with giant flakes falling softly. This morning, and now afternoon, the snow is still falling heavily. Our balcony has about half an inch right now and since it is covered I can only imagine what the street is like. I have a few goals for today, and one of those is to venture out (a short distance) and I am hoping that the snow is still pretty in the neighborhood. Pictures will come. That is if I mange to accomplish my goals today.
The one that is for sure. I WILL win the battle against the dishes. Our kitchen has become my own war zone. You see, I really really hate to do the dishes. So I usually don't. Rob is awesome like that in that he is in charge of most kitchen cleaning. BUT, since I've been home this month and only partially working, really there is no excuse for me NOT to do them. It really started last week. There was one pan that needed to cool. Then then next day it was a different pan and some cups. Then the next day, my lunch dishes. You get the picture. We are dirtying more than we are cleaning. And by we I kind of mean I. Again with the being home for all meals (and baby means no more meal skipping.) So, sometime in the last week it's gotten out of control. And each day one of us is washing all the dishes that will fit in the drying rack on the towel on the counter. But we never seem to quite get all of them. And then there is the problem of eating more. But TODAY, today I am finally going to win this battle. I did all but a few. And as soon as I finish my lunch, I am putting those away and will finish the job. And then I will have won the battle of the dishes. And this will remind me for at least a couple of weeks not to let it get out of hand. That is goal 1 for today. And there are no pictures because it is kind of embarrassing.
Goal 2 for the day is to finish coding the next two moderators for my research. I haven't blogged much about school. But I am moving along on my, what is officially the Second Year Research Project (because it is theorized to be mostly conducted during the second year of the grad program) but what will effectively become my (enroute) Master's Thesis. (Mom, feel free to critique the grammatical accuracy of this sentence, I know it's a mess.) I am conducting a meta-analysis looking at how video game play affects information processing, specifically visuo-spatial and attention. A meta-analysis is like a literature review with statistics. I am hoping that my preliminary conclusions, that video game play (VGP) can have a POSITIVE impact on certain skills will hold up. This would give me something nice to add to the literature that says VGP and media are ruining the next generation.
I am lucky that this project is moving. I think it will actually be finished during my second year. And this will definitely help me progress quickly through my PhD program and that is my plan. Baby will not slow me down. Much. I hope. I am presenting a poster for this meta-analysis at two conferences this spring. At SRCD in Montreal in March and at AERA in New Orleans in April. What this really means is I have about 6 weeks to finish the analysis so that I can get the poster done in time. Yikes! Luckily I am moving along. And I was the happy recipient of a grant this year which is paying for my travel and allowing me to purchase my very own copy of the statistics software we use. It is a specialized software and as these things go not cheap. I got a student discount and now have to run parallels so that I have Windows on a Mac. But I can work from home. Which I have been doing all month. Probably not quite as much as I should. But an hour or two a day looking at a ginormous spreadsheet does add up. So today Goal 2 is to go through two more columns for the analysis. I will spare you the detailed description of that.
Goal three is to venture out after Goal 1 is completed to accomplish Goal 2 at the cafe down the block.
Part of goal three will also be to take some pictures along the way. This way I can get a Wordless Wednesday in to accompany this post. I think this may be the most in depth writing on mundane things that don't matter that I have written to date.
I will post a baby update with new belly pic this week.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday Morning
On Monday mornings I have quite the commute.
8:30am - 7 train
8:50am - N or Q train
9:10am - R train
9:35am - arrive at Whitehall station
9:45am - the best part of the trip...
...the Staten Island Ferry. On a nice day I stand or sit on the back deck and drink my coffee and do a crossword or read. It's relaxing. And almost makes the rest of it worth it.
10:15am - arrive at St. George Ferry Terminal
10:15am - take the S62 bus to CSI
10:50am - the Loop Bus to the side of campus.
ALT: 10:35am - take the CSI shuttle to campus.
11:00am - arrive at the lab.
8:30am - 7 train
8:50am - N or Q train
9:10am - R train
9:35am - arrive at Whitehall station
9:45am - the best part of the trip...
 |
| Staten Island Ferry |
10:15am - arrive at St. George Ferry Terminal
10:15am - take the S62 bus to CSI
10:50am - the Loop Bus to the side of campus.
ALT: 10:35am - take the CSI shuttle to campus.
11:00am - arrive at the lab.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Second Year
**Updated: I passed The Test. I will get feedback next week, but it doesn't matter, because I PASSED!
Well, I am officially a second year PhD student. I didn't take a first day of school picture this year. But maybe I'll take a first day of teaching picture on Monday. We'll see.
My first classes were Thursday. Stats, all day. I like stats, but four hours in a darkened room is A LOT. The lights are turned down so we can better see the projector, but it makes me a little dizzy, then staring at a bright screen in front of me. I also had my first writing class, it's a workshop/seminar that I think is going to be really helpful. I enjoyed talking about some different issues in academic writing and also defining what we mean by academic writing. Really boring stuff right?
I already have homework, and I get the feeling that while the first year was heavy on reading (insane amounts) the second year is going to be heavy on writing. I'm just hoping for less stressful than last year. I also start teaching on Monday. I should probably finish my syllabus. I just can't quite seem to get in the mood to do it. A friend taught her first class on Friday and enjoyed it. So I'm hoping it will be a little fun. It's so strange to be back in school already again. We've had such a great summer. But the weather felt like fall for a couple of days last week. It will be sweater and cider weather soon.
I'm still waiting to find out how I did on THE TEST. Results come in on Tuesday.
Well, I am officially a second year PhD student. I didn't take a first day of school picture this year. But maybe I'll take a first day of teaching picture on Monday. We'll see.
My first classes were Thursday. Stats, all day. I like stats, but four hours in a darkened room is A LOT. The lights are turned down so we can better see the projector, but it makes me a little dizzy, then staring at a bright screen in front of me. I also had my first writing class, it's a workshop/seminar that I think is going to be really helpful. I enjoyed talking about some different issues in academic writing and also defining what we mean by academic writing. Really boring stuff right?
I already have homework, and I get the feeling that while the first year was heavy on reading (insane amounts) the second year is going to be heavy on writing. I'm just hoping for less stressful than last year. I also start teaching on Monday. I should probably finish my syllabus. I just can't quite seem to get in the mood to do it. A friend taught her first class on Friday and enjoyed it. So I'm hoping it will be a little fun. It's so strange to be back in school already again. We've had such a great summer. But the weather felt like fall for a couple of days last week. It will be sweater and cider weather soon.
I'm still waiting to find out how I did on THE TEST. Results come in on Tuesday.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Test
Last Thursday I took THE TEST. Specifically my first qualifying exam that I need to pass to advance through my graduate program.
The program is set up with several milestones.
Year 1 - required coursework
Summer - THE TEST
Year 2 - required and elective coursework
46 credits - advance to level 2
Year 3/4 - elective coursework
60 credits - THE TEST part 2 (Second Doctoral Exam)
Advance to candidacy (level 3)
Year 4+ - Defend Dissertation Proposal
Do Dissertation
Defend Dissertation
Get PhD.
The purpose of the written exam (or so they say) is to show off what we know. The exam is three hours. We are given three questions and we have to answer two of them. Seems easy enough, except that we are expected to cite, and can't bring in any notes or reference material. It is stressful. But goes back to the early days of the Academy and exams were given. And no notes so there is no way of cheating. (although since we don't know the questions...) How do we begin to study for this kind of a test. We were given a list of practice questions and formed a study group and began discussing some of the papers we covered in class. It was working well. I wrote practice answers for all 6 six the practice questions and read up on the areas I felt were a little weak. The cohort above ours said their exam questions came from the practice questions. I fretted and worried and read and crammed. Wednesday, I crashed. I was just too tired and my brain to fried to take in anymore. So I went home early, cooked a nice dinner and watched Castle reruns with Rob. We love that show.
So back to Thursday TEST day. I got there early. Go me. Armed with Lara bars, almonds and water. We entered the exam room and together went through the set-up procedures and exam rules. I opened my envelope and read the questions. The questions. Oh the questions. One was close to a couple of the practice questions. One I was wholly unprepared for and did not look at again. And one was unfamiliar, but I feel I had read enough to answer. I wrote for an hour, and finished my first essay. Then I took a restroom break. I wrote for another hour for my second essay and took another break. I still had an hour, so I re-read, edited and expanded my answers. They were each just over two pages. I hope it is enough.
The worst part for me was that everyone had to turn in the answers simultaneously, so I couldn't leave when I was done. And because there were no outside materials allowed I couldn't read or do anything else either. That was rough. I didn't want to keep reading and thinking about my answers in fear of making them worse and over thinking. So I sat. Then we turned in the essays. I find out if I passed on the 31st. I am feeling pretty good. One answer I know was good, the other was more ok, but I think acceptable. We will find out soon.
They say the purpose is so we can show off what we know and it is not mean to be overly difficult. I don't feel so much that I was able to show off, I feel more like I coped. But for me, much of the first year of grad school was coping.
In one moment of despair while studying, I started to question myself and why I am putting myself through this process. It really is a process like no other, one that you can not fully understand until you go through it or live with someone who is going through it. Why am I doing this to myself. and as I was thinking about what it is that I want in my life, and the kind of work I would like to do, I thought about the work that makes me truly happy. And it is the work I've done with content and curriculum research. In order to continue in this field, I do need a higher degree. In order to advance to a director position I do need a PhD. So I continue the process. (Of course I had to choose a job that first requires this) But I did pass my first year. I learned and advanced my scholarship. I am looking forward to continuing my research. The coursework and exams are a part of that. So I endure. But the worst is behind me, or so they say.
My first day of class is Thursday. Four hours of Statistics. Tuesday I will find out about the TEST. Until then I am trying not to think about it.
Fall Schedule
Tuesday 9:30 - 2nd Year Research Seminar
Tuesday 11:00 - Lunchtime Lecture Series
Tuesday 2:00 - Parent Child Relationships
Thursday 9:30 and 2:00 - Statistics
Thursday 4:15 - Professional Development, Academic Writing
Goals for year 2 - positive outlook, advance research, improve writing and scholarship.
The program is set up with several milestones.
Year 1 - required coursework
Summer - THE TEST
Year 2 - required and elective coursework
46 credits - advance to level 2
Year 3/4 - elective coursework
60 credits - THE TEST part 2 (Second Doctoral Exam)
Advance to candidacy (level 3)
Year 4+ - Defend Dissertation Proposal
Do Dissertation
Defend Dissertation
Get PhD.
The purpose of the written exam (or so they say) is to show off what we know. The exam is three hours. We are given three questions and we have to answer two of them. Seems easy enough, except that we are expected to cite, and can't bring in any notes or reference material. It is stressful. But goes back to the early days of the Academy and exams were given. And no notes so there is no way of cheating. (although since we don't know the questions...) How do we begin to study for this kind of a test. We were given a list of practice questions and formed a study group and began discussing some of the papers we covered in class. It was working well. I wrote practice answers for all 6 six the practice questions and read up on the areas I felt were a little weak. The cohort above ours said their exam questions came from the practice questions. I fretted and worried and read and crammed. Wednesday, I crashed. I was just too tired and my brain to fried to take in anymore. So I went home early, cooked a nice dinner and watched Castle reruns with Rob. We love that show.
So back to Thursday TEST day. I got there early. Go me. Armed with Lara bars, almonds and water. We entered the exam room and together went through the set-up procedures and exam rules. I opened my envelope and read the questions. The questions. Oh the questions. One was close to a couple of the practice questions. One I was wholly unprepared for and did not look at again. And one was unfamiliar, but I feel I had read enough to answer. I wrote for an hour, and finished my first essay. Then I took a restroom break. I wrote for another hour for my second essay and took another break. I still had an hour, so I re-read, edited and expanded my answers. They were each just over two pages. I hope it is enough.
The worst part for me was that everyone had to turn in the answers simultaneously, so I couldn't leave when I was done. And because there were no outside materials allowed I couldn't read or do anything else either. That was rough. I didn't want to keep reading and thinking about my answers in fear of making them worse and over thinking. So I sat. Then we turned in the essays. I find out if I passed on the 31st. I am feeling pretty good. One answer I know was good, the other was more ok, but I think acceptable. We will find out soon.
They say the purpose is so we can show off what we know and it is not mean to be overly difficult. I don't feel so much that I was able to show off, I feel more like I coped. But for me, much of the first year of grad school was coping.
In one moment of despair while studying, I started to question myself and why I am putting myself through this process. It really is a process like no other, one that you can not fully understand until you go through it or live with someone who is going through it. Why am I doing this to myself. and as I was thinking about what it is that I want in my life, and the kind of work I would like to do, I thought about the work that makes me truly happy. And it is the work I've done with content and curriculum research. In order to continue in this field, I do need a higher degree. In order to advance to a director position I do need a PhD. So I continue the process. (Of course I had to choose a job that first requires this) But I did pass my first year. I learned and advanced my scholarship. I am looking forward to continuing my research. The coursework and exams are a part of that. So I endure. But the worst is behind me, or so they say.
My first day of class is Thursday. Four hours of Statistics. Tuesday I will find out about the TEST. Until then I am trying not to think about it.
Fall Schedule
Tuesday 9:30 - 2nd Year Research Seminar
Tuesday 11:00 - Lunchtime Lecture Series
Tuesday 2:00 - Parent Child Relationships
Thursday 9:30 and 2:00 - Statistics
Thursday 4:15 - Professional Development, Academic Writing
Goals for year 2 - positive outlook, advance research, improve writing and scholarship.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Washington DC
I went to DC last weekend to visit my Mom who was there for a conference. We went to lots of museums and geeky stuff that we totally enjoyed and both Rob and Chip were happy we did together so we never have to make them come along.We went to the Library of Congress. I am now thinking up relevant research so that I can get a library card and access the reading rooms. Getting a PhD allows me to do this and I need to exploit it while I can.
We went to the Newseum which Mom thought was great as a history teacher and I spent too much time reading. This is not the place to go if you don't like to read. But the view from the promenade was pretty cool.
The biggest surprise / really cool thing was this photo:
The Mountain Eagle is the newspaper from Letcher County Kentucky where my Grandma Frazier grew up. She still subscribes and gets a stack of papers every week / month - I don't know how often they come. But seriously, who knew that this small town paper (that publishes notes from readers to other readers as a mini-classified section) would be featured at a major museum.
We walked a lot, talked a lot, and ate a lot. Now if my library book wouldn't have been lost in the hotel (I'm pretty sure it got tangled in the bedding when the sheets were changed) the weekend would have been pretty close to perfect.
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