Life can be a roller-coaster sometimes.  It's really lovely.  Bad things have happened to me a lot this term, but not really bad things.  Disappointing things have happened.  But EVERY time, something awesome comes along and completely changes my outlook.  Ultimately, everything is wonderful. I'm happy.  I am in love.  I have improved myself this term.

Ben and I were at Applebees for lunch. We were talking about all sorts of things when he said, “So what are your plans for the weekend?” 

“I’m not really sure yet, honestly.  Why?”

“Well, I would hope I get to see you at some point.” 

“Do you have magical extra time this weekend I didn’t know about?”

“Well, no.  I don’t have any extra time. But I was thinking.  Depending on how you count…”

“Oh!  Saturday!  We’ve been doing this for three months, haven’t we?”

“Snow White and the Huntsman comes out Friday.  We could grab dinner and a movie then find some bowling in Flint.”

Seriously.  How did this happen? We weren’t even looking for anything at all when we popped into each other’s lives.  Here’s to being happy, whether it lasts or not. J

more stuff!!

Finished my first week of work!  I didn't update on Wednesday night because I had a friend over until pretty late and was tired.  Thanks to Brandon Reynolds for hanging out and drinking wine with me!  The middle of that night was when I realized that I had a seriously problematic bladder infection. :(  Gross, I know, but I ended up cutting out of work early on Thursday and going to the doctor for much-needed antibiotics.  As soon as I picked them up from the local pharmacy, I drank a glass of cranberry juice and two glasses of water and went to bed.  Slept about 11 hours and woke up feeling slightly better. Obviously, more antibiotics and fluids have been involved since then.  I'm feeling a bit better.

Today, I got in around 7am and left just after 2.  I brought Mom her hummus.  I stopped for a delicious dinner at Grill of India with Ben before heading the rest of the way home.  Since I got back here to Kimball, I've been cleaning and organizing my old room.  The parental units wanted their guest bedroom back.  Oh, well.  I know where I'm not welcome. :P

I'm exhausted, so I'm thinking I'm going to be the lamest college student ever and turn in before midnight on a Friday night.  <3

Work - Day 2

Here I am, updating regularly.  Wtf?

Today, I got some serious work done on my thesis.  I turned in my first chapter and made some headway on the appendices.  I had to go to security this morning to get badge clearance, but by the end of the day, my time badge worked and everything!  I still can't get onto the internet at all and I have no training account, but overall, it's not too bad for the second day back.

Being poor is rough, but I managed to find some chicken and rice soup in my trunk.  I ate half of that and a bag of popcorn, put the leftovers in the fridge for lunch tomorrow, and started watching Deep Space Nine.  Then Chelcee asked if I was up for ice cream, so we went to the store and bought a carton of Rocky Road.  It was delicious. :)  Too poor for real food, but I can afford some ice cream, damn it.

Going to a concert in Kalamazoo on Saturday.  I guess there is this whole movement of local shows in people's basements.  Neal asked me if I was interested yesterday and it sounded like a plan to me. :)

Spent a lot of time talking to Ben today.  I'm going to snag dinner with him on Friday between when he gets out of work and when he has to be at the Masonic Temple for his play.  Heading home this weekend to clean up my room before the show in Kzoo.

Also, starting to plan a potential trip to visit colleges in which I am interested for grad school.  I picked my top ten Ph.D. programs and decided I could hit at least 7 of them in a week if I took off the week of 4th of July.  Everything is still up in the air, but I think it would be a blast.

Life is good. :)

First day back to work

Today was my first day back to Perrigo for the term. As always, it was a fiasco.  I have no computer access, my badge still doesn't work, and I managed to clock in and out without the system recognizing who I was. Sam left literally almost nothing in the pantry and the refrigerator.  Luckily, I always have some canned goods and some ramen in my car, or my broke ass would be SOL.

Life is pretty good.  The internet still sucks here, but what can you do?  I'm planning to take the GRE, the PCAT, and the Chemistry Subject Test this term while I'm writing my thesis.  Should be a good time.

Chelcee is moving back over here tonight.  I was hopeful that she would show up in time to catch the 7pm showing of The Hunger Games with me at the Regent, but this seems unlikely.  My room is still bare, waiting for me to get the rest of my things from home this weekend.

Oh!  Neal came over to Plant 1 to have lunch with me today.  That was pleasant.  Everyone seemed happy to see me again.  I've already been invited to the bar Thursday night and to a concert on Saturday night.  I had almost forgotten how much more awesome the west side of the state is than the middle and the east side.

Since I last blogged, I finished my finals, acquired a key to Ben's house, moved over here, saw three plays, and managed to spend about $100 along the way.  Life is good except the money thing.  Though they don't read this blog, I would like to extend my thanks to Mary Paige Rieffel, Benjamin Segal, and Elizabeth Gellis for putting on such lovely performances when I went to see their shows.  You guys were fantastic and it was a privilege to be in your audience.  I'm looking forward to seeing where each of them is going next.  :)

It was so nice and warm for the last two weeks.  I'm sad that couldn't last and we had to have it cool down.  I guess that cuts my air conditioning costs, though.

Thanks for reading,
Christina

Updates

No one reads this, but I would like to say some things, I guess.

Joe and I broke up on Feb 24 and I think that's going well between us.  For once, as Swindle jokes, I managed to have a civil breakup with someone before I found someone new.  Har, har.  He and I have been doing the "friends" thing and it's been working remarkably well.  There are good days and bad days, but he seems happy with Michele.

I guess on that note, I've been seeing someone for a couple weeks now. I've finally learned to be less controlling and more relaxed about the world.  I know this probably can't work, but he makes me happy and I seem to make him happy and we are going to keep spending time together as long as that is the case. I feel this immense sense of freedom and happiness.  I hate to say it coincides with not being in a relationship anymore, but it's kind of true.  Spending time with my new friend makes me feel like I'm floating on air, though.  It's insane how much I enjoy his company.

Just ran into Jeremy for the first time in a long time.  I don't know if he still reads this, but he looks fantastic and it still makes me cringe to think of how incredibly awful I was to him.  Hi Jem!  If you are reading this, update SFT

I've been technically living at home this term, but final exams are this weekend, so I'm all ready to move back to Allegan and start work on Monday.  Having money again will be superb.  Having free drugs again will also be superb.

Other new things!  I got a nook color over the weekend.  My old nook was broken and I've been eyeing this one.  I'm very happy with it and it came with a free copy of The Hunger Games, which, on the first chapter, I'm not enjoying as much as I had hoped I would.  I've been enjoying being 21 this month with a few parties, a bit of smoking, and a fantastic St. Patrick's Day RHPS cast reunion.  I was supposed to go home with my friend Danielle, but ended up not making it. :-(

Overall, life is good.  Exams are going to be a stressful thing this week, but I've been pretty chill about life lately.  If you're wondering, no illegal drugs for me, though I guess I've been around them more.  At least there is one life decision my mother can be proud of me making, eh?

Alright, I guess I will stop putting off my senior seminar reading now.  Thanks for taking an interest.

General Update, Plea to GLBT Celebrities, and Ramblings of an Insomniac

I need to start going to bed sooner.

So, last month, Zachary Quinto came out as gay.  Downside:  my chances of romantic encounters with Sylar are officially ruined forever unless I have a sex change.  Seems unlikely.  Upside: new person to put on our list of unattainable celebrities for mid-term Coffee and Conversations event for Allies.  Lady Gaga, Ellen Degeneres, and John Barrowman have yet to respond.  Of course, if any of them read this post, you are all welcome any time.  In fact, I'll buy your coffee and give you all the money I happen to have at the time and donate my next paycheck to a charity of your choice.  No problem.

Seriously, though.  Less Star Trek and more sleeping are on my to-do list.  Trying to work 7-3 tomorrow before heading to Rochester for a nice dinner date, then going to the Puscifer concert on Saturday.

I haven't posted in forever.  General update:  Thesis is going moderately well.  National novel writing month has phailed with a "ph" and Christmas is rapidly approaching and threatening my bank account, which is already starting to border on empty.  Thank God tomorrow is pay day.  It's freezing in Allegan, MI, I'm very allergic to my roommate's cats, and I have been trying my best not to hold a grudge against an individual who has done me some wrongs today.  Life is wonderful.  I'm healthy, I live well and in an advanced society, and I have everything I need to succeed.  Makes me want to help others.  Speaking of which, I'm trying to find some times I can volunteer at the United Way this term, but their hours tend to be the times I am at work.  Maybe next term when I don't have a looming thesis.

Goodnight.

Sleep is for the Weak

It is 1:20 am as I type this.  "Why are you up this late on a Tuesday night / Wednesday morning when I have work in the morning?" you ask.  Well let me tell you.

It is because I am what we call a "procrastinator".  This practice frequently results in all-nighters, but this particular instance may be my most incredible feat yet.  I am working to finish three lab reports tonight.  Let's enjoy a short Q&A session that should cover the basic FAQs of the procrastination scenario.

When is it due?
Well, the first of these reports was due in August of 2010. 

Haha, so what happened to that?
I got an incomplete in the class.

So when is it due now?
That extended my deadline to turn them in until the end of last term, at which point my grade would have rolled into F if my professor hadn't graciously awarded me an extension on THAT deadline as well.

When will the grade roll over?
It will absolutely become an F with no chance to get it changed on July 1.  My professor has given me until June 15 to turn in the reports for her to grade before that time.

Wait, June 15?  That's today, isn't it?
Why yes.  Yes it is.  You are quite an astute individual.

Why the hell didn't you do it in the first place?
I had convinced myself that I had a lot of shit going on in my life at the time.  It was a rough term for me in all of my classes, actually.  I did some bad things.  I made poor life choices which resulted in a lot of pain for a lot of people and I let my personal shit get in the way.

Okay, I'll let it go.  Hmm.  What time will they really be done?
I am hoping to have them completely finished with all editing and whatnot done by noon today.  This plan, of course, includes no sleep and spending the first half of my workday focusing on reading my reports for the errors I am likely to make at 1:30 in the morning when I write papers.  I will send out an email to Dr. Seeley at noon with three attachments.  Then I will cross my fingers and pray to every form of god I can find on the internet and do nice things for everyone in the hopes of good karma to come my way.

Why have you spent the last ten minutes typing this instead of working on those papers?  If you could type this much information into a lab report in that time, you would be all set and get some sleep by 3am.
Because I am an old dog and any activity that falls under the heading of "not procrastinating" is a new trick.

Wish me luck.  Pray for me.  Do whatever needs to be done.  Thanks.