Famous Last Words: Busy Busy Busy

This semester has been incredibly busy so far, but the last week and a half have been the busiest by far.  Last Monday and Friday I had tests, Wednesday was the application deadline for a research grant through the honor's college, and I've been working all weekend!  Here pretty soon I will be going back to work for my last shift of the week, and I'm definitely looking forward t it. 

I feel bad, because this week was so incredibly busy that I didn't even have time to do any reading for this class, and thus I was unable to write a story.  I tried to squeeze it in, but I just did not have the time.  I also hate that I haven't been writing down things that have been making me happy lately, which is also due to my hectic schedule.  I really did enjoy it though, and I'm going to try to pick it back up again after this week is finally finished.  I had some awful things happen in my personal life the past two weeks, and I'm eager to put them behind me and try to start fresh next week.  I did get to end last week on a good note, though - I finally got my $4,000 scholarship I've been patiently waiting to receive for like, a year and a half!  That's a huge relief. 

I know I won't get way more extra free time after this week, but I can't wait to have a little break!  I'm really looking forward to going home for thanksgiving, and having a few days off of school.  I'm sure you all are excited for some time off too!  I actually can't believe the holidays are almost upon us... I'm kind of worried about Christmas, because being a college student, I'm basically too broke to get any of my loved ones gifts.  I'm sure they will understand, but it still sucks not being able to give as much as I want to. 

I know it's a little premature, but I hope whoever reads this has a great Thanksgiving and a happy holiday, whatever you may celebrate! 

Decorations for Erntedankfest - the German equivalent of Thanksgiving! Courtesy of wikipedia

Famous Last Words: Can I Conquer Time Management?

Time management: one of my most dreaded phrases and concepts, but mostly because I'm terrible at it!  When I say terrible, I mean it.  I don't know where my hours, days, or even weeks go sometimes.  I've been trying to get better at this, but despite making progress some weeks, I always end up slipping and falling back into my procrastination habits!  I need to step it up.

I've been reading the book Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy, which was highly recommended to me by a friend who claimed it helped him end his procrastination problem.  I'm very busy, so I read it when I can, and I've found it full of helpful advice thus far.  The only problem is, I can't seem to even find the time to implement some of the things the author recommends!  He states that planning out your week, and even your days/hours, is essential to time management and productivity.  I think this is an excellent idea, and is something I try to do to an extent when I'm thinking of it, but I need to do more.  Tracy recommends taking an hour or two one day a week and setting goals, priorities, and generally planning, but I can't seem to find that time.  I'll admit that I have the time, but I think it's the motivation I lack.  I'm trying, though!

I've tried other techniques for time management, including setting timers while studying, making lists, and keeping several detailed calendars.  The method that somewhat works is making lists, though I find it extremely difficult to prioritize what's on the list.  I try to focus on what absolutely must be done, like what's due that day or the next, and that helps.  But one thing making lists doesn't help with is getting the tasks completed in a timely manner, which is my biggest downfall.

I'm going to continue reading that book, and try my best to implement the suggestions the author makes, because I'd really like to get this under control sooner rather than later.

If you took the time to read this rant, feel free to leave any suggestions you may have in the comments!  :)

A pretty accurate quote, courtesy of hot4sunny on Flickr

Famous Last Words: Let's Get Back on Track

In my previous week's Famous Last Words post, I did a lot of venting. This week, I'm creating a plan for next week, in hopes that things will finally go back to normal for me.

Monday I'll finally have a cell phone again.  It's crazy how much we rely on those things, not only for communication, but entertainment as well.  Not having a phone for the past week and a half has been somewhat nice, but also pretty stressful.  I've felt very out of the loop with friends and family, and I'm also worried I missed some important calls or texts, but I don't think there's any way for me to find out. I'll be glad to be back in the loop, and be reachable by the "general public" again.

I also hope to get back into my regular routine this coming week. Last week was crazy because in addition to not having my phone, my best friend also had her baby! It was a moment of excitement and overwhelming happiness, but that mid-week trip to Tulsa definitely threw me off my game. Now that Piper is finally here, and I was lucky enough to get to go meet her, this week I can concentrate on school, and getting back into the normal swing of things.

Although I got a late start today, I'm trying to prepare for next week by reading for all of my classes, doing some extra credit for this class, and doing some household chores (boo), like laundry and dishes. It's weird going from such a hectic two weeks to a relatively calm and somewhat boring upcoming week, but boring is good, at least for now. I had fun getting to see my friends and family, but for this week, the less excitement the better.  Now back to work!

Andrea and Piper, immediately after birth! Photo courtesy of the Sawyers family.

Cheers.

Famous Last Words: A Crazy Week

Week 3 of school, why you gotta be so crazy?

It started off on Tuesday morning - I was sick. Not with a cold or stomach ache, but with a UTI (gross, I know).  If you've ever had one, you know how horrible they are.  And unfortunately for me, I've had a few UTIs develop into full blown pyelonephritis, or a kidney infection.  Those are not only excruciatingly painful (as one of my professors put it - comparable to childbirth), they can be dangerous as well. Luckily, it did not turn into a kidney infection, but I was definitely in some pain, and distracted by my fear of impending back pain!  It took several calls back and forth to my Dr. in Tulsa to get some labs scheduled, which was another pain to deal with.

Kidney pain is the WORST. Credit: PlacidWay Medical Tourism on Vimeo

Cut to Thursday - I'm finally feeling back to normal, and I dodged having to get antibiotics! That was a relief.  When I'm ready to get back to having a normal week, my phone screen decides to quit working! Hooray! Now I'm out of a cell phone. Normally it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but the grad student in charge of my project is out of town, so we are relying on iMessage to communicate problems and questions with my project at the lab.  So that sucks. Oh, and to add to it, my best friend is due with her second child literally any day now, so I'm somewhat out of the loop with that.

Between all of that, I've had an incredibly stressful week.  I'm hoping next week will be better, and that I can focus more on school, but who knows?  Andrea will be having her baby (probably) on Tuesday, so that means I'll be making the drive up to Tulsa ASAP, which unfortunately isn't until Wednesday night.  And I still don't have a phone.

Sorry it's a bunch of complaining, but I had to get it off my chest!

Cheers

Famous Last Words: Already Falling Behind?

I have to say, I'm a little disappointed with myself.  I'm already starting to "fall behind" in this class, when my intentions were to stay at least a week ahead.  It's still very early in the semester, so I don't think I'm doomed, but I'm going to have to prioritize my time better in the coming weeks.

I've been spending quite a bit of time in the research lab - my grad student is going out of the country for a couple of weeks, so she's been eager to teach me as much as she can before she leaves so that I have plenty to work on while she's gone.  For me that has meant spending twice as many days in the lab as I intended.  Though I'm enjoying everything she's teaching me, it has taken somewhat of a toll on my other classes, specifically this class.  She leaves this coming week though, and I will go back to my regular schedule, so I really hope that gives me more time to work on this class.

Besides taking 16 hours, which is the most I've EVER taken, I also need to stay ahead in school for another very exciting reason... One of my best friends is very very pregnant with her second child, and she's due basically any day now (she's already dilated to a 3!).  I want to be able to get up to Tulsa to see her and her new baby, hopefully the day she has her.  If I'm behind in my classes, I know I won't be able to make enough time to drive the 2 hours there and 2 hours back, plus several hours of visiting, so I need to get ahead for when that day comes.  I'm really excited to (possibly) have another "godchild"! I use quotes because her first child, Preston, is considered my godchild, though Andrea is not religious, so it's not technically official, mostly symbolic. Either way, I'll definitely be an honorary aunt!

Andrea's First Child, Preston, & Me! Preston is wearing the onesie I made him, hehe. Photo Credit: Andrea, taken with my iPhone; Summer of 2014

Famous Last Words: Stories From Stories Will Be the Death of Me.

I've been working ahead in this class for a reason; my course load is pretty heavy this semester, at least for me, considering I've got a job and a shiny new research position to tend along with my 15 hours. The assignments for this class have been pretty straightforward so far, though I was definitely tripped up on the "story from a story" assignment.  I probably spent too much time overthinking it, worrying if my rendition would be good enough. Ultimately I think it turned out alright, but it made me nervous for what lies ahead.

Fast forward to moments ago: I've just completed the "Browse the Storybooks" assignment, and I'm feeling eager to continue to progress.  I work this weekend, and won't have as much time as I usually would to work on the course.  I click on the next assignment and there I see it, glaring back at me.

"...'stories from stories' is the central theme of this class"

I pause, reread the text, but the words don't change.  I appreciate the reasoning for this, but that does not stop me from feeling anxious.

Pathogenic Microbiology, Cases in Medical Microbiology, Organic Chemistry (II), and a physics lab, but I'm now certain this class will be the most difficult.  Now, I don't think that the idea of asking students to write stories from stories is an absurd or unfair thing by any means, but to me, it feels next to impossible. Sure, I've been creative. I've tried to write books, draw pictures with dual meanings, and have even made up my own dances to weird songs; but that was when I was a child. At this point, I'm certain that any creative bone(s) I had in my body fell out in the form of baby teeth during grade school.
What I mean is, I have trouble discerning meaning from anything in a non-empirical sense. Or a non-scientific sense. However you want to word it, I've never been good at figuring out even the most simple symbolism, like what the hell the big red A meant in the Scarlet Letter. I want to understand, I try to understand, and it seems to be always right under my nose, but it ends up escaping.

Perhaps I'm being melodramatic about this. I have no intention of dropping this course, and I hope that I'm wrong, and that my creativity is reignited, because I think that would ultimately make me a better scientist and all around person, but I can't help but worry!


Enjoy this unrelated image!

Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Paris, France; Photo credit: Me (2014)