Moving...in more than one way

So I have officially moved into my new apartment. Now, officially does not mean I have finished unpacking, but it is on it's way. My dad and brother came out to help with the move last Wednesday and stayed till Sunday. Along with Erin's boyfriend Brian and another friend Haseeb, we were able to move three girls' worth of stuff. (Erin was in California for a wedding; Laura in Oxford, England for a summer program) The place is even more than I expected it would be. So many closets, I'm sad I'll only be here for a year! Soon as I have pictures, I'll post them.

Also! I officially have a new advisor. As some of you know, my previous year was spent working in a laboratory, but it was not fruitful in the thesis track. So I went outside the department to develop a new thesis in a completely new area. WOOT WOOT. Of course, I still had to have an advisor at school, so I met with a couple different ones recently. Finally, Dr. Haaga has agreed to take me on!! That's another woot woot! Timeline will be interesting....one year thesis here we gooooo.

Also will be putting out a publication on verbal fluency in the near future and the one on urban adolescent girls as well. TWO!! It's exciting, I'm excited, life is good!

Update to come soon with pictures, no worries...

Summer...wheewwww

So I know, as always, I've been missing for a while. But, I have good reasons, I promise!

In June I went back to Indy for my best friend Samara's wedding. It was absolutely beautiful and I'm so lucky to have been a part of it. I love them as a couple, they are perfect for each other; you can see the love in the following pics. It's just splendid to say the least.





When I came back I had an interview set-up for a potential new advisor for my thesis. It hasn't been working how I'd like it to in that department, so I decided to take it into my own hands. Now I'll be working on a somewhat secretive project (at least until she publishes the first paper she wants to). But it's with kids!! So I'm thrilled. Now all I have to do is find an "administrative" senior advisor at school. The new person I'm working with has had bad experiences with my current advisor...so I need to find a new one. Send good vibes in that direction please!

And finally...I'm moving...again.

Yup, my old roommate and I....as well as an addition of my friend Erin will be moving into an apartment complex directly over the Bethesda Metro station! This is exciting for my commute and basic functionality. It's thrilling!

The only bad part is packing all the current apartment stuff and the actual moving. On top of that both Erin and Laura will not be here for the move. Erin is in California for a wedding of her best friend and Laura is in England for the summer for school. So I have recruited my brother, dad, Erin's boyfriend, and a friend of mine Haseeb. It will be fun next Wednesday!

OH oh oh...and Laura got engaged...in England!!! Woot Woot. She and Brandon have been dating for over 6 years so this is huge (at least in the minds of her closest friends) We were all wondering when Brandon would decide to pop the question.

hmmm more news more news......

*still thinking*

OH! I'm now dating a guy named Doug....haha...news I suppose for some of you. I met him at Samara's wedding...we hit it off....so we're having a go at it. Unfortunately I live here in DC...and he lives in Texas. But we're working at it..maybe long-distance isn't so bad if it starts off that way? We'll see, I'm sure you'll here more as it progresses. Slightly unfair. He has met my mom and brother....yet, I haven't met any of his family. He even had martini's with my mom! I think he's skipping necessary steps, but whatever, my mom loves him. That's all that matters on that front....lol

Okay...info on Mr. Doug....he's a Med student at Texas A&M.....he's a year older than I am....he's definitely smart....and good looking....witty too....sarcastic (which I like)....and basically amazing....something else you want to know...just ask....

And the job search continues....

Unfortunately I lost the job to someone with years of experience....blast! Onward with the job search. Just applied for a position at the Ivymount School -- working with children with Autism, we'll see how that goes. Job searching is so frustrating!

Interview

Had an interview with the Cancer Survivorship Lab at the Uniformed Services University yesterday....hopefully the news I hear in under a week will be good!

Grades In.... (mostly for my mom)

Update on the finals:

Neuropsychology :: "A" (woot)
Psychotherapy :: "A" (double woot)
Sex Similarities and Differences :: "A" (triple woot)

These are a pleasant ending to the semester-of-craziness

I'm Back!! errrrr.....here....at least

So I know it's been months, things have just been crazy (as they usually are) around here. I'm about to finish the semester and my first year in grad school. I can't believe I'm signing on for at least 4 more years of this. This post is my procrastination technique for today. I have two papers, an exam, and two finals I should actually be doing work for, but you just have to take a break to stay sane.The paper I'm currently working on is supposed to be my credo as a psychotherapist. Issues with this:
1. It has been at least 8 or 9 years since I wrote a paper for a class in which "I", "mine", "my", and "opinion" were allowed and encouraged for placement in a paper.
2. I keep wanting to cite my beliefs..... (Robertson, 2009) perhaps?
3. While I can talk for hours about my values, goals, and beliefs -- I cannot seem to write more than 4 pages about them for this class
4. It's 90 degrees outside!! I am inside with my diet coke and computer....typing away

Last test in Neuropsychology is tomorrow, woot! Then it's just the final and I'm done!!! I love Neuropsych but this class has gone very slowly this semester. Plus I'm in the laboratory for human neuropsychology sooooo, double duty!!

Currently three different projects going right now. Erin and I are running analysis for the HOPE study on depression in adolescent girls currently with the hope that we will be submitting it for publication in the next month or so. Also in my lab I have taken over the mood and memory study on depression and the hippocampus using a simulation of a rat maze and rat water maze on the computers for humans. Yes, it's odd.(that's all the info you get on that till it's completed)
I am researching researching researching ideas for my thesis -- current theme is something on perception of heinousness in child murder cases (child as perpetrator). That's been pleasant (sarcasm)

Job front....I've applied to a total of 31 and ten more tonight is the goal, pleaseeeee allow me to get something soon, this is beginning to be ridiculous.

Happy fun stuff:

I've been on eharmony for a bit now (mostly because it's the easiest getting to know you site, I'm not a huge fan of meeting guys at bars) and am talking to a couple guys on there. Date updates soon to come -- paddle boating the Potomac anyone?

My mom and brother came to visit recently. We did a meditation seminar thing run by my mom! It was a blast. Unfortunately she got a cold the day after she got there, but we still had fun watching movies and hanging out.

Once I finisht this paper I'll update some more!

OH...here's some pics I never uploaded....from ice skating and whatever else I could find.

From Left: Brian (Erin's boyfriend), Erin, Vera, Amy, me, and Haseeb

My friend Sam came up from Virginia while he was stationed there for a while (he's in the army) to visit. We were great friends in high school so it was wonderful to reconnect and show him around town. Now he's back down in Texas hopefully getting his lasik eye surgery and then passing his exams to be a helicoptor pilot.

Pictures from the Swearing In Ceremony!!

Captions to come later due to my lack of sleep....haven't slept more than 1 hour in the past 42 hours...ewww

Finally snow!

So we finally got some snow here in Indiana. I wanted to have at least 2 feet of snow before the end of my break, but alas I'll have to do with under an inch. But it was pretty.
Haven't kept up this winter with the blog, mostly because I've been so busy running around with family and friends to be on the computer for longer than a couple minutes, if that some days. But with the new semester and a clean plan as to what needs to happen I think I'll have plenty to tell everyone in the coming months.
Schedule for next semester has me going to class on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays....and done by 2 everyday. Hopefully this will allow me to get a good paying job doing something that makes at least 400 to 500 dollars a month working 15 to 20 hours a week...but we'll see. I'll be taking Advanced Human Neuropsychology, Psychology of Sex Similarities and Differences, and Psychotherapy theory, res, and practice....woot woot. I'm so excited to be taking these classes, they were all first choices. I will also begin studying for the comprehensive exam around February ish.....with the plan being to take it during the summer for the first (and hopefully also last time) DSM IV here I come!!
Went to the dentist this morning. Go me, no cavities!
Now on to doing early spring cleaning...aka clearing out anything that is unneeded in this house.

Nuts are for squirrels

This week and last week has been insane. Past weekend I had the women in my research pyshology class over for a good old fashioned pajama party, only about 8 of us total. We ate awesome guacamole, salsa, chocolate fondu with lots of fruit, pot stickers, veggies, pretzels, hummus and pita chips (which if you haven't tried the parmesan and herb ones, they are amazing!!), apple pie (hehe) with ice cream, and then of course some champagne and margaritas!! oh oh and mozzarella sticks! lol

We had an awesome time eating and watching Labyrinth...you know that movie with a young sarah connelly and david bowie......AHHHH

During all this time I've also been just getting work done for school. I need to decided a project idea for my thesis (still not completely sure) and start implementing it. In the next week and a half before Thanksgiving I have two presentations to give, a 12 paper to write, another presentation on statistics to develop, and an introduction to begin for the HOPE publication (5-6 pages)...just the intro! lol....

Have had a cold most of this time, but I'm pretty sure it's the stress and weather. I'm really excited to go home for Thanksgiving and "relax" a bit shopping and eating! I'll probably still be working on things for classes but it will be worth it.

Good times! I'll post some pictures in the near future. Tomorrow, I am excited beyond all excitement to be getting a massage from at a massage school, 37 dollars for a whole hour!! I need it so badly and am thrilled. Then tomorrow night taking Laura out for dinner because it's her birthday!!! WOOT WOOT

Movie Season

All the new movie trailers have me really excited for free time. Here is my "want-to-see" list for this season....so far:

OCTOBER:

Blindness

http://www.blindness-themovie.com/

The Secret Life of Bees

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thesecretlifeofbees/

W.

http://wthefilm.com/

Changeling

http://www.changelingmovie.net/

Splinter

http://www.thesplintermovie.com/

NOVEMBER:

Twilight

http://twilightthemovie.com/

DECEMBER:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

http://www.benjaminbutton.com/

FEBRUARY:

Push

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/push/

Sick

I am sick with a cold/throat thing; really hoping it's not anything like strep throat. Unfortunately, it's going around the psychology department, and in particular the people in my classes. And since those are the people I spend my time with, of course my immune system couldn't keep up (stupid immune system). Anyway I'm loading up on vitamin C and vitamins in general and trying to stay away from anything too heavy or dairy...bleh.

On Monday Erin and I had a meeting with Dr. Mance about our joint publication (she is advising us) and the timeline for getting it finished. Because of how busy we are we only planned it out about half way and decided to review it later if necessary. Currently concept paper due monday -- including what we're studying, what analyses we're using, how we're using them, what implications does it hold for the future, what gap in literature are we filling, and why why why....lol.

I'll post the hypothesis we're analysing as soon as we narrow it down some, currently it's a bit vague/general.

Now sleep, sleep is a good thing.

Murder Mystery and Mayhem !!!

It's been very hectic this week, just with classes and trying to get everything situated. All was good until about Thursday when I realized I still needed an outfit for Saturday night's birthday party. Murder Mystery and Mayhem parties are themed and you spend a good portion of the night talking to others trying to figure out who the murderer is, like in Clue.

Well, my character was Veronica Lake from the 40s and 50s. First issue, I didn't know what people in the 40s and 50s wore....second issue, where to find an outfit in DC for under 4o bucks from that era....and thirdly which shoes??!! Which of course was the main part, because shoes are amazing.....yes yes I have a shoe problem, but on the upside I always have the right shoes (until I don't and have to go shopping!!!)

Ok so back on topic...I had to be Veronica Lake, she was the one that coined the peekaboo hair style. I ended up doing a non-curled version because hot rollers are not my thing, and were not cooperating in the least. Plus my hair is short so I was out of luck.

As far as the outfit goes...Erin, Katie, and I went shopping on Friday in Georgetown but totally failed to find a single thing. Ended up eating Johnny Rockets and going home empty handed. But it was okay!! Because I had a little black dress (yes, every woman should have one) and a green shrug I received from my friend Courtney in Chicago. I had no clue where I was going to wear it when I got it for my birthday, and now I know! It was great, the perfect outfit. Anyway pics...

And now on to class *WOOT WOOT* and a meeting....wait, scratch that and reverse it. hehe

October....already?

Picture!! (Erin on the left, me middle, and Sarah right)

Erin and I are working together to get a publication out; we have very similar interests and are becoming fast friends. It's awesome meeting new people!

I suddenly realized yesterday that it's October!! How crazy is that, time goes by wayyy too fast. I'm sorry it's taken a bit to update this time; I was studying for an exam that I had yesterday and making sure I was completely caught up in reading. Now I just have the grant reading to do for Dr. Mance and I'll be officially on the right time frame; I am not allowed to fall behind ever! Which reminds me...I'm officially working on two publications as the second author for Dr. Mance andddddd!!!!!! she's allowing this girl Erin and I to work together on a publication of

OUR OWN!! I'm so excited.

Still debating whether I'll have the time to work with Dr. Kearns on a study he's trying to reproduce with pigeons and short term memory. And I'm definitely working under Dr. Fantie on my thesis. BUSY BUSY...

Anyway here are some pictures I've been promising you all for a while:

Our Apartment building from the back (which is actually the front). It's eleven stories, and we're on the second....but our windows are on the other side, sorry.

Our kitchen! It looks small, and well, it is small, but it works just fine for two people. That's Laura at the stove.

Our apartment living room from a corner. The tv and Laura's door is on the right, and my room's door is on the left where you can't see. The doors you can see go to the front door and the laundry..hehe

This is a picture of part of the campus, including one of the buildings I have class in.

This is Hurst Hall, I have research psychology methods in this building...in the basement. But they are all beautiful buildings.

Pictures from James' graduation!! I ran across when unloading my camera..hehe

Improv Everywhere

So I heard about this through a friend. Thinking about being in one of them, they do improv events all the time. Check out the website by clicking on the title...this is my favorite.

Weekend Getaway

Sooo picture from that Meet and Greet night at Rumors with my 2010 Psychology MA class (we are so tiny) It's kinda blurry, I'm working on getting a better picture up soon. From the left -- Adrienne, Ali, Erin, Darcy, Amy, Jill, Katie, Sarah, Saundra, Patrick, Brandis, Vera, and ME!

There are about 3 missing from that picture, I believe.

Anyway, this weekend I was in Indy doing an impromptu birthday visit to my mom. Came in on Friday at about 5pm and went straight to dinner at La Hacienda (with live music from middle-age rockers, it was kick-butt wicked) then on to see the movie "The Women" - the third remake!!

First was in 1939, then one named 'The Opposite Sex' in 1956, now this one with an awesome female cast. It proved to be a great remake. My mom and I laughed to the point of almost peeing multiple times, eww gross. It had sad moments but for the most part was great and truly showed the ups and downs of life and dealing.

Then on Saturday my mom, James, and I hit the DSW shoe sale for her birthday gift. She got these snazzy ballet flats and a pair of soft spot clogs; they are so awesome I also got a pair. If you've never worn a softspots shoe you are seriously missing out. They feel like you're wearing just socks when you're actually wearing heels!!

Then on to cheesecake factory for delicious-can-only-eat-half-a-piece cheesecake which gave us the energy to go to Kohl's and shop some more. I got a new purse and earrings there and replaced my wallet that has seen it's last dollar.

Oh, and I also got a pair of strappy white heels. Did I mention I have a shoe problem?? I do, there it's admitted now. hehe

Finally finished off the night with dinner at MacCalister's with Samara and Leila mostly talking about wedding stuff (Samara is getting married for anyone who doesn't know) She has picked a date, which is helpful for Leila and I to plan the bachelorette party and wedding shower, whoohoo for fun times. We are wearing fern colored dresses, although the guys are being stubborn about wearing champagne so I think Samara is trying to get them to agree on something besides blue...lol.

And now I should study for the Stats exam that's on Wednesday so I'll update soon with more pics, promise.

Daily Craziness

So today was nuts. Started it off with waking up to Laura in the kitchen making coffee...AT 4:30am!!!! She was up because she needed to complete a memo for her boss, or something. Didn't really fall asleep after that, so read for fun instead woot woot. Then at 8am had to drive Laura to Georgetown for a class that was rescheduled at that very inconvenient time. She would have driven herself, but I had a dentist appt. at 9:30 and needed to car to get to it.

Anyway...then I proceeded to get lost going back to the apartment because from 7am to 9am you can't make any left turns off of the road I was on. Of course, that was the direction I needed to go, and when I finally turned and got going the right direction I was in the middle of nowhere. Took me an hour and a half to figure out how to get back the direction I needed to go, and I managed to walk into the dentist appt. only 2 minutes late.

Dentist was an emergency of course; I needed a filling replaced that had fallen out on Sunday. He was awesome though, and only charged me half the actual price he usual charges because I paid with cash. Again, greatness!

THEN.....Went to class; that was calm. Had a meeting afterwards with Dr. Bryan Fantie. This is the professor I may be working on my thesis with (now) because the person I originally wanted is not available. He is great though; he is willing to work with me and make sure I am working on a research project I find interesting and have the opportunity to work on numerous other projects to get experience. After my meeting with Dr. Fantie I had a meeting with Dr. Kearns about SA (Self-administration) techniques. He is going to show me how to perform brain surgery on rats, and apparatus connection techniques. It's invaluable experience, so I'm thrilled he's willing to teach me.(That's Dr. Fantie in the red shirt, in the picture)

And now I'm craving pizza so we're going to Ledo's Pizza down the street. It's slowly working it's way to becoming one of my top pizza places. Yum Yum they're white pizza is delicious.

PICS!!! But not of DC, sorry....

So when trying to load my camera's pictures, I happened onto graduation pictures. I thought I'd share them just for the heck of it.

~~~~~

This is Laura and I right before the graduation ceremony out on our back porch, at the old apartment. (We kinda miss our pseudo backyard)

This is my dad and I at Panera Bread (the second best sandwich place next to MacCalister's due to their greek salads) Notice my nicely straightened hair...hehe....took me wayyyy too long to do, and yet somehow I do it almost 3 times a week now.

Gram and I during the Religious Studies Honors Ceremony; my parents, gram, and James got to meet my teachers and other Honors Students. They gave us our stoles for GPA and such, and presented papers that were well-marked or published. I got one in the Religious Studies annual competition -- 3rd place, woot woot. It was on the divergence of Medicine and Religion. (Probably only fascinating to me...hehe)

My family standing in the dedication chapel after the Religious Studies Ceremony, we had a great time; I'm so glad they all were there.

My family and I after the Big LONGGGGG Graduation Ceremony. I was so windy we were having trouble holding our hair and clothes long enough for a picture. I lost my cap at least 4 times and had to take off my shoes to stay balanced in the wind.

My mom and dad, and I braving the wind in the parking lot for a graduation picture. I had the realization from this picture that both my parents have grey hair, and I love it. I absolutely love the fact that my parents are older and wiser and still looking good!!

And finally a pic, also in the wind although trying to hide behind a tree, with my dad and gram. I"m holding onto my clothes...lol