Just Another Love Song er Update
Things have been insane lately and I'm desperately trying to remember everything I have to do. I started by writing it in my planner, but then there was too much to fit in a planner's daily or even weekly spot, so I gave up on that idea. Let's see, what are the main points you should know.....
I MOVED! I am living in University Housing, Weyburn Terrace, Palm Court. The actual mailing address is in the post below. My mobile number will be switching to a local (SoCal) number soon to facilitate the calling of my cell from University phones. I am very happy about this move since I am saving money, can pay with a credit card, have a 20-30 minute walk to campus (it's just over a mile from my complex to my office), and am near colleagues and friends.
Next time I move, I'm hiring movers. I racked up $550 in tickets in ONE DAY WHILE MOVING and I currently hate the city of Los Angeles and the university. I'll challenge tickets on Monday to see if I can get them reduced at all, but otherwise my poor over-stressed credit card is going to get hit again.
I currently am negotiating to break my old lease. This is a very messy situation, but my lawyer (yay for Student Legal Services) thinks it'll work out. I'll give you guys details when it's all worked out.
I'm just barely managing to stay on top of classwork. I do not understand half of what we cover. I have a midterm in micro on Halloween, a midterm in metrics the week after, the one and only exam in Brett's class right before Thanksgiving, and then finals. I refuse to panic until after midterms. Let's see how well I manage this.
Bank of America sucks donkey balls. They are happily holding my stipend (yes, I finally got paid!) until next week sometime. It's really rather frustrating. I got spoiled by the credit union in Oregon, and am not used to not having my money available once the checks clear. B of A also wouldn't let me change my address online because clearly people never move six weeks after moving to another place. They also have rotten branch hours, so I have to go by there on the way home today and get that taken care of.
I need to unpack my boxes and set up my apartment. I need to do laundry and pay bills. I need to get started on next week's problem sets. I need to not forget to do the homework for Brett's class which is due Tuesday.
This afternoon/evening/night I will be in Pasadena celebrating Andrea's birthday. I bought her a calendar (Porn for Women 2009) and a card and got lots of nifty wrapping paper and bows. I need some silly fun. I may or may not spend the night in Pasadena depending on alcohol consumed and exhaustion levels.
Tomorrow is my 24th birthday. My office is taking me out to dinner at a Chinese Islamic restaurant. It's some job coordinating dinner plans for ten people, especially when we have two muslims and two jews in the group. Hence, the Chinese Islamic restaurant. It's Chinese food but the meat is halal and qualifies as safe enough for Tsahi and Liat since no pork is on the premises. I think it'll be fun.
My Oma sent me a card with a nice letter and a lace window/Christmas tree ornament with a rocking horse on it. She compared grad school to a rocking horse, and reminded me that the trick is to move with it to stay on.
I also have a coupon for free Coldstone so I'll be going by there sometime next week.
I'm desperately trying to stay on top of things. My finances are all borked, but I should be steady by Spring quarter. I can't comment on classes as far as grades are concerned yet. I think I'll stay at my required GPA even if I don't learn much.
The German guys here are cute, friendly, and funny. It does me good to speak German again. I'm seriously considering looking for a job in the EU when I finish here. I'm not really sure if this country is where I want to try and raise a family.
I've started attending the UCC (University Catholic Centre) with Eli. It's better than Newman in some sense, worse in others. Liturgical ad-libs drive me nuts. However, it's easier than trying to get to another church Sunday mornings. This weekend I think I'm taking Eli and Kim (Eli's roommate) to IKEA. I need ice cube trays and a bathmat and lamps since the new apartment has switched outlets and no overhead lighting in the main room. Giving them a ride is the least I can do since they let me sleep on their living room floor for a week while dealing with housing issues.
My asthma is acting up thanks to the wildfires north of here. I had a major asthma attack last night and walked home very slowly with Andrew. I'm still shaky today (and starving thanks to the steroid of my rescue inhaler) but breathing okay. Yippee for malfunctioning lungs!
I think this is it for now at least. I'm sure I've forgotten a lot, but I'll try to post it if I remember. I'm sorry I'm so horrible at updating. I'm going to survive, I'm going to be happy, and I'm going to make you guys proud. Despite everything. ;)
Later alligators!
I MOVED! I am living in University Housing, Weyburn Terrace, Palm Court. The actual mailing address is in the post below. My mobile number will be switching to a local (SoCal) number soon to facilitate the calling of my cell from University phones. I am very happy about this move since I am saving money, can pay with a credit card, have a 20-30 minute walk to campus (it's just over a mile from my complex to my office), and am near colleagues and friends.
Next time I move, I'm hiring movers. I racked up $550 in tickets in ONE DAY WHILE MOVING and I currently hate the city of Los Angeles and the university. I'll challenge tickets on Monday to see if I can get them reduced at all, but otherwise my poor over-stressed credit card is going to get hit again.
I currently am negotiating to break my old lease. This is a very messy situation, but my lawyer (yay for Student Legal Services) thinks it'll work out. I'll give you guys details when it's all worked out.
I'm just barely managing to stay on top of classwork. I do not understand half of what we cover. I have a midterm in micro on Halloween, a midterm in metrics the week after, the one and only exam in Brett's class right before Thanksgiving, and then finals. I refuse to panic until after midterms. Let's see how well I manage this.
Bank of America sucks donkey balls. They are happily holding my stipend (yes, I finally got paid!) until next week sometime. It's really rather frustrating. I got spoiled by the credit union in Oregon, and am not used to not having my money available once the checks clear. B of A also wouldn't let me change my address online because clearly people never move six weeks after moving to another place. They also have rotten branch hours, so I have to go by there on the way home today and get that taken care of.
I need to unpack my boxes and set up my apartment. I need to do laundry and pay bills. I need to get started on next week's problem sets. I need to not forget to do the homework for Brett's class which is due Tuesday.
This afternoon/evening/night I will be in Pasadena celebrating Andrea's birthday. I bought her a calendar (Porn for Women 2009) and a card and got lots of nifty wrapping paper and bows. I need some silly fun. I may or may not spend the night in Pasadena depending on alcohol consumed and exhaustion levels.
Tomorrow is my 24th birthday. My office is taking me out to dinner at a Chinese Islamic restaurant. It's some job coordinating dinner plans for ten people, especially when we have two muslims and two jews in the group. Hence, the Chinese Islamic restaurant. It's Chinese food but the meat is halal and qualifies as safe enough for Tsahi and Liat since no pork is on the premises. I think it'll be fun.
My Oma sent me a card with a nice letter and a lace window/Christmas tree ornament with a rocking horse on it. She compared grad school to a rocking horse, and reminded me that the trick is to move with it to stay on.
I also have a coupon for free Coldstone so I'll be going by there sometime next week.
I'm desperately trying to stay on top of things. My finances are all borked, but I should be steady by Spring quarter. I can't comment on classes as far as grades are concerned yet. I think I'll stay at my required GPA even if I don't learn much.
The German guys here are cute, friendly, and funny. It does me good to speak German again. I'm seriously considering looking for a job in the EU when I finish here. I'm not really sure if this country is where I want to try and raise a family.
I've started attending the UCC (University Catholic Centre) with Eli. It's better than Newman in some sense, worse in others. Liturgical ad-libs drive me nuts. However, it's easier than trying to get to another church Sunday mornings. This weekend I think I'm taking Eli and Kim (Eli's roommate) to IKEA. I need ice cube trays and a bathmat and lamps since the new apartment has switched outlets and no overhead lighting in the main room. Giving them a ride is the least I can do since they let me sleep on their living room floor for a week while dealing with housing issues.
My asthma is acting up thanks to the wildfires north of here. I had a major asthma attack last night and walked home very slowly with Andrew. I'm still shaky today (and starving thanks to the steroid of my rescue inhaler) but breathing okay. Yippee for malfunctioning lungs!
I think this is it for now at least. I'm sure I've forgotten a lot, but I'll try to post it if I remember. I'm sorry I'm so horrible at updating. I'm going to survive, I'm going to be happy, and I'm going to make you guys proud. Despite everything. ;)
Later alligators!