More

I'm not even going to break down this sum up, I'm just gonna give it as it pops into my head:

I've had many exciting research positions and opportunities. I even presented at my first professional conference last year. The conference ROCKED, even if my poster didn't. I'm crushed that I can't afford to go this year, the location being significantly further away.

I've figured out at least a little more about what I want to do with my life. I think...

Last school year I made one of the most difficult decisions in my life, and so far it has turned out for the best.

Applying to grad school SUCKS! Though, I'm sure being in grad school will suck infinitely harder.

Waiting for replies from grad schools you have applied to SUCKS!

Getting rejection letters from grad schools you have applied to SUCKS!

This semester may be my most exciting yet, with continued research opportunities, and my first teaching experience, rudimentary though it may be.

I can't believe I missed my yearly flip-flop rant. Boy, have I composed them in my head, though. Yesterday, cold and nasty as it was, I saw someone wearing sandals. Sandals. I guess he hadn't gotten the email about it being winter, yet. I don't have anything against sandals, it's just that, well, ice and sandals? Not so much.
To my giddy surprise, a couple months ago I overheard someone else cursing about flip-flops. I almost kissed them, but thought better of it, and just engaged them in a conversation about the inherent ridiculousness of them, instead. Now I know it's not just me. %D

One of my Links has changed destinations to reflect my interests, but I haven't yet decided if I'm going to change the name of the link, and I added a new link I highly suggest exploring.

It's late; I should really try to sleep, even if that's been an increasingly difficult task lately.

May You All Sleep Better Than I Do,
Psycho

I'm Baaaaack!

Wow, almost two years. And how the time flew.

I've updated the links, so hopefully they're all in working order.

More To Come,
Psycho

Socialization

I have been observing, and contemplating, an interesting phenomenon at school: lack of social interaction.

Without entirely giving up my age, I did attend this university a few years back, and let's just say that things have changed. Apart from the web services being light years beyond what they were, campus being a bit different from "improvements," and oh how I love notes in projected PowerPoint form being available online for printing (how frickin' cool is that!), the social atmosphere is greatly changed. The last time I was here laptops were around, but they were a bit big, and if you had one, you had money. Same for cell phones.

My, how the world has changed. Now, when you walk around campus, at least 50% of the people you see are talking or texting on cell phones. ~20-25% have the earbuds to their iPod in.
The student center, being replaced since the last time I wore the title "Student," is now set up on a few floors. Small tables; groupings of a few armchairs around a tiny table; minuscule, stand-up computer kiosks set up in secluded alcoves.
Even the cafeteria is less suited to socialization; gone are the long rows of banquet tables, now it's small to medium sized tables set apart from one another.

Everything is set apart, privatized, catering to each person being able to exist in their own little world. It is far easier than Psycho would like it to be to keep to herself. I cannot tell you how unlikely that phrase is to be escaping my lips; let's just say that Psycho has intimate knowledge of anxiety disorders.

There has to be a research abstract in this somewhere. ;)

I Could Present This On a Poster,
Psycho

It's Been A While...Again

I wish I had more time for this thing, but c'est la vie.

Yet another sum up:

Fall Semester '06: School without work is such a different world than trying to juggle both. I have always loved school and have usually been a dedicated student. I learned some hard truths about grad school admissions at the beginning of Fall semester that no one had bothered to tell me before and totally freaked out. A grad student Psych Undergrad Advisor assured me that I still had a good average, but I had been told that "good" just isn't good enough. It's amazing the things you learn when you can actually be on campus when you're not in class. :-\
I took a course on available career types in the field, a clinical class, and a bio psych class (in addition to others) all at the same time. From this interesting combination I learned that I don't want to get into a clinical PhD program and go into therapy. This is especially poignant due to the fact that PhD's, like psychiatrists before them, are being pushed out of the field of therapy and into supervisory roles, research, and teaching. Now, behavioral neuroscience on the other hand...
Although I was stressed out at times, and wished I hadn't taken one of my courses, I still enjoyed immersing myself in the student experience.
The stupendous news is: I SPANKED last semester, much to my delight. %D My psych GPA went through the roof and I now have Latin Honors back on the old transcript. %D %D I should qualify for Psi Chi now! %D %D %D

Work: If I failed to communicate the fact above, which is not infrequent for me, I am still unemployed. I still don't like not receiving a paycheck, and dislike my new budgetary restraints even more, but it has been for the best...not to mention that nothing suitable has come along.

Winter Break: After finally completing my final (essay) Final (heh, sorry) a few days after the end of the semester, I was ready for school to start back about two or three days into break. Break was almost totally consumed with holiday family trips, and I got the stomach flu twice. %(

Winter Semester '07: I am happy school is back in session and I like my course load just fine. In fact, some of my course load is almost orgasmically blissful, academically and figuratively, of course. ;)
In the Fall Semester '06 summation above I neglected to report that I snagged a much sought after research assistantship position for this semester. %D I am taking a neuropsych course and have decided, with last semester's and this semester's courses so far, that I have found my love, in fact my passion: Behavioral Neuroscience. I have no idea of a subfield of interest, but I just love, in fact get excited about, learning about the workings behind the psychology I have studied. I am such a geek! %D

Socially: I have all but lost contact with most friends with my obsession for my studies taking precedence over everything, including my health.

Now: Once more I find my motivation flagging in the Winter semester. I'm doing fairly well, but I need to get my ass in gear and work harder.
I LOVE working in the lab. I perversely love every single second I'm in the lab. I love the tests I have to run that involve sitting in a dark room and needing four hands to work all the timers, counters, and datasheets to be filled out that you can't see in the dark. I love fighting with the many cantankerous, and even defective, locks on cabinets and doors. I love sweeping up wood shavings and scrubbing out terrariums after I'm done with them. As one prof in the department said, "Uh, oh. She's caught the bug."

Blissed to Be Bugged Out,
Psycho

Sidewalk Rage

I am glowing as I bounce off the walls: School's back in!

Not only is Psycho a student once again, but I am officially registered for the courses I was wait listed for, my loan paid for books and my transportation solution, and I might even get a tad back once the funds are disbursed. %D I am way too happy right now.

The only thing that bugged me on this, my earliest out of class day, is all those people who like to walk like they have nowhere to go. Maybe you're out of class for a few hours, or maybe it's your last class of the day; hell it might be your last class of the week, but some of us need to get to class, so kindly move your ass and let me pass!

This is a pet peeve of mine, and I've found a tie-in to last Fall: flip flops. It seems that flip flops, aside from mysteriously continuing to be popular footwear, are a sure indicator of ambulatory velocity, or rather, lack thereof. I mean, it's not like you can hurry in those things even if you want to. Not that there aren't plenty of slow people in sneakers, and I won't even get into the girls that wear four inch stilettos around campus. Damn it people, you're paying for these classes, "slow and steady" will not get you there on time!
They got into college, you'd think they could figure that out.

And I don't mean to rag on anyone with mobility issues, I understand that sometimes a slow pace can't be helped. All I ask is that if you fall into that category, be aware of your surroundings and have the courtesy to walk as far to the right as possible so that stressed-out-looking, crazy girl muttering under her breath can whoosh past you without incident.

I just want to get to class, damn it!

Mental Illness Sucks! (and other Catching Up)

Ok, so I won't blame my defective brain entirely, my faulty sense of responsibility came into play as well, but last semester SUCKED! Especially the end. But hey, who doesn't need a "two week vacation," right?

Flaming Zeus on a stick, I can't believe it's been since January! I had a "Catching Up" draft back in the beginning of May, but I never finished it. That pretty much sums up last semester.

Here goes:

Spring semester '06: Ended up better than I was expecting, but still far from my usual. I got a good kick in the rear from my fav prof. Funny how that happens whenever I'm having a bad spell. Done with my foreign language req, thank god.

Jury Duty: My first summons. I spent a day and a half just on jury selection, and then ended up Alternate #1 for the rest of the week on a big criminal case. It was actually quite interesting, though the crimes were horrific. The defendant was found guilty on several counts and possibly faced multiple life sentences. I just found out today that on Friday the defendant was sentenced to 50 years. I hope he doesn't get parole in ten years for good behavior, or some such. This wasn't some hippie growing banned plants in his basement, or an unemployed person stealing to make ends meet, dear readers, this was a bad guy.
(A funny aside: the victim in the case suffers from various mental illnesses, so of course the defense kept harping on it, saying he couldn't possibly have known what was going on, he isn't trustworthy, ad nauseam... The attorney made an absolute ass of himself, he would speak very authoritatively while spewing utter nonsense.)

Work: This is the really exciting part...I quit. %D Yes, kiddies, your faithful Psycho told them to stick it (with almost four weeks of notice). My last day was actually quite sad, four years is a long time.

Unemployment: I think I have some sort of paycheck anxiety disorder. I was stir crazy my first day on my own. (I spent the first week with a vacationing Maybe More Psycho, so the company distracted me.) Unfortunately, errands and house cleaning do not cure stir craziness for me. Why, oh why can't I be an OCD'y clean-freak? Oh yeah, 'cause I'm lazy. ;)

Now: Contemplating student-friendly employment opportunities.

Any suggestions?

"Show Me The Money!",
Psycho

"The Line Begins To Blur"

Ok, so I just read a blog that bitched at those who blog "only once a week," or god forefend, less often.

Woops.

I have very little energy to rant and rave at the moment. Perhaps I should be a backslider and eat something. ;)

This semester: 16 credit hours, a school schedule that necessitates short weekdays at work and a full day at the all-but empty office on Saturdays, and a course load of mostly req's. [sigh]
I keep telling myself that I can do it. Now if I could just believe it.

This schedule is creating a surreal and not all-together pleasant phenomenon: "Every day is exactly the same." Ok, so not exactly, but pretty damned close. Being employed in the corporate world (for a few years) I am used to business hours schedules. Last semester I had classes Monday through Thursday, which left Friday open to a slightly long work day, and the resulting full weekend. Now I am at each place a short amount of time, 4-5 hours, and have to study when home. Due to only having one night class a week, every night feels like a weekend night, and a school night. I can't remember what books I need for which classes, some days. It's just gotten eerie.

Ech, I just don't have the energy at the moment to even look at a calendar, so I think I'll listen to some Foamy while I pull my hair out over these damned numbers that won't jibe.

"Like you have some kind of hectic life. "Oh, I gotta go to school. Oh, I gotta take classes. Oh, I gotta do homework. Aw, life is hard, man.""

"Your Lord and Master,"
Psycho

Back From the Dead?

It has been brought to my attention that my lack of correspondence, both public and personal, has been noticed. I apologize profusely to all those affected.

Yes, I'm still alive.

No, I haven't forgotten about you.

I have recently decided to give up eating and sleeping to try to wring a few more precious minutes from the day, so hopefully those waiting for personal correspondence will soon receive it.

Apologetically,
Psycho

"Where was I gonna go? Detroit?"

The Best Forward I Have Gotten in a Long Time

Sent to me by a coworker who only Fwd's good stuff:

Fwd: Thanks


I must add my thanks to whoever sent me the email about rats' poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to get a wet towel for every envelope that needs sealing. Also, I scrub the top of every can of soda I open for the same reason.
I want to thank you who have taken the time and trouble to send me your chain letters over the past 12 months. Thank you for making me feel safe, secure, blessed, and wealthy.
Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put "Under God" on their cans.
I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer. For the same reason, I've stopped putting plastic water bottles in the freezer.
I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS. Also, I now check the pump handles at gas stations for the same reason.
I no longer use those cancer-causing deodorants even though, on a hot day, I smell like a water buffalo.
Oh well, I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.
I don't shop at Target, either, since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.
I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.
I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.
I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.
I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.
I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl who is about to die in the hospital (for the 100th time).
Neither do I have any sneakers - but that will change once I receive my free replacement pair from Nike.
I will be able to solve these problems when I get my $32,000 from Bill Gates for participating in a Microsoft e-mail survey.
I'm really not worried anyway, because I have 363,214 angels looking out for my soul, and St. Theresa's novena will eventually grant my every wish.
Also, thanks to you, I have learned that God only answers my prayers if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.
Yes, I want to thank you so much for looking out for me that I will now return the favor! If you don't send this e-mail to 144,000 people in the next 10 minutes, a large dove will crap on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your navel, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next-door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician!

I do have a few things to say about a few truths that are spoken badly of in this letter, though: Coke really does take stains off of toilets, as well as blood off of highways, or at least can; it really is acidic stuff. I included a link (click on the subject line), so those with sensitive tummies can think before you drink. ;)
Big Psycho, a professional on the subject, has been saying for years, as in well over a decade, fair readers, that the active ingredient in conventional antiperspirants is carcinogenic. I trust Big Psycho, so should you.

Ok, ok, there are more, but it's still funny.

Fleas will infest your navel if you do not obey my commands, though.

I don't think my readers number four, much less 144,000, but I figure this is a good way to get this very important Fwd to as many people as possible. ;)

Bandwidth Conservationist,
Psycho