Yeah, I got my scores back from the praxis exam. For those of you who don't know...it's the standardized exam that one needs to pass in order to send you on your way to teacher certification. I passed with super flying colors. To pass in NJ you need to get a 137 out of 200. Ms. Resa got a 175. Take that. Puts me in the top 15% of all previous test takers. ETS was even nice enough to send me a certificate of my achievement. Damn....now if only I had gotten such a good score on my math subject test. Oh well. At least I have something to fall back on if grad school stinks to high heaven.
umm anyways...so yeah.
Stuff coming up. i only have 3 more lectures left for the semester...and 1 exam. Next couple of weekends I'll be on my own here. maybe I'll go out and get lots of beer and then have a contest to see how much of it I can drink, by myself.
Anyways...avoiding work, like it is the plague. Catch ya later.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming
Big big news all. I figure I can be a dispersal mechanism seeing as most of the family knows and such.
Mom finished up her six months of chemotherapy. So the doctors all got together and ran the diagnostic tests to see where things stand. From what it looks like, the cancer isn't running amuck. Actually they saw little to no tissue activity. So it looks she is in the clear for now. There is the usual periodic tests and exams and such. But things look great.
We celebrated with rum and coke that evening of the meeting.
Now maybe my life will go back to some normalcy. Maybe.
Suzer is coming to visit this weekend. Might hit up the NB bar scene. That will be interesting. So excited.
I wish this day was over...so I could spend the evening outside.
Mom finished up her six months of chemotherapy. So the doctors all got together and ran the diagnostic tests to see where things stand. From what it looks like, the cancer isn't running amuck. Actually they saw little to no tissue activity. So it looks she is in the clear for now. There is the usual periodic tests and exams and such. But things look great.
We celebrated with rum and coke that evening of the meeting.
Now maybe my life will go back to some normalcy. Maybe.
Suzer is coming to visit this weekend. Might hit up the NB bar scene. That will be interesting. So excited.
I wish this day was over...so I could spend the evening outside.
Goooo 'Cocks!
Yeah. So Thursday night, I finally sat down and made my decision. This whole situation had seriously messed me up the past couple of weeks. Threw my whole body out of whack. Lack of an appetite, not really wanting to do anything, serious stomach issues. Now that it is all done I feel so relieved.
So the big story was that ODU was so...disgusted about my not giving them a decision, that they gave me until Friday to tell them yes or no, or else they were going to retract their offer. Since I don't let anyone get the better hand...I told them no...and that next time if they want a quick decision they should tell people in the acceptance letter when they would like a reply. Dick-weeds.
A good moral in life: Always make friends with the secretary. Because when shit hits the fan...they usually know who to call. So I spoke to the grad secretary at VT- so helpful...she said I'm really sorry, but I haven't seen anything come across my desk for you. So you know what...you do what you want to do.
Final Answer: University of South Carolina to the rescue. I realized this week that they actually wanted an answer by the 31st. I was like schnikeys!! But I sent along an email to the grad director. He sent back a response, and it was so kind...and helpful, and happy that I had chosen to go there. It was like night and day compared to all the shit I've gone through with these schools. I guess I'm relieved.
Beck and I went out Friday night. So good to hang out. Got to meet the new boy. He's nice and sweet. So I approve. I'm happy for her. Yey beck.
Anyways...catch ya on the flip side.
So the big story was that ODU was so...disgusted about my not giving them a decision, that they gave me until Friday to tell them yes or no, or else they were going to retract their offer. Since I don't let anyone get the better hand...I told them no...and that next time if they want a quick decision they should tell people in the acceptance letter when they would like a reply. Dick-weeds.
A good moral in life: Always make friends with the secretary. Because when shit hits the fan...they usually know who to call. So I spoke to the grad secretary at VT- so helpful...she said I'm really sorry, but I haven't seen anything come across my desk for you. So you know what...you do what you want to do.
Final Answer: University of South Carolina to the rescue. I realized this week that they actually wanted an answer by the 31st. I was like schnikeys!! But I sent along an email to the grad director. He sent back a response, and it was so kind...and helpful, and happy that I had chosen to go there. It was like night and day compared to all the shit I've gone through with these schools. I guess I'm relieved.
Beck and I went out Friday night. So good to hang out. Got to meet the new boy. He's nice and sweet. So I approve. I'm happy for her. Yey beck.
Anyways...catch ya on the flip side.
Ummm yeah
So right now I am at Tech...the whole Visitor's Day sh-bang is over and I've been somewhat recounting almost every dumb thing I've done since the start of senior year at Dickinson. I should have taken the subject GRE then. I should have applied to schools then. I would have had a marginally better chance. I knew I liked doing the research...I should have just gone with it no matter how freakin' burned out I felt at the end of that year. I shouldn't have waited 1+ years to do applications.
Oh, Vanderbilt sent a no about a week and a half ago. I know NC State sent out acceptances *it's always good talking to some of the other gals here*, so I must be stuck in the "-uck me over and tell me no on April 10" pile. I was somewhat glad to hear that no one who was here over the weekend had heard from Duke either. But I think I'm certain what answer it is that I will get from them. I thought I heard something last night while wandering around that I was going to get in to Tech...but who knows...more than half the people there were drunk. Yes, the professors very much included. I love *wet* departments.
And you all thought I was somewhat smart. How is that for a kick in the face? I'll just go back to knitting, and teaching people how to multiply negative numbers, cause that is about all I am good for.
On I guess what would be considered a brighter note- I really did like the grad students here. They were very cool. Funniest thing I guess is that I ended up hanging out with this guy John, from Millersville, who knows the guy (Andrew) who gave literally the exact same talk as me at the Student Conference I had to give my billiards presentation (fortunately I went first). Oddly enough, I found out the Andrew is at Rutgers in NB doing graduate work there. Effin' small effin' world. So maybe if emailing occurs I might go say hello to him at some point. Who knows.
I guess maybe I'll go and start writing out some notes and such for my class even though I have no material with me. Or maybe some test questions or something. I'll just sit in the room debating my slim dinner options.
Oh, Vanderbilt sent a no about a week and a half ago. I know NC State sent out acceptances *it's always good talking to some of the other gals here*, so I must be stuck in the "-uck me over and tell me no on April 10" pile. I was somewhat glad to hear that no one who was here over the weekend had heard from Duke either. But I think I'm certain what answer it is that I will get from them. I thought I heard something last night while wandering around that I was going to get in to Tech...but who knows...more than half the people there were drunk. Yes, the professors very much included. I love *wet* departments.
And you all thought I was somewhat smart. How is that for a kick in the face? I'll just go back to knitting, and teaching people how to multiply negative numbers, cause that is about all I am good for.
On I guess what would be considered a brighter note- I really did like the grad students here. They were very cool. Funniest thing I guess is that I ended up hanging out with this guy John, from Millersville, who knows the guy (Andrew) who gave literally the exact same talk as me at the Student Conference I had to give my billiards presentation (fortunately I went first). Oddly enough, I found out the Andrew is at Rutgers in NB doing graduate work there. Effin' small effin' world. So maybe if emailing occurs I might go say hello to him at some point. Who knows.
I guess maybe I'll go and start writing out some notes and such for my class even though I have no material with me. Or maybe some test questions or something. I'll just sit in the room debating my slim dinner options.
Mr. Rogers redeems himself...
Relationships are like dances in which people try to find whatever happens to be the mutual rhythm in their lives.
Yeah, that actually applies right now. Good job Mr. Rogers.
I probably shouldn't share....but one of the ladies I work with...their mom passed away last Friday. I am at a loss for words. It almost starts me traveling down a road...I don't think I can handle right now. Okay...i can't write about it or else I'll just start crying at my desk...for any myriad of reasons.
signing off.
Yeah, that actually applies right now. Good job Mr. Rogers.
I probably shouldn't share....but one of the ladies I work with...their mom passed away last Friday. I am at a loss for words. It almost starts me traveling down a road...I don't think I can handle right now. Okay...i can't write about it or else I'll just start crying at my desk...for any myriad of reasons.
signing off.
Ahem, Message for Mr. Rogers
Yesterday's Mr. Rogers quote:
Love is like infinity: You can't have more or less infinity, and you can't compare two things to see if they're "equally infinite." Infinity just is, and that's the way I think love is, too.
Unfortunately Mr. Rogers....you are wrong. You can check to see if sets are equally infinite by determining the cardinality (a measure of the number of elements in a set) of the set. If you can create a one-to-one mapping between a set and the set of natural numbers, then we have two sets which are countably infinite, and thus as you say "equally infinite", or countable. If we can't find that relationship, then the set is uncountably infinite, like the real numbers, which is more infinite than the natural numbers.
Mr. Rogers, you need to research a little bit about what you are talking about before you make a blanket statement like that. I've looked up to you for so long, and then you say such a thing like we can't compare two infinite things...you have shaken my faith in you.
I don't know what to do with myself now. My world has been turned upside down. I don't think I can look at Mr. Rogers in the same way again.
Love is like infinity: You can't have more or less infinity, and you can't compare two things to see if they're "equally infinite." Infinity just is, and that's the way I think love is, too.
Unfortunately Mr. Rogers....you are wrong. You can check to see if sets are equally infinite by determining the cardinality (a measure of the number of elements in a set) of the set. If you can create a one-to-one mapping between a set and the set of natural numbers, then we have two sets which are countably infinite, and thus as you say "equally infinite", or countable. If we can't find that relationship, then the set is uncountably infinite, like the real numbers, which is more infinite than the natural numbers.
Mr. Rogers, you need to research a little bit about what you are talking about before you make a blanket statement like that. I've looked up to you for so long, and then you say such a thing like we can't compare two infinite things...you have shaken my faith in you.
I don't know what to do with myself now. My world has been turned upside down. I don't think I can look at Mr. Rogers in the same way again.
Yackety Yak
Grad School Update (In order of hearing back):
Old Dominion- Yes, tuition, and teaching assistantship
Rutgers- No.
U. of South Carolina- Yes, partial tuition and teaching assistantship
Virginia Tech- Invitation to Graduate Visitor's Day (in my mind that is yes anyways...they wouldn't wine and dine me for nothing right??)
Princeton- No.
Still waiting to hear from:
Duke
NC State
Vanderbilt
Not a bad record so far, if I do say so myself.
Things are going well. The baby 'tism get cancelled because of the snow, so it got rescheduled. Next week is the bridal shower so that should be fun fun fun. Then the week after that I will be taking the Praxis...at get this....7:30 in the morning on a Saturday. Who does that???? why is it scheduled so freaking early???
Went out with the Beck for dinner last night. Good to just catch up, since we kept missing each other the past couple of weeks. I can't believe how quickly the weeks are flying by. Just nutty really. Only a couple more weeks til Spring Break....thank god, less students.
I'm going to get going. Catch ya later.
Old Dominion- Yes, tuition, and teaching assistantship
Rutgers- No.
U. of South Carolina- Yes, partial tuition and teaching assistantship
Virginia Tech- Invitation to Graduate Visitor's Day (in my mind that is yes anyways...they wouldn't wine and dine me for nothing right??)
Princeton- No.
Still waiting to hear from:
Duke
NC State
Vanderbilt
Not a bad record so far, if I do say so myself.
Things are going well. The baby 'tism get cancelled because of the snow, so it got rescheduled. Next week is the bridal shower so that should be fun fun fun. Then the week after that I will be taking the Praxis...at get this....7:30 in the morning on a Saturday. Who does that???? why is it scheduled so freaking early???
Went out with the Beck for dinner last night. Good to just catch up, since we kept missing each other the past couple of weeks. I can't believe how quickly the weeks are flying by. Just nutty really. Only a couple more weeks til Spring Break....thank god, less students.
I'm going to get going. Catch ya later.
Football
Now, let me preface this by....I have been going through football withdrawal for the past two weeks.
I think that was the worst officiated, badly played Superbowl I have seen in years. (No, I was not cheering for the Seahawks....or the Steelers.) I just wanted to see a good game. It seemed to lack the urgency, the excitement, the thrill of this being the big game. I was disappointed. I stopped working on my lecture materials to watch this game. The time could have been better spent. I will grant that the last 20 minutes (play clock time) were intriguing. The first half was totally useless. Twiddling my thumbs could have produced a better outcome for the first two quarters.
The commercials weren't that great either. My favorite was the Disney one, with the guys all practicing..."I'm going to Disney World." The diet Pepsi commercial was :oP. I liked the prehistoric FedEx commercial. Oh the thing that I loved the most...the Dr. Seuss's Oh The Places You'll Go intro for the game. That was really amazing. I think I may have to try to find it somewhere on the internet. I thought it was a novel idea.
Blech...not feeling well. I have a dentist appointment on Friday. I'm scared. I've never had a cavity before. This is the first one I am having filled. Ever. I'm a wimp.
Lots o'fun stuff this month (NOT the dentist): baptism for the twins, flogging molly concert???, and my cousin's bridal shower. I think this requires a trip to THE LOFT to buy some purty things.
Okay, must work on lecture stuff. TTFN.
I think that was the worst officiated, badly played Superbowl I have seen in years. (No, I was not cheering for the Seahawks....or the Steelers.) I just wanted to see a good game. It seemed to lack the urgency, the excitement, the thrill of this being the big game. I was disappointed. I stopped working on my lecture materials to watch this game. The time could have been better spent. I will grant that the last 20 minutes (play clock time) were intriguing. The first half was totally useless. Twiddling my thumbs could have produced a better outcome for the first two quarters.
The commercials weren't that great either. My favorite was the Disney one, with the guys all practicing..."I'm going to Disney World." The diet Pepsi commercial was :oP. I liked the prehistoric FedEx commercial. Oh the thing that I loved the most...the Dr. Seuss's Oh The Places You'll Go intro for the game. That was really amazing. I think I may have to try to find it somewhere on the internet. I thought it was a novel idea.
Blech...not feeling well. I have a dentist appointment on Friday. I'm scared. I've never had a cavity before. This is the first one I am having filled. Ever. I'm a wimp.
Lots o'fun stuff this month (NOT the dentist): baptism for the twins, flogging molly concert???, and my cousin's bridal shower. I think this requires a trip to THE LOFT to buy some purty things.
Okay, must work on lecture stuff. TTFN.
Mr. Rogers Update
Hey all-
So yeah that whole stomach food thing, hasn't really gone away. I feel like I have no appetite. What's worse is that I'm in the cooking kick...I want to make all this food, but I have no desire to eat any of it. Anyways....I've saved a bunch Mister Rogers quotes so here they are.
"Music has given me a way of expressing my feelings and my thoughts, and it has also given me a way of understanding more about life."
"Solitude is different from loneliness, and it doesn't have to be a lonely kind of thing."
"Love doesn't mean a state of perfect caring. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is right here and now-and to go on caring through joyful times and through times that may bring us pain."
"It is tempting to cling to the familiar. Just like in music, if we keep...playing in the key of C, we wouldn't have to take and risks of not making it to the key of E-flat. But we'd never know what it sounded like unless we tried. And once we've had the practice and the pleasure of making a transition from one key to the next, the subsequent times might not be quite so difficult."
"There is much more to independence than learning to master new skills. One of the most important parts of independence is learning to form new relationships with other people."
"A computer can help you learn to spell hug, but it can never help you know the risk or the joy of actually giving or receiving one."
Alright, I'm off.
So yeah that whole stomach food thing, hasn't really gone away. I feel like I have no appetite. What's worse is that I'm in the cooking kick...I want to make all this food, but I have no desire to eat any of it. Anyways....I've saved a bunch Mister Rogers quotes so here they are.
"Music has given me a way of expressing my feelings and my thoughts, and it has also given me a way of understanding more about life."
"Solitude is different from loneliness, and it doesn't have to be a lonely kind of thing."
"Love doesn't mean a state of perfect caring. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is right here and now-and to go on caring through joyful times and through times that may bring us pain."
"It is tempting to cling to the familiar. Just like in music, if we keep...playing in the key of C, we wouldn't have to take and risks of not making it to the key of E-flat. But we'd never know what it sounded like unless we tried. And once we've had the practice and the pleasure of making a transition from one key to the next, the subsequent times might not be quite so difficult."
"There is much more to independence than learning to master new skills. One of the most important parts of independence is learning to form new relationships with other people."
"A computer can help you learn to spell hug, but it can never help you know the risk or the joy of actually giving or receiving one."
Alright, I'm off.
So Cold I've Been wearing my jacket at work.
First, Thanks Suz, Cryssy, Dana, Laurie, and Sam. It really is quite exciting...and then not so exciting like yesterday. I got the uber thin denial letter from Rutgers.
No I am not crushed at all. It's actually quite good, cause if I had gotten accepted here...there would be a couple of serious reasons for me to contemplate staying around here. But I don't even get the chance to consider them. (Wrong I know...I am still waiting for Princeton but I seriously doubt they would send me an acceptance letter.)
Week 2 of the semester is almost done here. I am amazed at how quickly things are moving, not to mention the fact that it is just about the end of January.
I probably have stuff to grade...and I should go do that....or maybe I'll play a game of sudoku.
No I am not crushed at all. It's actually quite good, cause if I had gotten accepted here...there would be a couple of serious reasons for me to contemplate staying around here. But I don't even get the chance to consider them. (Wrong I know...I am still waiting for Princeton but I seriously doubt they would send me an acceptance letter.)
Week 2 of the semester is almost done here. I am amazed at how quickly things are moving, not to mention the fact that it is just about the end of January.
I probably have stuff to grade...and I should go do that....or maybe I'll play a game of sudoku.
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