Back in the saddle again

Why does the week after a long weekend seem long, too? Ah, the mysteries of the human mind and our perceptions...
Well, here goes the long update of the past week, because I know how much everyone loves an update blog. (actually, I really don't care - I'm doing this blog for me - it just so happens that other people can read it...)
Wednesday - I 'helped' with dinner at church. Truth be told, I ate dinner, and dried some dishes. And played with Hunter. He's a trip! I love kids. They are fascinating. Then, I went home, and finished laundry and packed to go to Nashville, and the Nicholson's house. After driving through some patchy heavy rains, I made it to the Music City at about 11, in time to meet up with Amy, Amy (yes, two of them), Maryah, Nathan, and Neil and see the Wooten Brothers. Good times.
Thursday - Turkey Day! I went with Amy (my roommate from senior year) and met up with Neil at the Woerner's (other Amy, Nathan, and their brother John, and parents) for an outstanding meal. Side note: Nathan and Maryah are way too cute. All I have to say about that is...troxfot. For the rest of the day - the tryptophan kicked in, and thwarted my attempts to grade quizzes. Instead I watched Radio and Secondhand Lions (which was much better than I thought it would be based on the previews).
Friday - I had my second Turkey Day! The Nicholson's have their dinner on Fridays now because that is the day that UT plays football - and by that I mean Texas. We had a very american meal, in the TV room, on TV trays, watching the game. Amy had to work, but she was given two hours for her lunch break so that she could eat with us. After the meal, I promptly fell asleep. I was woken up in time, however, to go to the Wildhorse Saloon for some country line dancing with Amy, Maryah, Nathan, and John. Let me just quote Maryah about the Woerner boys, "I don't think that they are white." I love dancing, especially with people who know how to dance, and just do it for the love of it. I had such a blast with them, and the evening ended on a high note.
Saturday - I woke up wanting some sweet potatoes - so that's what I had. I had my third turkey meal for brunch. It was really breakfast, but somehow, it doesn't sound so bad to have a turkey dinner for 'brunch'. Amy and I said goodbye when she left for work, and then Maryah talked about boy for a while before leaving. I say 'boy' because there really is only one that she was talking about - Nathan. They had their first date for Saturday night. Anyway, we finally got around to leaving, and drove to our friend Rachel's. I got to see her engagement ring for the first time, and hear all about the third wedding that I'll be missing in December (tear, tear). Then Maryah and I went our separate ways, and I drove home.
And thusly went my weekend.
Not much happened on Sunday or Monday - just please pray for me on Sunday - I'm once again attempting to sing in the choir. Yikes! I don't know why it freaks me out so much to be at the front of the sanctuary singing. Sure I was a little nervous when playing the flute, but never like this. I think maybe it's because my eyes are free to look around, and I'm more conscious of being in front of everyone. I don't know.
I spent most of Monday in the fetal position with a killer stomach ache. Don't know why. But I've been more sick this semester than ever before. [deleted]
And finally, this morning - I left the parking lot to discover a flat tire. Happy, happy, joy, joy. Actually, it wasn't too bad, thanks to the help of a friend. So here's my shout-out to the reeser - thanks for helpin' a sistah out. Now I've learned how to change a tire!
Cheers!

Lab Final

All I want to say is that I feel bad for my student who missed the lab final today. It breaks my heart to know that he stayed up studying late last night, and therefore missed the final this morning. I have gotten pretty attached to my students. I really care about how they do in Chemistry, and it is such a rewarding feeling when they do well on an exam, or finally understand a concept. I wish they could all do well. The ones I feel bad for are the ones who work hard, but just don't understand the subject. I wish I could give them points for effort.
Ah, the joys of teaching.

Monday, Monday (bah da, bah da da da)

Thank you Mamas and the Papas
This weekend was the first time in a long time that I was up before 9 AM on both Saturday and Sunday. Welcome to the real world, huh?
I have to start my review of the weekend with Friday night - eating dinner in Gatlinburg, walking through town, seeing the lights. Fun, fun, fun. I did get pretty tired by the end of the night, but I guess grad school will do that to you.
Saturday was full - raking leaves (getting a blister), then a one-year-old's birthday party (with five other kids attending), a wedding shower, and going Into The Woods. Good times had by all, even when stuck behind the police-escorted football team on their way back from Vandy. All I have to say about that is that the KPD never stopped traffic for the track team on our way to or from meets - but then we didn't bring in 100,000 people for our home meets, either.
Sunday - well, I finally made it to Sunday School (doesn't that term sound like I'm about 7?), taught the kindergarten class during 'big church' (again, about 7?), had Japanese food for lunch (always a highlight), and then drove my good friend to Nashville for her flight back home to Washington state. I got to have dinner with my old roommate, and four other friends, some new, some old, and then drive back to K-town. As I look forward to driving back to Nashville for Thanksgiving, and then home to Altamont, NY, I really wish my Jetta had cruise control. Just know that it's because of all of those hours of driving if I come back in January with one calf larger than the other!
On that note, I'm off to outline some of the chemistry of the elements of the periodic table, and recrystallize some diphenylamine! Sounds like fun, huh? Don't you wish you were me? (jk, I really love it)

Fry-day

Hey, hey, it's the weekend!
Finally! I am getting better, and so is life.
I had a good talk with my boss (read: research/PhD advisor) yesterday, and he got me straightened out. I'd been kind of freaking out about my research, feeling like I was way behind, and still learning how to do things in the lab. We are going to communicate more (changing my habit of avoiding people/situations when I think someone is disappointed with me), and I am switching to a different project so that I can make mistakes and not screw up someone else's deadline (whew!). I've gotten almost everything graded for my students, and (yikes!!!) there are only five more days if classes left in the semester. Can you say 'Deutschland'?! Winter break never looked so good!
Anyway, that's all for now: I'm off to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge for dinner and Christmas lights!
Cheers

Hiatus

Well, time flies when you're having fun. Or something like that. The last few weeks have been crazy. Election time, and then I have been sick, so out of the chemistry building (and away from the computer). I am now on antibiotics, and praying for a swift recovery. I almost forgot to mention how fun the Superhero City party for the kids was on 10/31! When is it not fun to dress up like a superhero (or super villain)?

On a positive note, I will be going to Germany next month! I am leaving after finals, and coming back on the 28th. I will be helping out with a living nativity in Amberg, in Bavaria, till the 23rd, then taking the train to my 96 year-old grandmother's, where I will be spending Christmas. Then I will be flying back to NYC, and spending New Years with a friend in the City, and going to Times Square to see the ball drop (look for me on TV!). Then I am taking the train home, and spending a few days with my family - Mom, Dad, and Karsten (please pray for them - things are tough right now).

Well, enough fun stuff for now. I'd type more, but I don't have 8 hours a day to sit at the computer and surf the information super-highway.