I must say that it's official: Jack Bauer and I have officially called it quits and I've moved on. The 192 hours/8 Days I spent with Jack will never be forgotten. While he is in hiding from the Russians, I have no choice but to pursue other interests. There is a new man in my life now. He's over 200 years old and his name is Charles Darwin.
The last two weeks have been nothing but Darwin, Darwinian Medicine, Evolutionary Medicine, natural selection, survival of the fittest, Galapagos Islands, the Beagle, finches, traits, speciation, and so on. So many times through a person's education, they will sit back and ask themselves, "What the hell am I ever going to need to know this for?"
Well, I am not asking that question. Instead, I am asking myself a different question. "How can I relate evolution to senioritis?"
First things first. We need to define natural selection and evolution. Natural selection is the process by which only organisms with the best adapted traits for the environment survive. Evolution is a change in genetic makeup of a population over a period of time.
So, let's say that your "population" is a group of college seniors. Within this population, there are seniors with the gene for senioritis and seniors that do not have this gene. We'll call graduation our "survival". The seniors without the senioritis gene are more likely to survive through graduation, while the senioritis sufferers die off, or go work for Wal-mart. Natural selection is all about reproduction, so to tie that in... all those seniors who graduate celebrate with alcohol on graduation night, mate, and produce the next generation of non-senioritis sufferers.
I think this would be an excellent presentation for some of the upcoming science events. I better quit wasting time and start a proposal.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
How I Feel About Research
I think the only way I can possibly sum up how I feel about research is through photos I have stolen off of a Google search.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Back in the Saddle, Again... Almost.
Textbooks... ORDERED!
Student ID... MISSING!
Research... STARTED!
Financial Aid... REINSTATED!
Farewell to the sabbatical. Tomorrow is a school night. Farewell to waking up whenever I please, lounging around in pajamas until I can't stand the smell of myself, the "hanging out" with Grandpa Larry, the goofing off, and everything else I have become so accustomed to the last few months. It is time to focus, get serious, and get this graduation thing done.
The seventh year senior would like to take this time to reflect on my many accomplishments during this amazing sabbatical:
Student ID... MISSING!
Research... STARTED!
Financial Aid... REINSTATED!
Farewell to the sabbatical. Tomorrow is a school night. Farewell to waking up whenever I please, lounging around in pajamas until I can't stand the smell of myself, the "hanging out" with Grandpa Larry, the goofing off, and everything else I have become so accustomed to the last few months. It is time to focus, get serious, and get this graduation thing done.
The seventh year senior would like to take this time to reflect on my many accomplishments during this amazing sabbatical:
- "Hunting in the House" is now at 10,000 words!
- I shoveled Grandpa's driveway. Three times.
- Worked 50+ hours at Integra's new building & it looks AWESOME!
- Drank the equivalent of an Olympic-sized swimming pool in Coffee!
- Watched "Home Alone" 4 times.
- Watched "Elf" 3 times.
- Memorized the words to almost all of Sugarland's new CD.
- Read over 25 books to Nolan, Madeline, and Gunner.
- Brushed my teeth at least every three days.
- Played 3 gigs.
- Watched every episode of Cheers, The Andy Griffith Show, and Everybody Loves Raymond ever made.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Things I Find on Craigslist
Ad title: I be a vocalist
I didn't even open the post at first. I see "I be a vocalist" and instantly don't care whether or not they can sing because I am willing to bet this person can't even talk.
Ad Title:
ESL, English, and More
Ad Content:
Ad Content:
I am an experienced ESL tutor, offering "Student Driven" one-on-one
classes,
which are designed to meet YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
Would it be wrong to give this person's e-mail to the I be a vocalist guy?
Ad title:
Wedding/Funeral Singer
Content:
My name is Emily and I am looking for more opportunities to pursue my passion.
Does this strike anyone else as funny? Just wondering.
Ad title:
My Hubby is a Mama's Boy!!!
Content:
He talks to his mother several times a day everyday.
All she has to do is snap her fingers and he goes running to her house.
Please read my story and share your thoughts on my situation.
All she has to do is snap her fingers and he goes running to her house.
Please read my story and share your thoughts on my situation.
What is up with these? They pop up every now and then and it directs you to www.peoplesinsight.com. Really? Wouldn't you rather be watching Jersey Shore?
Ad title:
iso of photographer for TFC shoot
Content:
female actress looking for a photographer for headshots.
TFC or TFP only.
looking to do this sometime next week maybe wednesday, the 12th.
serious people only.
don't waste my time, and i won't waste yours.
TFC or TFP only.
looking to do this sometime next week maybe wednesday, the 12th.
serious people only.
don't waste my time, and i won't waste yours.
I love the "don't waste my time, and i won't waste yours" the best. TFC/TFP is a waste of time, young lady. Unless your Sandra Bullock or someone of similar status, of course. (TFC = trade for content; TFP = trade for prints) If you're looking for quality, you should expect to pay your photographer. Otherwise, get out your iPhone and take a couple headshots. I hate these types of ads and there are tons of them out there.
Ad title:
Looking for a Russian Speaking Nanny
I think Sarah Palin is available.
Ad title:
aDuLt WaLkEr...
Ad Content:
nice and FIRM does not WIGGLE make good offer!
No comment. Just sharing.
Lost & Found Items
LOST: Sparkle Blue Superman Wallet (Arkansas)
LOST: Yellow Champ Hobby Airplane (Arkansas)
LOST: 1992 Geo Tracker (Arkansas)
Last seen on Thompson Street. Yellow. Old. POS. Our family's
transportation. Please return it. The cops are looking for you.
LOST: ATV Ramp (Montana)
FOUND: Anyone Lose a Rabbit? (Alaska)
FOUND: Dead husky on 96.... Sorry for your loss (Detroit)
LOST: Hearing aids (Milwaukee)
FOUND: I found your dress in the parking lot (Milwaukee)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Last 15 days of Sabbatical
Okay, it wasn't really a sabbatical. It was more along the lines of a necessary leave of absence. Still, I have participated in many creative projects that can make it seem justified as a sabbatical.
I am afraid, however, that school is going to shock my system. After all, I have been off since mid-October. Now that we're down to the wire I am trying to prepare myself for a scheduled lifestyle. This routine of waking up whenever I want, blogging or writing all day, hanging out with my grandpa, the niece and nephews, and drinking all the soda and coffee I can get my hands on has been incredible. With it coming to an end, I am scrambling to finish up projects that I won't be able to pay attention to until after May.
Maybe I need to create a Back to School Boot Camp for myself? Set my alarm every morning for 6:30 AM, read more than just Facebook statuses and Craigslist ads, get going on my research project, organize my apartment for effective studying, and practice more self-discipline.
Scratch that. I've been in college long enough to know how to do this. I think I'll spend these 15 days working on my collection of childhood stories, playing some guitar, watching movies, and setting all sorts of goals for 2011.
Off the subject, do you consider 7-up a soda? I don't. But, I did break the New Year's resolution of no more soda in less than 48 hours. I cracked open a Mountain Dew today, chugged it, and then took a two hour nap. I think 7-up, Sprite, and Sierra Mist are okay, though. No caffeine. Either way, I guess the fact that I didn't have three Mountain Dews today, or 2 Mountain Dews and a Coke Zero is progress. Looking on the bright side, I won't have that awful migraine that comes with cutting off the caffeine. Oh, wait. I didn't give up coffee either, so that really isn't an issue. Hmm...
Ok. Carry on. I'm going to get back to creative writing and watching television in front of this awesome space heater I found.
I am afraid, however, that school is going to shock my system. After all, I have been off since mid-October. Now that we're down to the wire I am trying to prepare myself for a scheduled lifestyle. This routine of waking up whenever I want, blogging or writing all day, hanging out with my grandpa, the niece and nephews, and drinking all the soda and coffee I can get my hands on has been incredible. With it coming to an end, I am scrambling to finish up projects that I won't be able to pay attention to until after May.
Maybe I need to create a Back to School Boot Camp for myself? Set my alarm every morning for 6:30 AM, read more than just Facebook statuses and Craigslist ads, get going on my research project, organize my apartment for effective studying, and practice more self-discipline.
Scratch that. I've been in college long enough to know how to do this. I think I'll spend these 15 days working on my collection of childhood stories, playing some guitar, watching movies, and setting all sorts of goals for 2011.
Off the subject, do you consider 7-up a soda? I don't. But, I did break the New Year's resolution of no more soda in less than 48 hours. I cracked open a Mountain Dew today, chugged it, and then took a two hour nap. I think 7-up, Sprite, and Sierra Mist are okay, though. No caffeine. Either way, I guess the fact that I didn't have three Mountain Dews today, or 2 Mountain Dews and a Coke Zero is progress. Looking on the bright side, I won't have that awful migraine that comes with cutting off the caffeine. Oh, wait. I didn't give up coffee either, so that really isn't an issue. Hmm...
Ok. Carry on. I'm going to get back to creative writing and watching television in front of this awesome space heater I found.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
May 14, 2011
Five days after my 29th birthday I will graduate with 168 credits. That's not counting the 70ish credits from the interpreting degree I received in '04. The sabbatical has been great, but I am afraid that it is going to have to come to an end. Not right now, though. As a matter of fact, I'm sitting on the sofa still in my pajamas watching the evening news. My teeth haven't been brushed today and I just might have had cookies for breakfast.
The rest of the Viterbo students will be on break until January 17th. Not me. I guess that I have been on sabbatical since before Halloween, so I guess it is only fair that I start earlier than everyone else.
But, enough about that! My sabbatical is dwindling away, so I am going to enjoy these last moments and put them to good use . . .
thinking...
and planning...
the graduation party!
Keep May 14th open.
That's all I'm going to say right now.
The rest of the Viterbo students will be on break until January 17th. Not me. I guess that I have been on sabbatical since before Halloween, so I guess it is only fair that I start earlier than everyone else.
But, enough about that! My sabbatical is dwindling away, so I am going to enjoy these last moments and put them to good use . . .
thinking...
and planning...
the graduation party!
Keep May 14th open.
That's all I'm going to say right now.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Nonsense sort of Stuff
Wednesday found me in the admission's office at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse with an unofficial copy of my transcripts from Viterbo. The admissions guy gave me all the information that I needed for applying. Let's see... since I've developed this college addiction, I've applied at Northcentral Technical College, University of Wisconsin - Marathon County, Winona State University, McNally Smith, University of Alaska - Anchorage, and Viterbo. (I was accepted at every college, but didn't attend all of them! If I did, could you imagine how many credits I'd have by now?) It's a good thing the UW-L guy walked me through the application process because I haven't quite got the hang of it, yet.
He looked through the two pages of classes and the look on his face was priceless when he said, "You have 150 credits!!!!!" The next look on his face was even pricelessier (seven years of college - had to throw in a word that you wouldn't recognize) when I told him that I had another 70+ credits from NTC.
I need to decide whether I want to transfer to UW-L and finish my undergrad and change my major, or continue at Viterbo for the same amount of time and more than twice the tuition.
I have 150 credits. Only 128 credits are needed for a bachelor's degree. Why can't they just write me out a degree certificate so I can frame it and stick it on my wall? Can't they just leave the major blank and give me my B.S. so I can just go on my merry way? This is all I want for Christmas. A big red bow would be nice, but certainly not necessary.
Now that I think about it, maybe I've over-thought about it. Maybe I'm supposed to take this opportunity to change my name to something completely country bumpkinish and chase my dreams to Nashville. Or, Texas. I could pick up a southern accent in no time, join a band, and roam the country in a beat up motor home. Now that I over-think what I should be under-thinking about, I already have a country bumpkin name, kind of.
So, as I was sitting in the admissions office I was looking out the window staring at a cemetery. Life is short. Or, long. Depending on how much of it you've spent applying to colleges and collecting credits.
He looked through the two pages of classes and the look on his face was priceless when he said, "You have 150 credits!!!!!" The next look on his face was even pricelessier (seven years of college - had to throw in a word that you wouldn't recognize) when I told him that I had another 70+ credits from NTC.
I need to decide whether I want to transfer to UW-L and finish my undergrad and change my major, or continue at Viterbo for the same amount of time and more than twice the tuition.
I have 150 credits. Only 128 credits are needed for a bachelor's degree. Why can't they just write me out a degree certificate so I can frame it and stick it on my wall? Can't they just leave the major blank and give me my B.S. so I can just go on my merry way? This is all I want for Christmas. A big red bow would be nice, but certainly not necessary.
Now that I think about it, maybe I've over-thought about it. Maybe I'm supposed to take this opportunity to change my name to something completely country bumpkinish and chase my dreams to Nashville. Or, Texas. I could pick up a southern accent in no time, join a band, and roam the country in a beat up motor home. Now that I over-think what I should be under-thinking about, I already have a country bumpkin name, kind of.
So, as I was sitting in the admissions office I was looking out the window staring at a cemetery. Life is short. Or, long. Depending on how much of it you've spent applying to colleges and collecting credits.
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