My head hurts and I'm hungover. Out-of-town Ellen and in-town Ellen, along with Darcy, Karen, and I all went to Formosa, this Asian Fusion place, last night for three dollar martinis and I drank a bit more than I'm use to (which is nothing, usually) and now my head hurts. I guess this would be why I don't drink much, huh? That and I was forced to drink huge amounts of alcohol in Ukraine and I'm totally done with doing that to myself now.
As most of you probably know, or guessed by now, I was in St. Louis for the weekend preceeding Christmas with Scientist. We did the usually family stuff, which was pretty fun. I got some nice things from Scientist-- a cool striped sweater and a gift certificate for a massage-- and his family. I got nothing hideous or stupid.
Scientist and I actually got up at the butt crack of dawn on Christmas day and drove back to Iowa, where we went for Christmas dinner (best ever--my aunt and uncle are awesome cooks!) at my grandma's place and opened even more presents. Scientist told me later that he was a little nervous about meeting my whole family (grandma, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.), but totally relaxed once he realized my family is completely unintimidating. That, and three of cousins had significant others with them, one of whom was new to the scene as well, so it took a great deal of pressure off him.
Since then we've been chillin'. Actually, I've been working and chillin'. I don't know how my manager got the impression I like closing, but I've closed nearly every shift at this new store and I really don't like it. Closing sucks.
We've also been doing a fair amount of cooking (big surprise). For Christmas I bought Scientist an Indian cookbook (along with the new Killers CD and a sweater) and convinced my mom to buy him a rice cooker/food steamer. It ROCKS. We fixed broccoli with cheese for lunch and Butter Chicken for dinner yesterday. Who knew appliances could be so much fun?
Friday, December 29, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
The Ear
As some of you may know, about three years ago I had a couple of operations on my left ear to remove a cholesteatoma , a nasty little bugger that had decided to take up residence in my ear. I had a 'second look' operation a year later, and since having left Peace Corps I have had virtually no one touch it whatsoever.
So right around my birthday I start to feel as though I couldn't hear as well out of my left ear as usual. I made a big mistake of trying to clean it myself, with the help of Scientist, who insisted that if I used hydrogen peroxide to clean it out I'd feel much better (he was shown how to do this by a doctor after he had a nasty infection in his ear awhile ago). I basically dumped a bunch of hydrogen peroxide on my ear, and upon tasting it and feeling it slide down the back of my throat, decided this was not such a good idea. After that, my sinus started to bother me.
Finally, after a couple months of on and off sinus and hearing problems, I made an appointment with Otolarongolgy (Head and Neck Surgery) at the University of Iowa. I pretty nervous, seeing as how I want someone cutting into my head again about as much as I want to be thrown off a cliff (did I mention I don't have insurance until, at the earliest next month when I can get on UI Grad Care, which, apparently, rocks the house as far as coverage is concerned).
After waiting an hour and a half (remind me to be late next time) and sweating my ass off out of nervousness, a resident came in, took a medical history and proceeded to spend about 10 seconds trying to examine the inside of my ear before announcing we were going to another room with an ear microscope. Once inside the room the real fun began.
Apparently my ear was full of crap--not just ear wax (I know this is gross guys, but bare with me), but hard, bloody, glued to my ear drum ear wax. As the resident was extracting it I was squirming and gripping the sides of the chair. At one point he was like, "Um, I'm going to take out a tube....I'm not sure why that was there....It was just hanging out in your ear canal...Did you have tubes in your ears?" He had to stop half way through because I was in some pain and was about to fall of the chair (it literally felt like he was dragging a rake across my eardrum, which was not only painful, it was super loud). Then, about 5 minutes later he said, "Uh, here's another tube. Why do you have another tube." I said something about just being operated on and the surgeon in D.C. who did my surgery last while I was still in Peace Corps just operating on me and not telling me much about what he was doing (I don't think he could be bothered to explain, say, why the fuck he was putting two tubes in my ear).
You wouldn't believe the crap they pulled out of such as small canal. It was nasty. I think the resident was a little surprised as well.
After I was tortured and examined by the resident, the head doc came in. He told me he was amazed at what was in there, and in all the many years he had been doing this he had never pulled two tubes out of one ear (he told me I could take pride in breaking a new record). He then looked in my ear, and announced he saw two things: a) no problem with my middle ear, and thus, no recurrence in of my little friend cholesteatoma, and b) a "gaping hole" in my eardrum. The gaping hole is what, apparently, is causing the hearing loss.
So, in about 6 weeks, after I've officially started grad school and officially gotten health insurance, I will be going in for an audiogram (hearing test) and a consultation with an ear specialist about how to fix my hearing in my left ear. Should be interesting....
So right around my birthday I start to feel as though I couldn't hear as well out of my left ear as usual. I made a big mistake of trying to clean it myself, with the help of Scientist, who insisted that if I used hydrogen peroxide to clean it out I'd feel much better (he was shown how to do this by a doctor after he had a nasty infection in his ear awhile ago). I basically dumped a bunch of hydrogen peroxide on my ear, and upon tasting it and feeling it slide down the back of my throat, decided this was not such a good idea. After that, my sinus started to bother me.
Finally, after a couple months of on and off sinus and hearing problems, I made an appointment with Otolarongolgy (Head and Neck Surgery) at the University of Iowa. I pretty nervous, seeing as how I want someone cutting into my head again about as much as I want to be thrown off a cliff (did I mention I don't have insurance until, at the earliest next month when I can get on UI Grad Care, which, apparently, rocks the house as far as coverage is concerned).
After waiting an hour and a half (remind me to be late next time) and sweating my ass off out of nervousness, a resident came in, took a medical history and proceeded to spend about 10 seconds trying to examine the inside of my ear before announcing we were going to another room with an ear microscope. Once inside the room the real fun began.
Apparently my ear was full of crap--not just ear wax (I know this is gross guys, but bare with me), but hard, bloody, glued to my ear drum ear wax. As the resident was extracting it I was squirming and gripping the sides of the chair. At one point he was like, "Um, I'm going to take out a tube....I'm not sure why that was there....It was just hanging out in your ear canal...Did you have tubes in your ears?" He had to stop half way through because I was in some pain and was about to fall of the chair (it literally felt like he was dragging a rake across my eardrum, which was not only painful, it was super loud). Then, about 5 minutes later he said, "Uh, here's another tube. Why do you have another tube." I said something about just being operated on and the surgeon in D.C. who did my surgery last while I was still in Peace Corps just operating on me and not telling me much about what he was doing (I don't think he could be bothered to explain, say, why the fuck he was putting two tubes in my ear).
You wouldn't believe the crap they pulled out of such as small canal. It was nasty. I think the resident was a little surprised as well.
After I was tortured and examined by the resident, the head doc came in. He told me he was amazed at what was in there, and in all the many years he had been doing this he had never pulled two tubes out of one ear (he told me I could take pride in breaking a new record). He then looked in my ear, and announced he saw two things: a) no problem with my middle ear, and thus, no recurrence in of my little friend cholesteatoma, and b) a "gaping hole" in my eardrum. The gaping hole is what, apparently, is causing the hearing loss.
So, in about 6 weeks, after I've officially started grad school and officially gotten health insurance, I will be going in for an audiogram (hearing test) and a consultation with an ear specialist about how to fix my hearing in my left ear. Should be interesting....
Monday, December 18, 2006
Stupid Grades
So, my Epidemiology test went horribly awry, apparently, because I totally tanked the last exam. I'm not even kidding. Oh well, at least I still passed with a B (I hope). I have no idea what I got on my Biostats final, but I have a feeling I got a B+ on both the exam and for my final grade.
I know I shouldn't be so hard on myself given that a) this is my first semester of grad school, b) I haven't taken math since I was 17 and b) I didn't take the prerequisite course I should've for Biostats, but....damn it, I was nearly a few tenths of a percentage point from an A- in both classes and due to very little sleep the night before my finals and nerves, I blew As in both classes. Damn ITTTTT!
Enough. I'm on vacation. I should be relaxing for God's sakes. Jesus. What is my problem?
For the past three days I've worked new location of the coffee shop I work for. My tips were much better yesterday than they usually are at the location I use to work at, plus I really liked some of the people I worked with. Closing didn't even suck that much (when I worked at B & N I closed all the time and grew to hate it with a passion, along with the fact that the boss I had never ever closed), although I'm going to be sure to do it as little as possible next semester.
My mom and I are going to do a little shopping this afternoon, but other than that, I'm pretty much going to chill. Ah, I love vacation.
I know I shouldn't be so hard on myself given that a) this is my first semester of grad school, b) I haven't taken math since I was 17 and b) I didn't take the prerequisite course I should've for Biostats, but....damn it, I was nearly a few tenths of a percentage point from an A- in both classes and due to very little sleep the night before my finals and nerves, I blew As in both classes. Damn ITTTTT!
Enough. I'm on vacation. I should be relaxing for God's sakes. Jesus. What is my problem?
For the past three days I've worked new location of the coffee shop I work for. My tips were much better yesterday than they usually are at the location I use to work at, plus I really liked some of the people I worked with. Closing didn't even suck that much (when I worked at B & N I closed all the time and grew to hate it with a passion, along with the fact that the boss I had never ever closed), although I'm going to be sure to do it as little as possible next semester.
My mom and I are going to do a little shopping this afternoon, but other than that, I'm pretty much going to chill. Ah, I love vacation.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
My Russian Winter Vacation
Now that my semester of math is finally over maybe I can actually update this blog every so often. Really, though, who am I kidding? I always find other things to do other than update this blog. Like, say, watch episodes of Lost with Scientist while snuggling and drinking hot cocoa (I'm not even kidding: we're that disgustingly cute).
One thing I've been promising myself I'll do over the next month or so is brush up on my Russian. When I got back from Ukraine last year I pretty much purposely avoided do ANYTHING with Russian--I was so sick and tired of speaking it, reading it, writing it, hearing it....After acting as translator for another volunteer for over a year, along with using it to do normal every day sorts of things, I need a break. I never thought I'd get to that point, but I did. And my desire to speak remained at an all time low for almost a year.
But now I'm ready to pick up Harry Potter or Master and Margarita where I left off. I think I'll maybe even seek out a Russian conversation circle if I can (I've heard rumors of one existing here in Iowa City). I mean, I might start practicing now--I'm going to need my language skills for my overseas practicum for the summer of 2008....I know that sounds like the most anal retentive thing to do ever; to start honing and refining my Russian skills for something that's still a year and a half off, but Russian is a difficult languageand my standards are extremely high. Seriously.
Other than that I'm going to try to spend some serious time at the gym, read and work. We'll see if I get all these things accomplished. I'm always super ambitious when I have copious amounts of free time and then, ultimately end up doing squat.
One thing I've been promising myself I'll do over the next month or so is brush up on my Russian. When I got back from Ukraine last year I pretty much purposely avoided do ANYTHING with Russian--I was so sick and tired of speaking it, reading it, writing it, hearing it....After acting as translator for another volunteer for over a year, along with using it to do normal every day sorts of things, I need a break. I never thought I'd get to that point, but I did. And my desire to speak remained at an all time low for almost a year.
But now I'm ready to pick up Harry Potter or Master and Margarita where I left off. I think I'll maybe even seek out a Russian conversation circle if I can (I've heard rumors of one existing here in Iowa City). I mean, I might start practicing now--I'm going to need my language skills for my overseas practicum for the summer of 2008....I know that sounds like the most anal retentive thing to do ever; to start honing and refining my Russian skills for something that's still a year and a half off, but Russian is a difficult languageand my standards are extremely high. Seriously.
Other than that I'm going to try to spend some serious time at the gym, read and work. We'll see if I get all these things accomplished. I'm always super ambitious when I have copious amounts of free time and then, ultimately end up doing squat.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Finals Week
Thank God this semester is finally over. I've been studying for both of my finals for about two weeks now (I know, I know, I'm a nerd, but this math stuf is really hard for me) and I'm just ready for it all to be over. I don't know why I'm so worried about my grades; it's not like what I get in either class is going to affect whether or not I get into grad school here or not.
On a better, more exciting note, I scored big and signed up for three classes yesterday that I'm super excited about. The classes I'll be taking next spring are as follows: Global Health and Human Rights, Human Biology and Global Health Seminar. I'm not so excited about the Global Health Seminar (in fact, I'm trying to get permission to take another class instead, but I needed to sign up for at least 3 classes) because it's a 2 and a half hour seminar, but, hey, what can you do? I have to take it for my major.
I'm also going to start working at a different branch of the coffee house I work for. This one is a bit closer to home and will allow me to park for free as opposed to paying an arm and a leg like I do now whenever I work.
All in all, it's been a pretty good week. Wish me luck on my finals.
On a better, more exciting note, I scored big and signed up for three classes yesterday that I'm super excited about. The classes I'll be taking next spring are as follows: Global Health and Human Rights, Human Biology and Global Health Seminar. I'm not so excited about the Global Health Seminar (in fact, I'm trying to get permission to take another class instead, but I needed to sign up for at least 3 classes) because it's a 2 and a half hour seminar, but, hey, what can you do? I have to take it for my major.
I'm also going to start working at a different branch of the coffee house I work for. This one is a bit closer to home and will allow me to park for free as opposed to paying an arm and a leg like I do now whenever I work.
All in all, it's been a pretty good week. Wish me luck on my finals.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Public Health Goddess
BIG NEWS!
I was accepted into the University of Iowa's Global Health program for spring 2007! YIPPEEE!!!
This is super great. Why? Because it means all of my hard work this semester has paid off. It means I finally got a department at the University of Iowa to acknowledge all the cool stuff I did in Ukraine. Hell, it means my Peace Corps experience is finally paying off-- a little.
It also means I'll get to take interesting classes next semester like 'Health Disparities and Cultural Competence' and, possibly, (if I get the professor to let me in dispite the class being closed) 'Global Health and Human Rights: War and Beyond'. Don't those classes sound COOL?
It also means that I'll be required to go overseas for my 'overseas experience' the summer of 2008. I don't know too much about the requirements thus far, but I've already got an idea for what I'd do there.
Just because I've been accepted here doesn't mean I'm necessarily going to stick around at Iowa to get my degree. See, Scientist graduates sometime this summer, and that means I'm going to apply to schools in the cities where he's looking for work, in the hopes that I get in and we can avoid being apart for a year or more while I finish my degree. By at least beginning my graduate studies now I can get some requirements out of the way and some of credits will transfer if we, in fact, move.
In the meantime, I'm going to bask in my happiness just a little bit longer. Oh, and I guess I should get crackin' on studying for my Epi and Biostats finals.
I was accepted into the University of Iowa's Global Health program for spring 2007! YIPPEEE!!!
This is super great. Why? Because it means all of my hard work this semester has paid off. It means I finally got a department at the University of Iowa to acknowledge all the cool stuff I did in Ukraine. Hell, it means my Peace Corps experience is finally paying off-- a little.
It also means I'll get to take interesting classes next semester like 'Health Disparities and Cultural Competence' and, possibly, (if I get the professor to let me in dispite the class being closed) 'Global Health and Human Rights: War and Beyond'. Don't those classes sound COOL?
It also means that I'll be required to go overseas for my 'overseas experience' the summer of 2008. I don't know too much about the requirements thus far, but I've already got an idea for what I'd do there.
Just because I've been accepted here doesn't mean I'm necessarily going to stick around at Iowa to get my degree. See, Scientist graduates sometime this summer, and that means I'm going to apply to schools in the cities where he's looking for work, in the hopes that I get in and we can avoid being apart for a year or more while I finish my degree. By at least beginning my graduate studies now I can get some requirements out of the way and some of credits will transfer if we, in fact, move.
In the meantime, I'm going to bask in my happiness just a little bit longer. Oh, and I guess I should get crackin' on studying for my Epi and Biostats finals.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Back from St. Louis
I hope everyone had a fabulous, relaxing, work free Thanksgiving. I know I did. I didn't do shit. Actually, that's not true....
I pretty much met all of the Scientist's family--his aunts and uncles, grandma, and cousin's family. They all seemed very nice, although I didn't get a lot of time to talk to each of them individually. His grandma seemed especially sweet, and for 90 years old she seemed really really with it (who still does crosswords at 90--the only person I know who will still be doing crosswords at 90 is Jake).
On Saturday night Steve and I went out with two of his friends from high school, Ice Cream man and his girlfriend, Candle Girl to the Hill, an Italian neighborhood in St. Louis. Everyone had so much pasta and toasted ravioli (a St. Louis thing; afterwards, everytime I told anyone that I had never had toasted ravioli they all got these incredulous looks on their faces and said, "REALLY?") we could barely move and punked out early. We're all 32 and 30 respectively and we're already going to bed at 11 on a Saturday night during Thanksgiving break. Christ.
It was, in all, a really nice, fairly stress-free weekend. I still love St. Louis and would not mind moving there with Scientist next year, and I got to spend time with people he loves while not overdoing it. Hopefully Christmas will be the same, although I doubt I'll be able to go to STL because of my shitty minimum wage job. GRRRR.....
I pretty much met all of the Scientist's family--his aunts and uncles, grandma, and cousin's family. They all seemed very nice, although I didn't get a lot of time to talk to each of them individually. His grandma seemed especially sweet, and for 90 years old she seemed really really with it (who still does crosswords at 90--the only person I know who will still be doing crosswords at 90 is Jake).
On Saturday night Steve and I went out with two of his friends from high school, Ice Cream man and his girlfriend, Candle Girl to the Hill, an Italian neighborhood in St. Louis. Everyone had so much pasta and toasted ravioli (a St. Louis thing; afterwards, everytime I told anyone that I had never had toasted ravioli they all got these incredulous looks on their faces and said, "REALLY?") we could barely move and punked out early. We're all 32 and 30 respectively and we're already going to bed at 11 on a Saturday night during Thanksgiving break. Christ.
It was, in all, a really nice, fairly stress-free weekend. I still love St. Louis and would not mind moving there with Scientist next year, and I got to spend time with people he loves while not overdoing it. Hopefully Christmas will be the same, although I doubt I'll be able to go to STL because of my shitty minimum wage job. GRRRR.....
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Two Pairs of Jeans
You'll have to forgive me if this entry is a little loopy. I had a really nasty nightmare last night that I was being tortured in someone's basement, and, as a result I was awake for three hours in the middle of the night. Why is it that even if I fall asleep after being in the middle of the night, I still wake up super tired?
Our trip to Chicago was great. I got some good relaxation time in, as well as having a dinner with Brian twice. On Friday we went for some very mediocre Ukrainian food in Ukrainian village, and then went for some beer afterwards. I forgot to warn Scientist that Ukrainian beer is about twice as strong as American beer, so he was staggering a bit at the end of the night.
Seeing Brian was great: I've been thinking about Ukraine a lot lately, so regailing Scientist with stories and speaking a little Russian, was nice. I wish Brian could come to Iowa City and see me in my element, now that I've seen him in his, but alas, grown-up things like work and school have kept that from happening thus far.
We also had a great culinary weekend as well. On Saturday night we went for Indian food at a place called Gaylord India (its downtownish, on Clark) and had some super spicy Indian food, which was a nice change from Iowa City, where, unless we have our Indian friends with us, no one believes that we, and more specifically me, can handle seriously spicy food. In fact, when we were ordering one of our friends said to the waiter, "These two can handle it spicy." I ended up getting what I asked for. Any spicer and it would've made me cry. Literally.
On Sunday I ended up buying not one but TWO pairs of Levi jeans. This is a major coup for me for several reasons: a) I'm 5'2 so finding jeans that fit and I don't have to have shortened is difficult, b) these jeans totally fit well and look super nice on my body, and c) I got two pairs for $70 bucks, which ain't bad if you refuse to get cheap jeans that fall apart in the wash and make your ass look huge like you would if you bought them at Walmart. Honestly, this alone brightened my entire weekend.
Tomorrow I probably won't be posting, seeing as how Scientist and I are heading to St. Louis for Turkey Day and won't have access to e-mail quite as often as I do at home. I hope you all have a wonderful day with people you love, relaxing and enjoying time off.
Our trip to Chicago was great. I got some good relaxation time in, as well as having a dinner with Brian twice. On Friday we went for some very mediocre Ukrainian food in Ukrainian village, and then went for some beer afterwards. I forgot to warn Scientist that Ukrainian beer is about twice as strong as American beer, so he was staggering a bit at the end of the night.
Seeing Brian was great: I've been thinking about Ukraine a lot lately, so regailing Scientist with stories and speaking a little Russian, was nice. I wish Brian could come to Iowa City and see me in my element, now that I've seen him in his, but alas, grown-up things like work and school have kept that from happening thus far.
We also had a great culinary weekend as well. On Saturday night we went for Indian food at a place called Gaylord India (its downtownish, on Clark) and had some super spicy Indian food, which was a nice change from Iowa City, where, unless we have our Indian friends with us, no one believes that we, and more specifically me, can handle seriously spicy food. In fact, when we were ordering one of our friends said to the waiter, "These two can handle it spicy." I ended up getting what I asked for. Any spicer and it would've made me cry. Literally.
On Sunday I ended up buying not one but TWO pairs of Levi jeans. This is a major coup for me for several reasons: a) I'm 5'2 so finding jeans that fit and I don't have to have shortened is difficult, b) these jeans totally fit well and look super nice on my body, and c) I got two pairs for $70 bucks, which ain't bad if you refuse to get cheap jeans that fall apart in the wash and make your ass look huge like you would if you bought them at Walmart. Honestly, this alone brightened my entire weekend.
Tomorrow I probably won't be posting, seeing as how Scientist and I are heading to St. Louis for Turkey Day and won't have access to e-mail quite as often as I do at home. I hope you all have a wonderful day with people you love, relaxing and enjoying time off.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Chicago
I know this is going to come as a big shock, but Scientist and I are going out of town this weekend.
Scientist is presenting at an Immunology conference this weekend, and since I LOVE CHICAGO and we're so attached to each other we can't even be apart for a weekend, we decided it would be best if I came. That, and I threatened to break up with him if he didn't take me.
So, off to Chicago we go. I'm super excited, not only because I love Chicago (I always thought it'd be nice to move there some day when I have a job or something), but because I'll get to see my bestest friend in the whole world, Brian. I haven't seen Brian in almost a year, so it will be super cool to hang with him in Ukrainian Village, the neighborhood where he lives, drink Slavootich, and speak in Russian.
Speaking of all things Ukrainian, on Thanksgiving Day it will be one year exactly since Brian and I left the land of borsht and vodka for Europe where we bumbled around for 3 weeks after our Peace Corps service ended.
I don't think I've fully absorbed the fact that it's been 1 whole year since I last saw Oksana, my host mother, Lubov Illinichna, my lovely Russian tutor, and Evgenia Alekseevna, my one and only ally at my school, along with a numerous other people I loved while I was a volunteer. It's hard to believe that's it's been so long.
I don't write about Ukraine too much on this blog because I'm still sort of processing everything that happened. That, and I realized during the course of my PTSD treatment that my entire Peace Corps experience was colored by the fact that I was desperately trying to come to grips with my accident and how much it totally fucked with my head, that, and I was trying to hide from everyone around me how much I still thought about it and how frustrated I was that I couldn't stop feeling anxious and scared. All that makes me very very sad....but that is for another post and another time.
Scientist is presenting at an Immunology conference this weekend, and since I LOVE CHICAGO and we're so attached to each other we can't even be apart for a weekend, we decided it would be best if I came. That, and I threatened to break up with him if he didn't take me.
So, off to Chicago we go. I'm super excited, not only because I love Chicago (I always thought it'd be nice to move there some day when I have a job or something), but because I'll get to see my bestest friend in the whole world, Brian. I haven't seen Brian in almost a year, so it will be super cool to hang with him in Ukrainian Village, the neighborhood where he lives, drink Slavootich, and speak in Russian.
Speaking of all things Ukrainian, on Thanksgiving Day it will be one year exactly since Brian and I left the land of borsht and vodka for Europe where we bumbled around for 3 weeks after our Peace Corps service ended.
I don't think I've fully absorbed the fact that it's been 1 whole year since I last saw Oksana, my host mother, Lubov Illinichna, my lovely Russian tutor, and Evgenia Alekseevna, my one and only ally at my school, along with a numerous other people I loved while I was a volunteer. It's hard to believe that's it's been so long.
I don't write about Ukraine too much on this blog because I'm still sort of processing everything that happened. That, and I realized during the course of my PTSD treatment that my entire Peace Corps experience was colored by the fact that I was desperately trying to come to grips with my accident and how much it totally fucked with my head, that, and I was trying to hide from everyone around me how much I still thought about it and how frustrated I was that I couldn't stop feeling anxious and scared. All that makes me very very sad....but that is for another post and another time.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
AAAACHOOO!
Man, am I sick. My throat hurts, I can't breath out of the right side of my nose, my ears pop every time I blow my nose and my sense of taste and smell are totally shot.
This probably won't surprise a lot of you that knew me during Peace Corps, when I was sick constantly, but since arriving home I've only had a cold twice. Stupid me, I was under the mistaken impression that, because my immune system had taken such a beating for two years while I was in Ukraine, that now that I was back in the U.S. where everything is so god damn clean and people are crazy sanitation freaks (have you seen the handy wipes they have at the grocery store--completely unneccessary), I wouldn't get sick. Alas, not even my super robust immune system can escape the first round of winter colds circling this winter.
This probably won't surprise a lot of you that knew me during Peace Corps, when I was sick constantly, but since arriving home I've only had a cold twice. Stupid me, I was under the mistaken impression that, because my immune system had taken such a beating for two years while I was in Ukraine, that now that I was back in the U.S. where everything is so god damn clean and people are crazy sanitation freaks (have you seen the handy wipes they have at the grocery store--completely unneccessary), I wouldn't get sick. Alas, not even my super robust immune system can escape the first round of winter colds circling this winter.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Election
It is nice to see we didn't screw up this election like we did in 2004.
I don't remember the last time I've as unpolitical as I am right now. Honestly, I don't read the paper more than once or twice a week and, as ashamed as I am to admit this, I didn't know a tremendous amount about the candidates I voted for. Now, that being said, I didn't just vote for whoever. I voted Democrat--as any good, smart American would.
I think part of the reason I've tried to distant myself from reading the paper is because of the war: I don't know how I feel about it anymore, and honestly, I'm so frustrated and confused about who actually did what, who said what and where the hell we're suppose to go from here, I've decided to stop reading about it. Maybe it's not the most responsible thing for me as an American of voting age to do, but its what I've chosen to do for now. But just for now.
I don't remember the last time I've as unpolitical as I am right now. Honestly, I don't read the paper more than once or twice a week and, as ashamed as I am to admit this, I didn't know a tremendous amount about the candidates I voted for. Now, that being said, I didn't just vote for whoever. I voted Democrat--as any good, smart American would.
I think part of the reason I've tried to distant myself from reading the paper is because of the war: I don't know how I feel about it anymore, and honestly, I'm so frustrated and confused about who actually did what, who said what and where the hell we're suppose to go from here, I've decided to stop reading about it. Maybe it's not the most responsible thing for me as an American of voting age to do, but its what I've chosen to do for now. But just for now.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Grey Bears
This weekend with Scientist's parents went super well. Friday night we went to Cedar Rapids and had some of the richest lasagna I've ever had in my life (Scientist had meatloaf, as did his mother, which I think, made everyone happy because it meant he'd finally shut up about how the great the meatloaf was and just eat it). Thankfully, everyone loved their food, so I scored points for choosing the restaurant.
As expected my mom and Scientist's parents hit it off. My mom and Scientist's mom, especially got along well. Another for the win column.
The rest of the weekend went pretty well also. I worked Saturday and Sunday morning at the butt crack of dawn, which kind of sucked, but I made fairly good tips for a Saturday morning.
Speaking of suck, don't even get me started on how the Hawkeyes played against Northwestern. Jesus. I can't believe we lost to Northwestern.
Then, Sunday night after the Grey Bears had left (that would be my cute nickname for Scientist's parents), Steve and I made ourselves a really great dinner. We used to do this all the time this past summer, but unfortunately our schedules have gotten sort of crazy these past few weeks and we haven't done made anything in a long time. Anyway, we made this Morroccan stew with ginger, beef, lentils and garbonzo beans and then a side of the yummiest zucchini frittatas. God, it was so good!
Next weekend will be, hopefully, equally as mellow. Then the weekend after that we're heading to Chicago where I hope to see my dear friend BRIAN (who has not e-mailed/called me in ages, ahem!) and where Scientist is presenting at a conference. The weekend after that we're going to St. Louis for Thanksgiving....It's going to be a full November.
As expected my mom and Scientist's parents hit it off. My mom and Scientist's mom, especially got along well. Another for the win column.
The rest of the weekend went pretty well also. I worked Saturday and Sunday morning at the butt crack of dawn, which kind of sucked, but I made fairly good tips for a Saturday morning.
Speaking of suck, don't even get me started on how the Hawkeyes played against Northwestern. Jesus. I can't believe we lost to Northwestern.
Then, Sunday night after the Grey Bears had left (that would be my cute nickname for Scientist's parents), Steve and I made ourselves a really great dinner. We used to do this all the time this past summer, but unfortunately our schedules have gotten sort of crazy these past few weeks and we haven't done made anything in a long time. Anyway, we made this Morroccan stew with ginger, beef, lentils and garbonzo beans and then a side of the yummiest zucchini frittatas. God, it was so good!
Next weekend will be, hopefully, equally as mellow. Then the weekend after that we're heading to Chicago where I hope to see my dear friend BRIAN (who has not e-mailed/called me in ages, ahem!) and where Scientist is presenting at a conference. The weekend after that we're going to St. Louis for Thanksgiving....It's going to be a full November.
Friday, November 03, 2006
This Weekend....
This weekend should be fun. Scientist's parents are coming into town for the Iowa vs. Northwestern game, so I'm most likely going to be busy doing stuff with them. Tonight we're going to CR to meet my mom and all 5 of us are having dinner at a place called Granite City. We went there for my birthday well over a month ago and Scientist is still raving about how totally awesome their meatloaf and mashed potatoes dish is, so he insisted we go back there again.
I think my mom and Scientist's parents will get along really well. My mom's job is very similar to Scientist's dad's job, and since all my mother does any more is work (much to my chagrin), they'll have plenty to talk about.
I spent all day today cleaning, doing laundry and working out. Normally, I wouldn't have cared but, I needed to get all my stuff done by 4:30 when Scientist's parents are suppose to arrive, plus I've had a long two weeks of school and I was really looking forward to unwinding with some coffee and a book. Alas, I'm a big girl and I stuff I needed to get done, plus I had nothing to read. Oh well, at least I got the coffee.
I think my mom and Scientist's parents will get along really well. My mom's job is very similar to Scientist's dad's job, and since all my mother does any more is work (much to my chagrin), they'll have plenty to talk about.
I spent all day today cleaning, doing laundry and working out. Normally, I wouldn't have cared but, I needed to get all my stuff done by 4:30 when Scientist's parents are suppose to arrive, plus I've had a long two weeks of school and I was really looking forward to unwinding with some coffee and a book. Alas, I'm a big girl and I stuff I needed to get done, plus I had nothing to read. Oh well, at least I got the coffee.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Seriously Irritated
Okay, so I skipped my Biostats discussion today, which, in and of itself is not good or really excuseable, but, in this case, is totally understandable. Here are the reasons why:
First, I took an extremely difficult Epi test (Epi= Epidemiology for you non-public health folks) today which fried my brain completely. I was so frustrated afterwards: I studied quite a lot for that damn test and I'm not sure I'm even going to get an A.
Secondly, I'm still pissed about getting the exact same score on my Biostats test as I did on the last one even though (again) I studied like a madwoman, re-worked all the problems on the homework (and got them all perfect) and paid close attention to everything my professor and TA said. I know I shouldn't be too irritated--the class average drop 10 points and mine stayed the same.
Finally, the College of Public Health.....Jesus, where do I start? I turned in a new (sort of) letter of intent for the Global Health program today in hopes of being admitted to the GH program for spring 2007. I had gone around and around with the new secretary about whether or not I needed to submit a new application or application fee for my most current effort (this is to get into department I should've been admitted to anyway, but whatever). I explained to the new secretary that the old secretary told me that, no, I didn't need to fill out anything else or submit any new materials, seeing as how nothing else had really changed other than the fact that I was being cool enough to put forth a lot of effort and take two math intensive classes, which, truth be told, are really hard for people IN the program, let alone for a poor shmuck like me who has had no math at all since high school.
Unfortunately, even after clearing this up I get a call this afternoon from a woman with a really urgent sounding tone in her voice saying I needed to make sure I filled out a new grad application for the Grad Admissions office right away. I patiently explained my situation, and that I had been over this before with both the new and old secretary and we had determined that no, I did NOT need to fill out a new form, but this woman insisted I fill out a new form. When I told her, in my I'm-really-trying-hard-not-to-scream-right-now voice that I was told explicted that I DID NOT NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW FORM by the old secretary (who had been there for years) the new woman said, well, that's too bad but "there was nothing I can do about it now, retroactively". This...well, this pissed me off.
So, I dragged my ass out of bed, called Graduate Admissions and was promptly told that no, I did not need to fill out another form. All admissions needed to do was send a new recommendation form to the College of Public Health to be filled out by whoever regarding whether or not I will actually be admitted to this damn program. Then she asked what program I was applying to. I told her and she said, "There is no Global Health program." I tried to explain to her that it was housed, so to speak, in a different department, but this woman kept cutting me off and telling me she didn't know where to send the form because the department that houses the Global Health program doesn't offer an MPH (um, I'm pretty sure this isn't true, but I was not about to argue with her). After explaining again and again everything I know about the program I know exists, and to which I'm applying to this spring, I gave up.
After I got off the phone with this woman, I was ready to throw the phone across the room. These people really do not know their heads from their asses, and in an effort put everything in its place, they've completely organized themselves into disorganization. On the surface everyone looks like they know what their doing, but really, they don't.
Eventually, I got a call from the woman at grad admissions saying she was sending my grad application materials to the department that houses Global Health (um, I TOLD YOU TO DO THAT TO BEGIN WITH) and everything was cool. I asked her if I needed to fill out another application. She said absolutely not and she didn't know why I was told to do that to begin with, since the College of Public Health already has everything they need anyway.
So, you see, I ditched my class so I could go to the gym and sweat out my frustrations. Don't you think that was the right choice?
First, I took an extremely difficult Epi test (Epi= Epidemiology for you non-public health folks) today which fried my brain completely. I was so frustrated afterwards: I studied quite a lot for that damn test and I'm not sure I'm even going to get an A.
Secondly, I'm still pissed about getting the exact same score on my Biostats test as I did on the last one even though (again) I studied like a madwoman, re-worked all the problems on the homework (and got them all perfect) and paid close attention to everything my professor and TA said. I know I shouldn't be too irritated--the class average drop 10 points and mine stayed the same.
Finally, the College of Public Health.....Jesus, where do I start? I turned in a new (sort of) letter of intent for the Global Health program today in hopes of being admitted to the GH program for spring 2007. I had gone around and around with the new secretary about whether or not I needed to submit a new application or application fee for my most current effort (this is to get into department I should've been admitted to anyway, but whatever). I explained to the new secretary that the old secretary told me that, no, I didn't need to fill out anything else or submit any new materials, seeing as how nothing else had really changed other than the fact that I was being cool enough to put forth a lot of effort and take two math intensive classes, which, truth be told, are really hard for people IN the program, let alone for a poor shmuck like me who has had no math at all since high school.
Unfortunately, even after clearing this up I get a call this afternoon from a woman with a really urgent sounding tone in her voice saying I needed to make sure I filled out a new grad application for the Grad Admissions office right away. I patiently explained my situation, and that I had been over this before with both the new and old secretary and we had determined that no, I did NOT need to fill out a new form, but this woman insisted I fill out a new form. When I told her, in my I'm-really-trying-hard-not-to-scream-right-now voice that I was told explicted that I DID NOT NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW FORM by the old secretary (who had been there for years) the new woman said, well, that's too bad but "there was nothing I can do about it now, retroactively". This...well, this pissed me off.
So, I dragged my ass out of bed, called Graduate Admissions and was promptly told that no, I did not need to fill out another form. All admissions needed to do was send a new recommendation form to the College of Public Health to be filled out by whoever regarding whether or not I will actually be admitted to this damn program. Then she asked what program I was applying to. I told her and she said, "There is no Global Health program." I tried to explain to her that it was housed, so to speak, in a different department, but this woman kept cutting me off and telling me she didn't know where to send the form because the department that houses the Global Health program doesn't offer an MPH (um, I'm pretty sure this isn't true, but I was not about to argue with her). After explaining again and again everything I know about the program I know exists, and to which I'm applying to this spring, I gave up.
After I got off the phone with this woman, I was ready to throw the phone across the room. These people really do not know their heads from their asses, and in an effort put everything in its place, they've completely organized themselves into disorganization. On the surface everyone looks like they know what their doing, but really, they don't.
Eventually, I got a call from the woman at grad admissions saying she was sending my grad application materials to the department that houses Global Health (um, I TOLD YOU TO DO THAT TO BEGIN WITH) and everything was cool. I asked her if I needed to fill out another application. She said absolutely not and she didn't know why I was told to do that to begin with, since the College of Public Health already has everything they need anyway.
So, you see, I ditched my class so I could go to the gym and sweat out my frustrations. Don't you think that was the right choice?
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Sore Arse(s)
This is a picture from our fabulous biking vacation in Augusta, Missouri. Actually, at the time this photo was taken there had been no biking whatsoever done. We were, in fact, enjoying a very nice meal at a local brewery the night before our aforementioned fabulous biking vacation.Let me back up and start from the beginning. Friday afternoon we took off from Iowa City for Augusta. We had, er, Scientist, rather, had made a reservation at the cutest, sweetest little bed and breakfast in Augusta. Apparently, this part of Missouri is known for its wines, and it attracts a fair number of tourists interested in combining some nice uncomplicated wine with biking. An admittedly uncommon combination, but one that works nevertheless.
Anyway, we spent our first (and only night) in Augusta enjoying some semi dry white wine and a nice meal at a local brewery. It would've been nice if one of the wineries had actually stayed open later so that we could've enjoyed sat outside, drank and relaxed, but apparently this time of year they have really funky hours and don't stay open late. We were a little disappointed at first, but it ended up working out well: the food we had at the brewery was good, the waitress was nice, and we got some awesome pictures taken of us together and of each other.
Then we made our way back to our room at the bed and breakfast and relaxed in the semi-broken jacuzzi bathtub (the bubble maker didn't make any bubbles, it just leaked water all over the floor, which in turn dripped water through the ceiling into the restaurant below). Our bed was huge (I literally had to run and jump onto it to get in it--no joke) , comfy and warm. I was out like a light.
The next morning we got up and had the most fabulous breakfast ever--Eggs Benedict. God damn, I love Eggs Benedict! Is there anything better in the world than eggs smothered in hollandaise sauce? In fact, I would venture to say that the bed itself, along with the breakfast made the insane price we paid for everything worth it--maybe that's why it's called a bed and breakfast (badoom ching!).
Then, we started out 26.8 mile ride. It was pretty chilly at first, but we warmed up a bit as time went along. By the time 4:30 rolled around we weren't really talking: not because we were mad at each other, but because both of are respective asses hurt. I didn't believe Scientist when he said we'd be sore by the end of our ride.
Saturday night we visited Scientist's sister, niece and nephew, and then made our way back to his parents place where I fought the urge to crash at 8 pm like the old woman I am. By Sunday afternoon we were back in Iowa City and our little den. What a kick ass weekend.
Monday, October 23, 2006
New Update Coming Soon
So, I've been incredibly busy, which is why I haven't posted squat in the last, um, 2 weeks. Forgive me. I'm in the middle of writing an update about an awesome bike trip Scientist and I went on a little over a week ago. For now, though, you'll all just have to wait until I finish studying for my Biostatistics test.
This is a picture of me drinking some nice wine we had at one of the local wineries.
This is a picture of me drinking some nice wine we had at one of the local wineries.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
HELL YEAH!
I got a 94% on that awful Epidemiology test, guys! Isn't that AWESOME?! That test was really hard and I left it thinking I had actually done a worse (possibly) on it than the last one I took. I'm so excited.
So take that University of Iowa who wouldn't accept me because they were afraid of how I'd do on math intensive courses and ended up asking me to take these two classes that are not easy for anyone let alone someone who hasn't taken any math since 11th grade. (Um, maybe this would be WHY I didn't do well on the math section of the GRE? Ya think?)
HA!
So take that University of Iowa who wouldn't accept me because they were afraid of how I'd do on math intensive courses and ended up asking me to take these two classes that are not easy for anyone let alone someone who hasn't taken any math since 11th grade. (Um, maybe this would be WHY I didn't do well on the math section of the GRE? Ya think?)
HA!
Monday, October 09, 2006
Good thoughts
Ever since I was little I use to do this thing with my Mom and Dad where, whenever I had some sort of important event (i.e. an interview, test, surgery, etc.) I asked them to think good thoughts for me. I always thought, as I still do, that if you have an entire group of people willing you to do well, that sometimes it gives you the extra little boost you need to get through whatever it is you need to get through and to do well at it.
So, today I have a test in my Epidemiology class. Everyone--think good thoughts for me. We'll see if it works.
Does anyone else have any silly rituals like this one, or just me?
So, today I have a test in my Epidemiology class. Everyone--think good thoughts for me. We'll see if it works.
Does anyone else have any silly rituals like this one, or just me?
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Homecoming
I've updated this blog 3 times in the last week. Good for me.
Today I'm going to my first Iowa football game. We're playing Purdue. We should, hopefully, kick their asses up and down the field.
Last night Scientist and I went downtown and saw Guster play a free concert. You gotta love Homecoming weekend--the University has shelled out big bucks before to get some pretty good bands play. They were opening for Kansas.
As a strange side note, I saw a girl last night that looked like a 20 lb lighter version of, G, a girl who served with me in Pervomaisk. She even had the same eye make-up (black and little smeared) and a short denim skirt that looked exactly like a skirt G use to wear. It was startling. It, of course, evoked another Peace Corps story from me.
Well, that's about it. Hope you guys have a great weekend. GO HAWKS!
P.S. Black & Gold are the University of Iowa's colors. Thus the multi-colored post
Today I'm going to my first Iowa football game. We're playing Purdue. We should, hopefully, kick their asses up and down the field.
Last night Scientist and I went downtown and saw Guster play a free concert. You gotta love Homecoming weekend--the University has shelled out big bucks before to get some pretty good bands play. They were opening for Kansas.
As a strange side note, I saw a girl last night that looked like a 20 lb lighter version of, G, a girl who served with me in Pervomaisk. She even had the same eye make-up (black and little smeared) and a short denim skirt that looked exactly like a skirt G use to wear. It was startling. It, of course, evoked another Peace Corps story from me.
Well, that's about it. Hope you guys have a great weekend. GO HAWKS!
P.S. Black & Gold are the University of Iowa's colors. Thus the multi-colored post
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Study Avoidance
The last few days I've been studying so much for an upcoming Epidemiology test I have on Monday, I think my head is about to explode. Other than that, though, I haven't been up to anything out of the ordinary.
I did, however, just find out that the program at the U of Iowa I'm applying to for this spring (the Global Health Studies program) is now a part of Occupational and Enviromental Health. What does this matter, you ask? Good question.
Because there's an RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) that is a professor on the admissions committee and believes in my talent and commitment to public health and is willing to speak to the admissions committee on my behalf, that's why. This professor, in addition to being really cool, and, I think, agreeing with me that the Community and Behavioral Health fuckers are stupid for turning me down this fall for something as stupid as my math score, seems to understand that if I can do two years in Ukraine, I can do graduate school.
So, I've felt pretty confident about getting accepted into the Global Health Studies program for this spring. There's just one problem....
Scientist is most likely graduating with his PhD in July. He's not sure where he wants to go or when or to do what exactly, but there's a chance it will not be in Iowa. I don't know if it's a good chance or a small chance or what, but it exists. This, of course, throws a kink into my plans to finish school here, 'cause I'm going with him. Staying together is something we both want to make happen and are willing to sacrifice to make happen.
This, of course, means I'll start a graduate program here, hopefully transfer to a program with an even better program somewhere else and finish my degree there. I have mixed feelings about leaving. Getting out of Iowa is not a bad thing (no offense, Iowa or Iowans), however, paying out-of-state tuition is. I'm not comfortable sponging off of Scientist: I want to be independant and make, or, at least, borrow my own money, but some of the places he's looking at will be outrageously expensive for me to study at, and thus make NOT depending on him an impossiblity.
So, I'm mulling all this over. Ultimately, it's still to early to worry about where I'll be going, but I told Scientist I need to have a short list of possible places so I can apply to relevant schools in the nearish future (like, December).
Just when you think you have a plan, your boyfriend's PhD fucks it all up. Grrr.....
I did, however, just find out that the program at the U of Iowa I'm applying to for this spring (the Global Health Studies program) is now a part of Occupational and Enviromental Health. What does this matter, you ask? Good question.
Because there's an RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) that is a professor on the admissions committee and believes in my talent and commitment to public health and is willing to speak to the admissions committee on my behalf, that's why. This professor, in addition to being really cool, and, I think, agreeing with me that the Community and Behavioral Health fuckers are stupid for turning me down this fall for something as stupid as my math score, seems to understand that if I can do two years in Ukraine, I can do graduate school.
So, I've felt pretty confident about getting accepted into the Global Health Studies program for this spring. There's just one problem....
Scientist is most likely graduating with his PhD in July. He's not sure where he wants to go or when or to do what exactly, but there's a chance it will not be in Iowa. I don't know if it's a good chance or a small chance or what, but it exists. This, of course, throws a kink into my plans to finish school here, 'cause I'm going with him. Staying together is something we both want to make happen and are willing to sacrifice to make happen.
This, of course, means I'll start a graduate program here, hopefully transfer to a program with an even better program somewhere else and finish my degree there. I have mixed feelings about leaving. Getting out of Iowa is not a bad thing (no offense, Iowa or Iowans), however, paying out-of-state tuition is. I'm not comfortable sponging off of Scientist: I want to be independant and make, or, at least, borrow my own money, but some of the places he's looking at will be outrageously expensive for me to study at, and thus make NOT depending on him an impossiblity.
So, I'm mulling all this over. Ultimately, it's still to early to worry about where I'll be going, but I told Scientist I need to have a short list of possible places so I can apply to relevant schools in the nearish future (like, December).
Just when you think you have a plan, your boyfriend's PhD fucks it all up. Grrr.....
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