TA work is going well so far. It seems simultaneously easier and more intimidating this time around.
I am irrationally excited that there's a claw-foot tub in the new place. I am planning to take some nice, long luxurious baths once we're moved in. Also, there's tons of space, and no sharing of the fridge, and it's all hardwood flooring except the bathroom which is fake tile-patterned linoleum.
- Mood:
chipper
More detailed ramblings later, I suspect.
Also, I played far too much Dragon Age today. Apparently everyone likes giving the PC dating advice.
My New Year's Resolution is to work out once a week. I'll see how that goes.
I hate grad school applications so much. I really struggled with writing my statement of purpose, but it's finally done. Now to just fill out the rest of the forms and wait. Ugh.
The work is a little tedious; as much as I like metals and the science involved, most articles in science journals just aren't that interesting. Occasionally you get fun tidbits like the crucible that melted at destroyed an oven or what sounds like Soviet propaganda in a post-Soviet article, but it's mostly paragraph after paragraph describing the corrosion and wear resistance of titanium hip replacements. Which I actually find interesting to know, but it's very dry most of the time. So in summary, learning a lot, doing something useful (which is really, really nice-- busywork does not lead to job satisfaction), and a little bored.
In other news, I'm 24 words away from the minimum word requirement for femgenficathon. The fic will be more than that, but not by much, which is about what I set out to do. I'm not terribly good at wrangling my ideas into a neat plot arc with proper pacing, but it's doable if I work with a small, simple concept. Also, I'm a slow writer, and I'm a bit out of practice, so I was worried about getting in over my head if I tried to something more ambitious.
Coming back to writing after doing almost nothing but lab reports and essays for a couple of years is strange. I feel like I'm less eloquent than I was, but I've (mostly) avoided letting it bother me. That doesn't surprise me, really. What is odd is that it feels different. It's calmer now; writing used to feel... manic? I guess. Like I'd think riding a bull is like: never fully in control, just desperately hanging onto something while it goes where it wants to go, and if you fall of, that's it. Now it's calmer. There's still that feeling of being inspired, of being caught up in an idea or emotion and having the words seem more a natural response to what I'm feeling than something I consciously shaped piece by piece, but it's a steady, plodding sort of inspiration. It sounds little dull to me, reading that phrase back, but it's relaxing instead of cathartic, and I like it.
I need a shower now and then to flee to the air conditioning of a movie theater.
- Mood:
hot
I think everywhere should do free pizza for voters; it'd definitely help with turnout.
So life sucks a little, but not as much as those poor people south of me. I'm mostly just surprised by how much more electricity-dependent I am now. Part of it, I suspect, is that I've rarely been without electricity for more than a few hours and never for the five days it might take to get me power again, and that there's always been someone else to worry about the food and stuff like that.
I followed the recipe almost exactly but added a pinch more nutmeg and a heaping 1/2 teaspoon on cinnamon directly to the batter (and skipped the butter dipping part again). It was tasty and the batter was delicious, but the muffins didn't quite have the kick I was looking for, so next time I will try increasing the cinnamon to 1 teaspoon and maybe adding a little vanilla extract.
I found out Monday that one of my professors was in Georgia when the Russians attacked. He made it out okay but is currently stranded in Turkey due to visa issues and might not be back for a couple of weeks. That's a shame because he's one of my favorite teachers (I'm taking his class solely because he's teaching it) but I'm mostly just relieved that he's okay.
As for my not so favorite professors, my thermo professor neglected to tell the bookstore what text he was using, and Amazon needs to special order, so I won't have the text for more than a week if I'm lucky. This wouldn't bother me so much if the professor didn't expect us to be reading a chapter a class from the text or assign homework due early next week from the book. A direct quote: "Not having the textbook is not an excuse." What's worse is that he has a copy of the book, so I know that he picked the book out at least a couple of weeks ago and probably much earlier. We're supposed to xerox pages from the reserve copy in the department, but as undergrads, we don't have access to the department copier, and I don't have enough free time tomorrow to be sure that I can access to the book to do Friday's reading.
I actually have another professor who didn't tell the bookstore what book he was using, but since he's offering to get us books for about $20 less than Amazon, I'm not upset with him.
In sort of awesome, sort of "I'm really glad I have a reasonable amount of savings right now", I have a new computer. My old laptop started having issues with making sufficient contact with the power cord, which was the latest in a long line of problems but the one that actually motivated me to get a new computer because buying a new power cord every three months after normal wear on the electrical contacts prevents it from charging (especially since last time it happened was right before finals when I had a major paper due in less time than it would take for a new cord to arrive) didn't make sense when it was becoming increasingly apparent that I'd need to invest in a new computer soon anyway.
I now have a brand sparkling new Toshiba Satellite U405D, which isn't top of the line but is a step up from my old computer, weighs only four and a half pounds, and cost less than I was expecting to pay. (Hooray electronically inclined boyfriends who know how to find good deals!) It's one of those ultra-glossy finishes which I find annoying because I don't want to have to use a micro fiber cloth every five minutes to keep it decent-looking. I'm not sure I like Vista yet, and I'm a bit irritated by the amount of random junk offers I have to clear out, but I'll live with it. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy.
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
4. Post the top fifteen results
1. Forensics Specialist
Spent a big chunk of my childhood wanting to do this. Not sure when that changed.
...May have to contemplate this
2. Pharmacologist
Meh. There would be measuring, yes? I suspect this has something to do with the chem question.
3. Chemist
4. Computer Programmer
And another career I wanted as a kid. Heh. It doesn't really surprise me that I haven't changed.
5. Agricultural Engineer
Why agricultural? Because I like working outdoors?
6. Computer Engineer
7. Explosives Specialist
That would be awesome, but I'm not sure I should be allowed near things that go boom without supervision.
8.Chemical Engineer
9. Conservator
The library and museum type apparently. Okay. Seems this list is hitting a lot fo the things I used to dream about doing.
10. Biological Tech
Biology's my least favorite of the sciences.
11. Multimedia Developer
Sounds fun, but I've never really had enough patience when it comes to art.
12. Aerospace Engineer
Once again, why aerospace?
13. Mechanical Engineer
Should I just stop typing that question now?
14.Computer Support Person
No. No way in hell. I really hate dealing with people all the time.
15. Business Systems Analyst
Ooh, this one sounds like fun.
EDIT: Okay, so I've started to process, and I have my first opinion.
( Cut for spoilers. In stream of Quin's babbling consciousness style )
Your Score: Cheezburger cat
75% Affectionate, 68% Excitable, 60% Hungry

Sure, you deserve one. You helped popularized lolcats from a running gag to an online sensation. Now mainstream media writes asinine columns on this 'phenomenon', students write theses on the topic, programming languages adopt the grammar, and losers write tests about them on dating sites. Now take your cheezburger and never touch the internets again.
To see all possible results, checka dis.
| Link: The Which Lolcat Are You? Test written by GumOtaku on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Mingle2 - Free Online Dating
When Quin activates Peony with the command "Unfold, Peony!" it transforms into a cloud of blades in the air around the wielder. It reverses gravity for up to ten seconds. |
And just as I finished typing that, it started making running noises. I may not lose all my food after all!
Your Score: Undifferentiated
You scored 43 masculinity and 46 femininity!

You scored low on both masculinity and femininity. Your personality includes characteristics of both traditional sex roles, but your gender is not strongly defined.
| Link: The Bem Sex Role Inventory Test written by weirdscience on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
...Why did I get the creepy-looking guy?
