A Timely Post

Since I wrote last on Saturday, I've been a busy little bee. Monday was Valentine's Day, most of which I spent in school. My holiday started in the evening when Leo and I got to skype for hours and have a "date" online. It was wonderful, but skype is a dual edged sword- it's so hard to be able to look but not touch. Still, it's just so nice to get to see faces, and after a couple hours of talking we switched the screen so we could solve crosswords together and watch a show. Considering he was 1000 miles away, I still didn't think it was a bad way to spend Vday.


After we finished our date, I drove back to my folks place for the night, since I had a dentist appointment in the morning. My mom and dad surprised me with flowers and presents (and food) for Valentine's, which was completely awesome. I didn't get to spend much time with my folks though, since I didn't get in until 11pm or so.

The dentist was as fun as the dentist always is, but at least I don't have any new cavities. I went straight from my app0intment to Starla's spring vet check up, which included chiropractic adjustment, teeth floating, and vaccinations. I was particularly impressed with the chiropractic procedure, as I didn't know what to expect, but the vet found all of the "trouble" areas without being told where to find them. I'm excited to ride and see if I feel a difference. After I hung out in the barn and worked on homework while Starla was still tranquilized, so I could keep an eye on her. I sat in an old barn and listened to the rainstorm. I'm so lucky that I have the opportunity to experience so many peaceful simple things because of horses.

Today I planted my indoor starts to what should be a truly epic garden. I'm going to give that it's own post, because I'm just so excited. I got to talk to Leo again tonight, which was really nice. I like having the set schedule of days to talk- really gives me something to look forward to during the week. After we finished up, I headed over to Angela's to plant a few more starts and watch some Supernatural.

I realize as I post this that it sounds like I never do anything school related, when in actuality that is the majority of what I do. I guess I just don't feel like posting about it. Though sooner or later I will write about my continued adventures with the dancer maintenance man in the hallways. And I have some thoughts about some of the lectures I've been to in the past months, I just feel they deserve their own posts and it's a struggle just to keep updating. But it will happen, I promise.

A wonderful end to a nasty week of midterms

This week was grueling. The thing about the quarter system is you have a whole extra set of midterms and finals in a normal school year. I don't know why they haven't caught on to that and made changes. Hah, all I can say is I miss the semester system.

Rather than dwelling on a week that should be forgotten, I'll just tell you how awesome my Friday turned out, and forget about nasty tests (at least until I get the grades back).

Let's see, after classes I was headed to the lab, and I saw a friend who is an undergrad in the lab eating a cookie in the elevator. I told her that she was lucky, and "there are no cookies in grad school." After that, another girl in the elevator pulled out a napkin full of cookies, and gave me one, "now you have a cookie!" I didn't know her, but I'm thankful to my mysterious cookie benefactor.

When I got to lab, the lead tech asked if I wanted to start my weekend early, since he didn't have anything for me to do. Two hours less work for me! After that, I headed to meet with Dr. Morgan, my Analytical Sampling professor, whose midterm I bombed pretty badly. I really respect him, and I hate doing poorly in his class. I just don't have the chem, physics, and math background. Basically, he told me he's going to set aside time to work with me each week, that he really doesn't think I'm doing that badly, and that he's glad I'm taking the class just out of interest, not necessity. I think he has a separate degree in making people feel awesome.

I left that meeting, and got to go home for a little bit before meeting school friends for sushi at Chiso in Fremont. It was completely delicious, and they have the best vegetarian/vegan sushi menu I've ever seen. It was really nice to spend time with the girls outside of our study group.

After I got ridiculously lost in the neighbors of Seattle, trying to get back to UW for archery. It took me 40 minutes to go 3 miles. Joys of Mapquest. Luckily, my friend Gabby wasn't mad at me for being late, and we got to do an hour of archery practice (see my last post to find out about my Robin Hood-like skills). After we hung out, had a drink, and just got to visit and catch up. It was so nice to have a fun, active, low stress evening.

Today I caught up with Leo this morning, and rode Starla a little. The weather was pretty nasty, so I didn't get to do as much as I wanted with her. On Tuesday she's getting all her vet stuff done, so I'm hoping tomorrow I get to have a better ride before she has to have al her shots and her dental. Most of this weekend is dedicated to writing a paper on MRSA, which actually feels nice and relaxing after this week!

Once again, I have no photos relevant to this post, but I do finally have shots of my apartment in Seattle. I think it ended up looking pretty classy.

Couch I'm borrowing from a school friend.

My bed with the home-made country equestrian themed pillows.

I got to put up my own paintings around the apartment.

My cute kitchen.

I always end up on here when I should be researching...

Winter quarter is well underway, just one more month until finals. I've grown more adjusted to my life here, and the cold Seattle weather. Time is passing so quickly, and so much has happened. I'm starting work on my thesis, a project relating MRSA carriage in health care workers working with children with cystic fibrosis to the strains carried by the children and in the general facility. Next week I will have an interview for an unpaid internship with a prestigious nonprofit infectious disease research institute for my practicum. I'm hoping it goes well and they end up liking me so much that they offer me a paid job for this summer.

Not knowing my job prospects is a little stressful. I realized I've been so spoiled- I had three summers at Zales with no question that I would be hired on each time, and two summers at Nunhems as a research person. Honestly, I could probably work again at Nunhems, but I'm hoping to keep my lovely apartment in Seattle. Besides, a summer in Seattle sounds like a pretty grand adventure. I feel like a large number of people my age would be very happy for the opportunity. I'm certain I'll find some job, as I have the unique trait of practicality. Worst comes to worst, I'll go back to retail.

This quarter my main classes are Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Control of Environmentally Transmitted Microbial Hazards, and Environmental Analysis, Sampling, and Monitoring Methods. I think UW prides itself on making the longest class titles possible. I'm also taking a seminar and working in the lab.

Leo came and stayed with me in January. I loved seeing him and doing traditional Seattle tourist-y things, like Pike Place, SAM, the EMP, and University Ave. I ended up getting a terrible cold the last few days he was here, but I was just happy to have him here. It was hard when he left though- you get used to doing the distance thing, but as soon as you see them again you realize how much you miss them and want them to be near always.

I'm hoping to see him again in March. We have some grand plans that may or may not come through, but regardless, I will do my best to ensure we get to see each other, regardless of whether we get to complete our road trip or not.

I have been much more busy lately than I feel I was last quarter. Every moment seems to be budgeted, and I'm not getting to do as much as I'd like. I'd like to take some trips to Oregon, and spend more time with friends, but I feel like that may not be an option until the summer. Each week I still ride Starla at least three times, and that is a priority. Time passes so quickly, and I want to enjoy every moment I have with her before she needs to be retired. She's 19 and healthy though, so I hope to have many years of adventures left with her. Still, it influences my decisions and how I like to spend my time. And, of course, Leo is a priority. This quarter we have set days we talk, which sounds weird to everyone, but actually makes our talks better and longer. It's hard to find something that works for long distance. Monday we are having a non-scheduled skype for Valentine's Day. I can't believe I've been lucky enough that this is my third Valentine's day with Leo.

I've started swimming as a means of getting in shape, and I feel it is really helping my body. My goal is to swim twice a week. On top of that, I've started doing archery on Fridays. It is insanely fun. Last night was my second chance (it is free at the IMA), and I've already improved so much! They had a contest where the person who can shoot the small balloon in the center of the target gets a treat. My first shot, I nailed the balloon! As my friend Gabby points out, this is extremely impressive, because normally I can't even hit the target! What was hilarious to me, is that as soon as they put the next balloon up, I hit it first thing too. I guess I'm very motivated by prizes :) I think I might join the archery club. I want to join the equestrian club, I just haven't asked the questions I should to find out if I could even compete. I guess I don't see a need to pay $40 in dues to join a club where I'd just be visiting with other equestrians every month or so. It would be fun, but I already have a barn I spend 10 hours a week at, filled with equestrian type folk. It would be so nice to be able to compete in a community though.

Other than that, I'm still just trying to gain a sense of community with my fellow classmates, hanging out with Willamette friends, and trying to find opportunities to take advantage of Seattle. I can't wait for the farmer's markets to open up next month, and for the sun to start shining. There should be fun music festivals to look forward to, and I'm hoping to maybe be more a part of the sustainable and vegetarian communities in Seattle. Lol, I just wish I had more time and money to enjoy all these things!

I think this post has been so much catching up that I will make another, shorter post after of more specific incidences. I think I'll post some random pics from the last couple months, and see if I can't be a more regular blogger from now on!

Mom and I at the Lights of Christmas.

More lights- so pretty!


Visiting friends in Salem. I hope I can go back soon.


I really miss Salem. And Pete's.


Tree hunting, my brother and his girlfriend. Very cute :)

How I see the world...

Basically, it occurred to me today that there are two types of people in the world- those who like How to Train Your Dragon, and those who don't. The former are my friends, and the latter, beyond dead to me.

You might argue that there are also those who have not seen HTYD, but I don't consider this a category in itself. There exists in every person the potential for great good or great evil, and HTYD is merely the fastest way of quantifying where someone falls on that spectrum. Whether they have seen the movie or not, they will eventually be sorted into two groups.

Don't fear, I would never assume we live in a world of hate where half of all people correctly love the movie, and a foolish half turn their backs on it. I'm much more of an optimist than that. I assume realistically there are only, say, five people evil enough not to love that movie. One of them is probably that nutter who leads that church who is always saying that 9/11 was caused because of gays, or that Haiti deserved the earthquake because they signed a deal with Satan. I bet he wouldn't be able to recognize wholesome, family-friendly fun if you slapped him across the face with the VHS version.

Besides being a measure of one's soul, HTYD is also just the best thing in the world. If I could do one thing (and there was some stipulation, like no world peace, no making sure everyone had food and water, no curing cancer, etc) I would have everyone watch that movie.

I have a huge conflict going on internally about this. My own family and boyfriend have not seen the movie. The dragon reminds me of my recently passed-away doggie, so I will give my family a one-year pass before watching the movie, as it might be painful now. It will happen though. As for Leo, do I threaten to leave him if he doesn't watch it, or should I be more subtle than that? I've tried dropping hints. Today for instance:

Me: I was going to order How to Train Your Dragon this weekend on Netflix, but I thought I'd wait until you got here in January.

BF (being deliberately obtuse): But you've already seen that movie.

Me: You haven't though. It teaches you the values of friendship, how to be a good Viking, and most importantly, how to train any dragons you might come across.

BF: You could say that the last thing is probably the major focus of the film.

Me: So you'll watch it with me? Dragon training is a useful skill.

BF:....So, what are your plans now that finals are done?

I'll get him. He will watch that movie, if it is the last thing I ever do. I know how to subtlely pick away at him until he gives in. I want him to think he's doing it for me. It will make it all the sweeter when he realizes that showing him HTYD is the biggest expression of love I could ever give him.

I really don't have much more to say on the subject, as the movie speaks for itself. If you haven't already done so, run out, buy the movie, and watch it non-stop this weekend. You won't regret it.

Disturbing post (don't read if rape or poo offends you)

My boyfriend told me a story once about how his dad was in line with a woman at the grocery store. They live in a small town in New Hampshire, so they'd seen each other in the store before, always said hi. Well, this time I guess 'hi' wasn't enough, and the woman told Leo's dad about how her father told her that if anyone ever tried to rape her, just to loose control of her bowels. Because no one wants to rape someone covered in poop.

The story doesn't end here though. Leo's Dad nods (I imagine there isn't much you can say to information like that), and she continues. Apparently, someone tried to rape her once, and she followed this advice. I guess it worked.

I have been haunted by this story for the last year. The logistics baffle me. Anytime I am walking home alone in the dark I think about this, and all I can think is that I'd have no protection, because there is no way I could, um, "relax," enough to "save myself" in that situation. Honestly, it makes me doubt the validity of the woman's story. Yet, at the same time, who makes something like that up?

Why horses are the best

I've had a long, rough week (finals, friend drama, sickness, etc), and I went out this morning to ride my horse. Starla normally treats me as her human slave, designed to clean her up and feed her at her whim. Her general facial expression suggests that if she could talk, she would be saying, "MORE CARROTS, HUMAN!"

This morning though, I think she got that I've had just about as much as I could handle this week, and she was all nuzzle-y and cute. She kept resting her head on my back while I did her feet and pressing her face against my tummy while I was grooming her. Pretty damn cute, and why I'm willing to put half of the money I get each month into keeping her happy and healthy.

Though in reality, this probably wasn't her being cute so much as searching my pockets for food, but I'll take it.

She would eat me if I tasted like peppermint, licorice, or molasses. Luckily, I don't.

Things which irritate me more than they should:

1. Small amounts of things that come in deceptively large containers. This goes for anything from the face lotion I just bought that came in a box the size of my fist but ended up being in a container roughly the size of a silver dollar to those chip bags that end up being filled with air and three chips.

2. People who talk on their cell phones loudly on the bus. I realize there are times where you might need to communicate with someone via telephone while in transit, but it seems like this could be done using a normal voice level.

3. People who run for fun. I realize this isn't so much an irritation just as a recognition that these people are far cooler than me. They intimidate me, and I resent them for being so much more awesome than I.

4. Christmas music after Christmas. I love my carols, but you need to switch to something not-Christmas specific after the 25th (26th if you are Canadian). There are plenty of winter carols you can choose from.

5. When people confuse the gender of my pets. God help them if they ever do it to me when I have kids. Imma stab a fool.

6. Studying for finals. Hence the reason I'm popping off a random list of irritants instead of studying.