Famous Last Words: Actually My Last Words

Today is my daughter's 17th birthday. We decided on Saturday morning to get some Italian takeout for lunch, and to spend the day making a crazy cake. We went with 6 layers of pastel rainbow, with sprinkles on top.

(Photos from my personal collection)

I'm also happy to report that I finally picked a graduate program last night. After spending some time with my art therapy teacher (I felt bad crashing their class, but everyone is so chill in there that no one seemed bothered by it), I've decided on a masters in human relations with a clinical mental health concentration. Afterwords I will likely get my PhD in psychology. It feels really good to have a plan finally. Now I just have to finish the application process.

I can't believe this is my last post for class. While I'm glad I have some extra time at the end of the semester, I'm also going to miss it. I'm very happy with how my project turned out, and hope all of you feel the same way when you're done. I plan to keep writing, and feel like this class has improved the way I think about writing stories. Thanks for all of the nice comments you all left me over the semester!

(Photo from Pinterest)

Famous Last Words: Five More Fridays

I realized this morning that my graduation ceremony is exactly five weeks from today. I have a lot to do before then, so it's a bit of a stressful thought. I guess I'm going to just roll with it and hope for the best. In class this week, I wrote my final story for my project. I can't believe it's about done. I started reading Carmen this week, because if I decide to write stories for the other characters, Panther would be one of the next. It's been a really fun book so far, I'm really enjoying it.

I made some grad school progress this week. Monday morning I talked to someone in one of the counseling programs. It sounded like where I might need to be. Then Monday night I got to talk to my psych teacher. She said she likes the other counseling program better (and has taught for it). She also confirmed that I can absolutely go get my PhD in psych after a master's in either counseling program, and the people she's seen do it that way have been really balanced students. This coming Monday I'm meeting with my art therapy teacher who graduated from the program my teacher recommended. And since I'll be crashing her studio class, I'm bringing my art project along to show her.

This afternoon at the veteran's center, no one wanted to do art. Most of the staff was off for the holiday and they had a big celebration yesterday. Even less people will be around the Friday after Thanksgiving, and the other art people aren't coming. I'm going to bring some new and hopefully fun things in case people show up and want to participate, and a project of my own to work on while I'm there. Whether anyone wants to do art with me or not, I need to get enough hours by the end. So I'm just going to camp out with something to do and hope some people at least come talk to me. That's why I'm really there, anyway.

I took my daughter to the mall this weekend and couldn't resist a picture of this bar of soap. Can you relate? I know I can right now.

(Photo from my personal collection)

Famous Last Words: Famous Authors and Halloween!

This post is going to be overwhelming with pictures. Sorry.

Last Saturday I took my daughter to Oklahoma Teen Book Con. It was at the Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie, which is a really interesting building architecturally. We went to some panels to hear YA authors talk about writing fantasy, and why they like to write YA over adult fiction. We also got to meet one of our favorite authors, Maggie Stiefvater, which was a really fun experience.

This week for class I revised my third story. I really can't believe there's only one more to go. I started researching in case I decide to write stories for the rest of the Persona characters. I'm not sure when I think I'll have time to write five more stories. Christmas break, maybe? I guess we'll see. I'm a little nervous about how I'm going to pull off this last one. It's the most obvious story, and that might make it the most difficult to write.

My other classes have been a little bit odd lately. I have the same teacher for both and she hasn't been in class the past three weeks. I know her grad student that's filling in from our lab, and really like her, but I think we're all feeling sort of abandoned.

In other school news, I briefly talked to a professor in one of the grad school programs I'm interested in, and have an appointment to meet with him next week to talk more. Basically, two family members of mine told me that I shouldn't apply for that program within a couple of minutes time on Monday morning. One that doesn't really know the details, and one that should know better (and remember stuff we talk about after we talk about it). I was so mad that I started sending emails to get info I need from people that actually have it. I read an article the same morning that said people will try to talk you into programs they want you to be in, and it isn't helpful at all, because it's you that has to be happy with your path. And that's right where I am at this moment. This is about me. So I'm going to go see what this program is about and decide if it's for me or not. I have a feeling it's where I'm supposed to be, and it would be really cool to finally figure that out.

In more exciting news, yesterday was Halloween! Mario had two costumes throughout the day. He started off the day as Mona from persona 5, and then he wore his favorite bowtie all afternoon and evening. We made eggos for dinner and watched the last two episodes of Stranger Things season 2. It was a great day!

 

Tomorrow I'm having breakfast with a friend. She's the only college friend I've made in the past 7 years of pursuing this degree that I still see regularly, but it's been awhile so I'm looking forward to catching up. She's definitely my go-to person that I call when I realize my life is a chaotic wreck and I have no social life! It will be nice to connect with someone for a couple of hours. 

(All photos from my personal collection)

Famous Last Words: I Tend To Overshare, Sorry.

(Photo from my personal collection. Sunrise this morning.)

This week for class I wrote my third storybook story. It was easier to write than the last one, so hopefully it turned out well. I had absolutely no inspiration for a regular story post this week, so I did some other things instead. I'm getting close to the end. I'm excited about finishing my project soon (Just one more story to write!) but I think I'm also going to miss it. I have five more characters that I could write a story for. If I ever get that kind of free time, I might come back and complete it. It was hard choosing only four of them.

I had to present in one of my classes this week. A couple nights before, I met with my partner for it and we made our powerpoint quickly, then spent hours in the library coffee shop just having a conversation about all kinds of stuff. I have to tell you, it was pretty rad. (And yeah, no one says that anymore.) Meeting people almost half my age that I can connect with like that doesn't happen often, and it was really great. When we presented on Tuesday, my teacher wasn't even there, but one of the grad students from our lab was there in her place. It went really well. I thought I'd start freaking out and get too nervous. Instead I got up there and did my typical oversharing of weird stuff. The chapter we had to cover talked about evidence-based treatments for mental disorders, then it briefly mentioned lobotomies before talking about some current treatments that are more experimental. So I got up there and told them about my great uncle who had a lobotomy. Sometimes sharing stuff like that backfires on me, but it worked out this time, and I felt really good for the rest of the day, instead of having to slowly come down from fight-or-flight mode like I usually experience after a presentation like that.

Last week at the Veterans Center was pretty boring. I helped a man put together bookends while he took a nap. So, I put together bookends. It took forever to figure out how they went together. And their woodworking projects all use glue, so making them hold together was a nightmare. Would have been much easier with a hammer and nails. After that it was pretty quiet. I asked the art lady if she's thought about downloading some simple adult coloring pages online since there are some great free ones. She shot the idea down, telling me they only like things that are easy. I'm not sure what's not easy about easy coloring sheets, but whatever. She seems really set in her ways and thinks they will only like the art projects she brings for them. I can tell they're bored and hate them. It's likely why I never see the same people twice. The paper pumpkins were there for the third week in a row, and no one touched them. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it. Either start bringing some new stuff for them anyway, or just going with it. I don't really want to make art lady angry, because I think she's a nice person and great at talking with the residents, and I like talking to her, but I think they would like it if they had something different to do for a change. I guess I'll see how today goes.

I caught the sun a few times this week, so that's an improvement. I have some exciting plans for the weekend that I'll make you wait until next time to hear about, and we're looking forward to Halloween. I'm not sure if Mario will be wearing a bowtie like usual, or his yellow bandana so he can be Mona. Maybe both for a little while. I also need to help my daughter finish her costume before then, yikes. It isn't too complicated, but we need to buy some material and do a little sewing.

Famous Last Words: My Plans Change Every Second

I had finally convinced myself that I should be applying to the three graduate programs that seem like a good fit for me, and this week I found out that you can only apply to one program at OU per term. So I can only apply to one, and if I don't get in, I will have to wait 6 months to a year longer to start school, depending on what program I try to get into next. So now I'm questioning everything all over again. I feel like I have to try for the PhD program, but it may not be a perfect fit for me, and they might not accept me. But there's a master's program that feels like a better fit. It used to have a companion PhD program, but that's on hiatus. So if I do the master's and the PhD program isn't reinstated, will the other completely different program accept me? Or have I prepared for the totally wrong thing?

I was thinking about asking my teacher some questions and for some advice when I ask for a letter of recommendation, and I still think that's a good idea. But my husband suggested last night that I should talk to the head of the master's program and see what he thinks about where I would fit better, and if he knows anything about the PhD program's future. I didn't even think of that. So I'll be sending him an email today. I want my PhD, but if it comes down to it, I would rather start a relevant master's program in the fall than get rejected from a PhD program that wasn't entirely right for me to begin with, and having to wait another whole year to start. I'm too old to keep waiting, I need to finish my education so I can make use of it.

In mythology this week, I finished revising my second story. Two more to go, and I think they will be a little easier to write than this one was. The next one will be set at the beach, and I think it's going to be really fun to write. I'm getting close to the end of the course, so I'm only taking so many points per week so I can finish up the project. As for other writing stuff, a group of people I collaborated with on some fan fiction over the summer asked me to do so again, so I'm starting to think about what I want to write for that. We're all writing the same characters, and there will be a theme, and then we'll each write our own unique short story and publish them all as chapters. It was ra great experience last time, and the topic sounds fun.

(Photo from my personal collection. Happy Mario.)

Mario has been really content most of the week. I took this photo the other day and he looked so happy. This morning he's the grumpiest cat that ever lived, and I haven't found a solution. He's finally napping, but he growls in his sleep every once in awhile. Having a hyperthyroid cat is hard sometimes.

(Photo from my personal collection. Folding paper again.)

I started making origami lucky stars at the end of last week. My new obsession. I'm filling jars as gifts for some of my family for the holidays, because I always have to add some kind of ridiculous deadline of pressure to my hobbies. My daughter is on her fall break this week, so we spent yesterday at the mall looking for things she might want for her upcoming birthday, and drinking yummy coffees. Wish I could spend all of today with her, too, but I'll be off to the Veteran's Center in the afternoon as usual. Last week was better than the first, but you never know what you're going to get there, so it makes me anxious every single time. Last week I made some weird pasta art to entertain the group we had there. The art lady keeps making them decorate paper pumpkins and none of them seem into it. I have a feeling it will be two more weeks of paper pumpkins. I would bring some things in to give them something new to do, but I don't want to overstep. I'm just there to help. I had a great talk with my supervisor on my way out last week, so that relationship feels really good, and I like the art lady and other volunteers, so hopefully it gets more fun and less stressful over time.

Famous Last Words: The Clock is Ticking

We're halfway through the semester. My grad school application deadlines are much closer than they were the last time I gave it serious thought. It's hard to work on those while also working on my classes. I know who I will ask to write two of my letters of recommendation, but I still need a third. And then I have to get my things together and ask them. My research assistant job is about to get rolling. I really thought I'd be knee deep in that before midterms, but it's alright. I'm sure we'll make up for lost time.

In mythology this week, I wrote a story based on one of the extra readings I did last week, a Japanese folktale called The Painter of Cats. My version wasn't the greatest, but the original was so much fun. I also wrote my second story this week. It was definitely not as good as my first. I think the rest will be better, but this one was harder to write.

I'm getting ready to head to the veteran's center for my second week of volunteering. I have been there a couple time this week taking care of business. My heart speeds up when I walk through the front doors, every single time, no matter how relaxed I feel beforehand. I hope I adjust soon, because I'm tired of feeling nervous about it.

Yesterday I had a "mental health day" which for me just means I didn't do any homework. I walked around craft stores looking for ideas and didn't buy anything. I read for fun instead of for school. I probably won't get too many more days like that before the semester ends. I thought it was going to be weird to have a semester in between graduation and grad school, but I am honestly looking forward to it.

(Photo from my personal collection)

My daughter and a friend went to a concert this week, and neither of them are driving yet, so we dropped them off in Bricktown. My reward was a stunning sunset. I really need to start getting out for sunrise and sunset again, as often as possible. I spent a couple of years doing it and it brought me a lot of peace. You can see many, many of the shots I took on flickr. Maybe I need to bring back the sunshine project next semester when I don't have nearly as large of a to do list.

Famous Last Words: Hot Chocolate Parties Are The Best

This week went pretty well. I'm still a week ahead in this class, so I had the week 8 review assignments instead of new reading. I used some of the free time that made to do some extra Japan readings, which were incredibly fun. I might have to use one of the books I found for my story this week as they were so fun, there were at least three different stories I would love to retell. I'll also be working on my second story for the project this week. I'm pretty afraid of this one, it's going to be harder to write than the first.

My other classes were fine this week, and I finally started my internship at the Veteran's Center. It's going to take some getting used to because it was a little awkward for me, but it was all around quite an experience. I helped with art class while one of my classmates played the piano, and then I got to go help in the dementia unit. You'd think that would have been the hard part but I felt more relaxed in there. No one cared if I was awkward.

My daughter took her first college test this week. She was really nervous about it but studied hard and felt good about it afterwards. We spent the evening before sitting in her room while she told me all about the topics she was going to have to write essays about. I sure don't miss taking tests this semester. I felt weird about not having tests in any of my classes, but I have to say my life is better without having to worry about them. After her test, we had a hot chocolate party (something we've been doing for her whole life), with Halloween colored sprinkles and ghost shaped marshmallows. Mario was mad that I wouldn't give him the jar of sprinkles. I'm not sure what he planned to do with them, but he was really annoyed with me.

(Photo of Mario from my personal collection)

I also got to go purchase my cap and gown this week. It's getting really close, and I have a lot to do before then. It feels much more real now after bringing that stuff home with me, though. I guess it's time to get back to those grad school applications before time gets away from me.

Famous Last Words: Cats in Bandanas are Cute!

This week I wrote my first story for my Storybook project. It was a challenge to write in the Arsene Lupin style despite how much reading and preparing I did for it. I'm looking forward to revising next week, because I want it to be even better. One of my next stories will be based on the legend of Ishikawa Goemon, and there isn't much source material about him, so I will be making my husband watch a couple of movies based on his legend to help me get into that world a little bit better.

Yesterday we had orientation for our capstone internship at the veteran's center. I think it's going to be a really good experience. I'll be helping with their weekly art class, a monthly photography class, and taking pictures during field trips to the park. I think it's funny how they didn't mention in advance that we were going to have a bit of a health exam, including a TB test at the orientation. My blood pressure was up pretty high, so I'm going to have to work on that and follow up with my doctor soon. And they need record of an MMR vaccination. I'm older than the other students, and didn't grow up here. I know I had it twice, but have no record of it, so I'll be going to the health department Monday to have another. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? I also have to go back Monday to have them read my TB test. Then comes the good part, I get to start next week. I'm excited to see how art class goes.

It's almost October already, which I find fairly terrifying. Mario is excited, though, because October means I buy him a little pumpkin to hang out with, and bowtie day will be here soon! I was considering getting him a bit more of a costume this year (if he'll wear it). Though he could always put on his yellow bandana and go as Morgana! Yes, part of the reason I like Persona 5 so much is because the cat looks like my cat!

(Photo from my persona collection, Mario dressed as Morgana!)

For me, October means I have to get myself together with this grad school application thing. One of my teachers blew our minds in class this week, and I'm rethinking my entire life's purpose now. I was only going to apply to the PhD program and decide what to do after that, but I think I'm going to apply to a couple of different Master's programs as well. That way, if I don't get into the PhD program, I won't have to wait a year and a half to start a Master's. Part of me almost thinks I belong in one of the Master's programs anyway, and that it might be best if they reject me. I can always reapply later, after I have my Master's. It doesn't really change much about the application process, which is a relief. I guess we'll see what happens.

Famous Last Words: Still Stressed Out

This week, not much progress was made. I still haven't heard anything about my internship. People that chose the other location are already working. I feel so behind, and the situation is completely out of my control. I prefer to have control, so not having it makes me crazy. I also got my official GRE scores back which were not the greatest. Verbal is fine, quant is awful, writing is ok. I don't see how I can possibly improve them in a month or two's time, so I am not going to retake them. I'm going to hope the rest of my application makes up for it.

I got to revise my introduction this week, which was fun. I think it turned out really well. I'm a little nervous about writing my first story this week. I've been reading various Arsene Lupin stories, and have reread the chapter I plan to use, taking detailed notes. I also watched 6 episodes of the Lupin the Third anime series, The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. Hopefully this will prepare me for writing in a Lupin style.

(Photo from my personal collection. Arbor Gardens Park.)

It seems we're going to need a new dryer. That's always a bummer, especially when you just spent your extra money on new running shoes, and there isn't enough left to cover the dryer. On the plus side, I've had at least one extra park adventure in my new shoes. I need to make time for much more of that. I finally have some hope that I can do something about the pain I've been having in my legs for a couple of years now. Mario says that as long as there's still tuna, not much else matters. I guess that's something else I can work on this coming week, not letting everything get to me so much.

(Photo of Mario from my personal collection.)

Famous Last Words: Standardized Tests Make Me Very Tired

(Photo from Pinterest)

This week I tried to work ahead in mythology because I would like to stay a week ahead for the rest of the semester if possible. So Wednesday I wrote both my week 5 story and my introduction. The introduction ended up being really fun to write. Laura's comments breaking it down sentence by sentence were awesome! Because most people that end up reading my storybook won't know much if anything about Persona 5, it was so useful to see exactly which things didn't make sense, so I can go back and try to explain them more clearly. I'm looking forward to editing it this week.

Thursday morning I was asked to help out at my new lab. We had to move some old stuff out of the room we'll be running participants in, into a very small storage room. The stuff all belonged to a professor who has been trying to retire for the past year or so. He was a great teacher and I wish I had the chance to work in the lab when he worked there. We moved old computer printouts, and I hadn't seen anything like that since my childhood, and huge, old computer monitors. Even the "flat screen" monitors we moved were heavy because they were so thick. It was nice to meet one of our grad students and a couple of the other research assistants ahead of our first meeting, which also happened Thursday evening. I'm glad we've finally got the ball rolling, I feel less stressed out about what to expect. In between those two events on Thursday, I did a little more studying for my GRE, picked my daughter up from school and took her to an appointment. It was a really busy day. I spent a lot of the week up until that point studying on top of doing homework, so my husband felt bad every night as I passed out in front of the TV an hour or two before bed every night.

Friday morning I took my GRE. That was a really horrible experience. I was so glad when it was over. I saw my unofficial scores, and my verbal was fine. Math not as fine, but I don't know if retaking it would improve my score very much. I would have to take it pretty soon since there isn't much time between now and submitting my application for grad school. I'm not sure it would be worth it. I feel like I did pretty well on the writing section, but I won't know for sure until the official scores are in, a couple weeks from now. When I came home, I was starving, so I ate and then took a 3 hour nap. I'm still not over it. I think I'd feel better if I could sleep for a week. That was so mentally draining.

This week I should hear something about my internship. I'm looking forward to getting that started. Hopefully it will be a little bit quieter of a week for me. I could use a little time to take better care of myself, and to not feel behind on everything. I'm working on finishing up some extra reading for week 5 right now. I need to decide which Arsene Lupin tale I want to base my first story on going into next week, so I'm engaged in a 6 chapter story of Arsene Lupin versus Sherlock Holmes right now. It's so fun. I probably won't end up using it, but I sure am enjoying the reading.

Famous Last Words: Chasing the Sun

(Photo from my personal collection, Sunrise 9/5)

I'm working in a mostly shady spot in the backyard right now because it's such a beautiful day. I am getting so much done out here! I may have to make this my regular workplace on nice mornings. I'm actually out here because my husband is cleaning up an old couch to take to his office. It's right by my desk where I was trying to read for another class, and he kept spraying febreeze on it. My allergies have been crazy the past week or two, so after a second round of that I could no longer breathe. I took some allergy medicine and escaped to the backyard! He's also playing video games, which is fine, but I was having trouble concentrating.

I enjoyed reading Cupid and Psyche this week, it was a really fun story, but I found it hard to think of how to write my own story from it. I finally just made myself start writing Wednesday while my daughter was in her class at OCCC. It's nice and quiet in the art building there, and I seem to write better there than at home. It was also fun to look at a few of my classmates' stories this week. I like how we all seem to come up with completely different things, even if we base them on the same stories.

My internship hasn't started yet and probably won't for another week at least. It's both good and nerve racking. I've had a lot of anxiety this week, and none of it was for rational reasons. I've done things to relieve some of it, so I feel much better, but there were some nights I just didn't sleep because I couldn't turn off the anxious thoughts. We haven't started in the lab yet, either. I suppose in some ways this is good, because I'm taking my GRE this coming Friday, and I've had more time than I would have to study. I'm going to have to fit in as much study time as I can this week. I definitely don't feel ready. Can't wait for it to be over with.

My husband's birthday was this week, so we did a little celebrating. Nothing too big, but there was cake, which is never bad, only bad for me. I need to get serious and make time to eat better and exercise more. I'm doing a photo challenge on Instagram this month, haven't done one in a long time. I actually made time to catch the end of sunrise Tuesday morning after dropping my daughter at school, and that was super nice. I used to attend as many sunrises and sunsets (with my camera in tow) as I possibly could, but it's been awhile since I've made the time for it.

That's about it for now. I'm looking forward to doing the week 5 assignments this coming week. Writing my introduction for my storybook is going to be interesting!

Famous Last Words: Another Week Down

This week I chose to read Jewish Fairy Tales. They were similar to other biblical stories I have read before, but it was a different perspective and that was good for me. My daughter thinks I'm hilarious, but I will do just about anything to avoid the Iliad, the Odyssey and Beowulf. So I went completely in the other direction. I think my story this week turned out better than last week's. Poor Morgana the cat has had a lot of interesting adventures these past couple of weeks. I might have to give him next week off if I can.

I also did some extra reading for my project, and that has been really fun. Some of the things I'm reading are on my kindle, and I think my husband thinks I've just been relaxing with a book in the evenings, but I'm really still working on schoolwork. I don't usually do homework in the evenings unless I have to, but there's a lot I want to explore and it's been interesting enough for me to allow it to cross into my family and relaxation time. Arsene Lupin is a pretty fun guy, so I don't mind taking him to the couch with me at night.

My other classes went well this week, too. I was really nervous about the response paper I wrote on the reading we did for my personality class, but she told me it was beautiful. I was afraid I put too much of myself into it, because I tend to do so, as you can probably already tell. I'm having the semester of teacher's asking for my thoughts rather than just scholarly writing, so it's going to get interesting as I get more comfortable. In my capstone this week we decided on where we will serve our internship, and I went with the veteran's center. It scares me a little and is pretty outside the box for me, but everything about it felt more right. The other place would have been children and teens and I have a lot more experience with those groups already. I expected the lab I'll be working at to meet, but I haven't heard anything. It's not that unusual for it to take a little time to get things going, but since it counts as a class I need to make sure everything is alright with it. I need to apply for graduation before the 15th of this month, so I will probably do that next week whether we've started in the lab or not.

(Photo of Mario from my personal collection)

Yesterday afternoon we had to take Mario to the vet to have his thyroid checked. He's 18 years old and has hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is an enlarged chamber of the heart. He's on medication for the thyroid and the heart issues. He hasn't had his thyroid levels checked since he started the heart medicine in April, and it's absolutely perfect! He's been grumpy lately so we thought maybe his meds needed an adjustment. His kidneys are a little worse, he's slightly anemic, and he's lost more weight, but those are things that are going to continue to progress as he ages. The vet says he's allowed to eat his special kidney friendly tuna as much as he wants, and we're getting some probiotics to sprinkle in his food to make his tummy feel better. Most of his behavior is surprisingly normal considering his health problems, and he seems happy most of the time (except when he's grumpy and yelling at me). So all is good with him for now, and that makes me feel better.

Tomorrow I'm taking homework to a family gathering. I need to stay caught up and/or ahead, and I need to do some more studying for my GRE. I was planning to use the long weekend to do those things, and then my husband accepted an invitation. So while the kids swim in the pool, I will be doing as much homework as I comfortably can there. I guess we'll see how it works out, I can't always concentrate with that much going on around me.

Famous Last Words: Surviving the First Week

The readings this week went well for me. I expect them to be longer next week, as they were a little bit short this week since we mostly searched through the text on our own and read an anthology to introduce us to the different types of stories. I found it easy to read like a writer, I'm not sure why that is, but I spent most of my reading time looking for things that might have been useful for writing my story.

I actually wrote my story for the week in the art building at OCCC while my daughter was on the other side of the building in her History class. I found a quiet place to sit, and just went for it. I did some minor revisions at home the next morning, but I was able to write easily there. I think this is good information, as I will be able to make good use of the two days a week I need to hang out and wait for her. On Tuesdays she has to go to her school library and wait an extra hour for me. I'm hoping she either learns to use the time well, or it makes her want to work harder at learning to drive, because at this point she really has very little interest in it. It makes our schedules a little more complicated, but we are finding ways to make it work the best we can for now.

Since blog comments aren't open yet until Tuesday and I'm way ahead, I haven't really looked at anyone else's writing yet. I'm looking forward to looking at some of the story posts next week when I work on the comments. I spent some time doing a little extra credit today, partly because I just didn't want to do the reading for my other class. Since I'll be doing that all day tomorrow, I figured I should fit in some extra credit today. I really had fun doing the Wikipedia Trail.

My other classes are all going to be somewhat challenging this semester. I am taking advanced personality, my psychology capstone, and working in the personality lab on campus for credit. Those classes are all with the same teacher, and all very discussion based or hands on. Something they have in common with this class is that there are no quizzes or tests. Not at all, in any of my classes this semester. It feels weird to think about, but it's also sort of cool that I'll be mostly graded on my own thoughts, with a presentation and a couple of papers thrown in there. And I'll be doing an internship for my capstone class, and working in a research lab. So I will be working more than studying I think. It will definitely be a different kind of semester for me.

Next week I'm looking forward to new readings and more research for my project. In my other classes I hope to survive getting used to class discussions, and I will learn more about my internship. The lab I will be working for should be having a first meeting to talk about what we will be doing this semester as well.

(Photo from my personal collection. Mario helping with my assignments.)