Journal Entries
Grad School: My To-Do list
Posted Apr 25, 2006
Today, I am celebrating a major accomplishment.
My To-Do list is down to one page! 
I know where I'm going to be living for this summer, and next year. I've finished with everything Math Modeling, except the write-up of my final project, and I can cover that with the notes from the presentation in no more than an hour. I've even sent my parents pictures from my trip out west!
Unfortunately, five of the most important things on there have to be done by Friday, but that doesn't mean I can't take a cookie break now!
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Latest reply: Apr 25, 2006
Grad School: PHD Comics
Posted Mar 28, 2006
The more time I spend in grad school, the more my life resembles this:
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/comics.php
Reference in particular meetings with the advisor, the matrix parody ("What is the Thesis?"), and anywhere where free food comes in.
But I'm still enjoying it!
---
Anyway, it's been about a month since I last wrote a journal entry. I'm trying to find time to work on my thesis in between math modeling PHD projects- seriously, we had to do something that an outgoing PhD did for his dissertation. And did I get it done? No- I was working on the stuff I had missed the week before for my field trip. I'm still stuck, and waiting for the prof to get back to me on my derivation.
My advisor is still as vague as ever. It's really becoming annoying. But good news on the thesis front! I'm proposing in April, and I've got four pages written already!
My grandmother is still in the hospital. She's on painkillers now, but insists that she's well enough to go home. Fortunately, the doctor isn't an idiot. As horrible as it sounds, I'm glad that my parents now actually have time to take care of themselves while the doctor is taking care of her.
Hiking is nice around here- I'm waiting for a stretch of decent weather to get out to Penn Roosevelt State Forest.
So, that's how things are on this end! How are you?
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Latest reply: Mar 28, 2006
Frappr- I was bored!
Posted Feb 21, 2006
So I created a group for all of us:
http://www.frappr.com/researchersforthehitchhikersguidetothegalaxyearthedition/map
If you'd like, please go and post your location so I can find out where my friends are from. And then tell your friends. And then we'll take over the world! Muahahahaha! 
*cough*
Discuss this Journal entry [7]
Latest reply: Feb 21, 2006
Should I stay or should I go?
Posted Feb 13, 2006
A minor dilemma, but not exactly what the song was about.
My roommate and I work together pretty decently- at least better than most of my other roommates throughout college history. She doesn't own a hamster that likes to sleep in my bed, she doesn't leave food out on the counter to go bad, our dishes have never started growing things, she leaves my stuff alone, and she and her boyfriend don't do the nasty anywhere I care about. She's nice, and I like to think we get along well. We were planning on moving in together next year in a 2 bedroom apartment.
However, there's been some friction between us recently. We can't seem to agree on a place to live- I'd like something within walking distance, she seems enamoured by this place way the 
out away from campus. Also, she doesn't really deal with stress well. The other night I had the TV up a little louder than I normally do, not out of spite or anything, but because my ears were clogged, and I couldn't hear it. When she asked me to turn the TV down, I explained to her that it was an hour long program and I couldn't hear it at the normal volume, and advised her to put on a pair of headphones- she blew up and said some very nasty things to me about not belonging in grad school because I watch so much TV. I mean, it was like I had widdled in her shampoo or something! And if she's this stressed out about an hour long TV show on a Friday, what's going to happen if I want to have friends over during the week? I shudder to think about splitting utility bills.
The point is, I don't know how good it's going to be next year living with her. More importantly, a place very close to campus has just opened up with two of my friends from my department. They have cats, but as long as they stay out of my room, I think I'll be OK. I know I can get along with these people, because I work with them and hang out with them, and go to parties at their house. Plus, it's pretty cheap. I'm really strongly debating moving in with these two other girls instead of going with my current roommate.
Any thoughts from those more experienced in matters of housing?
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Latest reply: Feb 13, 2006
Well, now what will we sing?
Posted Feb 6, 2006
Cheer Steelers, black and the gold
They're Pittsburgh's heart and soul,
Cowher Power has got the job done,
This is the year we won that one for the thumb!
Somehow, it doesn't have the same ring to it...
I'm so glad- Cowher finally got his Super Bowl win. Bettis gets to go out on top. Rothisberger and Parker really proved themselves.
And for the first time since the 70's, Pittsburgh has the chance to /really/ let its hair down!Here we go, Steelers, here we go!
Discuss this Journal entry [3]
Latest reply: Feb 6, 2006
Scandrea
Researcher U186740
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