Friday, October 26, 2012

procrastinating because "i'm sick"

i've had quite the unpleasant positive sense single stranded RNA rhinovirus the past two and a half days and i am using it to its full procrastination potential.  every time i even think of working on school work, my reasoning tells me: "it's ok, you're sick, wait 'til tomorrow."  i did manage to get a little note taking done yesterday and today, but of course am slacking on the important project proposal and research paper.  in fact, i'm even using this blog as a pawn in my game.

despite being sick, i still managed to get to competition cheerleading practice on wednesday (the team i had to try-out for and made, like a boss) and game squad cheerleading last night (the one open to everyone).  sadly practice was cancelled for tonight but considering my ailments, i probably shouldn't be too upset.  also, regarding games squad, i am proud to say that i am also loud as hell - just like my days cheering in high school.  win.

we are having a rugby-cheer social for halloween next friday, which i should be well enough for by then, and it's harry potter themed.  going out of the box a little, i've got a great plan to be a [skanky] umbridge - pink dress, pink shoes, heinous cat brooch, a stick for a wand.  hopefully i can find everything - might have to craft the brooch though!  student loans at work here, people.  at least clothes for her are wearable again - how many times does the average person have to chance to wear a wizard's robe?

brb.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

the real deal

apparently, i really suck at keeping up with this.  settling in has been going a bit better now that i have accepted the fact that i hate my flatmates and one or more of them are total inconsiderate slobs.  don't get me wrong, i still curse at the behind closed doors when i hear them slamming their own or when i walk into the kitchen to see half their dinner on the counter, stovetop, sink, table, and floor, but i've accepted this fate and am living with it (until the point when there is potential fining in which case everyone is getting thrown under the bus).

classes have been fine, nothing really to report.  occasional studying, occasional work on my paper, etc. etc.  classmates are awesome.  lecturers are interesting.  project is... coming along slowly.  finally getting in the lab next week, though, so that should speed some things along.

the big announcement:  i made the competition cheerleading squad!  try-outs were last week, over 40 people tried out and i was one of the 32 picked for the team.  everyone else has the option to be on the games squad as well as all those who chose not to try out (because they wanted games squad).  i am VERY excited about this - i haven't cheered in 8 years and it is going to be awesome to get back into.  i know what you're thinking:  not a sport.  bite your tongue, please.  we lift and toss people >6' in the air, depending on the stunt, we tumble just like gymnasts, and we dance - all in a tiny area with lots of moving parts and to be completed in a quick amount of time.  a bit of reading:

a 2008 report that 65.1% of all catastrophic high school sport injuries came from cheerleading:
http://www.livescience.com/2775-girls-dangerous-sport-cheerleading.html

from time magazine, "doctors say cheerleading needs more safety regulations" :
http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/23/doctors-say-cheerleading-needs-more-safety-rules/

the american academy of pediatrics' report:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/10/15/peds.2012-2480.abstract

ok, so maybe you weren't skeptical, but i still find it quite interesting.  cheerleading isn't just girls in short skirts yelling and kicking their legs on the sidelines anymore - the 1950s were a long time ago.  this is the real deal and i am SO excited to be representing my university!

brb.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

passive aggressive.

i didn't realise how long it had been since i last posted until vanessa pointed it out a few days ago.  and then i still didn't post anything until now.  the last week has been both awesome and involved a minor breakdown, compliments of my inconsiderate flatmates.

cheerleading has been going awesome.  competition team try-outs are next friday (eek!) and my jumps blow, but at least i can do gymnastics-y things and main base like a boss.  also my knee is not doing so well.  let's just say i'm pretty sure i'm going to need surgery on it at some point, but i refuse to do anything about it now and screw up my chance to do cheer again.  probably not the best idea on my part, but... YOLO!

class has been good, too.  i have a good group of classmates - i even went to a pub quiz last monday with my friend matt!  and i finally chose my research project!  i wish i saw my new friends more though.  will have to work on that

now that i've shared the good, let me share the awful.  thursday night i went into our kitchen to make dinner (read: i went to go microwave something).  first of all, it looks like someone smeared their food all over every surface, including leaving lettuce bits out to rot on the counter.  i am by no means a clean freak, but this was - and still is - disgusting.  we have cleaners come once a month but if it's too gross (like right now) we can actually get fined.

wait wait - it gets better.  both the hob (stove top) AND oven were on.  with nothing cooking.  and the lights off.  no one around.  for REAL?!  i live with idiots.  i actually started crying in the kitchen because i can't believe their stupidity and lack of respect for me and the other non-messy flatmates (if there are any others).  then i went to make my food only to discover someone took it upon themselves to move all of my stuff around.  i promptly went to my room, passive aggressively slammed the door, got a sharpie, left, passive aggressively slammed the door, and labeled all of my stuff in the fridge.  it's not even that i think they were using it - but i couldn't even find it.  also there was absolutely NO reason for it to have been moved in the first place.

one of the mysterious flatmates that never shows face actually appeared!  a guy.  i was too upset to introduce myself - i thought i would either burst out crying again or start screaming.  did he bother to introduce himself?  of course not.  i doubt he had as elaborate as a reason as me either.

that being said, i may contact our mentor (aka RA) about the inconsiderate jerk(s) i live with and have him mediate.  i can't handle situations like this - nor have i ever had to.  i don't like being the j-hole here, but if it comes down to it, i will turn all of them into accommodations regarding their "extra appliances" in the kitchen.  i don't want to be that jerk and honestly, i don't care - get whatever accommodations-illegal appliances you want - but disrespect me and my stuff and you can bet i'll do worse to you.

wow, now that that rant is over, i'll finish this entry off with one final happy thought:

ALEX IS COMING ON MONDAY!!!

i'm gonna marry him someday.

brb.

Friday, October 5, 2012

finally!

i should probably update you since my last post as it has been a few days and a LOT has happened - good stuff, it's getting better!  yay!

still nothing positive to say about the flatmates, other than they are at least quiet.

let's start with school.  wednesday we had our first round of class.  i learned that i know absolutely nothing about viruses and will probably need to study my ass off for module 1.  on the bright side, had lunch again with two classmates matt and raphaella (both part time) and went for coffee after with them as well and with another part-timer myriam and a second year dominique.  hooray for new friends!  met with a couple more potential supervisors, trying to sort if all out.

i bet what you're really wondering is how cheerleading is going.  well, it's going freaking awesome!  i miss this SO much!  my body, on the other hand, hates me.  we had practice wednesday night and tonight and i don't know if i'll be able to walk tomorrow.  me a lot of great people there as well.

so the friends bit.  working on it, working on it!  dominique had me over for dinner last night - SO nice of her!  got to meet her flatmates, too.  very nice :)  i also went out on wednesday with the cheerleaders after practice!  i think maybe i'm a little too old to be partying like i did at the students' union and dancing on stage, but whatever.  it was awesome!

and - wait for it....................

I FINALLY GOT A PHONE!  sweet baby jesus that took long enough!  now i can call... dominique lol.  she is currently my only UK contact (no way in herll i'm paying the fees to call all you folks back in the US).  need to download "WhatsApp" - an app so i can text everyone!  for free!  lol.  oh, and everyone else needs to download it, too.

well, i think that pretty much sums up the last few days.

brb.

Monday, October 1, 2012

pumpkin spice latte connoisseur

yes, that's right - i am a starbucks pumpkin spice latte connoisseur.  if i could name my favourite food or beverage product i've ever had ever, it would be the starbucks pumpkin spice latte.  i can't explain it - that delicious fake pumpkin flavour mixed with espresso and steamed milk?  yum yum YUM!

ok, i know that makes me sound ridiculous, but i suppose if you have never met me then you don't know that, in fact, i am quite ridiculous.

i had my first english PSL today.  it was pretty delicious, though perhaps had less pumpkin syrup than i've found US starbuckses like to pump into theirs.  that being said, i have had less syrupy ones in the US, it really does depend on the barista.  thank god my tutor paid for it (tutor=personal advisor) as it was about $4.70 for a tall... lolz its about the same price at many US places, such as the JFK airport.  i guess i just justified buying more myself.  damnit!

i met with my tutor today to go over sciencey things, such as my research project and the various labs i could work in (which we discussed over our starbucks).  very helpful!  and she was very nice, also a super huge plus!  i got a lab tour, as well - and i am excited to say that they have a tech who cleans and autoclaves ALL of the jars!  hooray!  i am going to set up appointments with others to discuss their labs.  can't wait til wednesday when i get to meet more of my classmates as i am the only entering full time MSc student (last year they had 10!) so i've really got quite the pick of projects.  winning?  we shall see.

i also bought a university sweatshirt - going to any university anywhere is not complete without appropriate obnoxious attire.  mine is a bright blue.

yeah, that's pretty much my exciting day.  at the very least, way more exciting than yesterday.

brb.