Have I mentioned how much I dislike standarized tests? My writing and math went well…but verbal, that score was frightful. =\ I’ll have to retake the test again…
August 15th, 2008
Jolly Ranchers!
Since I’ve been intermittently studying over the past couple of days, I’m realized how important its been to wear my reading glasses. The amount of close-vision required when you work at a computer can be strenuous on your eyes, since there’s a cornucopia of convergency. For those of you who don’t know what that is, I bet you’d understand WITH A PICTURE!
Cross-eyed!
Hehe That’s not even completely crossed though since I was simultaneously clicking my mouse. My eye doctor prescribed me with a +1.00 reading glasses primarily for studying, so once I’m out of college, I can stop using them. I have what doctors would call ‘eso’ or having a tendency to over-converge. Obviously, looking at a computer screen is detrimental, not significantly, but over a long period of time it can cause headaches, etc. Anyways, for all those who are constantly at a computer, I’d recommend asking your eye doctor if it’s something that could benefit you.
My new reading glasses!
So I’ve decided that my roommate Ben is a stentorian. I can hear his screams and yelps all the way from my room. (He’s playing beer pong right now) Also, since I’m SO observant, those three boys have used the toilet quite a few times. The stentorian just delivered me a jolly rancher tasting drink. Word to bartenders: Lemon-flavored Bacardi and Apple Juicy Juice tastes like Watermelon Jolly Rancher. I would even argue that it has the same texture…somehow…just trust me on this one.
Jolly Rancher
One song that I keep close to me is “Blinded” by Third Eye Blind and it’s playing in the other room as I write this entry. The words are carefully chosen that it evokes all the right feelings. Perhaps it’s because I feel that this song was dedicated to me…and that I know that it makes him think of me and me of him.
As I study more, I’m realizing how far I’ve come. At the beginning of the summer, there was a multitude of words that I felt were basically random letters put side by side. I stared at the word and it did nothing for me. Now I feel I’ve expanded by vocabulary 10-fold. OKAY maybe not that much because it sounds like I didn’t know any words before. Obviously, I spoke “BABY” before. I feel like one of Kaplan success stories, but this is more of a personal win for me. I’ve decided that I’m going to keep Merriam-Webster One-A-Day under my RSS feed.
(WOW, they’re already using the bathroom again…AMAZING)
Alright, time to study more 
EDIT:
After a great excursion away from studying, I’m compelled to brainstorm ideas for Monday afternoon. (aka after the big kahuna)
- Go to MAC and buy under-eye makeup
- Take a long, unexpected nap
- Watch Barcelona by Woody Allen
- Organize music
- Finish making my room awesome looking
- SEE FRIENDS!
August 14th, 2008
That last line
At the soft-murmured words that were fulfilled In the seraphic glancing of thine eyes — Of all who owe thee most — whose gratitude Nearest resembles worship — oh, remember The truest — the most fervently devoted, And think that these weak lines are written by him — By him who, as he pens them, thrills to think His spirit is communing with an angel’s
-Edgar Allen Poe
August 8th, 2008
I’m just so tired of studying. I’m not a great standarized test taker, but I’m great at everything else.
How many words will I encounter that I won’t know?
I’m tired of taking meaningless tests that last 4 hours and will impact decisions on whether I’ll get in or not. I’m tired.
July 8th, 2008
Time is Ticking
I’ll be completely honest, I’m nervous about applying to grad schools. It’s easy to say that I have a lot of experience, but I’m nervous that it’s not enough. I don’t continually second guess myself, but there are some schools that I know I won’t have a chance.
Lets brainstorm: (I need this)
- Certified Nursing Assistant > 2004-2005 (Clinical hours done at Holy Cross Hospital)
- Volunteer hours at the Washington Hospital starting in 2005 (Cancer Institute, Emergency Room)
- MedStar Diabetes Institute> 2005 1,000 hours (Shadowing doctors, and PA’s)
- Vision Therapist (November 2007-present)
- Rehabilitative Aide at Physiotherapy (Started June 2008-present)
I do have a plate of things to show to my prospective schools, but I think I’m more nervous that I won’t get into a particular school. Maybe that’s it. Location location location.
Enough about that….
My brother came home yesterday, he has a month long vacation before he leaves for Hawaii and Iraq. He seems proud of everything that he has done, and that makes me really happy for him. He’s becoming more of a man, but lets pretend I didn’t say that. 
July 7th, 2008
Critical Reading
Inimical, dissident, antagonistic, recalcitrant: all meaning hostile, unfriendly.
It’s amazing how illiterate and foreign I feel after studying vocabulary that might be on the GRE’s. Something that mollifies the situation is when people tell me that English is one of the hardest languages to learn. I can speak and write in English, but now we’re talking about graduate level words, nuh huh, how do I go back to pre-school? As soon as you get that information, let me know ASAP. I have about 8 more words left, and I’ll be finish with my 200 most common word deck. YES! Heh. It doesn’t stop there because I still have my 108 card deck of roots/prefixes to go through.
Since my life cannot revolve around decks of cards, I’ve been trying to read more. It’s difficult because I try to take on multiple books at a time. It’s not because I have a sort attention span, but I have an eclectic taste and want to indulge myself in everything at once. It’s like being at a buffet and having a ton of food options, so instead of just going for appetizers first, I put a slab of steak and ice cream on my plate. MMM
My current reading material include:
- A Clockwork Orange (I’m struggling with this book)
- The Mind at Night (Love reading this…since I’ve been dreaming an extreme amount lately)
- Diablerie (Not as intense as I want it to be, but still something to read when I have downtime, almost finished)
- I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (Re-reading)
I absolutely love reading, but I dislike analyzing text critcally. Unless I’m reading poetry, then I have no business digging deeper into why the author chose a particular word. I bet authors don’t even want me analyzing that word, they probably get disturbed when it happens. I imagine the author has a “Do Not Disturb” sign. But you know what, GRE’s I’ll play at your little game. I’LL DESTROY YOU.
So on another note, here’s my recent obsession: French Pop. Check out the video below
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ_fpxFNQZQ]
Ciao!
January 12th, 2008
My Gazette
News:
- 98% on my first Biology of Reproduction exam! Woo!
- 1 more week of classes! Woo!
- skiing was a blast last weekend!
- college perk has some creepy people, but a great atmosphere…oh and i love their customer service
- derek was my roommate for the past ~2 weeks, and i loved it =) also amazing because he made me dinner on quite a few occasions.
- i’m learning to ease up on a few things and see how they play out…still in the process though
- seriously considering 14 credits instead of the usual 17 credits
- somebody asked for me at the optometry place! somebody is already asking for me?!
- still considering other options post-graduation, but i’m happy about this
- with this particular teacher i was talking about, dr. appelbaum thinks it’s more than a coincidence. i laughed. lol
- new definite living conditions next semester: off of metz, and then off of duke. awesome place with 5 bedrooms, a sun room, amazing kitchen…be prepared for parties =)
- recently purchased a 120 gb harddrive and 1 gb ram for my lappy…that’s what i get for dating a guy who’s a computer science major. OH! and I still need to get a new backpack.
- life is good and amazing, here’s to an even year =)