So, it's been a month since I defended and submitted my paperwork to my university and I feel great!!!  My stress levels have dropped tremendously!  My mood has improved, my habits have become healthier, I feel less rushed and harried.  I've even finished reading a book and started and finished another!!!  I can fully enjoy my weekends and after work hours :)

Buuuttt... I still sometimes get this anxious knot in my stomach that has become all too familiar over these past few years.  I'm calling it grad school PTSD.  Because that's what it is really.  More than five years of massive egos, games, a psycho, controlling, micromanaging, manipulative advisor who, up until a month ago, was the barrier between me and my goals, who wouldn't have phantom grad-limb stress after all that!  And then there's the very real stress of look for and applying to jobs.  But, hey I'll take this stress over grad school stress any day!

So, what have I been up to this past?  Well I have continued with my internship, and it looks like there will be a position opening up soon that they want me to apply to :) still not putting all my eggs in one basket though, but it does help relieve the stress some.  I finished my month of being raw vegan but I'll write a separate post on that.  I have stuck with my exercise routine, I'm building myself back up to jogging for 5k straight, I run a 12 minute mile, so for that's around 36 minute.  So far I have built up to jogging for 15 min, walking 2 min, and jogging another 3.5 min for a total of 18.5 of jogging :)  I particularly pleased when I think that during the summer on a good day I would jog for 5 min straight once, but now, on a bad day (when I'm tired, sore, or haven't had enough water during the day) I jog for 5 min straight and another 2 min :)  I have been focusing on building healthier eating habits (related to the raw vegan month I did).  I've been reading a lot more, I started and finished a book in less than a month...for me, that's big!  I'm a slow reader and while in grad school I didn't feel like coming home and reading a book for fun so I really hadn't read anything for fun in quite some time.  I quite like it!  I have a whole list of books to read, I'll busy for quite some time.  I'm hoping to read even more once I have a job and don't have to spend time after my internship searching for one.  I have been watching my TV shows (this Fall is a doozy!), and I have been seeing more of my friends :)  I have also been doing some digital house keeping stuff and going through my e-mail accounts, particularly my campus account, and deleting or saving e-mails since my account will expire a few months after graduation.  I've been organizing my pictures and other digital files on my computer, scanning lose papers and reducing the amount of paper I keep.

So, I've been keeping busy, but I've been doing normal human things and not crazy academic things.  And every once in a while I have to pinch myself and remind myself that this isn't the dream :)

That's all folks!

 I'M A DOCTOR!!!!!!!!!!  IT'S OVER!!!!!!  The power hungry control freak egotistical assholes are out of my life!!!!!!!  Woohoo!!!



Now that I'm done, this blog has served most of it's purpose, which was to give me an outlet during my ABD process, also to get me into the habit of writing, anything, daily.  While I won't be deactivating the blog, I definitely won't be writing in it daily like I have been leading up to the defense.

Oh, and speaking of the defense, it went smoothly.  No questions, just a few suggestions for expanding certain sections.  It's over!!!!  And I'm so excited to have time to do everything I love again :D :D :D  I'm also really excited to not have to constantly worry about a dissertation or about psycho people keeping me from my goals and what I deserve and have worked hard to achieve.  I'll have to dust off that list of things I want to do after the defense :) Looking forward to it!

Signed,
Dr. Blogging PhDoc

The Tomorrow People

I'm really liking The Tomorrow People!  Good stories, good characters, and a villain that's actually smart and competent!!

Salad Dressing

I made a new salad dressing today: tahini, soy sauce, and yellow mustard.  Mix proportions to your liking.  Pretty tasty!

Columbus Day

Happy Columbus Day!!!  I understand why people have issue with Columbus Day, I mean there were people already here, he didn't discover a new land.  BUT, he did take on a risk journey to find a shortcut to another land at a time when people thought he'd fall of the Earth if he embarked on his journey.  So for that, I feel he deserves recognition.  For his bravery, not for his discovery.  Although, his journey did yield a new discovery for the "Old World".

October Horror Fest!!!!!

I've been watching horror every weekend this month, I would watch one a day if I had the time...but I don't :(

Smoothies

Almond milk in a smoothie just doesn't taste as good as coconut milk in a smoothie.  I need to buy more coconut milk.

Legend of Korra: The Sting

Spoiler Legend of Korra: The Sting

Vampire Diaries

Really?? Katherine gets maced in the faced as a human and doesn't have burning red eyes????  That is all for tonight.

Tomorrow People

I watched the pilot of Tomorrow People tonight, it has promise.  I'm adding it to the rotation and removing Hart of Dixie.

Dean's back!!!!

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!  New episodes of Dean and Moose (aka Supernatural)!!!!!!!!  So excited!!!!

Hart of Dixie

I'm thinking of removing Hart of Dixie from the rotation.  From watching the premiere, I already know how the season will go.  Love triangles and squares and polygons.  Sleepy Hollow on the other hand, is staying!

Kombucha

I bottled my kombucha!  It's nice and fizzy but little too much vinegar. But I still like :)

Do you ask why a duck quacks?...

Then why ask why a bitch is bitchy.  It's good know who your friends are who your frenemies are.  Here are some more texts from my best frenemy.

Legend of Korra: Peacekeepers

Spoiler for Legend of Korra: Peacekeepers

Raw challenge: Day 3

Cravings are gone!  And I'm full of energy!  No midday slump after lunch! :) :)

Raw challenge: Day 2

So second day of being raw.  Cravings are gone.  And I was less hungry throughout the day, those I'm starving now, so I guess I should go to sleep, can't feel hungry when you're asleep :)

Raw Challenge: Day 1

I've decided to try to follow a raw diet for a month (who know if I'll even last that long), hence the blender and dehydrator.  Today was day 1.  I succeeded!  I ate a smoothie with coconut milk for breakfast, a Waldorf sans dressing for lunch, lightly dehydrated mushrooms tossed with olive oil, garlic, celery, lemon juice, and topped with a raw marinara sauce for dinner.  I snacked on almonds, raisins, a banana, an apple, and coconut milk.  I'm sooooo hungry.  And I really really want some bread or cheese, or a pizza, or a burger or juicy stake...mmm...stake....

Breaking Bad series finale

Spoiler for Breaking Bad series finale

Look what I found...dehydrator recipes!!!

Dehydrator recipes!!!  Pizza, bread, onions, chips!!!!
http://www.nourishingtreasures.com/index.php/2012/10/25/101-dehydrator-recipes-raw-corn-chips/

Blender

I bought the Ninja blender today and made a smoothie.  That thing is loud!!  But powerful!  And I can knead dough too!  It's got a blender, food processor with dough hook, and 3 travel size mugs ^v^

Dehydrator...found and acquired!

I finally bought my dehydrator!!  Looking forward to using it!

Chicago Pizza

Chicago pizzas should not be made in such a way that you can easily, without mess, pick up the pizza with your hand without it falling apart.
http://www.thefrisky.com/2013-06-11/the-8-stages-of-eating-chicago-style-deep-dish-pizza-for-the-first-time/

Dehydrators

I've been thinking about getting a dehydrator for a while now and I think I'll finally take the plunge.  Here's a useful article in case you too are thinking about purchasing one:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/six-top-food-dehydrators-for-every-budget.html

Sleepy Hollow

I watched the first two episodes of Sleepy Hollow today.  Briefly, the show takes place in the present day.  Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horsemen were both asleep since the Revolutionary War and woke up in our time.  Ichabod must stop the Headless Horseman, aka Death, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, before he and his brothers bring about the end of times.  In the process Ichabod and Abbey, a present day lieutenant in the Sleepy Hollow Sheriff  Department, must stop a slew of other witchy and supernatural creatures from fulfilling their role in the prophecy of the Apocalypse.

So far the series is exciting and entertaining.  It's a pleasant mix of horror, mystery, the supernatural, and comic relief.  It reminds me of Supernatural, though I'm not sure it has Supernatural's staying power.  Honestly, I was hoping the show would suck so that I wouldn't need to add yet another show to my list of Fall shows, *sigh* but I, somewhat begrudgingly and somewhat excitedly, add it to my ever expanding list of shows.  I'm going to have to go back decide which ones I want to stream weekly and which ones I want to stream at the end of the season or during mid-season break.

Breaking Bad: Granite State

Spoiler Breaking Bad: Granite State

Hell on Wheels: It Happened in Boston

Spoiler, Hell on Wheels: It Happened in Boston

Fall 2013 TV Schedule

This is getting out of hand!  I had to make an Excel spreadsheet for all my shows!  I was looking back at my early posts on my TV schedule and I used to only watch CW shows and now look what it has become!!!!!!  Breaking Bad will end in two episodes as will this season of Hell on Wheels, so those days will get a little better.  Not sure if I'll watch Lost Girl, I still need to watch season 3.  I think I'll watch the following shows on Hulu: Once Upon a Time, New Girl, and Once Upon a Time-Wonerland.  Nice, not a lot of overlap this year!  It really helped that quite a few shows ended or were cancelled: Gossip Girl, The Office, Don't Trust the B-- in Apt 23, Happy Endings, Whitney, The New Normal, Go On, Spartacus, Burn Notice, Breaking Bad, Ben and Kate.

Here's the schedule:

Interesting article about the world´s "ugliest" animals

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/12/whats-the-worlds-ugliest-animal/

Follow-up article: Male birth control gel

I found another article on the male birth control gel, it's on the scientific article I was looking for, but it's much detailed from the one a couple days ago:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/04/ff_vasectomy/all/1

Another interesting article: Male contraception

http://feminspire.com/male-birth-control-easy-effective-available-and-totally-unheard-of/

Unfortunately the link within the article to the source study about the gel does not work...I'll have to do some digging to find out how exactly this gel works for 10 years and is reversed.

Interesting article: Cleaning up the world's oceans in 5 years

http://vr-zone.com/articles/19-year-old-inventor-finds-way-to-clean-up-the-worlds-oceans-in-under-5-years-time/19381.html

Breaking Bad: Ozymandias

Spoiler Breaking Bad Ozymandias

Hell on Wheels: Season 3: Cholera

Spoiler Hello on Wheels: Cholera

Legend of Korra: Book 2: Spirits

So far I'm not impressed with Legend of Korra.  I enjoyed Avatar: The Last Airbender but, aside from getting rid of a lot filler found in the first series, I'm not liking Legend of Korra.  Korra is just not very likable, at least to me.  She's also very stubborn, very much the opposite of Ang, and has repeatedly made stupid decisions as a result of her stubbornness.  I'll give Legend of Korra until the end of the season before I write it off my list of shows, I'm hoping that as this season goes on her character will grow into a more likable and less pig-headed one.

Burn Notice: Series Finale

Spoiler for Burn Notice Series Finale

Yes, yes, cats again

My cat met me at my car when I got home!!  She's not mad at me anymore for giving her medication :)  My other cat still just really likes annoying the crap out of the other one and will do anything to get me to stop petting the other one.

The jokes on you!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2013/09/10/watch-jimmy-kimmel-reveals-twerk-epic-fail-video-was-actually-epic-hoax/

Life as Plain Jane Jones

Warning this post is filled with the mundane, overflowing even.  Read at your own risk.

Breaking Bad: To'hajiilee

Spoiler for Breaking Bad: To'hajiilee and a lot of cursing.

Hell on Wheels: One Less Mule, Season 3

Spoiler Hell on Wheels: One Less Mule

Twerking gone wrong video

Hilarious!!!!

Burn Notice: Final season, episode 12

Spoiler for Burn Notice: Final season, episode 12

Futurama series finale

So Leela and Fry finally got to spend a lifetime together...but then they were rebooted to the beginning of the series.  I liked how the series pilot was seamlessly worked into the end of the series finale :) Very cute touch!

Nooo

Always cracks me up :)

Adieu

Well, I no longer have anymore grandparents.  I feel like if my advisor knew that my grandfather just passed away s/he would say "how many more do you have left, you used that excuse earlier this year!"

Breaking Bad: 5.12 The Rabid Dog

Spoiler Breaking Bad: 5.12 The Rabid Dog

Hell on Wheels 3.4

Spoiler for Hell on Wheels 3.4

Yogurt 2.0

I just finished making yogurt using my yogurt maker and using the instructions the yogurt maker gave, room temp milk and room temp yogurt.  It tastes pretty good and a hell of a lot easier to clean up, no scrubbing, just washing a mixing bowl.  I think I shall continue making yogurt this way :)

Dubstepping Cat

I tried doing that with my cats and one of them tolerated it for a bit but I think she eventually got tired of standing on her hind legs (must try again when she is in my lap) and the other two would have none of it.  That is a very tame cat!  The cat's face is hilarious!

Portlandia

I watched the first season of Portlandia, it had its moments.  I like the sketches about the über feminist  Women and Women First book store and the coffee shop ones.  I think one of my favorites was the one about the diners, who cared so much where their meat came from that they went to the farm were their dinner was raised.  There are a lot of guest stars, Aubrey Plaza, Steve Buscemi, Heather Graham, and Jason Sudeikis.

Enjoy these clips :)
http://firstwefeast.com/eat/the-8-best-food-moments-from-portlandia/

Interesting!

by Column Five Media.
Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Breaking Bad 5.11

Spoiler Breaking Bad 5.11

Hell on Wheels 3.3

I hate Andersen.  Bohannon should have shot him in the face when he had the chance.  What does Andersen have planned??  I just know he's going to kill the father of that pioneer family.  Maybe also usurp him as bishop of the Mormon church.

I like Jimmy Two Squaw...er, Jimmy Three Squaw now, I guess.  He was a hoot and a half...except for the part where he almost got Bohannon and Elam killed.  Speaking of Elam, I really like his scenes with Eva this week, and Eva's scenes in general.  

This fever called living

The past few days I've been meeting up with friends.  I've. Been. Meeting. Up. With. Friends.

Almost done organizing!

I spent the whole day organizing my room because I got a new bed.  I had to figure out where to hang my purses.  I decided to use a purse box for most of them and put the rest in an empty dresser drawer.  And of course I took pics of all my purses to add to the pics of my tops, bottoms, scarves, and shoes.  All that's left are my camisoles and jewelry.  My closet is so organized now and has a lot more room.  I've spent so many wasted years living with a closet that hadn't maximized it's potential.  All those years lost, never to be regained.  I'm really happy with the new setup, the space in my room has really opened up!

Burn Notice: Turning Point

Spoiler for Burn Notice Season 7 Turning Point

Breaking Bad 5.9

Spoiler for Breaking Bad season 5 episode 9

Susanna

Tonight, I watched the web-series Susanna on the WIGS YouTube channel.  Anna Paquin and Maggie Grace are amazing in Susanna!  I knew Anna Paquin was a good actress but it's sometimes hard to remember that when she's on True Blood.  Other than Taken, I hadn't seen Maggie Grace in anything but I was equally impressed with acting in this series.  So far, on the WIGS channel, I have watched Blue, starring Julia Stiles, and Susanna, and I loved them both.  I want to eventually watch the other series on that channel too.  Susanna is about a successful investment banker, Susanna (Maggie Grace), who ends up having to care for her sister's (Anna Paquin) infant daughter when her sister exhibits extreme postpartem depression.  There are only 12 episodes so far, each less than 10 min in length.  If you have some extra time on your hands this week, I suggest giving this webseries a watch, you won't be disappointed by the acting or writing...maybe a little annoyed at the constant crying from baby April :)

Just purrrfect

My cat hates me.  She does not come to me when I call her anymore.  She hates the lotion I have to rub on her wound and can smell it coming a mile away.

Organizing papers

I have an organization dilemma.  I have paper files from my K-12, undergrad, master, and PhD that I want to keep.  Currently K-masters are in one portable file box (in the closet) and PhD is another portable file box (under the bed and close at hand).  Right now the PhD papers are too many to put in anything else, but I plan on purging those in the next few months when all the paper work with my degree is over, though I don't know how much I'll actually be able to throw away.  I'm not sure if it's best to keep everything in portable files or if it's best to keep everything in four (K-12, undergrad, masters, and PhD) stackable document box and put those in the closet where the portable file currently is.  I might possibly need two document boxes for my PhD.  Oh, and each document box hold one ream of paper (500 pages), image below.  I'm not sure which would save the most space.  And I'm not sure what to do with awards and certificates, currently they are in the same portable file as my K-masters stuff.  Should they stay with their respective years?  Should they go in a binder in plastic sheet protectors?  Should I frame some of them?  I've never really cared about getting awards or hanging up my diplomas.  My bachelors and masters diplomas are under my bed.  Help!!!

Say hello to my little friend

Love bites

I had to take my cat to the vet because she had a wound on her neck that kept getting worse.  I suspect that a male that has been hanging around is trying to mount her, not realizing she has been fixed.  I know that usually, males don't pay attention to spaded females, but I used to have a neutered male that would try to mount my spaded female, so I guess it's possible.

Shows colloide

SO, did anyone else notice the two former Supernatural actors on tonight's episode of Burn Notice??  There was Jo/Sonya and Balthazar/Roger Steele :)  Sebastian Roché (Balthazar, Roger Steele) also played Mikael, the vampire turned vampire hunter father of the Original siblings, in The Vampire Diaries.  I love it when my shows collide :)

How many pickles did Peter Piper pick?

I made my first batch of lacto-fermented green tomatoes!  They are fermenting as I type and should be ready by Sunday.  I followed this recipe and added garlic, cuz I love garlic :)

Bucket List!

I finally did something I've always wanted to do!!!

Statistically significant

So, I'm teaching myself new stats packages (Stata and R).  Actually, I've used Stata before, but I need a refresher.  I think R should be interesting.  God, I'm a stats nerd.

Broccoli salad sans mayonnaise

Here's a modified broccoli salad recipe:

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Shredded carrots
Red onions
Crumbled walnuts

Dressing:
Yogurt
Dijon mustard
I'm not a huge fan of Dijon mustard, so I added just a tip of a teaspoon for a slight hint of Dijon taste.  Add mustard to taste.

Not trying

When in doubt, post Monty Python clips:

In a pickle now

I'm thinking of starting pickling.  I'd like to pickle cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, and turnips.  But, I don't want to use vinegar.  Here's a great website for that:
http://www.perfectpickler.com/what-are-brine-pickles/

Here are others:
http://honest-food.net/2012/05/20/pickled-carrots-recipe/
http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/08/how-to-make-pickled-red-tomatoes-canning-summer.html

Organizing heaven

I am in love with this blog!!!!  Organized people/places turn me on.

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/organized-home/#page=1

There are a lot of good ideas in this blog.  See the link to her home above.
http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com

Purrfect

There is actually a dating website for cat lovers!  This is at once hilarious and terrifying.  I wonder how weird the guys on the site are.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I love animals and I love my cats and yes I have photos of them on my phone and as my lock screen image, but I'm not obsessed with them and being a cat owner certainly does not define me.  What would happen if someone found their soulmate on that site but their cats didn't get along??  Would they call it quits and lose out on being with their soulmate just because the animals were being, well, animals(!)??  Or would one or both have to get rid of their cart???  I just don't see someone on a dating site for cat lover getting rid of their cat, even for true love (cue cheesy music).  I love the name, Purrsonals lol.  Watch the Ellen clip on the site's homepage.
http://www.purrsonals.com

Kenzi love

I've been watching Lost Girl and, if I haven't said yet, I love Ksenia Solo as Kenzi!!  I could watch episodes of just Kenzi!  She has the best lines and the best clothes and her delivery is excellent!

I want to rip out my hair

I had to help my uncle with his cell phone today.  OH. MY. GOD.

New England lobster and clam bake

I had make a lobster dinner for someone tonight, and no I didn't lose a bet, so I decided to go all out and have a traditional New England lobster bake.  A few things I found out about lobster while searching for recipes and serving suggestions:

1. Lobster used to be considered a poor man's food
2. As a result many of the traditional side dishes are also poor man's food
3. A New England lobster clam bake is like a good old fashioned BBQ anywhere else in the country
4. Clams are soooo easy to cook!
5. Doing everything at home cost about $20/person
6. I want to do this again!
7. Making a baked potato is really easy too!
8. A large baked potato (pre toppings) can have as many calories as a 6oz sirloin steak

Ok, so here's what I did:

Heart of Darkness still sucks

I finally finished re-reading Joseph Conrad's the Heart of Darkness after reading it in high school many many years ago.  I even used the free Audible Books narration by Kenneth Branagh.  All I can saw is, the horror, the horror that is that book.  It was almost as awful and unbearable as it was when I was 17.  Why is this book a classic?  And why are highschool children forced to read it?  I'm curious to see if Joseph Conrad is just one of those authors that I just don't like even though many other people do, like Hemingway.  I've never read another Conrad book, maybe I should, just to see if I don't like his style or just the Heart of Darkness.  I did appreciate the book slightly more than when I was in highschool, but it was still unbearably dull...even with Kenneth Branagh's amazing voice.  I do want to watch Apocalypse Now, though.  I wonder if Netflix has it on instant watch.

TV

The summer is almost over :(  That means I have a hectic Fall TV schedule :( and :)  You know what that means, I'll have to make my Fall TV schedule.  Except I'm too tired with dealing with making it now.  So for now here's my schedule:

Thursday

Burn Notice 9pm USA

Saturday

Hell on Wheels 9pm AMC (starts 8/10, 2 hour premier)

Sunday

Breaking Bad 9pm AMC (starts 8/11)

I think Burn Notice and Breaking Bad will probably be over or just about over by the time my fall shows start.

Government planning

I had to deal with local government today for something I'll be doing.  Aww the government :)  So, I had to go to one building to fill out some paperwork then go to another building three blocks away to finish the process then back to the first building to drop off the papers.

Hell on Wheels season 2

Spoilers for season 2 of Hell on Wheels after the jump.

Kombucha

So, a friend is trying to get me into making kombucha now.  So that would be yogurt, cheese, butter, bread, jams, pickles, and kombucha.  I should just go live with the Amish.

Happy days

I woke up this morning and felt wonderful and relaxed thinking about how I no longer work for my psychotic, quite possibly bi-polar, controlling, manipulative, and self-serving advisor, or as I refer him/her, ASS #1.  :D :D

Liquid soap

Making liquid soap doesn't seem that hard, maybe I'll try it next month:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Liquid-Soap
http://chickensintheroad.com/house/crafts/how-to-make-liquid-soap/

Hell on Wheels

Hell on Wheels season 2 is on Netflix instant watch!!!!!  I'm already on episode 5, half way done!

Car woes

It's annoying that my car depreciates in value every year but my insurance company's premiums increase every year (not by much, but still!!) so that I end up paying more every year for a car that's worth less every year.  Same with my DMV registration fees.  Not happy.  Oh and I just had to replace my front and rear brakes and front rotors.

Burn Notice: Psychological Ware (episode 7.7)

Spoilers for episode 7.7 after the jump.

Home made vs. store bought

Since I my yogurt turned out well and I loved the process, I decided to see what other things I can make at home that would be cheaper than store bought.  Here are some sites with recipes on what to make and how to make them, the vanilla extract was most interesting to me:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2011/11/buy-or-make-what-food-staples-are-cheaper-to-make-at-home/

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/15-foods-you-should-never-buy-again/

http://slowmama.com/fooddrink/make-or-buy/

And this great cheese making website:
http://curd-nerd.com/home-cheese-making-cheaper/

I've made cheese, butter, and bread before.  I think I'll try pickling and preserving.

Yogurt recipe, perfected!

My second batch of yogurt turned out wonderfully!  So smooth and creamy!  This time I used whole fat milk, here's what I did:

• Heat 1/2 a gallon of milk
• Let milk cool
• While milk is cooling set out one cup of yogurt and whip
• When milk is warm (but not hot) to the touch add 3-4 tablespoons of the milk to the yogurt and whip
• Add the yogurt to the milk around the edge and gently mix with a fork, again around the edges
• Pour yogurt in jars and keep warm for 12 hours or to desired consistency then place in the fridge to cool

Ahead of schedule...for once!

I finished organizing all my drawers in one night!  I had only planned to do three of them tonight!  These Bento storage boxes from Rubbermaid are amazing!  It's amazing how a few boxes in drawers can really open up space, now I have an entire drawer empty!  I think I'll leave it that way :)

jpgs

Some interesting jpgs I found today from Uber Humor:

Sleep frustrations

How is it that my naps turn into 3 hour snooze fests???!!!  Why can't I take short naps, dagnabbit!

Summer, summer

Still so much I want to do this summer:

Bowling
Laser Tag
Day trips
Finish organizing closets and drawer, throw stuff out
Job hunt
Dissertation
Museums
Finish reading my book

Yogurt and cheese

My yogurt maker (warmer) arrived!  And I made my first batch of yogurt!  Nom nom nom :)  I bought this yogurt maker.  I heated the milk on the stovetop, waited for it to cool a little, added the starter, and placed the jars in the Yolife yogurt maker for 12 hours.

I made farmers cheese with the leftover milk.  It was supper easy and super tasty.  Here's the recipe I used: http://www.olgasflavorfactory.com/breakfast/homemade-farmers-cheese/

Introverts

Amazing description of introverts!

http://schrojones.deviantart.com/art/How-to-Live-with-Introverts-291305760

Home Exercises

Last night I did some fun home exercises!  I hula hooped for cardio and strength (abs and lower body) and then I did some more strength training (arms, shoulders, and lower body) with resistance bands.  All this while watching my shows!  And it was fun!!

My Social Scientist hat

Sorry to bring my social scientist eye into everything...but am I the only one that sees the irony in a video promoting racial equality and is against racial stereotyping but then proceeds to gender stereotype??  Check out the wall behind the girls versus the wall behind the boys...it's not just about the color, look closely at what's hanging on the walls too.

http://gawker.com/kids-watch-interracial-cheerios-ad-have-no-idea-why-it-790720393?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

3rd Rock from the Sun, Season 6

Almost finished with 3rd Rock from the Sun!!  On the last disc :)

Random List: Halloween Costumes

List all your childhood Halloween costumes that you remember, here are mine:

1. Pumpkin
2. '50's poodle skirt rocker
3. Hippie
4. Alien
5. Wizard
6. Cat
7. The Crow
8. Doctor

Rammstein

I've been listenin' to these guys quite a bit lately...it's been a long while:

Take a hint, buddy!

I received a text today from someone who I have not had any contact with for over a year and to whom I thought I had made quite clear that I wanted to end our friendship...apparently I was wrong...the text asked if I wanted to meet-up for dinner because s/he was in.  I didn't even know who the text was from, as I had deleted the number from my phone.  They texted back telling me they were, I said I already I had plans, s/he asked if I wanted to meet up over the weekend, I said I had plans, and s/he said "ok, maybe next time."

Irresponsible people

Don't you just hate irresponsible people, especially when you're paying them?  Is it that hard for someone to send an e-mail or leave a hardcopy for you to pick up?  Needless frustrations.

Abs

I've been trying to do these:

Summer bucket list

Where do the hours go?

Why is it that there never seems to be enough time in the day??!!  I feel like I have senioritis.  On the plus side, I wrote four cover-letters and had phone conversations with two friends I hadn't talked with in a while.

I still have to:

1. Review the coverletters once more before sending them off
2. Finish one table for one of my chapters and add the results to the text
3. Re-do the analysis for another chapter and revise the text accordingly
4. Revise the discussion of another chapter
5. Get a copy of my birth certificate
6. Contact someone about a postdoc I'm interested in and research it some more
7. Finish going through/organizing drawers and closet
8. Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs!!!!

http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/03/hours.aspx

High Commander's log:

Only two more seasons of 3rd Rock left to watch!  That show is hilarious :)

Guess I was never born

My parents lost my birth certificate.  Now I have to go through the process of ordering a copy for myself...joy.  Here is a link on how to go about ordering a copy of your birth certificate in your state:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm

BBQ and fireworks

It's really annoying how some people turn everything into a political event.  They can't enjoy one day of BBQ and fireworks without bringing politics into it.

Emergency binder

Nothing gets you cleaning out your files and drawers like looking for a document.  Have not found it yet, on the plus side I did find a service agreement I was looking yesterday and my social security card. I guess there are a couple other place the document might be.  I need to create an emergency binder, I found these on the web:

http://preparednesschallenge.blogspot.com/search?q=Gag+binder
http://www.yourownhomestore.com/survival-kit-series-week-23-important-documents/

I wouldn't recommend keeping your information on Google Docs...seems too easily hacked for my taste, but this page has some good ideas never-the-less:
http://lifehacker.com/5817021/in-case-of-emergency-how-to-organize-your-important-records-in-a-master-information-kit

More tech frustrations

Best Buy said I can't get a new phone because technically the repair has to be on the same phone and since they always give me a refurbed phone it's not the same phone that breaks down.  I said that no one ever gave me the option of repairing my phone, they just gave me a refurbed.  The Geek Squad tech said that the option to have the original phone repaired and returned to you is not available for cell phones...So Best Buy basically created a catch 22 for their "no lemon policy" for phones.  Awesome.

Tech frustrations

I'm so frustrated with Apple and Best Buy!!!!!!!!  This is the third time my iPhone has broken down!  I have Geek Squad Black Tie Protection so they send in my broken phone and give me a refurbished one.  Hopefully they'll give a new phone this time.

What time does to the body

Skip to around 2:15, recognize anyone??



Idjit!

Heat wave

I turned into a puddle of sweat today!  The above drawing combines two things I love, Dali and the Simpsons.  I can't decide if I was more like Bart, Marge, or Homer today... I think maybe Marge.

LensCrafters plug

I went to LensCrafters today, the anti-glare film on one (that's ONE) lens was peeling really bad while the other lens was perfectly fine.  The sales woman (who is really sweet and helpful every time I go in) asked me, "Did you expose it to excessive heat?"  My reply: "Not anymore than the other half of my glasses..."  wah-wah  I don't think she was got what I was saying or maybe not paying attention to me because she didn't react in a "oh duh" way.  Anyway, they decided even though my warrantee lapsed (by 20 days) they will still replace both lenses at the warrantee price and make them with my new prescription if needed :)  Score!  That means I can use my insurance for contacts!

Yogurt Recipes

My yogurt makers is supposed to arrive tomorrow!  Time to find yogurt recipes!

http://www.makeyourownyogurt.com
http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2009/10/how-to-make-homemade-yogurt-2/
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/000176.html
http://greekfood.about.com/od/syrupssauces/r/make_yogurt.htm

I love to singa...

This song has been stuck in my head for days!!!!


And it's all because of this Merry Melodies:


All because of a special feature on this movie's blu-ray.

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

I miss my routine :(

I love this quote by Jim Ryun, "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."  It always inspires me to re-evaluate my habits and adjust.

Some things to think about:

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2010/03/how-to-get-back-into-your-routine-after.html

http://andreadekker.com/3-tips-for-getting-back-into-a-routine/

http://avoision.com/2012/12/10/getting-back-to-an-early-morning-routine.php

Naps...again

I didn't feel like taking a nap today!  Maybe it's because I exercised in the morning.  I would like to do that, but then I'd have to wake up earlier...or go to work an hour later...hmmmm.....

Zzzzzzzz.....

Ahhh, the nap!  Such a beautiful thing!

Stress, balance, life

I have not been keeping my monthly resolutions.

Summer Solstice!!!

Today was the longest day of the year!  Although I usually remember the solstice, I don't actually do anything to celebrate it or observe it.  I've been interested in astronomy since I was six, though I would not call myself an amateur astronomer because I don't have that much zeal for it anymore (life and such), so I pay attention to astronomical events but don't always actively go after them.  This year was different.  I guess because I'm nearly done with my education, I've quit working for my psycho advisor (huge, HUGE weight off my shoulders...for another post), and I made LOADS of progress in my work this past week, I just felt in more of a celebratory mood.  So to celebrate, I went to a museum with beautiful gardens.  I spent some time in the exhibits and in the garden, had a picnic lunch, walked around the museum grounds, had tea.  I was there for six hours!  I love these long summer days :)  Afterward, another museum was hosting an evening summer solstice party with a DJ, hors d'ourve, cash bar, and the galleries were open.  Best part of all, the event was free!!!!!  The museum I went to during the day was also free!  I think my favourite part of the day was when I took a nap on the grass, soaking up warm rays of the sun :)  I don't know what it is about summer, is it that I was born in summer or that all throughout our K-12 years children look forward to the freedom of summer, is it the pools and swimming, the possibility that long days and short nights bring?  Well whatever it is, I think summer is my favourite season overall.

Observations and random thoughts

I hate it when public restrooms order the wrong kind of toilet paper, they order the gigantic roles when their holder is the normal kind you have in your bathroom.  Or even with the normal sized toilet paper there are the ones with the cardboard roll that has a small diameter and the ones with the normal diameter and sometimes they order the small diameter when they have the normal holder...their purchasing person really needs to check this stuff out instead of just going for the cheapest option.

Lessons from the Simpsons

Wow, I've been watching the Simpsons for almost all my life!!  Here's a post about the five lessons we can learn from America's #1 TV family, the Simpsons:
http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Entertainment/lessons-learned-simpsons-show/story?id=19423142#.UcKwB5VLLih

I don't know what to dooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't decide if I want to host a summer solstice party or just go to a summer solstice event.

Hosting

Pro:

Hosting a party would be fun

Con:

But the solstice is on a Friday this year and everyone would be coming from work

So that would mean it'd have to be in the evening...summer solstice should take advantage of light

And hosting would be a lot of work

Going to an event:

Pro:

No work

Con:

Researching them

I kinda want to host :-\  but I don't want to do deal with the cons above

I'm so conflicted!!!!!!!!!!

3rd Rock from the Sun...fun with titles

I've been watching 3rd Rock from the Sun; I'd forgotten how funny that show is :)  For those of you that don't remember, John Lithgow is the High Commander, Dick.  Sooo, since Dick is the High Commander, the writers decided to go with a very particular theme for the episode titles...check them out here, there are some real winners!

Achoo

I hate being sick.  But whenever I'm sick I think of this episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun where the aliens get sick for the first time:

Favorite quotes at around 8:40 (Dick talking about how he's never been defeated by a single-celled organism), 11:50 (Sally talking about how this virus is defeating her, leaving her die on a flea infested planet in the boondocks of space), and 15:45 (Sally shouts, "Destroy the incubator!!!").

Vampire Diaries season finale

Was not expecting that Vampire Diaries season finale twist but soooo glad it happened.  Actually both twists.  Less happy about the Silas twist.  I think the cure twist will make the show even more interesting.

Office Farewell

I was pleasantly surprised by this season of The Office. Last two seasons were not very good. I hated Robert California. And it took me a while to warm up to Nellie. Tonight's episode was everything a farewell episode should be: filled with laughs and tears,but most of all memorable. It felt like we were saying goodbye to friends and family, which is just how it should be—after all we did spend 9 years getting close to these characters, watching then grow. I'm sad that in the future, when this episode is played on syndication, they will cut out 15min of it, since the episode was 75min (with commercials). I can't really think of a single scene that should be cut. 

Last day at work!!

In the immortal words of Homer J. Simpson: Woohoo!!!

And I finished watching season 2 of Bob's Burgers :)

Dropping like flies

I ran into a student I hadn't seen in awhile; that student is getting a PhD in another department but a professor from my department was their advisor.  The student told me that they decided to leve their PhD program with a masters (I think after 5 years in the program) because they were fed up with all the bullshit and egos.  The student found their dream job and is starting in a couple weeks.  That makes eight students in the five years I've been in the program.  Two of those students were working with advisors in my department who had joint appointments but the students were actually part of another department.  It's depressing.

Another great Ralphism

I watched Simpsons last and I forgot to post my favorite Ralph line, so here it is:

Slava runs over Ralph's tricycle (with Ralph on it).  Marge and Slava run out of the car to see the damage.  Ralph climbs off of his destroyed tricycle and says:

"My daddy said I was an accident" and skips off into the distance

Ah, that Ralph :)

Bob's Burger: The Unnatural

Wow!  Bob has totally lost it!  In tonight's episode, "The Unnatural", Linda pawned Bob's beloved new espresso machine inorder to raise $500 to get Gene lessons with a sham baseball coach.  During the final confrontation with the fraud coach, Bob said if Gene couldn't hit the ball the coach should give the Belchers a refund.  During the game Bob actually rooted for Gene to lose!!  He was crazy insane with his chants and even fighting with Linda over Gene's swing.  Because Bob is just that unlucky, of course, Gene hit the ball in a fluke accident.  Bob continued arguing with Linda about how the hit didn't mean anything and that it was just luck but could not be replicated again, all while the baseball coach was driving off with everyone's money... I can't blame Bob for finally cracking, he does have a pretty crappy family...

Oh and let's not forget about Tina.  I gotta say, I kinda like caffeinated Tina, she has way more personality than regular Tina and caffeine-withdrawal Tina is a no nonsense hardass gal.  Do not get on her bad side!  She ruthlessly smashed her mother's beloved ceramic doll figurines to get to the bottom of the mystery of the missing espresso machine.  I think that was the best Tina moment in the series thus far.

Best line:

Linda is brainstorming how to raise the $500 for Gene. Louise to Linda: You can sell your soul.  I did and I'm fine. *eye's twitching*...That line explains so much at Louise. 

Abs

These are definitely going to hurt, enjoy!:
http://health.yahoo.net/articles/fitness/photos/5-minute-abs-proven-lab#0

Fall 2013 TV update

A lot of changes to my Fall 2013 TV schedule.

Canceled shows:

Go On (it had it's moments)

The New Normal (meh)

Whitney (marathoned on Hulu last week)

Happy Endings (possible pick-up by another network)

1600 Penn (so sad about this one, it was so funny)

Final season:

Burn Notice (great show, but the story doesn't have much else to go since they achieved most of their goals)

Nikita (WTH CW!  WTH!)

Psych (my favorite TV theme song, always put a smile on my face) :(

The Originals

Finally, an Originals Preview!  I'm kind of excited about the new show.

Supernatural: Clip Show

Supernatural spoilers:

So many good things!

Season 2 of Bob's Burger is on Netflix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Guess we know what I'll be streaming tonight and tomorrow night!  I've seen a third of the season 2 episodes.

In other news, I basically told my advisor to suck it.  Not in those exact words, of course.

Reconnecting with an old friend

I feel like I need to rediscover myself; more precisely, what hobbies I enjoy.  So this weekend I started knitting again and I tried to find some more geocaches.  I also went hiking with a friend.  Hmmm....what else did I do...I watched shows on Hulu and Netflix.  I think I want to get back into photography and computer programming.  I used to be really good with computers.  I still am good, but I used to design webpages and do programming...I'm really out of touch with new programming languages.  I really want to learn iOS...I wonder how difficult that would be.  I used to know C, C++, Java, and HTML...I know ancient history compared to how much things have changed.  I'll look into these after I get back from my trip.  Don't worry, the two people who read my blog, I won't be leave just yet and I shan't be gone for long!

Here's Maru!

I got my mom addicted to YouTube videos of the Japanese cat Maru.  If you don't know who Maru is, you've ben living under a rock.  He's as or more famous than Grumpy cat.  Check out Maru's YouTube videos, but be forewarned, it's hard to stop!

Improvements

Today I think I finally got my "friend" interested in exercising with me weekly :)  There are some crazy stairs near our home and we did some of them.  I think we can build up to the whole thing slowly.  I've done all of them before, but I don't mind taking it slower.  It's really important to do interactive activities together, lately things have strained because we've both been super stressed out.  Now that things are less hectic and we have more time together, I think it's the perfect opportunity to introduce healthy behaviors into our relationship.  Maybe we should also do interactive board games and things like that too.

Scientifically accurate TMNT

This post is about turtle anatomy.

Tabata

I saw a clip on Yahoo this morning about Tabata training, it sounds really interesting.

Spoiled

I went to the dine-in movie theater again today.  I used discount tickets so I wouldn't have to pay the full price ($19!!).  And it worked out perfectly because I was really hungry, so I had dinner and movie simultaneously :)  I'm getting used to this decadent lifestyle :)

TV monster!!!!

OMG, these network execs need to stop making changes to the TV schedule.  Ugghhhh, so here's another update:

Tuesday

8pm: Hart of Dixie CW

9pm: New Girl FOX
10pm: Grimm NBC

Wednesday

8pm: Arrow CW

9pm: Supernatural CW, Modern Family ABC

10pm: Psych USA

Thursday

8pm: Vampire Diaries CW

9pm: Office NBC (this week there will be a 1 hour episode of the Office starting at 8:30pm)

Friday

8pm: Nikita CW, Happy Endings ABC
8:30pm: Happy Endings ABC

I'm excited about my shows tonight!!!

Bates Motel episode 1.7

Spoilers for Bates Motel episode 1.7

Bates Motel episode 1.6

I'm all caught up with Bates Motel.  Spoilers for Bates Motel episode 1.6.

Getting my life back

To do after my defense:

1. Sleep
2. Sleep for a week
3. Wash car
4. Get hair cut
5. Go back to my job search
6. Shred old mail
7. Clean out drawers and closets
8. Exercise regularly again
9. Go back to hiking and tennis with friends
10. Finish Lost Girl, Get Smart, Angel, Mad Men
11. Finish my 3 Kindle books and maybe a couple paperback books
12. Go back to my monthly resolutions

Survive

3 more days...I just...need to...survive...these 3 days.  And I have a sore throat and am coming down with a cold because of all the stress I've been under this past month and a half.  But, only 3 more days.

A big bucket of randomness

Friend: They're having an all-you-can-eat crawfish dinner on Sunday.
Me: Do you like crawfish?
Friend: Yeah, it's tasty.  Don't you like it?
Me: It's alright...it's just...well... it's too much effort to have to put into eating food.  I mean, what's the point of living in the modern world if you have to put that much effort into eating.  It's like caveman days.  I might as well go catch it too.  It's so... tiring!

Oh, Hans!  So sad.


The best of Hans Moleman, they have a lot of good one but they don't have "That's 8 min of my life I'll never get back.  Oh I'd waste it anyway":


The best of Ralph, but they don't have my favorite, "it tastes like burning"

Art

I came across this photo journal today about a photographer who photographed her 110 lbs weight loss and what that means in our society.  You have to read her descriptions of her photos, they give more insight into her art.  I love all the detail and thought that went into each image, she is a very talented artist and I'm glad she made such a positive change in her life.  Imagine the will power it takes!  That is impressive!

Then I came across this YouTube clip.  It's a rollie pollie day :)

Run by fruiting

For some reason I was thinking about Mrs. Doubtfire today, particularly this scene, one of my favs:

Revolution season 1 update

I got caught up with Revolution and Once Upon a Time tonight.  I'm not impressed with these shows anymore and I doubt I will continuing watch past the season.  I'm glad they finally explained the black out...spoiler after the jump

Bob's Burgers: The Kids Run the Restaurant, Episode 3.20

Finally!!!  Bob told his kids, "why can't you play games like normal children!!"  About damn time Bob!  About damn time.

Sooo ready to be done

I can't wait until my defense is over.  I will go into Netflix streaming hyperdrive.  I will eat, sleep, breathe streaming...*sigh* just hold out a little while longer...

Bourgeois extravagance

I went to a dine-in theater tonight to see Oblivion.  It was my first time at a dine-in theater.  Once you get over feeling bourgeois about having food delivered to you in a theater, it's quite fun!  I loved that it was 21 and over, no noisy kids or stupid teens, and you get have alcohol while you watch the movie.  Everything was outrageously priced of course, but it's good for a once-in-awhile splurge.  The food was tasty too and so much of it!  I couldn't finish it all.  And the reclining seats were sooooo comfy, I didn't want to leave.  If they had given me a blanket I think I would have fallen asleep right then and there.  I'm definitely going to that theater again, not all the time (it's way too expensive for that) but for a special occasion, like maybe after my defense I'll treat myself to a simultaneous dinner and movie at the dine-in theater.

Now a quick comment about the movie.  Oblivion was good, but I wish they hadn't revealed in the trailers that Morgan Freeman was searching for and captured Tom Cruise or that they would get to that reveal earlier in the movie.  For something that they so freely revealed in the trailers, they spent a lot of time building up to it and kept it shrouded in mystery.  The movie did have a couple other twists though, one was really unexpected.