You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life

I guess when I read that quote this morning I thought maybe I shouldn't worry so much about what I'm going to do with my life, and just concentrate on living for now. Eventually I know I will have to make some decisions but for now I think I will just stop for a while and concentrate on my life as it is right now. I'm almost done my third year of university, I have pretty good grades, a supportive family, a good boyfriend, and I don't need/want much. I guess that's about all I can ask for. I am thinakful for haivng enough.
Anyways, again it is thursday and as you can imagine I wasn't looking forward to my day. I think I might always hate thursdays...is that wierd? I know I don't have a chem lab, so that makes my day about 50 times better then a "normal" thursday, but I do still have chem lecture and I have a quiz today too. Seeing as I failed the last quiz (well, 5 out of 10...might as well have failed) I would like to do good on this one, but for some reason I haven't been able to concentrate on studying for it. I have got a lot of other things done. I emailed my prof about an idea for my paper on tuesday. She still hasn't got back to me. I read the chapter for chem class tonight although I should have skipped it and studied for my quiz.
Anyways, you'll be excited to know (or you should be...) that tonight is my very last chemistry class ever in my life. I am excited. I might have to bake cupcakes or something...yeah right, maybe I'll bring hummus and carrots, that's a little better for you. What I would give for a rainbow chip cupcake though...wow
Anyways, it's going to rain today and tomorrow and saterday in waterloo, and probably for the rest of the month. Tomorrow is April fools day, I might have to play a trick on Jenny (oooh, watch out!) haha
By the way, jen got in to teachers college (though not officially yet) so Congrats!! That brings about all sorts of scary realities about living on my own next year without a solid support system like I'm used to. Hopefully all will work out for the best, I guess I'm worrying about the future again. So back to present day, my throat hurts so I'm going to drink a lemon tea and study for my chem quiz. Have a great day everyone!!

Aimee

I hope someday I forget how to study

I was just thinking about my mom, who's sitting at home right now studying for an exam that she writes tuesday evening and I was thinking...I hope someday I forget how to study. I found myself going on and on to her about how "it's not that hard, just use coloured cue cards and coloured pens and highlighters. Of course you also need at least 5 different colours of post-it notes, with at least 3 different shapes etc etc etc" I really went on and on, and then as I sit here thinking I realise that I'm obsessed. I think I spend so much time thinking about how to study that I may have wasted many hours of my life. But now it habit, and I don't know how I would be now without my perfectionistic process. It's crazy really but every colour and shape and pen has a reason. It's like a filing system. It just seems necessary. I hope someday I forget all that and become normal. I hope I'm not the object of ridicule at the office (or lab...whatever) when I'm older because I've colour coded everything and nothing makes sense to anyone but me. I don't know why my mind works this way. I hope it helps mom, I may have hindered her instead of helping. I can see her now sitting at the dining room table overwhelmed with colours and pens.
If that's the case, sorry mom, I didn't mean to. I meant well.
I believe in you! and no matter how many colours you use, I'm sure you'll do great!

Besides that, I went home this weekend which was great. We had fun watching movies and relaxing, eating a fantastic dinner. My mom went overboard again as usual, impacted partially from the lack of leftovers when we had company over on friday night. It's silly really...

I'm trying to decide on what to do with myself after school...it's such a trying decision, and I have so many choices. I hate making life-changing decisions cause there is the most oppurtunity to make the wrong choice...if there is such thing.

I keep changing my mind. I want to help people I guess is the bottom line. I want to help people by maybe doing research (in that case I might do my masters in biology of some sort), or maybe just study the human brain and how it affects emotion to help people indirectly (in that case continuing education in neuroscience of some sort), and my most recent consideration is directly helping people. This is the scariest option. I am very interested in clinical psychology (what the normal population might consider "crazy people") but the problem is, I can't decide if I'm good with people. I don't know if I want to commit to helping people when really there is no guarentee I will be able to do it. Problem is, it's not a job for just anyone, and there is no way to get real experiance with these people unless you are post-degree. So basically I'd have to jump in head first with no clue as to what I'm getting in to. I mean, not "no clue" I guess cause I sort of know the basics. I'm learning about different disorders in class and stuff but until you really have to do it....
I'm scared because it's a job that requires that you remove yourself emotionally from people (which some would argue I'm good at) but at the same time it requires that you care enough to commit to helping. It can be trying sometimes too because these people have problems of the mind that can't be solved by simply prescribing the newest drug....well I guess they could, but then what's the point. Anyways, I'm not positive that I could deal with the thought of not being able to talk someone out of suicide or some other horrible action. I'm not sure if I really could remove myself enough, and not take on some amount of responcibility. If that were the case, would it be offset by knowing that I was able to help many other people? I don't know...
So do you choose your passion even if it might not be what's best for other people and it means commiting another 7 years to school and training...help me out here...anyone?
I don't think there is an answer. I think the really brave people become clinical psychologists. Maybe I should just stick to research and stick to what's safe. Or maybe, I should just quit while I'm ahead and be done with school with a double bachlor of science. I guess that couldn't hurt either. I guess continuing school just seems like the easy way out when you havn't decided what your dream is yet. Why is it that some people have a dream that seems so right for them when they are young and they can just work toward it. I'm having a difficult time working toward nothing. I hate to put it that way cause it sounds so depressing but it's kinda true. Not in a bad way, I guess I love to learn so I am enjoying that process. And I can't see myself doing anything outside of biology/pychology but I love them both, and I can't decide.
So, if anyone has a dream or an insight that I don't have....and you just get the feeling I should be a _____ then please let me know, I'm open to ideas. Maybe I'll go on a reality tv show...kind of like the bachlor or whatever but instead of choosing a mate, I'll choose a career. That'd be neat....
anyways, I wont have any choice if I keep sitting and writing about it, so I should get some work done before exams get here and bite be in the bottom. Count down...4 more weeks.

Aimee

Blogs are Distracting

So I've been trying really hard to stay busy with productive work and everything that I should be doing but I've found that blogs are just too wonderful and so they distract me sometimes. I find myself reading peoples blogs that I don't even know and now I feel in touch with my ex-coworker's-cousin and such. It's just too good. On top of this, I then HAVE to blog myself because all of a sudden I feel whitty...like I have something exciting or wonderful to say. I know I don't...but....
So yeah, did I ever mention that I like raspberries? I bought three bags when I went grocery shopping. It's wonderful that bagged raspberries exist at all, nevermind they were on sale...$3.99 I couldn't beleive it, for a big bag...I can make very interesting smoothies now. I'm excited.
Speaking of my wonderful magic bullet...I made hummus today from a random can of chick peas I had layin around the house. I botched the recipe entirely and so it tastes kinda like garlic lemon juice BUT it has the perfect consistancy and I think I will try it again sometime soon. With mini bretons (20 crackers for 2 points!!) it's like a perfect 3 point lunch. I made it without pastes and oils and all that jazz so all you have to count for is the chick peas...soo good. I think I might try some other adventurous food sometime. I am kinda bored with the same old meals and my friend at school often brings food to eat in class that makes me terribly jelous...anyways, if anyone has any super-fabulous recipes I would love to hear them. I was thinking I'd try black bean salsa but I have to find a low-point alternative to nacho chips...any suggestions?
So it's wensday night and I'm not terrible upset about it. I don't have a chem lab tomorrow which is sooo terribly exciting I can't get over it. Every time I get a little down cause the week is creeping towards thursday I just have to think "but you don't have a chem lab tomorrow night" and I get happy again. I can eat dinner off a real plate instead of sitting in class, pen in one hand, tupperware in the other trying to grab a bite in between learning what's happening to everything I eat as I eat it...it kinda ruins it in case you were wondering.
Besides school, I havn't done a whole lot since yesterday. I watched house last night which is still as wonderful as ever. For those of you who havn't watched it...what's wrong with you?!? and you really should give it a try....
I love this show because it has educational value (kinda like CSI) and yet the characters are so wonderfuly sarcastic and antisocial. Why wouldn't I love it? It's exactly how I think most of the time, I'm just not brave enough to speak it out loud. This week's episode was a good one too. But I wont ruin it...we still have it on tape if the family missed it, will bring it home if requested.
Besides all that, my biochem awaits me, I still havn't finished this darn chapter, it's long and borning and packed full of some ridiculous amount of information and lovely latin and made-up words. Scientists are so good at that....especially chemists. They throw in symbols and stuff too so just when you think you have the "lingo" all figured out...BAM!! there's a delta sign and you can't figure out why the heck it would be between those really long words....whatever. It's almost over. Just a few more weeks and I'll be home free.
Well I think I've said enough. If I only had this much focus for the work I have to do I'd be much better off.

aimee

Happy Early Birthday to Me!!

I'm going to see Sylvia Brown in September!! Incredible...I still can't beleive it. My mom somehow got tickets today and bought them for my birthday (a bit early but hey!) Its a seminar thing she's doing in toronto. I can't get over it really. This woman is amazing and I'm going to be in the same room as her (even if the room is gigantic). I don't even know what to think. What I do know, is that it is going to be a very good time, and I don't get to spend enough time with my mom and sis so another toronto adventure will be fun.
Other then that, I am feeling kinda crappy. My stomach is being wonky on me lately and I'm not sure why. Lack of stress? haha But I started adding bowl buddies (high fibre cookies) to my diet. I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not. I guess it can't hurt too much, as long as I make sure to get enough water into my system as well. That's the hard part. I need to learn how to fit more water into my tummy in the day. I just always forget. I think my body forgot how to make me feel thirsty :)
Anyways, as far as school goes, things are steady right now, not too busy, but also not slow. This is how I like it to be honest. It keeps me working and productive yet nto stressed out, so if I need to go to bed early or take a little break, I don't have to feel guilty about it. I am doing most of my work in the morning though. That was a good habit to get into I think. There are many more productive hours in the morning then one would expect. Every hour I work at night is like bonus. And now that I have no biochem lab on thursday I get to watch CSI!! I'm still attempting to keep on top of my reading for biochem before I go to lecture. It's been working out well so far. I have kept up since the midterm and find the lecture much more useful when I have some clue as to what's going on. It will help me a little come final exam time too I'm sure!!
My final exam schedule is a little rough but nothing I can't handle. The worst part is that I have 3 exams in four days. That will be a tough one to juggle but I've done worse. The 3 exams are right after Jens birthday too which is crappy, but I'll manage.
Anyhow, I'm going to get some work done, I wouldn't want to mess up my biochem studying just when I finished bragging about how "on-top-of-it" I am...haha
Sylvia Brown....unbelievable

aimee

Monday Again?

How does it happen?
I think about all the things I am going to get accomplished on the weekend...every single week I do this. Not that I don't do work during the week. Don't get me wrong, I am usually up every morning bright eyed and bushy tailed at school doing some assignment or another but like any job, the work still piles up and no matter how much you get done, there still seems to be more. I love it. Anyways, I really meant to get alot done this weekend. In fact I had aimed to get every assignment that I have due for the rest of the year done. Haha, it's true too...but anyways...
Needless to say I didn't get that much done. Actually, I did work for a long time, but it seemed to get me nowhere. I got sidetracked here and there, but I've been doing that a lot this year. So, as always I have a ton of work to do, and I can't wait for the weekend to come so I can go home for easter (I'm so excited by the way!). We are having ham for dinner which is a bit of a treat seeing as mom's ham is Fabulous!!
I have read some bloggs that I didn't know existed (an hour wasted this weekend) but they were really fantastic. I am bored with my bloggs now, but I figured I'd keep them up anyways. I lead a boring and repetitive life, what can I say...
Anyhow, mom mentioned family today in her blog. I found that interesting but not surprising. I thought about how little people make an effort to keep in touch these days seeing as it's sooo easy to do. With the internet and all, you don't even have to pay the 45 cents for postage anymore and still...somehow people manage to lose touch. It's funny cause me and Jen were just talking about that on the weekend. We havn't seen our cousins in almost a year, and havn't gotten an update either. Funny, but I guess the fault can be attributed to both parties. I rarely call my friends or family anymore. I guess I just assume that they will be waiting with open arms when I come home on some random weekends. That's a silly assumption really but I can't help it. I get caught up in my own crap just like everyone else, and suddenly it seems that I don't "have time" to send an email or make a phone call to say hello. Don't get me wrong, I still love my friends and family very much, but people (including myself) have become so wrapped up in everything they don't realize that important things are being put aside for later.
To my family...I love you *kiss, hug* and I hope you're doing good. Don't forget about me, hehe

I think this summer I want to go camping...I feel like just getting away from the rat race for a few days and camping is so quiet and relaxing. Maybe I'll go horseback riding too, I miss doing things other than work...it's so consuming sometimes.
Wow, that was off topic....I think I should quit writing for today and get to work

Aimee

Procrastination....

I should be working hard because it's saterday and there is so much work time in a saterday. I woke up early and read a chapter of my ecology textbook. I really meant to be productive. Then, I got sleepy cause I apparently didn't sleep long enough so reading wasn't going too well...eventually Jen woke up and we made brekfast and I havn't been very good at getting back to work. I figured blogging was a good transition from doing nothing to working.
We made blueberry pancakes for brekky. They were pretty good but I defrosted the berries and it made juice, so the pancakes were blue. haha. Oh well...
Anyways, nothing much has happened in the last couple days. I didn't get as much done yesterday as I had hoped, but I finished a lab report and got to bed early so that's good. I have a plan for today. Hopefully I will be able to stick to it...I'm not very good at working these days when I'm not under pressure. I think I have to go through m planner and make myself some new deadlines. The far away deadlines are so decieving...they make you feel like you're on top of things but before you know it there's a hundred things due and it's 4 days till final exams. haha
I have to get to work so I can slack off next weekend (easter) while I'm at home. It's such a nice day (ie. 1 degree above zero and not raining yet...) , maybe I'll take a walk later...

aimee

completed...last...chem lab...EVER!!

YES!!
It's finally over, I have completed my last chemistry lab ever in the entire history of my education. I don't know what I will do with myself every thursday night from now until the rest of my life! Maybe I'll have to get a hobby or something. I'm going to be so lost. haha
Do you know what this means? This means 20 or so LESS hours of writing about things I know nothing about. This means having no more stress-ulcers every week in anticipation...I can't beleive it. I have to do the report still though...but it's not a full report. My freakish chem prof wants us to do one page of scientific interpretation of the lab, one page artistic interpretation (yes...art like painting or poetry...weird) and one page on how we enjoyed the course as a whole. The lab was kinda fun actually, we mixed unknown things together and watched them change colours and make pretty patterns. Hahaha, it was a good end to my chemistry experiance. Anyways, I'm sure you've all heard enough.
Besides that, I have been dying lately. I'm pretty sure it's because I am stuck in Freud's anal stage and apparently have troubles letting go of my own personal property (ie. feces) so I'm having rediculous abdominal pain. Or maybe it's my appendix or kidneys...in any case, I've taken a couple of painkillers and all is good. It definitly put me out for a couple days though. I even resorted to exlax (which didn't help at ALL by the way...not all it's cracked up to be)...so I ate some high fibre cookies today and maybe my body will decide to give something up soon. Hahaha, anyways, enough about my personal bowl issues
I need to write a paper for one of my classes but it's one of those things that's so easy to put off. I should start it this weekend for sure. At least pick a topic or something and get started. It's not due for 3 weeks or something but I could theoretically have it off my desk as early as possible so I guess I should get on it. I have some other loose ends to tie up before finals as well, and I suppose if I want to make it home for Easter, I should get started. So enough of this "I should..." business. I think I'll go to bed and start good and early in the morning. Damn thursdays always throw me off...not anymore!!

Aimee

Monday Monday

This weekend I saw Greg, we went to yuk yuks with some roommates and jen and Matt. I had fun, I think everyone else did too. The comedians were pretty funny. It's definitly more funny if you're there (then watching it on TV). Anyways, me and Greg took off to Oakville on saterday to spend some time with the family. We had a nice dinner for robbie's birthday and then wen out for a drink at a pub with some of his friends. It was pretty fun. It was nice to visit home even if just for the night. It actually felt like a whole weekend cause usually the weekend just flies byt hat fast anyways. I wasn't too disappointed to only have one night. I should do that more often when I can't actually afford to sacrifice an entire weekend but I could stand to give up a day out of the weekend. It was definitly worth it.
Besides that, thhe weekend was good, and today was like any other monday. I went to school at 8 this morning to work on a lab report. It was supposed to be group work so once I had finished my part I stupidly assumed that the rest would be done and left it until this morning, when I nominated myself to put all the parts together and edit it. I guess it was a good idea cause if we had handed in what was there we all would have done bad. If that were the case, I'm sure there were 3 or 4 people in our group that would have expected grades like that but you know me....I'm a perfectionist and I don't deal well with low grades. Anyways, I put 6 more hours into fixing it (practically writing it over again). I should have just offered to do the hard parts to begin with. Thing is, these girls were really dumb and none of them knew how to use excel so I ended up doing mindless data entry and graphing. I should have known that if they couldn't even handle that then the introduction, results, and discussion would be a mess. Luckily I had my friend Nicole in my group who also happens to be an over-acheiver. She was at school as well this morning because she had a meeting with the dean so she helped me fix it. haha
Anyways, my class went on another silly field trip this week. We went to the park and tried to collect data on winter birds. Unfortunaly it was freakin freezing so I was knumb and there were very few birds out. We saw a couple of gulls and crows but that's about it. Three hours of watching for birds sucks...and now I have one extra lab report to do for next week. I was going to try to be a keener and finish my chem lab tongiht so that I could read ahead for chemistry lecture on thursday again. Maybe understanding what's going on will make studying for the final a little easier. haha....right
Anyways, I have a couple quizes to do and stuff so I should get to work. I hope everyone had a good day.

Aimee

PS Grandma and grandpa, the weather here is getting a little warmer, which must mean you're coming home soon. The snow isn't gone quite yet but tomorrow is only supposed to be -1 degree (celcius) so soon enough (a couple of weeks probably) we should be in sweaters with no coat. Hope you guys enjoy whats left of your vacation and the nice weather. Looking forward to seeing you after exams (boo exams)

Thank God it's Friday!!

Haha, I actually had a pretty good week considering all the work I had to do. I got alot of stuff done and I still feel pretty good. I have been taking little breaks once in a while to chat with the roommates. I figure I might as well make friends in case Jen isn't living here next year...then who will I talk to when I'm going crazy? hehe
So today was a friday like every friday. I was told that I would make a good stats TA by someone in my class...I think it's just cause I was giving him the answers. haha. I officially handed in my application though, so hopefully he was right.
I'm hoping to get home for an afternoon this weekend to say hello to the family. I miss home, but it's such a short stretch now until exams and then back home for the summer!
I helped Jen run participants for her thesis today. I guess she has a lot of people and she didn't think she could handle it. Anyways, while the people were doing the experiment, I went on the computer and discovered how fun that aquarium game is!! Mom, I beleive you now (before I thought it looked dumb) funny how feeding some little fish can be so rewarding. haha, but I got a headache after like an hour an a half. Maybe I should take a tylonol cause it hasn't gone away yet....that's the school gods telling me to get to work! haha
Anyways, I think all the roommates are going to Yuk Yuk's comedy club tongiht, so I might join to hang out for a bit. I think it would be fun, and I deserve a break after all that computer-game-playing!!
Anyways, for real I must get to work, I still havn't finished the chapter of biochem I started 2 days ago!! It's a long one...more then 65 pages...of biochem, thats alot!! I'm taking notes as I go too which is probably slowing me down even more. Anyways, I gots to go,

xoxox
Aimee

PS. Mom and Jen....did you quit blogging!! Geeze....(haha, I only live the next room over from Jen...you'd think I'd yell at her in person)

school plays with my emotions

so today was another typically long thursday. I woke up early as usual and worked on some bichem I meant to finish last night ...went to school at 9:30 am to work on a couple statistics quizes and study some more biochem so I might have a clue as to what's going on in class for a change. Went to my abnormal psychology class, studied some more biochem, went to my cognitive psychology class, studied some more biochem, went to biochem lecture (which was a tiny bit less brutal since I had studied the text) and then headed up to biochem lab as usual...
On the way I decided to finally check my biochem midterm grade that I have been sorta avoiding in case of potential breakdown...I picked up my quiz first that I wrote the day before the exam...a solid 5/10...not a good sign....but then I checked my exam mark
85.5%
Chemistry plays with my emotions. I knew there was some potential to do decently if I was lucky, but that's an A- if I ever saw one...I was proud. Anyways, then I went to lab where I got back a couple labs...some more low marks to add to the pile for the day. It's funny how every prediction I had about my marks was opposite expected. I guess it will balance out.
I have this elective course problem, I'm picking my courses for next year and I have a choice to take a half credit course of whatever I want (because I did a course in the summer...I technically don't need the 1/2 credit at all) anyways, I need it in order to have a 100% course load (ie. get scholorships) so I have been looking into my options. I decided I don't really like anything...I have my pick of any course at the university...I'm thinking I might take another statistics course...I can't beleive I don't like anything. I thought about philosophy but then I thought back to my bad experiance with philosophy in first year (hopefully never reapeated) and I thought maybe it was a bad idea. But I know nothing outside of science. I have no current event, politics, history etc etc....I guess that's why the try to force science students to take non-science classes to get them well-rounded.
Anyways, I had a hard time with that...still am having a hard time. I think I may just call it quits and not take a course. It will lose me money (in scholorships) but save me money (in tuitions and books) and theoretically if I get two jobs as a techers assistant and research assistant like I have been thinking then I will be in the same position anyways....too much to consider after such a long day. I have been non-productive since I got home from class (at 10:30pm mind you....) but still....I should go to bed now and just wake up earlier tomorrow morning and start freash. I think I'll do that.
Goodnight

Aimee

Ongoing Drama

I woke up this morning tired. I don't know why, I slept for 9 hours last night. Funny thing is, I slept for 2.5 hours monday night and was perfectly fine in the morning. I guess my body is trying to catch up....or maybe I overslept. haha, it was the first time in a long time I woke up to sunlight. I like it better waking up early actually, which may seem wierd but that's when the house is really quiet and I can get the most done.
Anyways, to make a long story short, I am through my bottleneck of work and I am trying to catch up on all of the little work I have been putting off like nobodys business. I have to choose my classes for next year which is proving to be rather difficult actually. I think they vut out about 3/4 of the 4th year biology courses at my school. I now have the prerequisites for like 2...so I don't have much of a choice. But I am also making a decision to either be a research assistant or a TA or both...I'm leaning toward both, in fact I already have the form filled out but I am just hesitant to hand it in. Thing is, I don't want to have a low average in my last year of school after all of this...but I think I will be able to handle it. If I don't have Jen here to talk to, I will probably be bored and need some social interaction anyways. This way I get to teach a class once a week and keep myself super-busy. I think I can do it. Heck, I'll sleep when I'm dead :)

Anyways, the exam I wrote yesterday (abnormal psychology) went better then the last one I wrote but I'm not sure if I made up for the last time. I guess the worst that could happen is I get a B in the class. Meh...I'm trying to stay light-hearted about grades these days, otherwise I'll pull all my hair out by the end of this year. Haha

Mom hasn't blogged lately, or Jen...I should call mom, see how she's doing...wow I'm thinking out loud, I guess that's what this thing is for. I can't beleive it's almost 10am....I have usually been up for hours by now. I should get to work, today is going to be a good day, I just know it!

Aimee

What's come to perfection, perishes

I read the quote that titles this blog in my abnormal psycholgy textbook this morning. It started the chapter on eating disorders but I found myself thinking about it in my own context since I am a sort of perfectionist myself. I thought it was a good idea, that if I was perfect then I would no longer have a purpose, so it made me feel a little better. I needed that this morning seeing as I havn't slept a full night in a while, and I was grumpy.
I'm almost there though, to the calm after the storm when the midterms end and you get a few days to catch your breath, pick your courses for next year, write letters to thesis supervisors and all that Jazz. I'm too far behind at this point to get all of my assignments done by tuesday as well as study for my exam on tueday so I'm prioritizing. I don't know when they expect me to sleep. haha, I say "they" as if there is someone against me wanting me to suffer. I'm funny
I'm going to take a break on wendsday I decided. Reward myself and take a nap or something. I don't want to burn out before finals but it always seems to happen with me. I should be smart like the other kids and slack off till then ;)
I am writing a chem lab periodically between studying but for some reason (as is usual with chemistry) I just dont get it...something about submitochondrial particles in oxidative phosphorylation in beef heart....too much for me to handle. Luckily I only have 2 more chem labs in the history of my life. Yes!!
Anyways, I should get back to studying if I plan on sleeping at all tongiht. I have a whole other lab report to write in the morning before class so I need to be functional and productive.
To everyone I have been neglecting...HI!! I miss you

Aimee

PS. grandma...thanks for your email, I did get the film processed but it's special film and I only get to make one print into an actual picture. I had fun taking the pictures though.
As for my exam...I'll let you know how it went as aoon as I know. I'm hoping its not as bad as I think, chances are I've exagerrated the bad parts in my head....otherwise hopefully my professor will curve the marks. Enjoy the rest of the nice weather. I can't wait to shed my winter coat and feel warm air on my face!! Lucky...

Happy Birthday Mama Dukes!!

Unfortunatly it is my moms birthday and I couldn't go home because I had another dreaded workshop (saterday school for biology students). We processed our film today. It was interesting but time consuming and I have 2 lab reports due on monday and an exam on tuesday so I was not happy about wasting so much time. The "dark room" which was a chemical closet was an interesting experiance. Having to manipulate a roll of film and roll it on to a spool was challenging and made me have alot more respect for the blind.
Anyways, I wrote my biochem exam yesterday and it went about as bad as I had expected it would. Funny thing is I would have done really good had I written either of the previous 2 years exams. They were much easier. I studied for so long (I think about 70 hours or so) so it was frustrating to not do well. It was supposed to be a 2 hour exam but he ended up giving us an extra 45 minutes and still everyone was forced to leave. It was far too long...and difficult. I think I did really well on the first 30% and terribly on the last 70% so....hopefully it will even itself out. I hate this prof, he's really nice as a person but he writes terrible exams.
Anyways, I have another exam to study for and many things to do.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA DUKES!!!!

Aimee

another day...

So, I'm one more day closer to the dreaded biochem exam. In fact I havn't thought much about anything else lately. I got a couple of good marks back today. I got a 90 on my presentation I did yesterday, which I guess is good seeing as the prof was critical of how I presented her work. I almost wish my mark was a few points lower or higher so that I wasn't sitting borderline A+. That's the worst place to be sitting in a class in my opinion. It puts too much pressure on for the final exam (which this class doesn't have...just a big proposal paper) because you are SOO CLOSE to that A+. If I got a lower grade I'd just give up on the A+ and I wouldn't be dissappointed with an A...oh school....the better you do the more you expect from yourself. That's what I find.
Anyways, I got a 94% on my statistics exam which is good. I lost stupid marks too which is annoying but apparently I had one of the top marks cause the prof decided to give free stats textbooks to the top three grades...."understanding statistics in the behavioral sciences" haha. Just another textbook I'll never have time to open. Oh well, I guess it was the thought that counts.
Anyways, so I've had an ok day besides the chemistry exam that is coming far too quickly, so I should go study some more...I guess I can only do my best. Funny how some things come so easily to me and others it doesn't matter how much I study...I still don't get it.

aimee

More Pictures in the park

I attempted taking another two rolls of film this morning to ensure that at least one roll was able to be processed. Hopefully at least some of the pictures turn out ok. I didn't spend nearly as much time setting up pictures this time. It was a good and bad day to take pictures because the snow could cause over-exposure, however, it made the trees look pretty.
I didn't have much time so instead of spending 3 hours on 20 pictures I spent 1 hour on 60. Oh well...more room for error. I didn't see much wild-life this time though. I may have caught a bird or a squirrel here and there. The water was snow-covered and not nearly as nice as when it was broken-up ice. It gave me some good excericise though. Let me tell you, trudging through 3 feet of snow to get a picture of some burdock or thistle better be worth it. Hahaha
I gave my presentation for my cognitive psychology seminar today. It was on an article that my teacher wrote so I was scared that I wouldn't do it justice...I think it went pretty well though none of the class participated (again). It's not my fualt the article was 31 pages long and noone had read it....however I guess I still loose marks for discussion in all fairness.
Anyways, I have so much work to do so I should get to it. Hopefully I will find time for a break later tongiht to watch HOUSE!!

Aimee