ONE MORE WEEK!!!!!!!

One more week and this term is over! The end of this term signifies that I am half way finished with my course work! Yeah me! Of course the end of the term doesn't equal into much of a break for me as I have MANY things to do during the break, but at least I won't have to go to class and work on 3 different projects each week! I am going to organize the break though and be sure to get a day or two of Catie time in there!

Having the kids here was great fun. Next Saturday I will go see them again as it is Christmas with my father. Christmas isn't much fun when you have no money, but we are doing the best we can. Dave's new job is only 20 hours a week. I was seriously considering getting a seasonal job at Macy's, however the uncertainty of when surgery for organ donation would occur hindered that thought. My research position should pick up a bit over the break, which will bring in some funds. Dave has made such a good impression at his job that it is very likely he will go full time after the first of the year and possibly even "move up", of course I will receive additional funding in January, so I think the financial situation will be greatly eased after December.

One week peeps......ONE MORE WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o)

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is not the day that Dave and i are celebrating Thanksgiving. My children arrive tomorrow for the big turkey day. Today is actually me trying to wrap up the presentation that I have to give on Monday for my "final". I am way behind schedule on it, considering that I must email it to 3 professors tomorrow as well as another student in the class. Only 2 weeks left....I am ready for a break!

The tooth is gone, although they could not get it all the way numb, I was so fed up that I said, just pull it.....which of course they did not hesitate to do, after they closed the door so that no one could hear me! The area is healing up well, however my jaw is a mess. I think that I goofed up my TMJ only chewing on one side for weeks. Today it is actually a bit better. I can't open my mouth very wide, so I can only take small bites. It takes me a LONG time to eat!

Other than that, all is well. I simply wanted to take a minute to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Still have that damn tooth!

Indeed, the tooth that has been causing me so much pain, remains in my mouth. The dental students couldn't get me numb, I did try to put up a brave front and suggest that they just go for it and take it out anyway, after all, it wouldn't KILL me......they did try.......I screamed.....they stopped. So, my second round of antibiotics, which also means a second round of monistat (trust me, you don't want to know more than that) and I have to go AGAIN on Thursday and let them try again. Can't they just put me to sleep?? Seriously, I want it out and I don't want to KNOW that how it came out. *SIGH*

The end of the term is very stressful, 3 more weeks.........then.........a bit of a break. Although I have grants to write, scholarships to try for AND my pre-dissertation to work on, as well as research that I am in charge of ......to do over Christmas break, I at least don't have to attend class or do any additional writing or reading for classes.

I am in the middle of testing to see if I can donate a kidney to my father, the first set of tests show me as a much, with a slight problem with an antibody that he has that could fight with my Antigen #24, thus we must do the crossmatch antigen test again to be sure that he remains in a negative antibody state to my antigen. Once that is complete, we will continue with the process, the timing might be slightly off. I wanted to do it over the Christmas break, but that is looking very slim. I don't want to do it during the semester, nevertheless, I of course would for my father.

That pretty much brings you up to date........I have stuff to read......stuff to write........

Oral Surgery

Yes indeed, the tooth that has been causing me so much trouble the last 3 weeks will finally be extricated from my mouth today. I am looking forward to having it gone, however I am not looking forward to the process of it being removed. I have xanax ready! I am behind the 8 ball on homework (why does everything have to come to a head at the end of the term?) Tomorrow I find out if I am a match to give my father a kidney, and if I am, hopefully we can schedule it for over Christmas break. Aside from a viral infection that Dave has (and I am getting) everything is still the same!

Now I need to run to meet with a prof about my research.....laterssssssss

Bored.

I am really bored. The sad thing is that I have so much to do, I need to NOT be bored! I am such a loner. I think it is sad really that I don't take very good care of my friends. If it wasn't for Dave I would probably be more lonely than I could ever imagine! Thankfully I do have him. He has a few good friends and it is fun to hang out with them, but I feel like I have let all of my friends down by not keeping in touch with them.

Anyway, I need to write a few papers this weekend (yes, a FEW) this pretty much explains WHY I am not a good friend. *sigh*

Oh my aching tooth!

Yes folks I started having that feeling that soon I would have to visit the dentist. Last Friday it started to become of a more urgent feeling, as I waited out the weekend (the pain has been like no other) I could barely wait for Monday morning. Once I got to the School of Dentistry I was told that I need a root canal or a tooth extraction. Having no money or insurance I have to opt for the extraction. HOWEVER, I can not get in for an appointment for that until November 13th!!!! Why they don't build emergency visits into their schedule is beyond me. They put me on Pen VK to get rid of the infection. That finally started to help a little with the pain yesterday, but I am in for 2 weeks of pain that really is kicking my ass. I of course don't have time for this! Yesterday I had minor surgery on my face to have a cyst removed, thankfully that pain is nothing compared to the tooth.

Otherwise, all is well. I am going home to see the kids and my parents this weekend, although I have tons of homework to do while I am there. I am looking forward to seeing them.

This is for "real"

This is how graduate school should be......no time for me to post on my blog! I am amazed at how much time flies by me between getting a moment to post on here! I have read more "stuff" this term than I have almost in my lifetime (ok, that is an exaggeration, but you get the point) along with reading has come MUCH "thinking". Aside from "school" I also have 2 jobs (technically) one as a research assistant which means I am the Project Coordinator (read, I do everything) and then of course I am the TA for a masters level class (although it is not a huge load of work). All in all, things are going very well. I am seriously considering a post doc fellowship in Washington DC for a year. That is a few years away, so I won't give too many details on that, but it could be a great experience for me!

The weather here in Michigan has been so lovely and I am trying to enjoy as much sunshine as possible before it disappears into the grey overcast winter. Michigan football of course is not a huge bright spot in the year, however I am a true blue fan and will hang in there with the "new regime" and hope that they can rebuild.

So peeps, life is good! :o)

Whew!

Catie is a busy girl! School is keeping me hopping! I am loving it actually! It feels good to feel as if I "belong" here. Last year was very torturous and made me question what the hell I got myself into. This year is far more smooth and I am finally showing "them" what I am made of and impressing them to a degree that I never thought I could. However, it does keep me so busy I often forget to eat! If it were not for Dave, I might not ever eat! He is very good about making meals and taking very good care of me.

Chrystal and Jeff are coming tomorrow to go to the game on Saturday. Her birthday is this month, so this is her birthday gift. I got them SWEET seats in the 8th row, on the home side at around the 30 yard line. They are so excited. I have 4 presentations to give on Monday for classes and I am working feverishly to get them done before they arrive tomorrow. One of the four I will have to finish up on Sunday. It is my mid term presentation of my research model and needs to not be rushed. It is fully in progress, it simply needs more thought and time put into it.

Other than that, things are moving along fairly well. We had an unexpected "hiccup" in the financial department so we are scrambling to make it work this term. Throw into that mix that Dave is a groomsman for one of his friends wedding in Chicago on November 1st and we need to get the tux ($150!!!!) drive to Chicago, stay in a hotel 2 nights AND buy a wedding gift, not expenses that we were counting on. We are likely to share a hotel room with 2 of his buddies (as well as the drive) so this is NOT going to be a romantic get away! PLUS, I have NOTHING to wear to a fancy wedding....ugh!

I think that brings you up to date as best I can tonight, Tabitha's Salon take over is on Bravo at 10:00, So I need to wrap up some school work and be ready to watch....hee hee. I am not a fan of reality tv, but I got hooked on this show and Dave tolerates it!

Peace!

....in a good way.....

Busy that is! I at least feel on top of things (sort of). I am by far busier this term than any other term, however I am much more on top of things. This of course is a good thing. I apologize for not updating much here, I simply am not on the computer much! Most of my work at the moment is reading and thinking (Loads of it).


The apartment is finally nearly normal. The kitchen cupboards need a bit of reorganization, otherwise, things are just how they should be, and clean to boot! I must say that feels good!

Things with Dave remain very good. Actually better than very good. I really enjoy having him in my life, it is as if he should have always been there.


That is all the time I have to update you folks, aside from the fact that Michigan won BIG on Saturday. It was a heartbreaker the entire first half, and then something sparked and those boys came alive to give us fans a win that we will never forget! GO BLUE!

Holy Crap!

How can a week have gone by since I posted on here? The good news is that the yard sale is OVER! We made some cash and what didn't sell, we left at the curb or took to the local thrift shop. I do have a bunch of OLD magazines left over that are in my car and I need to drop them off at the library. I spent the day finishing up some homework for tomorrow and organizing some things around here. Trying to pull it all together. It is going to take some time before it is perfect, but at least what I can see, is back in order. (Drawers and closets need to be re-organized and a thorough deep clean is needed) But at least there are not boxes and crap stacked up in every single room, preventing drawers and closets from opening. It was insanity, and now, it is OVER! The best thing is that the spare bedroom was going to be "the boys room" a space for Dave to go and get away (from me I suppose...lol) and as soon as he set it up, he said, this is going to be the study, a place for YOU (me) to be able to study. I thought that was sweet and didn't think much more about it, until during this hideous time that the apartment was crammed with the yard sale stuff and all of my books and journals (etc) were all over the living room, did I realize that I NEED a study room. So today I organized all of my stuff and set it up in the "study" and I am sooooo excited about it! I think that my study habits will improve with this space.

(Did you notice that LONG run on sentence in the above paragraph? I am leaving it, just for the hell of it!)

I am very excited about making plans with Big and Little to have dinner together soon!

Just so you know, my days are becoming filled to the brim, my work load is beyond reasonable. It is good in some ways, and not so good. I know that I need to set aside ONE day that I don't schedule meetings or appointments and am able to spend the entire day working on homework. It is more difficult for me to break up my day with "stuff" and then get back in the swing afterwards. This too shall pass!

Excitement.....

I really am excited about this term. There are some good things happening, more things are coming together, although I am busy, I am busy in a good way.....a way that is making progress. My entire first year I felt as if I was spinning my wheels, I finally feel like a doctoral student and that is a good thing.

I have been so wrapped up in everything that I have moved away from my "meditation" . Dave was rearranging some books (I am a total book whore and he hasn't even seen the half of it, before he moved in I sold a ton of books on amazon AND I packed a ton books up for the yard sale, and I STILL have 4 bookshelves full of books!) Anyway, he was rearranging some books and he asked about all of my buddhist books and inquired what I got out of them. My reply was swift, they helped me to be centered and be more conscious of being "present" with my life. As I said that, I realized how much I have moved away from it. That actually being present with each moment has been pushed aside in order to "get through" this degree. In actuality that will help me to "get through" this degree! So I am training my brain to be more present each moment and enjoy what my life is at this stage. It will be over soon enough and I will move on to something even more exciting!

Now, I need to prepare a presentation on the Presidency of the United States (sounds as if I am getting a poly sci degree!) I have a class that is about health policy and it is hugely political. It is actually very interesting. My goal is to be able to affect change at a policy level for those who are dying, thus the policy class!

BTW...less than a week before the "yard sale" and I can not WAIT to have that behind us!

Go BLUE.......*sigh*

Well, Michigan Lost to Notre Lame today :o( The reason we lost is because we turned the ball over 6 times (READ SIX FREAKING TIMES!!!!) We do look better with each game that we play, it is going to be a painful season though! Here is a photo of our cat, laying on a Michigan Pom Pom after the game, I think it shows just how Michigan Fans feel today!

I miss this.....

I miss putting down my thoughts here. School of course is overly demanding (in some good ways). I have had a bit of the flu bug today, but there was no time to lay in bed (which is exactly what I wanted to do) I had meetings to attend that could not be missed, so as a true trooper, I just made sure I kept close to the bathroom and marched on!

Tonight I should be doing homework, however I think that I will lay in bed and simply read some of the mounds of articles and chapters in books that I need to read and relax a bit.

I have been successfully been narrowing my research down from Spirituality at the end of life to, what is the "meaning" at the end of life. Which more closely resembles what my goal is. My goal is to affect change in acute care settings for those who are dying. Spirituality seemed to be key, however that leaves so much room for interpretation to Religion and that is not what I am talking about, I am talking about helping dying people find the meaning in their life as they move on to the next life.

I am having some issues with my advisor, namely SHE IS DRIVING ME INSANE! The more I talk to other professors, I realize that some how we are not connecting. I am her first PhD student to mentor and I hate to be a black mark on her record, however I also can't take the risk that I don't get my PhD because she is not the right match for me. I have a class this term that matches you with a mentor for the class. I met with my mentor today and it really hit me as after we talked for 40 minutes I had more direction to my dissertation than I had received all year with my advisor. After a few meetings with this mentor, I will broach the subject with her and see what she has to say about the situation.

That about sums it up folks! Dave remains the love of my life :o) Peace Out!

Focus!

I am working to get everything organized. This semester is going to be VERY full! In many ways this will be good for me. I do better under pressure. ( typically).

The good news is that Michigan won yesterday. This team is very young and the offense looks like a high school team. My hope was to win at least 6 games and get a bowl berth, so that we don't lose our bowl streak (something like 33 years in a bowl game) after watching the first 2 games, I am very concerned that we might not make a bowl berth this year. The chances that we will be ready to be on top of the game next year are slim as well. It will likely take 3 years total before Michigan is back to a power house team. :o(

Ok, back to the work that must be accomplished today! Peace out!

Oh My!

I am buried in this apartment. If we survive this, it will be a miracle. It is causing lots of tension as we walk through the maze of CRAP! We finally got smart and decided that the large furniture items that we want to sell can go to the consignment shop (and the pick up!) So Saturday while I am at the game (hoping to see the Wolverines WIN) Dave will be here getting this big stuff out of here. I would take a photo for you to see, but it is too depressing. (seriously). I am what you might call a minimalist and enjoy SPACE that is pristine clean (ok, so I am OCD as well) this is the farthest thing from what my comfort zone likes and there is little hope that it is going to be any different until after the yard sale, which is 2.5 weeks away. We are getting there and we will make it!

Now, on to all things PhD. I have been asked to serve on a nursing committee for the school of nursing (very nice honor), I am continuing my research position and just today was asked to be the GSI (graduate student intern) for a class I took last fall. I love the professor and the class is on nursing theory, which is really interesting to me so I am excited about this. Of course I still have 3 classes of my own as well as my Pre Dissertation which needs to be completed by December AND the NRSA Grant that is due in December. Oh, I am also the liaison to the incoming class of PhD students. All of this to say......I am going to be busy beyond belief. Of course I have this new relationship (he is also very busy) and getting the apartment settled. Life is full my friends, very full. I don't expect it to be any different, and I am hoping that this year goes much better than the first year. All signs point to the fact that I am looked upon favorably by the School of Nursing with the appointments and that gives me a boost, now it is up to me to show that they were not wrong in appointing me to these positions. I can do it! (right????? :P)

Peace out!

GO BLUE!!!!!!

Today is the first Michigan Football game. I am SOOOOO excited! I want to be down there early, I want to watch the band march the team into the locker room! My Michigan flag is hanging in the window, my pom poms are ready to go! Dave is a huge Michigan fan as well, he doesn't like to watch them from the stands, he prefers to watch on TV. No one has any idea what to expect from this new Michigan Era, I have a good feeling about it, although Utah is a worthy oppenent! Vegas has Michigan winning by 3.5 points and Vegas is pretty good at predicting.

On another note, the yard sale is only 3 weeks away, I can not tell you just how much I can not wait for this to happen. The piles of shit that are laying around this apartment are about to drive me insane! It makes Dave a bit nuts too and it creates a bit of tension for both of us. We are doing fine with it, but both of us are counting down the days until this will ALL be gone!!!!

School is ramping up in a very quick way, my schedule is getting very full very quickly. It is going to be a VERY busy term. I have a committee appointment as well as being a liaison to the incoming PhD class. My goal of course is to stay ahead of everything. It has to be better than my first year!

Ok, I need to go get ready for the game! Peace out and GO BLUE!

Having a life......

Now that I have Dave here, my time on the computer seems to be dwindling. I swear when I lived here alone, my computer was always on and I was checking it, surfing the web, etc. OFTEN! It isn't that he "keeps" me from it, in the sense that he is "controlling" me, it is just that we have so much fun together I don't even think about the computer. We sat on the deck for hours tonight, talking and just enjoying each others company, not once did I think about the computer! Now I am unable to fall asleep so rather than keep him awake, I got up and am surfing around a bit and I realized that it was Monday that I last posted here! So, having a life means that I don't have as much time to talk about my life...... :o)

Not that anyone is missing that , after all, I don't lead a terribly exciting life. I can tell you that this apartment is beyond a disaster zone. Aside from the garage sale things, we also have items that we are incorporating into the apartment, but are unable to due to the space being taken up by the garage sale items, so these items are stacked up in the living room (and the study, AND the ebay stuff is stacked up in the bedroom!) On top of all of that, there was some leak in the kitchen plumbing, which maintenance had to come and cut a hole in the wall to fix, now the hole is being fixed (and won't be finished until Monday) so the microwave is displaced as well as the microwave stand......and all of the items that I keep under the sink are sitting around in the kitchen..........a very uncomfortable situation which won't be resolved until after Sept 20th (the day of the garage sale) Oh, AND we still have things at Dave's old apartment that need to be brought over.........*sigh*

One more month, than this place will be much more comfortable. Until then, my OCD is having to take a back seat and relax a bit, there is no fretting over it, it is what it is, and it will get better eventually.

Dave is having a party (here!@!!@) for his employees on Tuesday........I will be going to TR for a few days......I have no desire to hang out with the boys from work and I have NO desire to have company when things look like they do.....so I am busting out of here and going home for a few days. (I think Dave is glad for that as well...lol) I would be a big party pooper, I am pretty sure of that. It will also give him a day or two to clean up before I get home......Not a bad plan!

I suppose that is enough blabbing for one night! I think I am beginning to get tired now! (I bore myself!!!! hee hee)

I hope your weekend is great......Peace out!

2 weeks!

Holy cow, I only have 2 weeks left before the fall term begins! I do know that my schedule is going to be crappy on Mondays. My classes meet on Mondays only. I will be in class from 1pm until 9pm every single Monday. (oh that is going to hurt!) One of my classes only meets twice and I am not sure what those days are yet, but I can tell you that I will be singing the Monday blues all term! Dave has already agreed to pick me up from class each Monday night so I don't have to pay for 8 hours + of parking each week. I will take the bus in each Monday then he will pick me up (which will be very nice). He is going to take a class this fall as well to finish up something that he is working on.

I am editing my Yale paper for publication this week, as well as working on writing a grant. I also have my research and research project that remains on my plate. I didn't really get a "summer break", although I haven't had it too rough the last month. I also am the mentor for the incoming PhD students who are going bachelor degree to PhD. That was my big complaint about the program after my first year and I feel that there needs to be student mentoring for this group of students because it is extremely challenging. That will take up some of my time, however I am thrilled to be able to help the incoming class.


I have nothing of real interest to share beyond that (and yes, I realize that is not interesting...lol) I hope that you are all doing well. Peace out!

Whew!

I finally crashed today. I have done a few things, but not half as much as I was planning to do. Dave's friend Steve is coming over for dinner and THIS is what he will get to see in the dining room (I hope he doesn't mind eating on the deck, sharing a seat with the kitties!







Needless to say, the garage sale can't happen soon enough!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

My oh my!

I have hardly been on the computer this last week. I have been busting it to get things settled around here, every day going over to Dave's old apartment and bringing more stuff here and trying to incorporate it. We have one more load to bring, then cleaning his apartment and then a garage sale to hold. I will get a photo for you all to see just how horrible it looks around here! Mostly it looks good, just the dining room that is over flowing with garage sale items. This weekend we are going to organize it and price it all so it will be ready to go.

Today however, I am heading over to Triple Ripple to help my mother move. Oye, my body is so tired, the last thing I want to do is to help her move since that is what I have been doing the last week, but she needs my help, so I am going! I will be back late tonight, maybe I can try to update you better tomorrow!

Peace!