Win or lose - we booze!

just a quick note to say that I passed (!!) my Comprehensive PhD exam yesterday! I am so very happy to have that completed. Overall, it truly wasn't that bad. I feel like I stood my ground and didn't get flustered. Of course, I didn't know everything they asked me AND some of it I did know but couldn't quite get the correct words to come out of my mouth in an eloquent answer. Regardless, it's over and done!

And, I don't even feel depleted like I did after my Master's or Candidacy exams...totally excellent! I will definitely take some time to clean up around here (apt, car, office, puter, etc.), but I will also keep at it with my research with even more intensity.

Here's hoping to graduation in 2010!!!

love my family!

So...my Comps Exam is Friday at 1pm (mark your calendar to send me positive vibes). I sent a note out to my family about it last week, and today I received a care package from my brother and his family (they live in NY) filled with delicious butterscotch oatmeal cookies (two bags!) and a handmade card from my adorable nephew.

It says "Good luck. Love, Drew" inside haha

My parents are coming tomorrow from Ohio so they can see my Comps presentation on Friday. I think they will also be sticking around for the questions. I'm super nervous about this exam, but I'm really happy that my 'rents will be there - they can see what I have been doing with my life! They've always been soooo supportive and encouraging, which is something I thrive on. I think my hubby will also be making an appearance. I hear Colin Cowherd from ESPN is going to be at the HUB, though, around the same time as my defense so we'll see if he shows up for my presentation. haha

...can't wait for Friday to be over...so much to do before then!

THON 5K!

Just a quick note to say that I participated in the THON 5K today with Nari.

THON is HUGE at Penn State, and it is deservedly so - through this organization, much money has been raised to support children battling cancer (I believe over $60 million!). THON certainly deserves its own post (which I do not have time to write about currently). So, for more information about THON (and to donote to the cause) go to this website: http://www.thon.org/donors.

I signed up for this race a couple months ago with the plan to do some decent training in preparation - of course, that fell through :) But, I did show up this morning and I did finish the race without walking in approximately 28 min and 5 seconds. This is not my PR (that is 19 min 30 sec...from high school), but it wasn't that bad either. I was worried about the start of the race because that is always really tight and people are literally pushy. I was just hoping that no one tripped me because my reflexes still are not 100%. Fortunately, I did not fall down (even though I was pushed...how rude!). it's all fun, though :)

After this week is over, I'm going to look for another race to run in soon. Maybe this next time I will actually "race" in it instead of just trotting along. Still, it feels good to have completed it. It was also very encouraging to see the supporters out along the course - what a great group! It was a lovely day, which also helped.

I'm certainly pooped currently haha but I'm off to study for a bit! have a good week!

Fun with Voice Memos: Squirrel Talk

With my amazing cell phone, I can record "voice memos" - and the fun that ensues with this feature is endless.

Today, while both working on my Comps paper and watching the Penn State game, I heard the most amazing noise coming from outside my sliding glass door. I creeped around the corner so quietly (I thought it was a bird, and I didn't want to scare it) to see the most squirrely of squirrels sitting on one of the branches of the tree nearest to our building. For about 45 seconds, I listened and watched as the squirrel continued its chirping. And then (Eureka!), I remembered that I could record the sound! I've heard many squirrels making this sound before, but usually they are chasing each other up and down and around the trees while making the sound. Today, though, this one squirrel just sat on a branch and chirped...so with the magic of my phone and iMovie (and some luck in that the squirrel didn't run away)...

I bring you: Squirrel Talk (Turn the volume up!)

Note: I know my editing skills and photography are poor (to say the least haha), I will improve them both for future movies. Enjoy!

PS-If you listen closely, you can hear another squirrel chirping in the distance somewhere...long lost squirrel friends? I think so :)

Lonely Bananas

I have a soft spot for the bananas at the grocery that have been yanked from their cluster mates (and now they sit in a pile with all the other lonely bananas) so that people can get the "perfect" cluster amount of bananas. I see it all the time, but why does it happen? who knows...

Are the lonely bananas worse tasting than the clustered ones? doubt it.

Is it really too much for someone to take home 5 bananas rather than 4? apparently!

If so, why not pick 4 lonely bananas and leave the clusters for someone else who will take the lot?

Check out the lonesome bananas when you go grocery shopping next - you will likely see 20-30 of them in a pile just waiting to be gobbled up while their cluster mates leave. I feel like I could make up a cartoon/story about this (I'm suddenly feeling very passionate about the lonely bananas), and I'm starting to giggle about the thought of it (am picturing the lonely bananas commiserating together while the teams/clusters of bananas have a party). heehee

Note: I'm actually slightly allergic to bananas (I really can't eat them without some kind of throat itching/swelling)...but they are so good, right?

(Positively) Freaking Out

About 3 weeks ago, it was decided that I was ready for my Comprehensive Exam.

...3 weeks later (today!), I'm starting to freak out (!) because I haven't accomplished anything really, yet I have SO much to do. I thought I was ready for this exam, but I'm feeling anything but ready - I feel doomed! I can feel the doom and gloom mounting on me as I write this (forget the dreams I've already had about this exam!).

To show you how chaotic I am currently, here is a photo of my desk today - actually to clarify, here is a photo of my desk plus the neighboring desk that I've commandeered within the past week:

Eeeeeek...it's wild!

But even with the "doom and gloom" feeling, I'm going to think more positively for there are others in the World who are more legitimately in need of positive vibes and prayers. I don't mean to get heavy, but take note: 1) A family (and our campus) is currently mourning the loss of their son, a freshman student, and 2) A family is dealing with health issues after already overcoming so much. I've never met either family, yet I feel very emotionally affected by their stories. And, I feel silly for being so concerned about my Comps Exam. Deep down I know everything will be OK regarding my exam - whether I pass it now or later. And, I think it's OK that I'm worried about passing it - I just need to put this part of my life into perspective by making sure it maintains its proper (and theoretical) place in "my life hierarchy" (I don't really have a diagram of this mapped out, btw).

So...wish me many productive mornings, days, and nights preparing for my exam! It should be a doozy.

Puppies!

Since it's been soooooooo long since I posted, I thought posting some pics of puppies would be good. These schnoodles (poodle+schnauzer mixes) were listed on statecollege.com's website recently:

There's more of a story about these pups, but first I have a confession - I often look for dogs to adopt. Seriously, any downtime I have between runs at the lab or while I'm eating lunch, I'm looking at dogs (while still looking at Etsy, no shame). But I always check Petfinder.com. First, I search for "poodle" and then I search for "schnauzer" (all within our local zip code). If I'm really feeling wild, though, I'll search zip codes in Ohio. After all, Petfinder.com is where I found Grady (he was originally named Stone) whom we named after Grady Sizemore of the Cleveland Indians. We didn't know much about Grady/Stone before we got him - we just knew where he was located and what he looked like (see his pic below!):

Before we got Grady, I had been searching Petfinder.com for months and months to find a dog. I filled out many applications naming friends and vets as references, but most places wanted owners to have some experience with dogs since the rescue dogs may have some "issues" (I had never fully been responsible for a dog, while Hubby has but it was a few years ago). I do understand this, but it was sad for me because I really wanted to help a dog! It was also difficult for me to find a dog because I'm very allergic to dogs that shed, so I really needed one that did not shed much (even though I'm sooooo in love with Rottweilers). I grew up with a poodle named Lady who was the prettiest lady ever (see pic of me and Lady below!), so I knew I could handle poodles (and likely a poodle mix).

When I saw Grady/Stone online (listed as a poodle possibly mixed with schnauzer), I called about him immediately and the woman on the phone was very friendly. She told me that Stone was "very manly" (haha), and a great dog. We talked for a few minutes more and then we decided that I was going to come pick up Grady/Stone that week! Hubby and I drove out to New Philadelphia, Ohio, to get him (kinda close to where Hubby grew up in Kent, Ohio) - That was nearly two years ago (we got him in October 2007), and I know we really got lucky with him. He had some issues with worms for a few months when we first got him, but he kicked that eventually and has been "clean" ever since. I'm not sure why anyone would ever give him up, but I'm very thankful that we get to raise him as our little guy. Because I can't resist, here are some pics of our boy:

Grady's comforting me during my recovery.

Grady's working hard.

So...back to the 4 puppies above! Where we live, there is another schnoodle named Socrates (the owners call him Socks for short, and Hubby calls him Grady's "philosopher friend" heehee). Socks and Grady are great friends! Socks is originally from Maryland where he was found wandering the streets (He had mange and was unable to do his business easily b/c he was so dirty and uncared for - poor guy!). We usually get together on Sundays outside to let the dogs romp around for a bit...I have to get it on video because it's so cute. Socks' owners love Grady (they call him Big G heehee), and they are always telling us about how they are searching for another schnoodle to adopt.

To make an unnecessarily long story short - They are actually who told me about the schnoodles on statecollege.com - so I had to check them out online! Of course, Hubby and I loved them instantly. But, we know our time currently is very limited (and we still want to rescue a more needy dog), so instead I showed other people close to us in hopes that they would want one! After pining over them for a week, I showed the ad to a friend and she was smitten, too! On Friday, we made a visit to the pups and now she is going to get one! I can't reveal who the new owner is yet, but I will post a sneaky picture of them together (and maybe you can guess). :)

New owner and new schnoodle!

I hope you enjoyed the puppies, and I hope you get a dog!! :) They are the greatest companions and friends.