slow going

Busy, busy, busy this quarter. I definitely put way too much on my plate. Not caring really doesn’t help either. I’m trying to maintain my full course load as well as the two and a half jobs that I have, but it’s been difficult. I haven’t been dedicating as much time as I’d like to any of the things that I’m doing, which means that it’s all kind of shoddy.

My tutoring program is going alright, but the politics are wearing. I’m tired of people attempting to look busy and then not pulling through. I’m also tired of being expected to reward people for completely sub par effort. The power structure at the community center where we work is also in flux, so that’s a little worrisome. Right now, I’m pushing for MJ to take over for me as Assistant Director for next year. She’s the only one I trust to maintain the group and make sure it functions and survives.

Overall, not a good quarter for me. And I think my grades and whatnot will reflect that. But at least I’m almost done. Graduation in two-ish week! I’m excited to see everyone and to celebrate!

I’m not keeping up with the Challenge very well either, but I have a couple more volumes for you.

2. Level Four Virus Hunters of the CDC, M.D. Joseph B. McCormick and M.D. Susan Fisher-Hoch

I was interested in reading this book because I’ve been thinking about maybe pursuing something with the CDC in the future. As most of you know, I’m planning to become a doctor. That’s still in the works, and I’m leaning more and more toward studying infectious disease and immunology. So this book was perfect for exploring some of my interests.

It was obvious though that the authors were not writers by trade. Some of the transitions were a little forced. That’s fine. The subject matter was exciting, and most of the prose itself was very easy to read and get through. The technicalities about viruses and infection and the medical stuff were all nicely explained. The only part I didn’t like was the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) social and political (both national and institutional) commentary. I understand the social/political issues underlying the situations the authors/doctors were in, but I thought it would have been much better had more space been devoted to developing the ideas. Instead, it was kind of out of place and messed up the flow of the text.

Overall, good read. I would definitely recommend it. It’ll give you a very nice snapshot of something I might like to do in the future.

3. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, Bill Bryson

Fun book. Some parts made me laugh out loud. The Appalachian Trail isn’t something that I would every attempt; I’m not a big hiking person. I’ve never even been camping, come to think of it. But I could definitely relate to this book, and I could visualize the pain that the author must have gone through during those early days on the trail.

a stall

After many, many (well, not that many) years of waiting for my birthday to finally fall on a weekend again, it manages to land land on the one weekend sandwiched between three tests.

I had an Endocrinology test on Friday, and I have Biochem and OChem on Monday and Tuesday respectively. So, on my birthday, which was a wonderful, sunny, gorgeous day, I studied OChem (and took minor Project Runway breaks). I didn’t go to the Summer Breeze festival on campus. I didn’t do anything or see anyone. Which is fine really, because for the couple weeks prior, I had mostly forgotten it was my birthday anyway.

But today… Today was filled with Biochem work, which I actually enjoy normally since it’s very interesting. However, at this point, the additive effects of it being my last year (and some added things coupled with that fact that I’m just not thinking about right now), of my crippling senioritis, of my growing apathy and listlessness, of my not seeing any of my friends for the better part of two months, of it being nice outside, and, finally, of it having just been my birthday ultimately made me want to cry.

I feel (not to sound like a hippie) spiritually tired. Which is definitely not a point that you want to get to when you’ve just turned 22. But I don’t have a better way of describing it. Today just drained all of my energy. Physically, I feel fine. But mentally, I’m holding onto the edge for dear life and hoping that I don’t dissolve spontaneously into a puddle of tears (this is important – the Boy puts up with enough as it is).

Anywho. Enough whining.

What I really wanted to say was that I’ll post some of the goings on of the past couple of weeks later this week. Sometime after Tuesday anyway.

In the meantime, you should see what the Boy crafted for me in celebration of my birthday. It’s adorable! We’re both such video game nerds.

Consider this a stall. I just wanted to let you know I’m not (quite) dead yet, and that I’ll come back soon enough.