Portrait · of · a · Lady

So here's what's been going on in my world since I last posted:

-physical therapy for my knee, which is doing very well... I still limp when I get tired though, since walking for a while is a bit of a chore

-exams have started... Differential Equations and Western Civ were both last Friday (kind of unpleasant to have them stacked back-to-back like that, but at least they're gone) and Physics is Wednesday. Appreciation of Math presentation tomorrow

-went out on the boat a few times with Chris, and he hasn't killed either of us yet. I have my saltwater fishing license, though all I've managed to catch is a clump of oysters.... maybe one day I'll upgrade to a flounder or something

-had my 20th birthday... thank you to those of you who took the time to remember my day (Jeff, Amber, Whitney, Jason). it was a good day. Whitney came down and took me to lunch at Mellow Mushroom. my Sweetie took me for a boat ride in the evening and we had a Subway picnic. then my parents took me out to dinner at Oscar's (one of my favorite restaurants) and invited Chris and his parents, so that was awesome. and after dinner, everyone came back to my house and had red velvet cake (homemade by my mom). last night, Meg took me to Coast for dinner (it's been hell around here with exams, since she's biochem and I'm math, we're borderline mental breakdown). and of course Jeff and Jason sent me birthday wishes via email, and my roomie for next year Shannon is taking me to get ice cream today. so all in all the birthday season has been fabulous.

-Wednesday is 18 months for me and Chris, so we're very happy about that. he's been such a great boyfriend, and it makes both of us so happy that we're not only in love, but we're friends as well. we have so much fun together. I'm just so thankful that both of us realize that there's no need for all the bullshit that somehow gets into people's relationships. there's no need to pick fights with each other. there's no need to create drama. there's no need to be so far up the other person's ass about something that you can't see daylight. if you can't be happy with each other, don't be together. I mean, the worst thing for us, thankfully, is that I still get a little insecure at times and I glare at girls that I think are prettier than me (we call it Glare-dar.... like radar, except I kind of kill them with my eyes... but I've been able to put it on the shelf for a couple weeks now), but Chris just laughs and reminds me that if he didn't want to be with me and only me, we'd both know it by now. He says that he's fond of Crazy Lady because she's sweet to him and loves him very much. smart boy.

well, enough about me... hope everyone's exams are going well, and I'll check in to see how everybody is doing.

It turns out that I won't be able to take Quantum Mechanics in the Fall. So I'm trying to decide between Planetary Astronomy (less of a freebie than it sounds, I hope) and Partial Differential Equations (since that'll actually be useful).

So I'm disappointed, but I've got three more semesters... it'll happen sometime. :)

Off to lab.

Which is why I endeavor not to bitch more than I feel is necessary.

Anyway, the purpose of this entry is to inform you all of the latest development of my academic career:

I am probably going to graduate as a triple major: B.S. Applied Math, B.A. Physics, and A.B. Classics. So this has been a very exciting week.

And my schedule for next semester is no less exciting: Numerical Methods and Mathematical Computation (Math 245) and its lab (Math 246); Advanced Calculus (Math 311); Latin Literature (Latn 301); Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Hist 230); and last but certainly not least Quantum Mechanics I (Phys 403), a course that those of you who know me well already know that I have waited YEARS for this moment.

So after next semester, I need 2 math courses, 1 Latin course, and 4-5 physics courses, plus my Capstone and my Senior Research project, which when I present my poster and my paper, you all should really get your butts here b/c it's gonna be fabulous.

So now all I've got to do is keep my 3.6-3.7 GPA (so that I can graduate with honors), finish all three of my programs of study, and make sure that I get that last Interdisciplinary social science for Honors (which totally blows, because I'd rather set my hair on fire than take some pathetic social science class that is far below the scope of my intellectual abilities-- not to be a total elitist snob, but I can do better.)

It's kinda like having no friends. No, wait I take that back. Jason talks to me, Jeff talks to me, Whitney talks to me, and I still have my friend Meg from Chem, and of course Chris. Wow, 5 people besides my parents interact with me. Somehow I feel so unpopular. lol

Of course, I'm not entirely one to talk... I don't respond to people's journals unless there is something of interest that I feel needs my two cents. Sometimes people get in a habit of bitching about stupid stuff rather than acting their age and dealing with it, and I just wish people like that could see how that makes them look.

That having been said, here's a short update on what's going on around here. I moved to Rutledge Rivers dorm (the other honors dorm) and I have 3 suitemates (Shannon, Brittany, and Katy). I had a roommate named Ashley who was a sweetheart, but she got offered an RA position at another dorm and moved out.

I'm taking Western Civ, a special topics Appreciation of Mathematics class, Physics 202 and lab, and Differential Equations. Life is much more livable this semester. And yes, I did make my first C last semester. But it was in Abstract Math (which, for all you non-math folks out there, is about like organic or physical chemistry for chem majors). I worked very hard and did my best, and I have no qualms whatsoever about how I did.

Chris is still wonderful as ever, but we did find out that he has a degenerative eye condition (keratoconus) which as its name implies causes the cornea to take on a more conical shape. Right now, the inside of his eye (according to his doctor) looks like he ought to be blind. But he's trying hard contacts, and if they don't work, eventually he'll need a cornea transplant if the deterioration doesn't stop. He's still working at the ink company in Mt. Pleasant, and his review came back with very high praise, and he was approved for a raise and a bonus... that's his second raise this year. So he's working very hard.

Some of you know that my dad's mom passed away early in October due to complications with her heart. These complications had gone undetected and once they operated on her, she never regained consciousness.

So my dad takes care of my granddad now, who is almost 86 years old. Granddad has had a hard time since Granny passed, as he is senile (not a negative word here, it just means he's old and not entirely together) and we think succombing to Alzheimer's. There is debt that was accrued while Granny was alive that he can't afford to pay off, and he is so disheartened because he has never been in debt to anyone and he knew nothing of the credit cards that they had.

Mom has been going to the gym lately (though she's been a bit busy the past several days) and she's lost some weight and is just generally feeling better about herself. She and her best friend Cindy are headed to visit Cindy's family in Maryland on Friday.

Lucy and Buffy are still making trouble at the Bowers household. Buffy is as possessive of Daddy as ever, and doesn't let anyone-- including my mom-- sit closer to him than she does. Lucy is putting on weight and is starting to slow down, and we fear that she is having trouble seeing, but she's still such a love.

And last but not least, my fish Dorian has graduated to a larger bowl, and is a very happy fish... as long as I don't make his water too hot when I clean the bowl... sorry Dor-Dor... I'm a horrible mother.

Anyway, hope you all are well.

~*~

Ok, here I am, trying to become Little Miss Healthy, so I am putting myself on the Slim-Fast Optima diet. My goal is to lose what has affectionately become known to me, Whitney, and Chris as "The Pudge". I joke that at least I'd be able to survive longer without food, but I really do want it gone. It makes me want to cry every time I go to take a shower and I catch sight of myself naked. I don't want a pudgy tummy. I want a pretty tummy... one that I'm not ashamed to show in a bikini.

So here's the point of my story. You wanna know why people lose weight on the Slim-Fast plan? It's because there's no fucking food!!!!

Here's what constitutes a day's nutritional intake:
*2 Slim-Fast Meal Combos (that means a shake + 150 calories)
*1 Snack (translation: a nutrition/energy bar)
*3 Fruits/Veggies (no problem, I love that food group)
*1 Sensible Meal

Guess what, guys and gals? It's not even 3pm and I've officially had all I can eat today. Nope, wait... I take that back. I can have one more fruit/veggie item. I'm going to freakin' starve.

Oh well. I want this pudge gone, so I'm sticking with it. Y'all think good thoughts for me.