Borders: Ron Marshall, the former CEO of Borders, left the company for another retail company. He left just this week. He was there for a year and was known to "revive" companies. Well...apparently he even thought Borders was a lost cause. So sad. Bets on when Borders will close? I'm iffy on whether they'll make it through the year. The fiscal year ends for Borders beginning of Feb.
iPad: Seriously? First off...the name. I've seen so many feminine health product jokes about it now that I accidentally started calling it the iSlate because iPad was made fun of so thoroughly. Seriously. Mac's iPad. Thank goodness most people say "Apple" and not "Mac" or it'd REALLY be bad when saying it out loud. This was definitely a name fail for Apple. It's a shame because iSlate sounds so much cooler than iPad too. Secondly, a glorified large version of the iPod Touch. Excellent. How...original...As a user, I have no incentive to buy the iPad for $500 when I already have a laptop and iPhone. I don't need the iPad also! Okay, so the iPad is more compact and easier to carry around, read in bed, etc than a laptop and it's 3xs larger than an iPod Touch, but...I don't know. Thirdly, this is just Apple taking a punch at the Kindle, Sony e-Reader, and other e-readers. Other than being so slick that you want to buy it, there's just not a whole lot of incentive for me to buy it. With that note, I did enter myself in a drawing for one!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Movie Reviews
For your consideration: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, (500) Days of Summer, All About Steve, and District 9.
Before we begin my reviews, I want to mention that I watch movies/TV shows instead of reading these days. I just feel so darn guilty pleasure reading when I could be reading school readings instead. So...I watch stuff instead to relax because it's brainless and I don't have to "watch" anything for schoolwork. :P Plus, books cost too much for me to buy. :(
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: First off, I have to mention that I don't remember the books at all. I remember liking them, but that's it. Based on that fact, I can't give a comparison between the book and the movie, but I can say that I enjoyed the movie. I thought it was a fun kid movie and it had an interesting theme about being who you are and wanting to be accepted. I will say, food falling from the sky seems like a really bad way to get food...Overall, I'd recommend people to see it.
(500) Days of Summer: Summer is the girl of interest in this movie and it basically goes through the the main character's (Tom's) 500 days involvement with Summer. The movie makes interesting points about love and liking someone. It's big thing is to not be jaded and think love doesn't exist or isn't magical. Zooey Deschanel does a good job as Summer. She's one of those actors who is a little more subtle in how she acts and what roles she's best for. Summer drove me nuts sometimes (poor Tom), but I overall liked it. I don't think I liked it as much as some people do (I know a lot of people who really, really like it), but it was enjoyable.
All About Steve: This movie was...odd...It's no wonder it got the bad reviews it got. Sandra Bullock plays a smart woman who creates the crossword puzzles for a local newspaper. She meets Steve and becomes obsessed with that he really likes her (he was doing the polite brush off) and basically stalks him without fully comprehending he doesn't like her. There's some odd plot twists and a kind of weird climax. The end of the movie falls a little flat at the end. It wasn't like the movie was horrible, but you watch it and go, "what did I just watch?" at the end. Like I said, not surprised at the bad reviews it got.
District 9: Last year's movies really bugged me with the whole "nine" theme: District 9, Nine, and 9. Was there another "nine" movie? I thought there was...Anyway, I was expecting a lot of gore in this film because of the rating and what I'd heard, but it wasn't as gory as I thought it would be. It's not like horror film gore where it's just everywhere. It was well placed and, yeah, it was gory when you saw it, but it wasn't like guts spilling out everywhere. It was more like arms being ripped off, arterial spray, one instance of someone being eaten, etc. Okay, I didn't think it was that gory, but I apparently have a skewed sense of what "gory" means and I don't like gore. Weird. Moving on...it was an interesting documentary-ish style of a film and the end left me a little sad and wanting more. There were some sad moments in the film and you really felt bad for the aliens and the main character. It was good if you're into that type of film. I'm kind of borderline whether I really liked it or not. I'm more indifferent to it. Neither liked it nor disliked it. I thik it's mostly because it was just so...different. It wasn't what I was expecting either. Other than that, you may or may not want to see it.
In other news...I have midterms in 2 weeks. Ugh. Time for bed.
Before we begin my reviews, I want to mention that I watch movies/TV shows instead of reading these days. I just feel so darn guilty pleasure reading when I could be reading school readings instead. So...I watch stuff instead to relax because it's brainless and I don't have to "watch" anything for schoolwork. :P Plus, books cost too much for me to buy. :(
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: First off, I have to mention that I don't remember the books at all. I remember liking them, but that's it. Based on that fact, I can't give a comparison between the book and the movie, but I can say that I enjoyed the movie. I thought it was a fun kid movie and it had an interesting theme about being who you are and wanting to be accepted. I will say, food falling from the sky seems like a really bad way to get food...Overall, I'd recommend people to see it.
(500) Days of Summer: Summer is the girl of interest in this movie and it basically goes through the the main character's (Tom's) 500 days involvement with Summer. The movie makes interesting points about love and liking someone. It's big thing is to not be jaded and think love doesn't exist or isn't magical. Zooey Deschanel does a good job as Summer. She's one of those actors who is a little more subtle in how she acts and what roles she's best for. Summer drove me nuts sometimes (poor Tom), but I overall liked it. I don't think I liked it as much as some people do (I know a lot of people who really, really like it), but it was enjoyable.
All About Steve: This movie was...odd...It's no wonder it got the bad reviews it got. Sandra Bullock plays a smart woman who creates the crossword puzzles for a local newspaper. She meets Steve and becomes obsessed with that he really likes her (he was doing the polite brush off) and basically stalks him without fully comprehending he doesn't like her. There's some odd plot twists and a kind of weird climax. The end of the movie falls a little flat at the end. It wasn't like the movie was horrible, but you watch it and go, "what did I just watch?" at the end. Like I said, not surprised at the bad reviews it got.
District 9: Last year's movies really bugged me with the whole "nine" theme: District 9, Nine, and 9. Was there another "nine" movie? I thought there was...Anyway, I was expecting a lot of gore in this film because of the rating and what I'd heard, but it wasn't as gory as I thought it would be. It's not like horror film gore where it's just everywhere. It was well placed and, yeah, it was gory when you saw it, but it wasn't like guts spilling out everywhere. It was more like arms being ripped off, arterial spray, one instance of someone being eaten, etc. Okay, I didn't think it was that gory, but I apparently have a skewed sense of what "gory" means and I don't like gore. Weird. Moving on...it was an interesting documentary-ish style of a film and the end left me a little sad and wanting more. There were some sad moments in the film and you really felt bad for the aliens and the main character. It was good if you're into that type of film. I'm kind of borderline whether I really liked it or not. I'm more indifferent to it. Neither liked it nor disliked it. I thik it's mostly because it was just so...different. It wasn't what I was expecting either. Other than that, you may or may not want to see it.
In other news...I have midterms in 2 weeks. Ugh. Time for bed.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Food and Chick Flicks
So, somehow, I went to bed last night hungry. Not exactly sure how that happened since I ate a ton of peanuts about an hour beforehand. Me being me, I refuse to get up and simply eat something because I'm half asleep. If I get up, I may never be able to go to sleep. So I ended up sleeping horrible last night because I kept thinking about food for a few hours. You know...How great Taco Bell would be (I think I could eat Taco Bell everyday and be fine with it). McDonald cheeseburgers (I have an unusual liking for their cheeseburgers...). Planning how to best utilize my Chipotle gift card (thank you, Kristi!). For instance, if I go in for tacos (the tacos came from thinking about Taco Bell), I can also buy a burrito bowl and take that back home with me and have dinner too! Two meals in one go! But then I thought about how I shouldn't use my gift card in one day and then had to think it through some more because I have to go downtown to get to Chipotle and going downtown means looking at stores and potentially finding something I want/need to buy. Not good. So, anyway, it continues on like that. I eventually settled on the fact a marinated vegetable salad sounded good and I'll be buying the ingredients for it the next time I hit the store (I'm out of fresh produce/food). I also thought about Lactaid milk. That stuff works and I want to know how it can be lactose free and still be considered milk...It's better than taking the pills and having regular milk, but a quart (only size you can get it in) is the same cost for a gallon of milk! Not cool.
So then I started to think about how expensive food is! I'm a poor college student and it's not like I can NOT eat. I mean, it's bad enough that I consciously think whether to snack or not because if I eat it, I'll have to spend money replacing it. (Don't worry, I always eat enough in a day and do find ways to snack.) I don't seem to have the same thought when it comes to candy, though...Hmm...Anyway, I do manage to live off of some meals for almost a week for one meal. For instance, I made meatloaf last week (rather good meatloaf too) and I still have one more portion to eat for tomorrow. I think I got 5 or 6 dinners out of it! Not bad. Unfortunately, I introduced myself to Trader Joe's Salty, Sweet and Nutty trail mix. *drools* It's sooo good. Almonds, cashews, peanuts, peanut brittle, and honey roasted cashews and peanuts. Oh yeah. It's more like eating candy (healthier, granted) and it's SOOO yummy. Normal trail mixes I get bored of the nuts pretty quickly (I have another bag of trail mix from Trader Joe's and I have yet to eat half the bag and have finished 1.5 bags of the Salty, Sweet and Nutty trail mix). So, now I have to start thinking of budgeting appropriately to support my Trader Joe's Salty, Sweet and Nutty trail mix fixation. I have toned down my eating of it, though. Only small portions once a day instead of the one day I ate 3/4 of a bag in 12 hours. It was bad.
Anywho, enough about food. I have determined that I think The Holiday with Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black is my favorite chick flick of all time. It's almost more borderline drama romance than a chick flick (I categorize chick flick more like 13 Going on 30, 21 Dresses, Prince and Me, etc). This is more of a drama with a romance theme. A lot of it is about "finding yourself" and moving on in better directions in life personally and in love. It's definitely noticeable in the two main characters - Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. They both swap houses for the Christmas holiday (Surrey, England for Los Angeles and vice versa). I particularly like Winslet's and Black's roles in this film. These roles are a little different for them both and both do fantastic jobs. Cameron Diaz is also good in her role and Jude Law also. The whole film is just enjoyable.
On top of the great movie, it has one of my favorite movie soundtracks of all time. I think it's my favorite Hans Zimmer soundtrack and he's been up and down the block a few times with Driving Miss Daisy, Tears of the Sun, Madagascar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sherlock Holmes, Black Hawk Down, etc. In some ways, I think the music makes the film all the better. I actually heard and loved the main theme song for the movie long before I watched the movie. There are just so many great pieces in it and some good songs done by different artists too.
Well, with that movie plug and tale about my food thoughts...I have successfully made myself sore simply by playing 20 minutes of very vigorous Wii Boxing a day for the past 3 days and biking a little over 11 miles between two days (7 in one day...). Not to mention I biked another 2 miles today (to class and back) and walked 2 miles (to class and back). No Wii Boxing, though. I'd like my right shoulder to stop hurting when I raise it or reach for something. I did wake up less sore today than I did yesterday and the day before, though. Improvement!
With that said...It is time for me to go to bed. I promised myself an early bed time and I'm missing it by about an hour already and I still have some school reading to do. Oh well. At least I have class tomorrow at 9:30 instead of 8.
So then I started to think about how expensive food is! I'm a poor college student and it's not like I can NOT eat. I mean, it's bad enough that I consciously think whether to snack or not because if I eat it, I'll have to spend money replacing it. (Don't worry, I always eat enough in a day and do find ways to snack.) I don't seem to have the same thought when it comes to candy, though...Hmm...Anyway, I do manage to live off of some meals for almost a week for one meal. For instance, I made meatloaf last week (rather good meatloaf too) and I still have one more portion to eat for tomorrow. I think I got 5 or 6 dinners out of it! Not bad. Unfortunately, I introduced myself to Trader Joe's Salty, Sweet and Nutty trail mix. *drools* It's sooo good. Almonds, cashews, peanuts, peanut brittle, and honey roasted cashews and peanuts. Oh yeah. It's more like eating candy (healthier, granted) and it's SOOO yummy. Normal trail mixes I get bored of the nuts pretty quickly (I have another bag of trail mix from Trader Joe's and I have yet to eat half the bag and have finished 1.5 bags of the Salty, Sweet and Nutty trail mix). So, now I have to start thinking of budgeting appropriately to support my Trader Joe's Salty, Sweet and Nutty trail mix fixation. I have toned down my eating of it, though. Only small portions once a day instead of the one day I ate 3/4 of a bag in 12 hours. It was bad.
Anywho, enough about food. I have determined that I think The Holiday with Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black is my favorite chick flick of all time. It's almost more borderline drama romance than a chick flick (I categorize chick flick more like 13 Going on 30, 21 Dresses, Prince and Me, etc). This is more of a drama with a romance theme. A lot of it is about "finding yourself" and moving on in better directions in life personally and in love. It's definitely noticeable in the two main characters - Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. They both swap houses for the Christmas holiday (Surrey, England for Los Angeles and vice versa). I particularly like Winslet's and Black's roles in this film. These roles are a little different for them both and both do fantastic jobs. Cameron Diaz is also good in her role and Jude Law also. The whole film is just enjoyable.
On top of the great movie, it has one of my favorite movie soundtracks of all time. I think it's my favorite Hans Zimmer soundtrack and he's been up and down the block a few times with Driving Miss Daisy, Tears of the Sun, Madagascar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sherlock Holmes, Black Hawk Down, etc. In some ways, I think the music makes the film all the better. I actually heard and loved the main theme song for the movie long before I watched the movie. There are just so many great pieces in it and some good songs done by different artists too.
Well, with that movie plug and tale about my food thoughts...I have successfully made myself sore simply by playing 20 minutes of very vigorous Wii Boxing a day for the past 3 days and biking a little over 11 miles between two days (7 in one day...). Not to mention I biked another 2 miles today (to class and back) and walked 2 miles (to class and back). No Wii Boxing, though. I'd like my right shoulder to stop hurting when I raise it or reach for something. I did wake up less sore today than I did yesterday and the day before, though. Improvement!
With that said...It is time for me to go to bed. I promised myself an early bed time and I'm missing it by about an hour already and I still have some school reading to do. Oh well. At least I have class tomorrow at 9:30 instead of 8.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Internship hunt...
Today I began my internship hunt. *sigh* It's like looking for a job, but less "formal" and easier to get than a job. Just as depressing, though. Then again, trying to find a paid internship is pretty darn hard. I mean they exist and they exist in numbers out there, but I'm looking in Monterey and they just don't "jump out."
I sent out one e-mail tonight to ask for a contact e-mail address and I sent out another e-mail saying I'm looking for an internship if the contact still worked at the place I'm looking at. Yeah, unlucky for me, the latter contact has gotten a new job. Bummer. On the other hand, her new job is at the Center for Ocean Solutions which is a partnership between the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Stanford, and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute so maybe I can get one there? I guess I'm not too worried I won't get an internship for the summer in Monterey. I am concerned, however, that I won't be able to get a PAID internship and I need money for the summer.
In fact, an inflow of cash would be nice now. I applied for a RA here with one of the profs, but I didn't get it. I need to start getting to know one of my profs this quarter because he happens to be one of the senior scientists at one of the places I want to intern at and he works in marine resources and such. It's a field I'm interested in and he looks like a good person to know. I need to start building up letter of recommendation professors. :P
Anywho, we'll see how the internship hunt goes. Ideally, I want a paid internship in a marine related field. Actually, my ideal would be to work with COMPASS (that used to pay at least) and is an interesting organization. My second pick would be the aquarium's Center for the Future of the Oceans since Mike Sutton would be a great person to get to know (he's the director so it's not exactly likely I'd get to know him, but I could at least "toss his name around" a little LoL). My 3rd pick would be hounding someone at the Sanctuary to try and get an internship (I've started looking for names/e-mails of interesting people - no luck so far). They have a "list" of internships already posted, but none are that interesting and the only paid one is a water quality sampling/testing and, honestly, not what I really want to go into and they want you to go from June to November. That won't work. I do wish I had a list of all the environmental organizations on Pacific Street in those suites, though. There's an office for almost everything marine related over there - Surfrider, Nature Conservancy, NOAA Sanctuary Pacific Office, etc.
With that...time to do a little more relaxing. Thursdays I treat like my Friday since, well, it is my Friday. I need to catch up on my econ reading this weekend and I have two assignments due at the end of next week. I guess I'll semi-start the two of them, but they're partner assignments. I should start my research on my mid-term paper for my marine class, though. I think I'm going to do the SF Delta since I had to do a paper on it for my water law class. We'll see, though.
I sent out one e-mail tonight to ask for a contact e-mail address and I sent out another e-mail saying I'm looking for an internship if the contact still worked at the place I'm looking at. Yeah, unlucky for me, the latter contact has gotten a new job. Bummer. On the other hand, her new job is at the Center for Ocean Solutions which is a partnership between the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Stanford, and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute so maybe I can get one there? I guess I'm not too worried I won't get an internship for the summer in Monterey. I am concerned, however, that I won't be able to get a PAID internship and I need money for the summer.
In fact, an inflow of cash would be nice now. I applied for a RA here with one of the profs, but I didn't get it. I need to start getting to know one of my profs this quarter because he happens to be one of the senior scientists at one of the places I want to intern at and he works in marine resources and such. It's a field I'm interested in and he looks like a good person to know. I need to start building up letter of recommendation professors. :P
Anywho, we'll see how the internship hunt goes. Ideally, I want a paid internship in a marine related field. Actually, my ideal would be to work with COMPASS (that used to pay at least) and is an interesting organization. My second pick would be the aquarium's Center for the Future of the Oceans since Mike Sutton would be a great person to get to know (he's the director so it's not exactly likely I'd get to know him, but I could at least "toss his name around" a little LoL). My 3rd pick would be hounding someone at the Sanctuary to try and get an internship (I've started looking for names/e-mails of interesting people - no luck so far). They have a "list" of internships already posted, but none are that interesting and the only paid one is a water quality sampling/testing and, honestly, not what I really want to go into and they want you to go from June to November. That won't work. I do wish I had a list of all the environmental organizations on Pacific Street in those suites, though. There's an office for almost everything marine related over there - Surfrider, Nature Conservancy, NOAA Sanctuary Pacific Office, etc.
With that...time to do a little more relaxing. Thursdays I treat like my Friday since, well, it is my Friday. I need to catch up on my econ reading this weekend and I have two assignments due at the end of next week. I guess I'll semi-start the two of them, but they're partner assignments. I should start my research on my mid-term paper for my marine class, though. I think I'm going to do the SF Delta since I had to do a paper on it for my water law class. We'll see, though.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Rain boots!
I'm going through money like nothing else this quarter and it's only the start of the 3rd week, but I'm buying rain boots! I've had it with having wet feet and soaking wet jean hems for hours on end. I'll have to endure it the rest of this week since my boots won't arrive this week, but I won't have to deal with it ever again. It's just the pits sitting in class from 9:30am-3pm (that would be today) with wet feet/shoes and the wet jean hems. First off, it makes me cold and our lecture hall/colloquium room is already cold on hot days. Secondly, it's just not a pleasant feeling having damp feet. Uck. Thirdly, it's not fun walking with wet feet that have been that way for hours because I feel like the skin starts rubbing off on the ball of my feet as I walk (I know, I know, probably TMI). To say the least, rain boots will be a really nice investment for me. I'm also buying fleece liners for the boots to help with the cold and chaffing at the calf (recommended by friends).
The boots: whale rain boots from Target
The liner: Black rain boot liners
With my new rain jacket that works really well (thanks mom and dad!), uber cool jellies umbrella, and whale rain boots, I am all set for the rainy weather! I just need waterproof pants now...Of course, now that I have the rain boots, it probably won't rain the rest of the year when I would use them...At least I've gotten to use my umbrella that I've had for 2 years! I think I've used it 4 times since I bought it -- twice in SB! Today was kind of ridiculous with the wind, though. It had to start raining right when I walked out the door (no joke because I had opened the door 2 minutes before, came back in, went back out and it started raining) too. By the time I got to Bren, the rain had pretty much let up, but the wind was so strong I actually had troubles walking for a few meters. At one point I seriously had the thought that I might loose my footing on the wet cement because the wind was so strong. After our first lecture, though, the storm had pretty much passed by. Walking back at 3pm today, there was no rain. In fact, there are blue skies out right now with big fluffy clouds over the mountains.
Anyway, the quarter is still continuing well. All of us are looking forward to the end of the quarter already and it seems to get harder going back to classes after a weekend, but we all slug through it. It was kind of funny because one our profs today during a make-up lecture because there were no classes yesterday was trying to get us to breath, relax, etc for our 3rd straight lecture (we already had 3 hours before him) and he said, "remember why you're here..." There was a pause from all the students and he says, "it's a good thing to do!" Some of us kind of looked at each other like, "he's kind of got a point, but we don't really care right now." :P
Financially, I'm doing well with my loans. I say that I'm going through money like it's nothing, but I am well within my loans and will make it through the quarter fine. I was just hoping I could repeat my $100/week like last quarter this quarter so I could have some leftover loan money to put towards my summer rent. There's no loan money for the summer and it's either I cancel my San Clemente Apt contract 2 months early, 100% move out, rent a storage unit, and get reassigned an apt next year (and roommate - assuming Jane doesn't cancel early) or eat the 2 months of rent, not have to 100% move out and keep my apt (I really like my apt's location). Unfortunately, that means I have to come up with about $1800 for the 2 months to cover rent. I might be taking out a mini-loan from a bank for the summer. LoL We'll see. Maybe I'll "flatten out" my spending for the rest of the quarter (definitely possible) and eat everything I have in the kitchen (I admit, I've done a few grocery shopping trips here because I've wanted "other" foods to eat -- all economically cheap, but additional cost when I already have food) and I might do okay. Who knows. :P I do need to start prepping for FAFSA...Taxes and FAFSA at the same time...Really? Is there more of a financial form of torture than those two together?!
Anyway, with that, I should probably hit the study books (*groans*) or take a nap (*cheers*). Well, maybe not a nap. The grad apartments are having "chili night" today!! It's a welcome-back-and-meet-your-fellow-apartment-mates thingy, but I'm going for the food. :D Hey...it's free food!
The boots: whale rain boots from Target
The liner: Black rain boot liners
With my new rain jacket that works really well (thanks mom and dad!), uber cool jellies umbrella, and whale rain boots, I am all set for the rainy weather! I just need waterproof pants now...Of course, now that I have the rain boots, it probably won't rain the rest of the year when I would use them...At least I've gotten to use my umbrella that I've had for 2 years! I think I've used it 4 times since I bought it -- twice in SB! Today was kind of ridiculous with the wind, though. It had to start raining right when I walked out the door (no joke because I had opened the door 2 minutes before, came back in, went back out and it started raining) too. By the time I got to Bren, the rain had pretty much let up, but the wind was so strong I actually had troubles walking for a few meters. At one point I seriously had the thought that I might loose my footing on the wet cement because the wind was so strong. After our first lecture, though, the storm had pretty much passed by. Walking back at 3pm today, there was no rain. In fact, there are blue skies out right now with big fluffy clouds over the mountains.
Anyway, the quarter is still continuing well. All of us are looking forward to the end of the quarter already and it seems to get harder going back to classes after a weekend, but we all slug through it. It was kind of funny because one our profs today during a make-up lecture because there were no classes yesterday was trying to get us to breath, relax, etc for our 3rd straight lecture (we already had 3 hours before him) and he said, "remember why you're here..." There was a pause from all the students and he says, "it's a good thing to do!" Some of us kind of looked at each other like, "he's kind of got a point, but we don't really care right now." :P
Financially, I'm doing well with my loans. I say that I'm going through money like it's nothing, but I am well within my loans and will make it through the quarter fine. I was just hoping I could repeat my $100/week like last quarter this quarter so I could have some leftover loan money to put towards my summer rent. There's no loan money for the summer and it's either I cancel my San Clemente Apt contract 2 months early, 100% move out, rent a storage unit, and get reassigned an apt next year (and roommate - assuming Jane doesn't cancel early) or eat the 2 months of rent, not have to 100% move out and keep my apt (I really like my apt's location). Unfortunately, that means I have to come up with about $1800 for the 2 months to cover rent. I might be taking out a mini-loan from a bank for the summer. LoL We'll see. Maybe I'll "flatten out" my spending for the rest of the quarter (definitely possible) and eat everything I have in the kitchen (I admit, I've done a few grocery shopping trips here because I've wanted "other" foods to eat -- all economically cheap, but additional cost when I already have food) and I might do okay. Who knows. :P I do need to start prepping for FAFSA...Taxes and FAFSA at the same time...Really? Is there more of a financial form of torture than those two together?!
Anyway, with that, I should probably hit the study books (*groans*) or take a nap (*cheers*). Well, maybe not a nap. The grad apartments are having "chili night" today!! It's a welcome-back-and-meet-your-fellow-apartment-mates thingy, but I'm going for the food. :D Hey...it's free food!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
First Week of 2nd Quarter
Well...I don't know what I was thinking or why I got the impression that the 2nd quarter in grad school would be much easier than the 1st because it's not true! I think I have a heavier workload this quarter than I did last quarter, which just doesn't seem fair! First off, I've had to spend $210 in textbooks, which is not cool. Then, as it turns out, it looks like I will actually have to read almost all the reading the professors assign to us! Then, on top of all the reading, I have to learn two new languages/programs - Excel Solver (which is funky, I don't like it, and it's "quirky") and R (statistical scripting program). Annnnddddd....I have 2 midterms on the same day (right after each other), 2 finals (one take home, one not), 2 final papers, 1 midterm paper, and something like 12 homework assignments total. Of course, you think 12 homework assignments between 4 classes isn't bad, right? Yeah, well, not so much. You NEED the 2-3 weeks they give you to complete the homework and we can use a partner!
Anyway, off the fact this quarter seems harder than the last...The professors seem good. My favorite class I think will be the Coastal marine class (257). The professor is leaving at the end of this quarter to Wellington, New Zealand to do some work out there! So Bren isn't even sure if this class will be taught next year so it's a really good thing I decided to take the class this year. This class is a non-core class so it's just 2 papers through the year and a 15 minute panel presentation. Not bad. The prof is friendly, but he tends to go onto tangents that are important, but not necessarily relevant to the current topic on hand. So we all end up writing notes during the tangents, but don't seem to move far in the lectures. We'll see how it goes down the road.
The stats class (206A) has only 3 homework assignments and it's only taught in 5 weeks, but I have to learn a whole new stats program for this. It's called R and it's basically scripting so we have to learn how to script out what to do. The first lab was pretty much a disaster and I think it was mostly because our actual TA wasn't there (plane scheduling issue). So we had a sub and it was just chaotic...The professor is my least favorite so far. He's a slow lecturer and isn't "smooth." So I start zoning out, waiting for the point, etc. Hopefully it gets better...
The economics class (204 is good. The professor is really good. I like the topics too. This class we have a midterm, take home final, and 4 hw assignments (out of roughly 9) we have to do. This might be my 2nd favorite class. Sometimes maybe my favorite...We'll see how it goes. This class, unfortunately, requires us to learn Excel Solver. We had a workshop on it this last week and it's easy to actually use solver, but it takes some skill in knowing how to set it up - the value you want to know, the changing ones, and the parameters. It's all optimization and the workshops are good (we took an intermediate excel workshop at the beginning of last quarter), but it'll take a little more work to figure out how to use Solver to complete our homework.
Lastly, the biogeochemistry class (202) will be interesting. It's a lot of chemical components to how the world functions, basically. It's not like we need to know everything about chemistry or it's a real chemistry class, but it's a brain sore looking at chemical equations again. This class has 4-ish homeworks, midterm, and final. It's co-taught. The first prof, Arturo, I like. He goes quickly, but he makes sure he stops to ask if there are any questions and he has a very "commanding" presence when he speaks. He speaks loudly and clearly so you just feel like you won't zone out so much. The other professor, Patricia, I'm a little worried about. She lectures this coming week and she lead the discussion this past week and she's a little soft spoken. I hope I don't start glazing over or something.
Other than the gorgeous weather we've been having (constant 70 all week), it's kind of business as usual. Sort of. It's really hard to get back into the swing of things. I think every student had a really hard time coming back. But...Only 1.2 years left and than we'll be finished! Course, that's 5 quarters (including this one), but we try not to think about that. :) Now...to do some homework reading and this week or next I need to send out my feeler e-mails for internships this summer!
With that...later!
Anyway, off the fact this quarter seems harder than the last...The professors seem good. My favorite class I think will be the Coastal marine class (257). The professor is leaving at the end of this quarter to Wellington, New Zealand to do some work out there! So Bren isn't even sure if this class will be taught next year so it's a really good thing I decided to take the class this year. This class is a non-core class so it's just 2 papers through the year and a 15 minute panel presentation. Not bad. The prof is friendly, but he tends to go onto tangents that are important, but not necessarily relevant to the current topic on hand. So we all end up writing notes during the tangents, but don't seem to move far in the lectures. We'll see how it goes down the road.
The stats class (206A) has only 3 homework assignments and it's only taught in 5 weeks, but I have to learn a whole new stats program for this. It's called R and it's basically scripting so we have to learn how to script out what to do. The first lab was pretty much a disaster and I think it was mostly because our actual TA wasn't there (plane scheduling issue). So we had a sub and it was just chaotic...The professor is my least favorite so far. He's a slow lecturer and isn't "smooth." So I start zoning out, waiting for the point, etc. Hopefully it gets better...
The economics class (204 is good. The professor is really good. I like the topics too. This class we have a midterm, take home final, and 4 hw assignments (out of roughly 9) we have to do. This might be my 2nd favorite class. Sometimes maybe my favorite...We'll see how it goes. This class, unfortunately, requires us to learn Excel Solver. We had a workshop on it this last week and it's easy to actually use solver, but it takes some skill in knowing how to set it up - the value you want to know, the changing ones, and the parameters. It's all optimization and the workshops are good (we took an intermediate excel workshop at the beginning of last quarter), but it'll take a little more work to figure out how to use Solver to complete our homework.
Lastly, the biogeochemistry class (202) will be interesting. It's a lot of chemical components to how the world functions, basically. It's not like we need to know everything about chemistry or it's a real chemistry class, but it's a brain sore looking at chemical equations again. This class has 4-ish homeworks, midterm, and final. It's co-taught. The first prof, Arturo, I like. He goes quickly, but he makes sure he stops to ask if there are any questions and he has a very "commanding" presence when he speaks. He speaks loudly and clearly so you just feel like you won't zone out so much. The other professor, Patricia, I'm a little worried about. She lectures this coming week and she lead the discussion this past week and she's a little soft spoken. I hope I don't start glazing over or something.
Other than the gorgeous weather we've been having (constant 70 all week), it's kind of business as usual. Sort of. It's really hard to get back into the swing of things. I think every student had a really hard time coming back. But...Only 1.2 years left and than we'll be finished! Course, that's 5 quarters (including this one), but we try not to think about that. :) Now...to do some homework reading and this week or next I need to send out my feeler e-mails for internships this summer!
With that...later!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Welcome Back to Santa Barbara
Well...I arrived back in Santa Barbara yesterday and I start classes tomorrow. My first class is at 8am! The good news in my schedule is I realized I don't have class at 8:30am on Tuesday until February 2nd! Then I'll have class at 8am on Mon, 8:30am on Tues, 8am on Wed, and 9:30am on Thurs, but I don't have to think about that till the 2nd of Feb. :) For now, I have class at 8am Mon/Wed and 9:30 Tues/Thurs.
Tomorrow's classes are Coastal Marine Law and Policy (ESM 257) lecture at 8am and Data Analysis (ESM 206A) lecture at 2pm. 257 has only 16 students so it'll be a small and intimate class. LoL I'm looking forward to it to see what new things I learn and such. The lecture topics look interesting too (briefly looked at them). 206A is a half-quarter class so it ends the 3rd of February and we take another half-quarter of it (ESM 206B) in the Spring. Not sure why that is, but that's the way it is! When 206A ends, we start our Environmental Politics and Policy Making (ESM 241) class (starts Feb 1st) and goes till the end of the quarter.
Tuesday is Economics of Environmental Management (ESM 204 at 9:30am) lecture and Environmental Biogeochemistry (ESM 202 at 11am) lecture and my 204 discussion in the afternoon at 2pm.
Wednesday is 257 lecture, 202 discussion (9:30am), 206A lab (10:30am), and 206A lecture at 2pm.
Thursday is just 204 and 202 lectures.
Everyday 12:30-2pm are "open" for guest speakers and workshops. Some days those time slots are used for make-up lectures too. :)
Today was a realllly nice day. No need for a sweatshirt type of weather, which was kind of surprising to me. I've been in a lot of "cold" and "dreary" weather so this kind of took me for a surprise, but it was nice! Anyway, today I went to Kmart to get some extension cords for my room. All the plugs in my room are behind some piece of furniture. So I bought one so I could plug Chris's old monitor that I took into a plug on the right-side of my desk instead of the left (where everything is plugged in!) and got one for a plug that's behind my bed that could be used for like my hair straightener and stuff since it's in front of my mirror in my room. I took the bus over, which I haven't done. I've ridden my bike there and obviously gone in a car, but haven't taken the bus in that direction. It was pretty painless, but I thought I'd miss my bus going back to the apartment! I have an hour between buses (getting off and getting on) and I got caught looking at stuff and speed walked to the stop. I got there with 5 minutes to spare! If I had missed it, I would have had to wait another hour. LoL
I also took a mini-bike ride today to check out the bike counter/meter that Tim and Debralee got me for Christmas. Assuming I entered in my bike tire size correctly, it's 1 mile from my apartment to Bren on the bike path. That's about how much I guessed based on Google Maps so I'm going with the meter. :) I biked 2.3 miles today at an average speed of 9 miles/hr and it was mostly all flat and paved paths and I almost died. LoL I'm soooo out of shape from not doing anything for 3 weeks. I also walked a little too (got off two blocks too soon on the bus). So...Time to start trying to walk to classes and biking longer distances!
Anyway, I should hit the bed soon. Not used to getting up at 7am anymore (8:30 wouldn't be bad). Plus, I have a sore throat and feel a little stuffy. So I've got to combat this beginning of a cold or whatever I have!
Here's to the start of Winter Quarter 2010!
Tomorrow's classes are Coastal Marine Law and Policy (ESM 257) lecture at 8am and Data Analysis (ESM 206A) lecture at 2pm. 257 has only 16 students so it'll be a small and intimate class. LoL I'm looking forward to it to see what new things I learn and such. The lecture topics look interesting too (briefly looked at them). 206A is a half-quarter class so it ends the 3rd of February and we take another half-quarter of it (ESM 206B) in the Spring. Not sure why that is, but that's the way it is! When 206A ends, we start our Environmental Politics and Policy Making (ESM 241) class (starts Feb 1st) and goes till the end of the quarter.
Tuesday is Economics of Environmental Management (ESM 204 at 9:30am) lecture and Environmental Biogeochemistry (ESM 202 at 11am) lecture and my 204 discussion in the afternoon at 2pm.
Wednesday is 257 lecture, 202 discussion (9:30am), 206A lab (10:30am), and 206A lecture at 2pm.
Thursday is just 204 and 202 lectures.
Everyday 12:30-2pm are "open" for guest speakers and workshops. Some days those time slots are used for make-up lectures too. :)
Today was a realllly nice day. No need for a sweatshirt type of weather, which was kind of surprising to me. I've been in a lot of "cold" and "dreary" weather so this kind of took me for a surprise, but it was nice! Anyway, today I went to Kmart to get some extension cords for my room. All the plugs in my room are behind some piece of furniture. So I bought one so I could plug Chris's old monitor that I took into a plug on the right-side of my desk instead of the left (where everything is plugged in!) and got one for a plug that's behind my bed that could be used for like my hair straightener and stuff since it's in front of my mirror in my room. I took the bus over, which I haven't done. I've ridden my bike there and obviously gone in a car, but haven't taken the bus in that direction. It was pretty painless, but I thought I'd miss my bus going back to the apartment! I have an hour between buses (getting off and getting on) and I got caught looking at stuff and speed walked to the stop. I got there with 5 minutes to spare! If I had missed it, I would have had to wait another hour. LoL
I also took a mini-bike ride today to check out the bike counter/meter that Tim and Debralee got me for Christmas. Assuming I entered in my bike tire size correctly, it's 1 mile from my apartment to Bren on the bike path. That's about how much I guessed based on Google Maps so I'm going with the meter. :) I biked 2.3 miles today at an average speed of 9 miles/hr and it was mostly all flat and paved paths and I almost died. LoL I'm soooo out of shape from not doing anything for 3 weeks. I also walked a little too (got off two blocks too soon on the bus). So...Time to start trying to walk to classes and biking longer distances!
Anyway, I should hit the bed soon. Not used to getting up at 7am anymore (8:30 wouldn't be bad). Plus, I have a sore throat and feel a little stuffy. So I've got to combat this beginning of a cold or whatever I have!
Here's to the start of Winter Quarter 2010!
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