brokenrecord

( How I Met Your Mother )

( Chuck )

( The Big Bang Theory )

I've been slowly making my way through this Life of Birds BBC documentary thing on the BBC and yesterday I got to the episode that deals with baby birds and parenthood and I was like "omg yay adorable baby birdies! This will be so much fun to watch!" And then like half of it was other birds stealing baby birds for food or crocodiles attacking or even the parents killing some of their babies because they do not have enough resources to care for them all. It was like March of the Penguins all over again.

I forgot that a new Sookie Stackhouse book comes out today! I kind of have the urge to reread them all (well, not the first one, since the show followed it so closely, and there's not enough Eric. But like, I mix up what happens in the second book and second season a lot, so it would be valuable to reread the book, right?), but... I don't know. Last year it took me like an entire week to get through them all, and that was with me staying at home and reading the books all day long and really not doing anything else. I don't know if I want to waste a week or two like that again, at least not right now. And I don't know that I'm patient enough to get through all the books before getting to the new one. So it's more likely that I'll just read the new one.

I got an A- on my group presentation I did several weeks ago in Mood and Anxiety, and from what I can tell (it's hard to figure out my grade in a class when I'm only given letter grades), this makes it really hard for me to get an A in the class. I think if I get an A on the final paper and get an A in participation (both of which I think are possible, but definitely not guaranteed), then I can get an A in the class, but I'm not sure. I'm going to try to expect an A-, and if I get an A, then I'll be pleasantly surprised.

I'm through season 1 of my Doctor Who/Torchwood rewatch, so here are my random thoughts: ( Doctor Who Season 1 )

I managed to watch some other TV as well last night:
( How I Met Your Mother - 5.19 )

( The Big Bang Theory - 3.19 )

How is it that in 2 days we'll be halfway through April? The end of the semester is starting to go by really quickly. It's good because at this point in the semester I'm always so tired and ready for a break, but it's bad because oh crap I have a million things to do besides schoolwork even, like figuring out what I'm doing this summer and what I should be doing to prepare for applying to grad school in the fall and figuring out where I want to apply and if I'm sure about what I'm planning on doing and ugh. Too much for me to handle.

I got a 99 on my Origins exam (well, 97 plus 2 extra credit points she gave to the entire class because apparently a lot of people did really badly and only 3 people got As. But I actually did better on this test than the last one, which is weird). I was feeling a little nervous about this class, especially because of the podcast project thing, but now I think I should really be fine. So I'm nearly guaranteed an A in 3 of my classes, but who the hell knows about Mood and Anxiety. As of now, I have an A-, but that's only one assignment; I could easily bring it down or up with my group presentation (Thursday), the class facilitation I already did but don't know how well I did yet, and the final paper (I should really start that sometime. I was going to start researching this weekend, but then I watched Doctor Who instead. oops).

I have an exam on Wednesday, a group project on Thursday, and a short German essay on Friday, so I sadly won't be able to watch Doctor Who as non-stop for the next few days. I kind of want to get the full series rewatch done by like Sunday because after that, there are really other things I should focus on, but I doubt I'll get done by then. We'll see, though.

Oh man, I am so enjoying having internet again finally. I am also super enjoying my Netflix account. I've watched one DVD (Gone With the Wind, which I loved, but not as much as I was expecting? I don't know, I might post a review of it and other films I've been watching at some point soon) and 3 with Instant Watch (M, The Lady Eve, and Cool Hand Luke, all of which were very good; Cool Hand Luke was probably my favorite, but I am completely infatuated with Paul Newman, so that's to be expected. It was a great film besides him, as well, though), so I feel like I've been getting pretty good use out of the account considering that brings me to $2.25 a movie and it hasn't even been a full week yet. And I'll probably watch another one or two tonight.

I've pretty much decided not to watch the Olympics. Well, it's been mostly decided for me, as I don't have a TV and am coming off of several weeks without internet so I have loads of TV to catch up on plus I'm (obviously) very focused on watching movies right now plus the fact that I am a full-time college student and things are starting to get busier in the semester as we're close to the half-way point between the start of the semester and Spring Break.

The thing is, I adore the Summer Olympics, more than I can really explain considering I don't follow sports outside of the Olympics. But I adore them so much, and if this was the Summer Olympics, I would do everything in my power to watch as much as I could and ignore everything else. But this is the Winter Olympics, and while I remember enjoying them the last few times they were on, it's not like I can really remember anything that happened or have really fond memories of the 2002 or 2006 games (which is not true for the 2004 and 2008 Summer Games, which I have very fond memories of). Basically, I'm not really going to care about the Olympics in a few weeks, and I have other stuff that's more important to me going on, so I just don't have the time or energy to devote to watching them.

Anyways, I've caught up on some TV, so here are some random thoughts on what I've been watching:

( Chuck 3.07 )

( Greek 3.13 )

( Fringe 2.15 )

( How I Met Your Mother 5.15 )

( The Big Bang Theory 3.15 )

( Bones 5.14 )

I'm also caught up now on Castle, Psych, House, White Collar (I think I haven't mentioned it before, but last semester I said that I'd stop watching because I wasn't that interested/invested and had too much stuff going on, but I caught up on it at the very end of winter break and now all of a sudden I'm in love with it. It's so much fun, and Peter and Neal are excellent. Plus, the more Matthew Bomer on my TV, the better), Community and Lost. I haven't seen a single episode of Skins this season yet, and I'm like 4-5 episodes behind on both Friday Night Lights and Legend of the Seeker and 3-4 episodes behind on Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries. In addition to other shows that I haven't bothered to remember or check how far behind I am. I will slowly get back on track. I actually don't have much work this weekend (I have an exam in Origins on Friday which I'm a little nervous about, but I already made flashcards, and we're going to have more lecture and probably some review on Monday and Wednesday, so I feel like it makes more sense to start preparing on Wednesday), and I got done with most of the stuff I needed to get done. So I'm going to research possible project topics/ideas for Origins for a group project that we need to have an idea for by Wednesday and research the genetics of depression for Mood and Anxiety for a group discussion on Tuesday, neither of which should take me very long since there's nothing I actually need to turn in for either, and then maybe I'll get more caught up on TV and tonight I might watch another movie or two. I'm enjoying how much more relaxing this semester has been than last semester (up until now, at least; it may get worse in the next few weeks. Although I don't know that anything could be worse than the combination of my Capstone and Discrete Math, or even the semester before with Multivariate Stats and RIP II and Differential Equations, all of which were loads of work).

( How I Met Your Mother )

( Dexter )

lklajsdf I don't want to have to wait 9 months for the new season! ugh. I need new Dexter now. This is the thing that sucks about HBO/Showtime shows. And for some reason all the shows that I watch on HBO and Showtime (and Mad Men, which has the same length season) air at the same time in the year. The least they could do is spread them out a bit.

I AM DONE WITH DIRECTED RESEARCH FOREVER. (Except for next semester where I have to stand by my poster at the Minnesota Undergraduate Psych Conference and answer people's questions and crap. But whatever, that's not until April.) My paper is finished and turned in and hopefully I'll do well. It's hard to say. I think she likes me and she knows how hard I worked on the project and how much effort I put in, so hopefully that'll win me points.

Anyways, this morning I am going to finish my freaking Discrete Math take-home final (and by finish, I mean start and spend 2 hours on and then be totally done with and never think about again hopefully) and then I'll also be done with that goddamn class forever. And in the afternoon I'll go talk to my favorite psych professor about finding somewhere to volunteer/intern over the summer and then I'll work on my German oral final project thing with my partner. Ugh this semester needs to be over already. But I have so few things left now! At least in comparison to like a week or two ago. And there are only 4 days left in the semester! Not much left to get through.

( Gossip Girl )

Ugh I really want to watch last night's episode of Being Erica. But I have so much crap to do today that I told myself I wouldn't watch it until I finished everything. I don't know when exactly I became more excited for Being Erica than for any other show, but... yeah, I'm really loving it. This is what happens when you introduce a ship in a show I can get behind. And I just love how they've been changing up the episodes this season. Plus, Greek is off until February, I've been bitter towards HIMYM since Barney/Robin broke up, I still am really liking TBBT but Leonard/Penny prevents me from being as eager to watch it as last year, and Chuck won't be on until January. And those were all the shows I was obsessive over last semester, so... Being Erica is my new show to obsess over. For like, what, 2 episodes, and then the season's over? Same for Dexter, which is my other favorite show right now. Boo.

The head of the math department sent out an e-mail for people who are interested in being a preceptor (like a T.A.) for Multivariable Calc next semester with my favorite math professor (who was my professor for Multivariable last fall), so I e-mailed her to say I was interested. Unfortunately they give priority to people on financial aid, and I'm not on financial aid, so I probably won't get it, but I figured I'd e-mail her just in case. I'd totally do it for free/no credit/etc.; I just think it would be fun. And will probably make my life way busier than it needs to be next semester, but whatever. As I said, I probably won't get it.

I'm feeling so overwhelmed right now. I just keep remembering stuff I have to do and it just feels like way too much. Unfortunately a lot of stuff I need to do I can't start until Thursday or this weekend, so I feel kind of stuck. On the one hand, I'm so happy that this week has been flying by and there are only 10 days of classes left and 17 total days until I leave for winter break, but on the other hand, I know I have so much stuff left to do and so little time to do it all in. So I'm kind of a mess right now. I'm hoping to get loads done this weekend (I will pretty much live in the library on Saturday and Sunday, I think) so next week isn't quite so overwhelming.

( How I Met Your Mother )

( The Big Bang Theory )

( Gossip Girl )

I have registration for classes tomorrow! I'm so excited. The classes I'm planning on taking next semester (provided they don't all fill up) I am looking forward to so much, especially compared to the stuff I'm taking this semester. Next semester is more about taking classes I actually want to take rather than just classes to fulfill requirements. So that'll be great. And there's this one class I desperately want to take that originally was a senior seminar that wouldn't be offered next year, and I was going to beg the professor to let me in and try to justify it by saying that technically I'll be a senior next semester in terms of credits (which I actually feel is a pretty reasonable point). But then they changed it to just a general advanced course, not seniors only, so I can take it without having to talk to anyone. So clearly I am meant to take this class! And the class is only 16 people and the best psych professor whom everyone loves is teaching it, so I was terrified that it would fill up before I could register. But registration started Monday for seniors, and so far only 3 people have signed up! And a huge portion of the junior class is studying abroad next semester. So basically, I think I should be able to get into the class! I'm so excited about this class and next semester, it's not even fun. I'll be so happy when this semester is done with.

I've also been researching grad schools again, and there is 1 program that I've totally fallen in love with, and now I'm mentally kicking myself because I'm going to be so disappointed if I don't get in. I don't want to get my heart set on it too much and then not be able to. I mean, luckily, unlike with undergrad, if I don't get in I can easily just apply the year after. But I want to get on with it already so I can finish school and start working and all that. Really I wish I could just apply already and go next year, but... obviously that is not possible. Oh well. Senior year will be here before I know it, I'm sure. And who knows, by next year maybe I'll have totally changed my mind again and have other plans for my future.

I totally did end up getting the complete series of Farscape. IT WAS SO ON SALE! I COULDN'T RESIST! Anyways, I haven't checked my school mail (where the DVDs are being sent) for like over a week, so I don't know if it's here yet, but they were supposed to go on sale today, so I'm assuming it'll arrive in the next few days. There's no hurry, seeing as I'll have no time to watch them anytime soon. But I'll probably watch them over winter break, which will be fun since I haven't seen any of the episodes since I first watched the series nearly 2 years ago, 2nd semester of freshman year.

( How I Met Your Mother 5.05 )

( Greek 3.08 )

( Gossip Girl 3.06 )

I'm still going through my Greek rewatch. I just have the season 2 finale left, and then I have to decide if I feel like rewatching season 3, or if I shouldn't bother since I've seen all these episodes so recently. But I adore the show and am kind of obsessed with it right now, so there's a good chance I will. At the very least I want to rewatch last week's episode because it is still filling my heart with joy to think about.

I finally got a bus pass today so I can stop wasting my quarters on the bus and can save them for the laundry machines. And it was such a good deal! They have discount student bus passes at the Campus Center, and I paid $22 for a pass with $44 on it, and it doesn't expire (it lasts until you go through the money), so it was totally worth it. I don't use the bus that often, but I do to get groceries since even though the grocery store isn't too far, it's pretty far when it's raining/snowing/freezing and you're carrying heavy bags. So I'm happy about that.

I talked to the guy I'm working on my group project for Discrete Math with after class, and of course he totally couldn't work on the project at all today. So we'll be working on it Wednesday night. Whatever. I think I'll just agree to whatever he wants to do to revise the project and not stress out about it too much. I got full credit on my revisions to the first exam so overall my grade on it is a 92.5, and on the homework so far I've gotten a 16/16, 23/24, and... something else where I only missed 1 point. And I've done all the reading reflections and gotten 100% on those, so I'm figuring I have an A- at the very least in the class. And I only need a C- to pass, so if we do terribly on the project, whatever. But I probably should start preparing for my Cognitive Psych midterm today so I don't have to rely on having a lot of time to study for it tomorrow or Thursday.

Oh Monday night TV, I have missed you so much. The only way you could be better if Chuck was starting now and had a full season and was not being left until after the Winter Olympics. (SERIOUSLY COME ON, MARCH IS SO FAR AWAY!)

( How I Met Your Mother 5.01 )

( The Big Bang Theory 3.01 )

( House 6.01 )

( Gossip Girl 3.02 )

All I have to say about the last episode of Mad Men is ( Mad Men 3.06 )

Also, FULL SEASON ORDER FOR GLEE! YAY! I wasn't too worried because it's actually doing ridiculously well in the ratings (I have no idea how that's happening, because it seems like it's totally the type of show that would be amazing and be critically loved, but no one would actually watch. Like Wonderfalls or Pushing Daisies or like the million other shows I've watched that have been canceled).

( How I Met Your Mother 4.24 - The Leap )

I am finally back home! I didn't have internet in the place we were staying last night (which was probably the one place I really wanted it because of the HIMYM finale), so that's why my reaction is a bit late. I was going to start checking my flist again once I got back, but I realized that I'm basically 2 weeks behind on all my TV shows except for HIMYM, and there are some I'd really rather not get spoiled for, so I'll probably wait to get caught up until tomorrow.

...so I totally got a 100 on my research proposal for Research in Psych. Which basically means I'm guaranteed an A in the class, provided I didn't fail the last homework assignment (which... I'm sure I didn't). I'm pretty shocked by this, since I can point out a whole bunch of flaws in the final paper, and I was trying to finish it quickly so I could go back and meet my parents and start moving out and be done with the semester and all that. But whatever, happy. Just really, really surprised. I also got an e-mail from my stats professor asking for an electronic copy of my stats paper, and she mentioned in the e-mail that me and Li did very well on it, which is good.

We're in Wall, South Dakota now. We visited Wall Drug Store, which... if you've traveled like at all in South Dakota or anywhere near it, you've probably seen it advertised. There are signs EVERYWHERE for it. Seriously, the first sign I remember seeing on this trip was in Minnesota where it said "Wall Drug Store... only 355 miles!" It's nothing that special, but I did manage to get two posters there: one of Paul Newman and one of The Birds. I've been wanting old Hollywood movie/actor posters forever, so I'm happy to have a few now. I still need more, though!

Still making my way through season 2 of Buffy. We only have 3 episodes left, which is sad. We probably won't get to season 3 of Buffy until the trip back to school in August/early September since I didn't bring it with me. But I'm probably going to make my parents watch How I Met Your Mother for the remaining days of the trip since I have those with me and I feel like they would really love the show. Plus, I can always use an excuse to rewatch How I Met Your Mother!