brokenrecord

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 )

( The Big Bang Theory )

I talked to my roommate about the whole "One of the four of us needs to move out next fall" thing, and she said that if I moved out she'd come with me. And that if I absolutely wanted to stay, she'd move out and live on-campus for next year. So I feel less stressed out about that. I think I'd rather both of us move out and get a 2-bedroom apartment instead. I really love all my roommates, as I've said, but it's definitely easier sharing an apartment between 2 people than with 5. But whatever, we don't need to figure this out until next semester anyways.

I have been slacking so hard these past few days. I was going to talk to my Directed Research adviser Monday morning, and then didn't. That afternoon/night I was going to work more on my paper for the class and my presentation that's Wednesday, and I didn't. This morning first I was going to go to the library and work a little after Discrete Math and then go to talk to her, and I didn't. I went back to my apartment, and I was like "I'll just hang around for an hour, I need to relax a little, and then I'll go talk to her," and, shockingly, I didn't. I should have known I wouldn't want to go outside again, though; I nearly froze to death going to and from Discrete Math. My goal now is to work on the presentation and be done with it by 3 or 4 and then e-mail her my poster and ask her what she thinks. I really should go in and talk to her about the discussion since she sent me an e-mail about how I would have to rewrite a lot of it based on my results (since I had to write the discussion draft before I analyzed my results, so I kind of sketched a rough outline of what it would be assuming I got results supporting my hypothesis, which of course I didn't), and I should probably check with her to make sure what I'm saying is reasonable and that I'm not missing anything. But whatever. I've run out of motivation and energy for this semester.

Also, I may have had my last Discrete Math class today! I mean, class is canceled on Thursday, and I'm planning right now on ditching next Tuesday since it's the last day of classes, it's the only class I have that day, the final is a take-home that he's posting on-line on Wednesday and he said he's not going to discuss it or give any help on it, and he handed back the drafts of Project 3 today. I just don't see a point in waking up at 7 AM to go to a class I hate when there's nothing I'll get out of it. So unless something happens to change my mind (like he requires attendance or we all fail the final or something, which I don't think is likely), I'm not going. It was so hard dragging myself out of bed today to go to that class, and the only thing really getting me going was knowing that it was the last one, so I really don't want to go next week.

ugh I have to go grocery shopping this afternoon, but I so don't want to. It's so cold, and I always end up having to wait for the bus for like 20 minutes, and I could barely stand 10 minutes walking from my apartment to class. And it's snowing. And I just want to stay in bed all day. Why can't I just be home already?

(Wow, this post is pretty much just me bitching and complaining. Sorry! I will be in much better spirits in 11 days, I promise!)

Oh man this morning sucked. My midterm in Discrete Math was at 8 AM, so I set my alarm clock for 7 AM, as I always do, because I like to have some time to have breakfast and check my flist and everything before going to class. This morning I woke up (on my own, without the alarm clock) and looked at the time and saw it was 7:45 AM, and my first reaction was "Ugh, I don't want to get up in 15 minutes." I think I was just focused on the 45 part and not the hour. But then I was like "...wait... IT'S PAST 7?" And, I mean, it takes 10 minutes to get from my apartment to class, so I like shot out of bed, took my retainer out, got dressed (and didn't have time to check the temperature outside, so I hoped that a long-sleeved t-shirt and sweatshirt was enough for whatever weather it was), and went to class. I did not enjoy that. I've never like... slept in late and had to rush off to class immediately. And I believe strongly in never skipping breakfast (well, I try never to skip any meal, but I hate lunch, so I tend to forget about it pretty often), so I hated having to go straight to the midterm without breakfast. ugh.

I have no idea how it happened, either! My alarm clock was set! There was no power outage or anything during the night! I need to check that, because... do not want that happening again. On the plus side, no 8 AM classes next semester! And there are only like 4 more classes this semester of Discrete Math, so only a couple more times I have to wake up that early.

The midterm was... not good. But I don't really care. I know I at least got a 50 on it, which I can raise up to a 75 with revision. And I calculated last night that I need an average on the remaining assignments/tests/projects/etc. of less than a 50 to get a C- in the class. So I'm not really worried about my grade. But... I feel bad/guilty kind of because I feel like I'm letting my professor down? If that makes sense? I know that logically he probably doesn't really care, but I've been doing so well and I think he likes me, so I'm sure he knows I could do better on the midterm if I put more effort into it, so clearly I just blew it off. I also really hope that we don't have to talk to him if we get less than an 80 on the test like people had to for the first midterm. I don't want to have to explain to him why I did so poorly (I'm assuming). There's pretty much nothing to say other than "I'm taking the class pass/fail so I didn't study."

TV time!

( Dexter )

( How I Met Your Mother )

( The Big Bang Theory )

I was totally avoiding all the promotional stuff coming out for Chuck because I don't want to be spoiled in the slightest for the new season, but I ended up watching 3 really short promos for it and OMG I CAN'T WAIT HOLY CRAP THIS SEASON LOOK AMAAAAAAZING. And I desperately want to rewatch seasons 1 and 2 now to tide me over, but I so don't have time, so it'll have to wait until winter break, if I still feel like it. But seriously, if you've never watched Chuck before, you totally need to catch up and watch seasons 1 and 2 before season 3 premieres because it is such a great show. Ah I'm so excited!

( How I Met Your Mother )

( Mad Men )

( The Big Bang Theory )

( Gossip Girl )

I feel like I really need to make icons. I always want to use an icon matching something I'm talking about, but I keep finding that I have none! Especially for shows like Greek which I'm totally in love with; I really should have at least one. Maybe if I get all my work done early today (yeah, like that'll happen) I'll make some tonight. More likely, it won't be until winter break. Oh well.

Ok, so I talked to my mom about my dad changing law firms. Apparently this new place has been after him for a year now. He's not really happy where he is; he's worked there for 30 years, but the people who hired him have all retired yet, as have all his friends who worked there except for like 1, and he feels marginalized. Like they don't appreciate him enough. Whereas this other place REALLY wants him and would appreciate him. This new place is much smaller, and it's actually just the floor below where he works now, so it's not like the commute (which is 15 minutes from our house) changes or anything. And he would have to retire at the place he is at now in 5 years, and then he'd be stuck figuring out what to do next anyways, so he might as well switch now and be happier and not have to retire in 5 years. And apparently he asked my mom and a bunch of other people what they thought, and not a single one of them thought he shouldn't do it. He just made the decision a few days ago which is why I hadn't heard about it before and why it was so sudden that he couldn't come. So that all makes a lot more sense now that it's been explained. It still was a huge shock when he first told me, though, because it's not like I discuss my dad's work with him pretty much ever, so I wasn't aware of all these factors.

Anyways, my mom was here this weekend, which was great. I got to eat out and go shopping and stuff! It was fun. And we started watching my The Big Bang Theory Season 1 DVDs. ( Her reactino to TBBT S1 )

I got my IRB comments back. My research is approved pending I address some comments they have (which is what happens to everyone, basically; no one just passes outright). I feel like I should feel really great about this, and part of me does, but another part of me just feels kind of... weird? And I keep obsessively going over the comments? I don't know. I think part of it was before this research was just me discussing it with my adviser and the other 5 members of my group, and it's just been so supportive, so even the criticism is easy to take, you know? Because it's like we're all encouraging of each other and know where each other is and all that. But this is an entirely different group of people who aren't familiar with what I'm doing, and it's just not the same kind of feel. I don't know. I'm overly sensitive. The professor who e-mailed me the comments did begin with the fact that they found my proposal overall very impressive, and everything they had issues with I fully understand why they did. I need to stop being so negative and just be thrilled I'm this much closer to getting my research done.

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).

I just saw that Chuck is not scheduled to come back until after the Winter Olympics next year. That's next March! I mean, some Chuck is better than no Chuck, but I don't know if I can wait 10 months for the follow-up to that finale! Also, why has Scrubs been renewed? Don't get me wrong, I love that show, but it's been going on for 8 seasons now, and the finale was the absolute perfect series finale for the show. How do they follow that up? Is Zach Braff not coming back next season? What about the other regulars? If it's just the interns, I don't know that I'll be very interested in it.

I spent Wednesday and Thursday catching up on TV I was behind on and I'm STILL not done. To be fair, I did spend all afternoon yesterday hanging out with friends, but still. I had time at night to catch up on stuff. The problem now is that I got through the stuff I really wanted to watch first, and now I'm left with stuff I don't care as much about. Of course, if it's this much of a pain to watch the shows, I probably should just stop watching them entirely, but I have trouble letting go of shows, especially if I've been watching them for awhile. Anyway, here are some random thoughts on some of the stuff I've been watching.

( The Big Bang Theory 2.23 - The Monopolar Expedition )

( Bones 4.26 - The End in the Beginning )

( The Office 5.26 - Company Picnic )

I have many pictures of my trip and of bobcat kittens that are living in my backyard, so I'll post those at some point in the next few days! And I suppose I need to start looking for a job or something to do this summer, because my mom will keep bugging me if all I do is sit around the house.

( How I Met Your Mother 4.21 - The Three Days Rule )

( The Big Bang Theory 2.21 - The Vegas Renormalization )

( Chuck 2.22 - Chuck Versus the Ring )

Ugh, I'm so exhausted. This is what I get for staying up past midnight when I have to wake up at 7 AM for class after already getting too little sleep the night before. Why am I taking another 8 AM class next semester? Clearly I am crazy. In any case, I don't have much left to do this week, which is nice. I have a project for Differential Equations on Thursday, but I'm not too worried about that right now (although maybe I should be). And after Thursday morning, I can relax a little (until Saturday when I start having to freak out about everything I have to do for next week).

Hope everyone who celebrates it had a happy Easter! My Easter consisted of getting a plastic egg filled with M&Ms from my RA and then having a ridiculously busy afternoon. It's actually kind of a miracle I got everything done. I probably wouldn't have if it weren't for a friend from German texting me about studying, so we studied together for an hour, and then after that a friend from stats coming over and working on the lab. If he hadn't shown up, actually, I would probably still have been doing the lab all morning since he showed me how to do a bunch of them and also caught a bunch of mistakes I was making. But thankfully those things did happen and my stuff got done before class. The fact that there's new HIMYM and TBBT definitely helped me get through yesterday and this morning, anyways. (So excited for the episodes! Not too much longer to go!)

I'm really tempted to do another picspam now for favorite Sheldon/Penny scenes. This is probably not a good idea as this weekend is going to be very busy. Really, all the remaining weeks of school (only 4 left! 3, not including finals!) are going to be super busy. But it didn't take too incredibly long to do the Barney/Robin one, so maybe I'll try. Or I'll just do random single scenes that I love separately instead of doing a huge top 10 type thing.

Registration for classes for next semester is in a week and a half, and I don't really have much idea of what I'm taking yet. I keep meaning to look at the classes, and then... I get distracted or have schoolwork or whatever. I know I want to take Cognitive Psych and Intermediate German (although there are two different sections for Intermediate German and I need to decide between those), but other than that, I'm not sure. I'm thinking about Directed Research in Psych which is the capstone for the major where you conduct your own study and write up a huge paper and present it, but I'm not sure if I'm up for that yet. I mean, I have to take it at some point, but I don't know if I want to do it immediately or if I should put it off a semester or two. My absolute favorite professor is going to be teaching it, though, which is making me lean towards taking it. And I still have one space to fill even if I do take that. blah.