Midterm

So this week I have been really busy with school, I have a final on Thursday evening, and lots of exciting research in the works. I am really pumped because I am finally going to Houston to see my new niece and her parents. Not much to say now, have to make a meeting at 1:00.

Return of Nanna

My mother just returned from Houston on Sunday , and Finally I got to spend some time with her for her birthday. I have been honestly pathetic in the amount of time I've been able to spend with my family or anyone and truly wish I could freeze time.

As you all know, I am either at school, on my way to, or on my way home from. It has really become a ritual for me to eat in my office, snooze a little, and even entertain. My good friend Monica and I have mastered the art of appearing to do work even if we are not. Generally, we are fretting over something that we should be doing instead of actually doing it.

A recent ephinany, 8-bit (old school) nintendo actually rots my brain. I've been playing alot of nintendo since Ed brought it over about a week ago and I think I am getting dumber. For certain, it is causing serious strain on my eyesight. In fact, I actually have to change positions (move around the room) so that I can continue to play because my eyes become glazed over after some time. Really strange....I think this is actually a sign that I should not be playing at all.

My frined Jay left to go back to the Navy, he may or may not be leaving sometime around Oct. 15 for his final excursion under the sea. (Any further details are G14 classified.)

Also, I discovered how to get a coffee maker, 2 mugs and 2 kinds of cofee for just 14.95. You can go to

www.gevalia.com

and sign up to get your stuff too! Its really cool! My new machine is on the way.

SICKLY SATURDAY

On Saturday I was sick off and on most of the day. Allergies and headcold made me pretty pathetic. I went with my friends to the Claypit in Addison. I love this place. Everyone should definitely go. Jason, Nada, Will, and I were in apparently antagonizing moods and continually pestered each other through dinner. The main concern was "what's wrong?" I tactful and all powerful method of really getting to the bottom of issues.

I got a little bit of work done for school, but overall wasted my Saturday. What a shock!

FINALLY AN UPDATE

The last update occurred roughly a full month ago. That is because I have really LAME blogging abilities. I apologize for the deliquency of my blog, and hope to do better.

Well, last time I was talking about how I was going to move my own stuff into the new building. While doing this I got caught in about 5 minutes of heavy hail which managed to hit ONLY UTD! Mind you, if I had been at home, I would have been fine. It took about a week for me to notice that my car was damaged, but now I have a fatty check from State Farm for around $3500. Hopefully I will be able to get a deal on the repair, and keep some of the cash.

We did, however, get moved into the new building. I LOVE IT HERE!! This building is totally awesome! Our classrooms are super-hi-tech, and we have 2 TA's per office as compared to 12 before. Also, all the Prof's offices are directly across the hall, which makes everyone more productive. We (the TA's) can always find the Prof's, but sometimes they can be a bit demanding.

We did get our paper submitted for conference, but ended up having to work all night Aug. 15 and Sat. morning. What a pain! I just found out that the work paid off! Our paper was accepted to the conference, and I will be attending in December. Even better, my closest school friend's, Monica, paper was also accepted...we get to go together!

I am now working "exclusively" with one Professor on my research. Dr. Vijay Mookerjee has been an awesome mentor thus far, and really histerical cat in general. I am really glad that he has chosen to work with both Monica and I, and will be supervising both of our dissertations. He says that he generally works with PhD's until they have achieved their tenure after graduation. This is really an honor to have already have research underway at the end of our (monica and mine's) second year. In fact, there are many more senior students that are not getting as much faculty attention as Monica and I. We are really lucky and driven and therefore are getting the attention. At any rate, I think I've made clear how happy I am here at UTD and in the Information Systems department....I won't continue to bore you.

More recently, September 7 at 2:50 pm, I became an Aunt. I will try to figure out some way to get pictures available... SHE IS SO CUTE! Kelly Marie Manica, 6lbs and 13oz. I attempted to go to Houston the weekend after she was born, but plans just didn't work out. Hopefully I will be able to go before too long.

This past weekend was a BLAST! I attended my friend Amanda's candle party on Friday and met some new friends. Lindsay, who I currently work with, and Chelsea decided to join me and my friends for a fun-filled evening at Octoberfest. Lindsay brought her boyfriend Chad. The total group included: Lindsay, Chad, Chelsea, Nada, Jay, Dan, Daniel, Ed, and myself. After a bit of browsing and chicken dance, we headed to the carnie rides were we contemplated the profitability of "Carnie Insurance" as coined by Daniel. Its really a wonder that those rides hold together. I know Nada had a special moment on the KamiKaze when she dangled upside down forever roughly 20 yards above the ground. SCARY!! Not being fond of being upside down, especially in a skirt, I took two turns on the TORNADO, which was a blast. Dan, Chelsea, and Lindsay joined me the first time, and Ed, Dan and Jay the second. We left with glass beer stiens to commemorate the event. Completely tuckered out we called it any evening and headed home.

Okay so that brings us up to this last Friday night... making some progress I think.