I'm....graduating?

Not yet. Don't get ahead of yourself.

Anyway, I had a run-of-the-mill meeting today with our graduate coordinator about the things I need to do to get my graduate project underway. After a little discussion and me proving information about my topic and what I would like to look at for my project, I received the information I needed. Not only that, I walked away from the meeting with a committee chair set in place, names of two other people to contact to be on my committee, and an expected graduation date of December 2008. Holy crap! I expected it to take a lot longer than that, but my "chair" told me he firmly believes that I can complete everything by October, to defend my project in November, and graduate in December. Not only that, he told me he would love to see my project published and that he is confident that my project will get that far.

It's funny because I remember starting grad school in the fall of 2006 thinking this whole thing is a popularity contest and it would not be fun, in the slightest. But now that things are starting to come together and I'm starting to see the end, it's kind of fun to see that the graduate faculty are looking at my ideas and projects as something worthwhile, worth pursuing, and worthy of publishing....even without seeing any sort of outline for my topic. It's honestly nice to know that my "chair" is confident enough in me to tell me these things with minimal information.

That's all, really. I'm just really excited to have a start on things and to know that I am fully supported.

it's been awhile...

...and I don't really have anything interesting to say.

I went to POST Academy for work and graduated last Friday, so that was nice. It suuuuuuuuucks to have to stay in dorms, with a roommate, without the ability to leave campus (except for the weekend) when you only live 15 minutes away. Oh well, like I said, it's over and I got an "awesome" sweat suit with my name on it for future use.

The semester is coming to a close, but is sooooooo busy, yet again. And this time, I really didn't procrastinate. I really just haven't had enough time to get everything done, especially since I had to be gone at POST for 2 weeks.

Josh is taking his first rafting trip this weekend and I'm jealous. I'm staying home with Brooke and will be going crazy reading research for my presentation on Tuesday.

Wow, this is such a boring post. I'm really, really sorry that I have nothing better to write about. Maybe something exciting will happen soon and I can tell you about it. For now, I'll just head back to watching Idol and studying for my test tomorrow.

It's probably bad....

....that it's only the second night of my management class and I desperately want it to be cancelled due to the excessive amounts of snow....

I earned the "plus"...

...so why don't I get it? Seriously. My final grade in one of my classes is clearly a "+" and I want it. It will bring up my GPA a bit and I deserve it. Is it worth complaining about and asking him to change the grade?

Oh yeah...

...and I also like it when I write an 18 page paper in 2 days and get a 96% on it. That also makes me happy.

I need a break....

...from....writing? Wait, that doesn't seem right. Let's try this again. I need a break from ADHD. I think that can actually be taken in both an academic sense and in the literal sense. I don't want to study it anymore. I'm done. I don't care anymore. So what if it's cause by fukt-up uptake dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and monoamine oxidase. So what if it's highly heritable. So what if it can be treated with stimulants, non-stimulants, and psychotropic drugs. So what, so what, SO EFFING WHAT?!

Alright, I'm going to be ok. I'm just tired and I don't care anymore and I still have a bunch of stuff to write about the evolution and adaptations of the disorder. Again, I don't really care anymore.

This next part is for Alison (and I suppose anyone else who is interested...), did you know that you can have ADHD without being hyperactive? In fact, in adults, the hyperactive part tends to dissipate and the inattentiveness increases. Sorry Jon, you'll have to hear that again Monday night. I thought it was interesting. For anyone else who is interested, you can be assessed for ADHD here. Click on "assessments." I scored as a "high" which would explain why the fuck I'm writing this right now instead of typing my paper....

I should be...

...doing many things other than blogging. Whatever.

I found out last night that my parents and sister are going to CA for Christmas to see my brother and his family. I can't go because I don't have any vacation time that I can use yet. Brooke will be gone too, so it looks like it's just Josh and me for the holidays. I think we'll go skiing at Tamarack :)

Two classes left to go for the semester! One will be hell, the other...not so much. Still SO much preparation for the weekend. Ugh! And the shitty thing is that I'll have to sit through "stupid girl's" presentation before I can give mine, even though I requested the first slot. I'd much rather go first and get it over with so I can concentrate on everyone else's presentations. Oh well, can't win 'em all. And you may think I'm being rude by calling her "stupid girl" but it's much nicer than calling her an outright "bitch." (oops, I think I just did.) Hopefully she won't be in my classes next semester...one could only be so lucky.

On another note, I realized last weekend that I paid my last month's rent back in January and I don't have to pay rent this month! Hooray!!!

BTW, still looking to sell my couches...$350 for both....or $225 for the couch and $175 for the love seat if bought separately (man, what a bargain to buy them together!).

I can see the end....

....and it looks good.

I am a little less frustrated with the undergrad papers, mostly because I found out that several of them have plagiarized and I get to give the I talked about previously an "F." Whew.

I'm still not quite seeing the end of this semester, but it looks better than it once did, so I like that. Papers to grade, project to finish, quizzes to take, 2 papers to write, and much more reading to do before Dec. 6 or something crazy like that, but I am much more optimistic right now than I have been at this time during previous semesters.

On top of that, I just registered for my last semester of actual course work. I am obviously very excited about only having 2 actual classes to take, but on top of that, the grad coordinator is letting people use an elective class as a seminar, so I get to take some sort of "alternative courts" course instead of "punishment and corrections." Hip hip hooray! But yikes, I really need to get cracking on a project topic...

P.S. I bought skis on Saturday at the ski swap! They are old rentals and aren't the greatest in the world, but they will allow me to ski all season, so that makes me happy!

paper grading

For my juvenile justice class, my classmates and I have been given some undergraduate papers to grade. I'm not going to complain about the assignment because, frankly, it's the assignment and that's something I just need to deal with. I will, however, complain about the fact that the students' papers I've been assigned are pretty much terrible. The grammar is horrible and 4 of the 6 papers have no thesis. The two that do have thesis statements have no supporting paragraphs. I know that I wrote some pretty horrible papers in college, but these are beyond terrible. Ugh. The dilemma that exists herein is that I feel bad giving one of the girls a failing grade. I even tried to change my scoring rubric so that she wouldn't get such a bad grade, but everything I did made the grade stay in the same bracket. I'm not even sure that she read the book--who writes a book review without giving any actual details about the book?! Gah!

Pretty sure...

...I'm going to scream from frustration. Or cry.

Wait, think I already did that earlier.

I could use a drink.

Or chocolate.

Or ice cream.

Or anything indulgent.

It's not even the end of the semester. God help me then.

I'm soooo excited!

You may remember that around the time of my birthday, I purchased a new bag from my friend Alison, who lives in Chicago. My polka-dotted hand bag is perfect for day trips and those times when I need (read: feel like I need) to carry more than just my wallet and phone. In other words, it was perfect for my old job, where I just needed something to hold a few extra things, like a book or the newspaper and my ever important nano.

Since I started my new job (gasp) over 3 weeks ago and have found that I need to carry much, much more with me everyday. I now have a work issued cell phone and palm pilot, keyboard for my palm pilot, case files to carry to court, office keys, and random training materials that I have to carry with me everywhere. On top of that, I now have a crap load of Weight Watchers books to tote (yes, I finally gussied up and joined the WW plan), books for class, and every now and then, my MacBook to bring with me to class. In other words, I have outgrown my fabulous polka-dotted work bag.

Enter: Alison. I e-mailed her a few weeks ago with my dilemma and explained exactly the type of bag I need (read: think I need) for work and/or school, complete with an explanation of why I need a velcro on all of the pockets (which I need many of) and why I need a flap (if you lost your wallet on an airplane on your way to the middle of nowhere South Dakota, you would need a flap on your bag and velcro on your pockets too). Amazing as she is, she designed a pattern, picked out fabric, and sewed it up for my sweet ass (that I like to think has become sweeter since W). She posted the pictures and I CANNOT WAIT for it to get here!


Here is a preview:





But you can see the rest of the photos here.

yuck

I have to finish writing a paper tonight about a book we read for last week's juvenile justice class and I don't want to do it. I'm half-way through, and could probably pump it out in the matter of an hour, but just can't get through it.

It's pretty bad when, during the 3rd week of class, I am already procrastinating by blogging.

Dammit.

2 really good things and 2 sort of shitty things.

1 really good thing: my job.

I rule at my job so far. Today I finally felt like I was able to do part of my job without supervision. Kind of. I suppose I should preface by saying that these past 2 weeks have been full of lots (and I mean LOTS) of observation. There has been very little "doing" going on. I guess I was OK with that, except that I've been really, really excited (and antsy) to start the "doing" part. So when I was reviewing a case of mine and my supervisor came in, I thought she'd tell me to come watch her do something....again. Instead, she pointed to me and said, "I need you to do intakes." Upon further findings, I was informed that she really doesn't know much of the process and that I needed to fill in because 98% of the probation department was at a conference. So I did it. And later I found out that I did it really well and productively. I felt awesome.

Later, while observing Detention Hearings, another supervisor pulled me aside to explain the terms of 24/7 supervision and other release terms to a client. I would have assumed that I should someone supervise me while doing this for the first time, but she just let me have at it.

Later, my most direct supervisor told me that I was "glowing." I said it was because I finally felt like I had a grasp on my position and was really excited to be doing my job.

And it's the truth.


1 shitty thing: my hair dryer broke.

This is the second one I've gone through since about May. I don't know what the problem is.

The other shitty thing: my professor doesn't really want to acknowledge the fact that I'm in his class.

I hate the fact that he gave me permission to take an incomplete in the class last fall, yet after 3 prompts to send me the supplemental readings that he's been sending to everyone else, I have yet to receive anything. I'm not technically on the roster, but he has my information from the past 2 times I've e-mailed him (the third prompt was at the end of class last week). Top that off with the girl who drives me nuts and you've got one pissy Miranda.

The other really good thing: money.

I'll be the first to tell you that I haven't had any for a really long time, but today I got my dividend check in the mail from State Farm and have an extra $72.10 in my pocket and with my first paycheck coming on Friday, I'll actually have money leftover when I buy my new tires for my car. Hmmm, maybe now is a good time to buy that hubcap that I've been missing since last fall...or an iphone. Hmmm...choices choices.

back to work...

...but not without some fun first!

1. After surviving a family reunion without a bit of booze to pull any of us through, Josh, Adrianne and I went to see "Superbad" at the theater. I thought I was going to die of gut-wrenching laughter and found myself up heaving in the seat a few times during some scenes...completely worth it.

2. My friend Kristen swapped me every season of Sex and the City and a mix CD of Neko Case and Kasey Chambers in exchange for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which I had borrowed it from her boyfriend). I have yet to pop in a season of SatC, but the mix CD is amazing.

3. I managed to row through bigger rapids than I've ever rowed before, which made me pretty damn proud of myself. This is a bigger deal for this particular trip because Josh wasn't sitting behind me telling me to push with the left or pull with the right--it was all me, baby, watching where he and his dad had gone before me and attempting to do the same..not without some swearing, however, when I thought I was going to hit some rocks. I didn't hit them. I did well. And I was rightfully P-R-O-U-D (and hopefully Josh was too).


and now non-hobby related information...

1. Reporting for my first day on the job this morning, I knew that one other girl was starting with me. What I hadn't prepared for was the fact that it might be someone I knew. Yup, Hafsah and went to high school together, graduated the same year, happened to recognize each other, and actually seem to get along....weird.

2. Class started tonight too and I can already tell that one girl is going to drive me nuts....but that's probably because the one time that I met her this summer, she shoved her hand in my face and told me to get away from her. I sincerely hope that she's not in my Thursday night class (or I might have to kick some ass).

12 days and counting...

Or should I say 11 days and counting? For the majority of the students and staff at my school, there are 12 days left, but I'm taking tomorrow off, so I only have 11...and I am pretty damn excited about that fact. I had originally planned on taking the day to work on my rough draft for my Grantsmanship course, but that's nearing completion and I shouldn't have to spend nearly as much time on it as I thought I would. It's pretty rad to be taking a personal day just for the hell of it. Yesssssssss! I am awesome!

ok, fine.

Over the past few weeks, I have discovered....

...that one can consistently get A's and B+'s on stats work, but get C's on final papers and final exams.

...that although one gets C's on final papers and final exams in stats, she can still pull off a B in the class.

...that getting a 98% on a policing paper almost makes you forget about the B in stats.

...that I think I like rafting (even if it gets cold and crazy).

...that I really dislike NOT getting responses to e-mails, especially when I ask questions that I'd actually like an answer to.

...that starting a summer course before you get your final grades for spring semester is really, really difficult.

...that 3 weeks is really not a very long time to compile information and put together a functional grant proposal.

...that the Ada County Sheriff's Office is amazingly cooperative with students.

...that apartments can go uncleaned for months, yet landlords are still nice enough to say they don't mind and still put in window air conditioners.

...that the Criminal Justice program at Boise State actually has no rhyme or reason for choosing Graduate Assistantships and even though there is a check mark on the application for "interview completed," they don't actually follow through and make decisions based on...well...who knows what.

...that leaving home at 7:45 am and not returning until 9:30 pm for 4 days in a row really makes a girl a cranky bitch.

...that even though I'll complain about not having enough time for this grant proposal, cleaning my apartment, or doing laundry, I'll still find enough time to watch American Idol and Grey's Anatomy, read Cosmo, and hang out with Josh...go figure.

The Freak Out Stage

Stats mini-thesis is due Friday at noon. Though I had my research question, variables, and unit of analysis turned in long ago, I started writing my methods section on Saturday and ran my statistics on SPSS on Sunday. I am now on the go-to-bed-at-10pm and get-up-at-4:30am schedule in order to evaluate these stupid statistics. Every spare moment is spent interpreting my results and not coming up with a damn thing that is interesting about school crime prevention programs and their effects on violent and non-violent crime.

I'm officially in the freak out stage of semester 2 of grad school...gross.

(Thankfully, everything for my policing class is ready to go...which is kind of too bad, because I really enjoyed that class and honestly wouldn't have minded continuing with more of the project....at least I did something right this semester!)

Vegas: Saturday!

I must be crazy

I had decided quite awhile ago that I was not going to take any summer courses this year because I had zero interest in the courses that were being offered in the Criminal Justice program. I actually had myself quite pumped about taking the summer to relax and have a good ol' time doing nothing...until last night. My classmate Salvador brought up the point that having grant writing experience is very helpful in the criminal justice field (I completely agree). This was followed up by my professor stating that, yes, it was a good idea and that he has "connections" (his wife) through a different college at BSU and that she would be teaching a grant writing course during the first 3 week session of summer school. After some thought and consideration, I decided to see what it was all about.

This is where I say I'm crazy. The class goes from May 14 to June 3, MONDAY-THURSDAY from 5:30 to 9:10 pm. The culmination of the course is a grant proposal of my own to actually submit, if I'd like to. This, combined with my project for this semester's 507 Policing course, should prove to be a worthwhile investment and I'm actually really excited about it. The part that I'm not so excited about is the fact that I will still be working 35 hours a week in hell, then heading off to class for several hours--4 days a week, for 3 weeks. Ouch.

The good thing about this is that I get to use these 3 credits as an elective course for the program. Yippee!
Of course, this is all conditional...I have to get permission from the prof to take teh course.

Productivity

It feels really, really good to get some quality stuff done, you know? I got up early, had some coffee, and continued writing my neighborhood analysis for this project that Jon and I are working on.

The sun warmed my feet as it shone through my window. It was a good morning.

I continued researching information about this particular neighborhood and realized that if I played my cards right, I could get A LOT more information from the Ada County Assessor's Office and the Development Office. I showered, put on clean, springy clothes, and headed out the door. It's amazing how much information you can get when you put on the charm and throw in that you are doing research for Boise State and the Ada County Sheriff's Office. They even pay for your parking under such circumstances!

I had a brief lunch date (mmm...Thai), then ran off to a meet with Jon and a contact we've made for our project. Extreme productivity. Extreme interest.

It feels really, really good to do things right. It feels really, really good to get feedback saying that the work we're doing is worthwhile and will make a difference. I finally feel like I've started to create a niche for myself in my research style and methods.

Today, I love grad school.

Guilty Pleasures

To make up for the crap wake-up call from this morning and to encourage myself just a bit more to work on course work that I SWORE I'd be getting done this week, I went to the grocery store to buy myself some fabulous food to cook for dinner. While waiting in line, what did I grab? Cosmo. Yeah, that's not going to distract me at allllll. I also picked up not just one, but TWO chick flicks to watch while Josh is out playing poker and I'm at home, enjoying my fabulous dinner...doesn't it make you want to come over? (I have quite a bit of booze, in case that helps.)