Inflation

Inflation was always a hard concept for me to grasp. If the amount of money you have doesn't change, then what does this really mean? Now, today was not the first time I understood inflation... trust me that came along when I started actually making money! But today captured a perfect example.

After a rough test this morning I decided to treat myself to lunch at Camille's. This is a sandwich place much like Panera (only with a different variety of items). I had not gone to the one in Pittsburgh, but always enjoyed their Apple Walnut Tuna Sandwich in Columbus. The sandwich always comes with a side of tortilla chips and salsa. My first thought today: wow, there are hardly any chips... that seems strange. Then I went to take a bite of my sandwich. To my surprise, there was hardly any tuna on it. I mean, I thought about taking it back up and asking them to put more on. But I didn't want to pay more! I felt as if I hadn't quite gotten my money's worth. Then I noticed that there were sunflower seeds in my apple WALNUT tuna salad. Hmm... I remember someone saying they won't be making candied walnuts this year because they're too expensive. Apparently so! The sandwich was still good, it just would have been better with MORE filling. But it really made me think... for the same price I truly got less... and I wonder if it wasn't on purpose.

In other news, I have been craving sweets lately. It's not that time of month, so I can't even use that as an excuse! I am glad it's raining... otherwise I would be buying myself some cupcakes! Hmm... maybe I'll make some instead...

A bit of a change

You may have noticed I changed a couple of things on here. Please let me know what you think! If you don't like the new layout, I can easily change it back. I wasn't sure if this style would be better or not.

What prompted my changes? Today I realized something very important. As the 2nd years head off to the NSGC conference in LA, it is more than them getting to go have fun with a bunch of other genetic counselor's for a week. I am a year away from starting my job search!! Can you believe that? Today I just took my first genetic counseling test, and in 1 year I will interview (hopefully) for jobs at the national meeting! CRAZY.

Another reason for the change... As strange as this may sound, I don't always feel like sharing many of my feelings on a blog. I know, you're astounded by this. Unfortunately this has 1 major consequence for you-- I am very boring. Unlike my sisters I am not very good at story telling. Perhaps cute kids help the situation, but that's not an addition I expect to have for quite some time. Sorry, I got off topic. Where was I? Oh yes, so I am hoping my knew title may spur some creative thoughts for me to use as an outlet as I make sure to have some free time. (Everyone says that you're supposed to make time for you... but how do you make sure you take just enough?). So that's that. I'm sure you stopped reading this a while ago... but now some quick updates...

Things are moving along quite quickly. Is it already the end of October? NO WAY. We just got our schedules for next Semester. It looks better in some respects than this semester. First of all, our classes are MUCH more bunched together. That makes it seem like a lot less class time! Unfortunately this is just a false image (like those pictures that show 2 shapes that you swear are not the exact same, until you line them up). I will actually have 6 classes next semester (although 2 are only 1 day a week). And even though I only have 1 hour of class on Tuesday, I have class until 9:00 AT NIGHT on Wednesday. that's a little rediculous. Class should not go from 6-9. It's cruel. Especially when I have 3 other classes that day. The other negative with that schedule, I have lab on Friday starting at 8:30. yuck. Although I will be wishing for starting so late this summer when I have to be at the clinic, right now all I can think is being at the bus stop in the snow at 8:00am. Blech.

In other news, I will be heading to Geneva this weekend. Unfortunately, Dave's grandpa passed away this morning. So while Dave was going to visit me this weekend, plan obviously changed. It's strange when you don't know how you are going to react to a situation, and I had no idea that I would feel this emotional. I have been extremely blessed to have such a wonderful family. Some people would kill to have a family as loving as mine. Yet I get to experience Dave's loving family as well. I have only known Dave for a little over 4.5 years now, but grandpa Henry quickly won me over. I will always remember how when I would hug him hello he would always say "oh, look at this... I'm getting a hug from this girl" or something of that nature. There was something in the happiness of his eyes that always reminded me of my own grandpa. Perhaps that is the joy of having created such a wonderful family. Regardless, if he was able to leave quite a memory in my mind after knowing him for 4 years... just think about those who knew him during his 93 years.

A little bit of everything

Time is moving so quickly, I can barely keep up. I've been pulling 19 hour days multiple times a week. And somehow I still feel about 2 weeks behind! In the midst of this, I manage to find time to have some fun. (It's critical). I think I would enjoy what I am learning more if I didn't have so much to learn at once! Anyhow... I'm already off topic. There are many things to blog about, but in the fashion of my life at the present moment... I will not be able to elaborate on any of them. Sure, blogging a little whenever these thoughts came into my head would be most ideal-- but that's just not gonna happen. So alas, here are some ramblings...

The Great Debate...
It may be election time, but that's not what I'm talking about here... Wedding date. Heck, Wedding planning! So many things factor into this. The biggest-- when will Dave be done with school/ have a job?? My mind is very split about the possibility of getting married and having to live apart for a few months.... VS. not getting married and being able to! Sure, some people will plan a wedding in 9 months, maybe even 6. But how much time do they have? I'm working 19 hours a day WITHOUT wedding planning! Hire a wedding planner? Sure... but I would actually have to meet with them, and give them a date/ budget! Right now the dates in my mind are "either Labor Day(9/5)/ Columbus Day(10/12) 2009, OR May 2010". (not exactly close to each other, and Dave isn't really sure of dates either). I truly wish that I could pick out my dress, help with the invite list, and perhaps have an input on colors... and then just show up. I'll have a blast, and Dave and I will be married. Now the problem is that even IF Dave is done by next September... I will really only have long weekends, so rush to Columbus on Thursday night or Friday morning, get married Saturday and back to work Tuesday. Plus my cumulative exam is at the end of November! My mind just doesn't want to accept that it won't be until May 2010. Maybe this is because 2010 seems so far away... and I am not ready for any more than a year apart from Dave! I really wish there was an easy solution...

Picture is from Mark and Liz's wedding

On the Road...
I have had the chance to visit Dave in Geneva and in Wooster now. Both drives were gorgeous! The ride up to Geneva was late, and during one stretch there were hardly any cars! The stars were amazing! I could hardly believe my eyes!! Then this weekend I drove to Wooster. I really wish I had brought my camera. The leaves throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio were breathtaking! So many Reds/Oranges/Yellows! I truly could picture a fall wedding... Both weekends went by too fast!!

It's not ALL work...
Sometimes we get to play! I only wish we had more get-togethers... and that I would institute a game night! (I have hardly played ANY games in the past 2 months... and it's killing me!). One night a few of us went to a Pirates game! It was lots of fun, although the game was slow so we mostly just talked!

Shelley, Me, Amber, Andrea, Sarah, and Kate at a Pirate's game

There were gorgeous fireworks afterwards, and my roommate got a great pictures of the city!

Pittsburgh- picture taken by Kate!

In addition, I've been to many great restaurants. There certainly are a large variety of places to go! And one fun event was the "Garden Grove" at the Phipps Conservatory. It was a night-event... The 4 of us pictured below went together and had a blast! They had food from different vendors spread throughout the conservatory, and drinks too! Mmmm.... It was quite an enjoyable evening! Sarah, Kate, Amy, and I at the Phipps Conservatory

Hopefully I will get some more pictures, and have more fun updates soon! For now, time to get some sleep!

Denial

I suppose I should be glad that it is finally October. If I am exhausted, lacking sleep, and feel like I've been working my brain overtime-- at least I put in that effort for a month total of work!! If it was still September I would probably... break down in tears! (Oh wait, that's what I did in September).

ANYHOW... The last few days of September were wonderful. It is AMAZING how finding a GSR immediately lifted my spirits. How fears of working 20 hours a week instantly lifted, while joy of having a job that will allow me to form a more stable schedule settled in. This does not take into account the obvious fact that I still have not rationalized 20 hours of week of work on top of my studies... but that can be October's obstacle, right?

Now let's see if you were paying attention... I got a GSR!! Yes, it's true. I am super excited! I will be helping with clinical research in Ophthalmology. Doing what exactly??... various things... My supervisor seems like he will be great! And I am excited about the people I will get to work with. I have to do a lot of reading about the eyes now! It's also fairly close to the building I have all my classes in, but I am going to be cursing Pittsburgh this winter when I have to walk up this monstrous hill to get there! I tried it in heels last week-- never again!

I'm still living (believe it or not) after a week testing the waters of graduate level exams. Wow! I knew graduate school was going to be difficult, and a lot of work... but now I know how it feels. All I can say is that I am SO GLAD that I KNOW this is what I want to do for a living. I remind myself of that everyday. Knowing that putting this effort in, racking my brain, and learning all the difficult genetics will be worth it because it will make me better at my job. Maybe it's good to feel like I don't know enough, because in a sense I never will. There will always be more to learn. (Don't remind me I said this when I'm freaking out about my next exam/paper/project).

Now it's time to allow happy Andrea to get some sleep so she can turn back on. I'm getting there. I really don't think I could have fathomed (is that even a word?) how hard adjusting to Pittsburgh would be. It is just now that I am beginning to realize that Pittsburgh can be wonderful, I can love the people in my classes, at work, etc... but I will never feel completely at home with Dave being so far away. So I just have to think of that as a good thing in a way. Knowing without a doubt that I am independent and can be successful, but that Dave is what makes me feel at home. I mean heck, that's part of why we're getting married right?? Ok- I'll spare you more about that! Although it did spur tangents of thoughts about me not being able to plan a wedding on top of everything! But maybe that will be another post. I can see it now-- How to plan an out-of-state wedding when you have no time--