RA update

You thought it was over didn't you? So did I! When we sent in the research for my research assistantship, I thought the position was over. But no! Then came the announcement that we were asked to present our research for the State and Local Policy Program Brown Bag event, an informal gathering of whoever wants to hear about what you're presenting on. So there was the preparation for that and a complete revision of the paper to make it look pretty (that was my job).

The presentation was this afternoon and we started out with an audience of about 12 including faculty, interested outsiders, and students. I just presented a little bit about the research I did regarding Indiana's state investment in R&D, but I was still nervous about it. I attempted to exert confidence though, which I think I did.

Next we are going to meet with the Dean to hopefully get some more funding so that us RAs get paid for all of the overtime that we put in. So we're going to make the report even prettier by producing a bound copy. It will be lovely. I'm close to being done with it! Woohoo!

Just because

I realize that I haven't posted for several days now - primarily because I have been "depressed" about being back in school after spring "break." I figured I would overuse quotations marks just because...haha. At least I crack myself up with my terrible jokes and puns. Anyway, the majority of break consisted of working on school work, including reading two books and working on research for my professional paper. We're so close to the end of school, but I am getting to the point that there is so much to do that my mind is on the verge of basically shutting down. But I have successfully suppressed this for the majority of the day.

Here's the cool thing about break though - my birthday present to myself (and no, it's not the silly picture you see here - it's the brand-spankin' new winter jacket that I'm wearing):

Torturing Pokey

I just got back to Champlin yesterday after spending a long weekend at my parents' house. It was so nice to be home :) I missed Pokey a lot....and my parents too. I think I took a million and a half pictures of Pokey yet again (she's so photogenic). I basically worked on a lot of school stuff like reading "Dereliction of Duty" and working on making the RA report all pretty. I also played some cards with my parents, laughed at some movies (fell asleep to some movies too), and tortured Pokey. I found out that she really doesn't like snowballs. It was a nice weekend.

Here's two of the million and a half pictures:



She's so cute and a huge dork! I miss her already (*tear*).

And I was really productive yesterday - I got a lot of non-school related stuff done. It felt good. Then Chris took me out to dinner at TGI Fridays (where we had our first date...awww) for a belated birthday present since I wasn't around on my actual birthday. We found out that Brownie Obsession was really good and really sweet. We felt as though we were going to go into sugar shock. So worth it.

Today we're going climbing (woohoo!) and then down to watch Wild Hogs with his family tonight. I've been hearing really good things about that movie.

Why can't spring break be longer? An even better question: is school over yet? haha

Great skit about Iraq

Shadoweyes posted this on his blog - I laughed really hard. Hope you enjoy it :)

http://www.shadoweyes.com/blog/?item=wonders-never-cease

Spring "Break"

It's almost here! A week of no classes and no work. Sounds like a dream right? WRONG. It will be nice because there will be no classes to attend and no work to go to, but I will be working a ton over break on just about everything, primarily my professional paper and revising the research paper from my RA position. I also have to read a ton in at least two books, hopefully more. Hmm...let's see how much I actually accomplish.

The great thing is that I'm going to be going home for a long weekend!!! Woohoo! I am hitting the road tomorrow for a fun three-hour drive to my parents' house and will be spending the weekend hanging out and playing with Pokey in the snow. I can't wait! I feel like it's been forever since I've been home last.

Until then, I will be awaiting the arrival of my new jacket (I am highly impatient because I want it NOW!) and organizing all of my work, making sure that I have everything. Sounds like an amazing time I know - you are all jealous I'm sure.

Snow!!!!

It's finally looking like a Minnesota winter: the roads are crummy, cars are buried, kids are playing in the snow...it's lovely :) It's odd because it looked more like Christmas last night than it did at Christmas time - the snow and the lights. Beautiful. I can't wait until I go back home and get to play in the snow with Pokey!

Cheap Malaria Pill for Africa

A French drugmaker Sanofi will market a cheap pill to treat malaria in Africa where the disease claims numerous lives. The pill will cost less than $1 for adults and 50 cents for children under 5. Sanofi didn't patent the drug, meaning that more companies can produce cheap spinoffs as well, a move that was meant to increase the potential access for the people. The drug will be distributed through nongovermental organizations and international organizations which I'm interpreting as not through the governments of the countries that will be receiving the drug. Such a move is deemed necessary in my mind given the level of corruption in many of the governments. One concern that I have is that a group may steal shipments of the drug and mark up the price, but we shall see. Hopefully the drug will get to the people who are intended to receive it.