Thursday, April 28, 2011

A Dizzying few Daze.

A film and political culture essay due, a reading quiz on a thirty page article, three exams, and all in three days.

I'm pretty beat.

I'm also pretty pumped that I finally found a good place to study late with appropriate, cheap, and delicious late-night supplements.  I only wish this discovery had come sooner. I ALSO learned that rather than pull one all-nighter, my body functions better with a few nights in a row with minimal sleep in the early morning.  I seem to be a lot more pleasant and patient, as well, with a few hours of sleep under my belt. I found out so much about myself this week!  With all this new knowledge of what kind of study habits benefit me best, I am a little bummed that the semester is basically over. But.  I am TERRIBLY excited for Dauphin Island this summer! Yayayay chemistry and research!!  My oceanography book was getting me excited (and distracted) last night by discussing some of the toxins that phytoplankton can emit, which is (in fact) sorta what I will be studying this summer.

THAT'S RIGHT. I said it. I found out what my project may be this summer!!!!! Yayayay! And I'm pumped. Still subject to change, but the basic rundown of the only one we have discussed so far is that there is a mysterious chemical in Big Creek Lake being produced by a mysterious phytoplankton, and it is being broken down into a familiar compound. I get to solve the mystery of the chemical, (probably) the phytoplankton, and then get to check out implications of that in other settings! Ahhhh! I'm so excited.

:D On another note, Abbey and I met this Thursday for our regular dinner to discuss our book. It was my turn to cook, and admittedly, with her sickness and my brain-fry mush up top, not much was accomplished. Other. Than. THIS:

This would be a picture of the Taco salad I made. I think its colorful and beautiful, and I love to know that it's healthy, simple, and easy!! Its a recipe that I stole and modified from my mother, who had tons of fast and delicious meals for any kind of day; plus she always knew how to incorporate a vegetable, "because its good for you." :) I love my mom!  I want to be healthy, and live more simply! Being healthy with Lent helped, and I love knowing that there ARE healthy options that are affordable AND DELICIOUS all at once. Taking care of my body feels good. :)

And on that note, I should probably give in to my body's need for sleep.

<3 Melissa

Friday, April 22, 2011

Time-Wise

So, I've discovered over the past few days that I spend my ENTRIE LIFE on the internet. All of it. I realize that creating this blog doesn't exactly help, but it's time to get focused in time to pull off finals. So, my plan is to keep myself honest via my new google calendar.  I've set up four calendars, one for work, one for play, one for school/church obligations, and last but not least, one for the things that I actually spend my time doing. I feel as if this will force me to own up to the real reason why I'm not sleeping and what I spend my time doing.  Every time I finish a chunk of time, I will go in and fill in the real amount of time I spent doing what. Hard and fast evidence as to the REAL amount of time I spend just wasted.  In addition I'm attempting to live simply in accordance my most recent chapter of Celebration of Disciplines.  This is a book that my friend Abbey and I are reading together. We spend one week reading, and the next week implementing that discipline in our life.  This allows us to experience them for ourselves and REALLY see how it affects our faith/daily life. So far its been amazing!!  Anyway, starting Monday I am limiting myself to 30 minutes of blanket, non-school internet time a day, for an indefinite period.  I feel like this will give me time to focus on God, school, and research without wasting massive amounts of time online!  Because I really just can't afford it. I'm excited about my new project; updates to follow :)

<3 Melissa

Thursday, April 21, 2011

It's Official


That’s right, it’s official. I am now part of the blogging world, due to inspiration from Allie Roark, Mallory Hamling, and several other awesome blogs that I have come across in the last few weeks.  Also from the plethera of cool things I’ve been finding on stumbleupon that I want to share, and (of course), because this thing will allow me to talk and talk and put up allllllll the things I think are cute and awesome, and no one will be judgey and mean the way people on facebook are. I mean lets face it, if you don’t want to read my blog, then don’t. You won’t be subjected to the political aspects such as those that dictate the facebook world. If you like my stuff, then come on in! :D  I’m still finding my way around, so if lots of things are weird, or often change, be patient with me. 
<3 Melissa