Here is my current meal plan for Thanksgiving:
Brined & Grilled Turkey (provided by Jimmy)
Apple Cider Gravy
Ritz Crackers with: Linguica Spread, Spicy Cranberry Dip, or Bacon Cheddar Spread
Celery with PB or Cream Cheese
Homemade Applesauce
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Crescent Rolls
Homemade Blueberry Pie
If I have time, I’ll also make some chocolate chip cookies or sugar cookies.
It is a rare event when I purchase a new game. I’m fairly picky on what games I buy, and I only follow a couple series of games where I “need” to buy the new one when it comes out.
However, over the last week I have managed to accumulate FOUR new games. Two for Wii and two for the PC. I have already discussed the Wii games a bit- Dawn of Discovery & And Then There Were None.
Last night, I acquired two new PC games. One, I intended to purchase. The new expansion pack for the Sims 3- World Adventures. Clearly a must have for me! However, while I was standing there checking out the games Jimmy found TROPICO 3. I LOVE Tropico. My 3 favorite game series of ALL time are: Civilization, Tropico and The Sims.
I wasn’t going to buy it, despite the fact I really wanted it….but then Jimmy bought it for me with money he had leftover from his recent trip.
I didn’t play either last night. Since I had just started “And then there were none…” the night before and I am pretty into that, I continued that. AND the room with the gaming PC needed to be cleaned a little bit before I’d be comfortable playing in it. However, I am thinking about starting to play the Sims 3 game tonight. I am in the mood to start a new “legacy” family.
Here is the weekly wordle of my blog.
What kind of insight can I gain this week?
- The past week has been to focused on work. Clearly I need to have more fun & relax. It’s not just the word “work” that is big…its “research” “proposed” “meeting”…
- Some of the words come from posts that are unrelated to my actual work this week…but this wordle rings very true to how my life has been the last few weeks. Consumed by graduate school.
- I say “just” too often.
- “Catching Christmas” sounds like a movie title.
What words do I hope will be the focus of my wordle next week?
- Thanksgiving
- Food
- Decorations
- Christmas
- Books/Reading/Read (etc…)
- Sims 3/World Adventures/New Expansion Pack
- Game
Or is it “knick”? Hold on….Okay, I’m right.
Life has one big hurried mess these past few days…I’ve been furiously preparing for my presentation to my committee which has taken FOREVER to schedule (most of it hasn’t been my fault either). Then my meeting got canceled, and rescheduled for today. I had set aside today to do a poster for the Undergraduate Mentoring Research program that I TA. It’s due tomorrow, but I knew I couldn’t properly focus on it til I was done with my meeting…well…that meant I ended up scrambling to do it tonight after my meeting. Now it is 10:55pm…and I’m finally posting…thankfully, just in the nick of time…since I need to post daily to stay in NaBloPoMo.
Presentation is done. Poster is mostly done. Tomorrow around 1pm, I should be free to return to my usual life. Thank goodness. I get to go back to doing research (woohoooooo!) and no writing for awhile (I hope, but who knows what my advisor will throw at me next). In addition to normal work (and in the normal daytime hours…not working til 10:30pm or on weekends), I will be beginning to put out Christmas Decorations, and planning my Thanksgiving meal. There will be 4 of us for this Thanksgiving another friend is joining us…yay!
Overnight guests means extra cleaning too. Its okay though, after the last week my house could use it! I plan on spending my Thanksgiving break relaxing with books (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy & Catching Fire) and working on my homemade Christmas craft project…and just catching up on the aspects of my life that have been neglected the past few weeks due to the insanity of proposals, presentations, posters and the like.
I’m exhausted…but I need some time to wind down before going to bed. I’ve been on an adrenaline high all day….anxiously awaiting my meeting at 4pm (which went AWESOME by the way…my committee rocks…all their criticisms were very constructive, and they were easy to talk to); then poster making….I need to relax and wind down before attempt to sleep.
So, I am going to explore more of my new game for the Wii- Agatha Christie’s “And then there was none…”. I’ve only played a little so far, but its been quite fun. I will post a review in a few days when I’ve played more. It was only $12.99 used at Gamestop. But after my last awesome acquistion- Dawn of Discovery for $19.99…I’ve changed my mind about cheap Wii games…they CAN be good.
8.) Publish Another Paper
Objective: To publish scientific paper on my current research.
Motivation: You aren’t worth anything as a scientist unless you publish. So, I am hoping to publish a paper on my current research before my 1001 days is up.
Hurdles: It’s a lot of work. I hate scientific writing (love regular writing though).
Proposed Timeline: By the end of next year hopefully.
Related Goals: Get my Master’s degree.
Other Details: I have to wait until I have some actual results first. So, this isn’t one I can work on immediately.
This week’s edition of Sunday Stumblers.
If you aren’t familar with Stumbleupon, I highly recommend checking it out: StumbleUpon. It allows you to “stumble” through the internet and discover random websites within interests/topics that you specify. Its fun & addicting.
101 Thoughts on How to Lose 100 lbs
8.) Get my master’s degree
Objective: To complete my Master’s degree.
Motivation: I am currently working on it, and I’d like to finish it. 
A master’s degree will hopefully mean more job opportunities and more money. While my undergrad is in Environmental Science, and I am currently getting an MS in Ecology, my actual research involves genetic fingerprinting and bacteria. Hospital-related work is also done in my lab. I am hoping that my specific research will broaden my job choices to include both ecological and lab/medical work (which I think is the direction I think I want to go anyway).
Hurdles: It’s a lot of work.
Proposed Timeline: I plan to be finished by the end of next summer (2010).
Related Goals: Publish another paper.
Other Details: I can’t focus on this one, like I do the other ones. This is just happening. I am a grad. student, end of story. I just need to make sure I stay the course and graduate.
If you want to know more about exactly what kind of research I do, just ask. Although, my Proposal Wordle does an excellent job summarizing.
Here’s some info about a book giveaway I am entering- you should also enter!
The giveaway is hosted by Reading with Tequila- a site that always has great reviews and posts very frequently. The Giveaway is for The Silent Gift by Michael Landon. You can read Reading with Tequila’s review here. It ends November 28th, so hurry up and get your butt over there.
I am going to participate in the following Book Challenge:
Copied from: At Pemberley
The Marple Poirot Holmes Challenge
This week sucks.
The beginning of next week will suck too.
I will be okay by Wednesday- I think.
I have a committee meeting on Monday. My presentation isn’t done. I have been trying to work on it all week, but I’ve gotten so many e-mails and TA related tasks that I haven’t been able to catch up- despite working on the holiday, and at night. This weekend will be consumed by preparing for my presentation. Monday evening 4pm, will be the stress peak- where I give my presentation and answer to my committee.
Then, I will begin my descent down stress mountain…the remainder of Monday and Tuesday will be dedicated to making a URM poster. If I don’t finish it Tuesday night, work will continue on Wednesday.
Once the poster is sent, I can go back to working normal hours. I will still have a lot on my plate…particular with getting my homemade Christmas gifts done before the holidays, but life should be manageable once again. I hope.
