Finding my inter-niche

So, I haven't updated in a while.

This is partially because I've been busy and partially because I feel a little trapped by this blog.

What do I mean?

First off, the name of the blog. Je me souviens is French for "I remember." Which just kinda sets you out with this back-looking persona right from the beginning. I don't want to write like that, to be like that. I want to have a more positive forward-looking blog.

Which means a new name.

Secondly, I need an inter-niche. What does this mean? This is a tacky mash-up of the words internet and niche. And it is something I need. Anna has her mommy-blog theme, the Amys have their recently married blogs, Kelly has her fashion stuff, and I can't seem to find the appropriate place for what I want to write about.

I want to post about current (often international) events and what I think about them, throw in theory occasionally, some art/design stuff from time to time, creative writing, and life-related things (like trying to get into grad school or survive my VISTA service).

I just don't know what that looks like, or what a good name for that would be.

Ideas? How did everyone else come up with their names/internet personas?

update de vie

Duke and Michigan State apps are due by tomorrow. I submitted the Duke app over the break, but I will be working feverishly all day to get the Michigan State stuff submitted.

Friday I visit St. Louis to look at Wash U. Anyone know someone up there I could stay the night with so I can save money I would otherwise have to spend on a hotel?

Oh yeah. And yesterday was my birthday. 23. Woohoo!

Something long and thoughtful, coming soon ...

Camera?

Hey you. Yes, you. All of you.

With the photography hobby.

What camera/brand would be the best average of good and cheap?

Thanks!

New Addition to the Family

So, this is my new baby:



It's an HP Deskjet 3050 3-in-1 thing. So far, I love it. It's really convenient because it's wireless, so I can be sitting downstairs on the couch with my laptop and hit print and the document will magically appear in the tray upstairs.

I may or may not have done this for fun over the last few days.

(It also freaks out the dogs. I'm so mean.)

Anyway, he needs a name and I am drawing a blank. I've never named a printer before, so there's no precedent. My laptop is Scheherezade. My phone is Batman. Ipod is Damon.

Suggestions?

In other news:

-John is coming into town later today--will have to let everyone know if we do anything interesting.

-Most of the time not taken up by work is filled with applications. Will be ready to have those behind me.

-I'm trying to finish the last two Harry Potter books in time to see the new movie in theatres. Almost done with one of them, not sure how much more time I will need.

... and that's about it.

Help me name my printer!

Looking forward to November

Well, apparently October happened. Not that you would know from reading this blog.

(It's a little amusing that the more there is going on the less time/incentive there is to actually write about it--for not having any posts all month, it was actually insanely busy.)

I helped organize and run a conference on community-campus partnerships with nationally recognized speakers, took an impromptu late-night road trip to St. Louis just for kicks, attended two weddings, started filling out applications, and ironed out the basics of my statement of purpose. To name a few.

And now we are on the cusp of November, my favoritest month.

My favoritest month that will probably stress me out beyond belief before rewarding me with food and presents in the last few days.

I'm assuming from the e-silence that everyone else has had a busy October, too. Highlights?

Transitions to Adulthood: Maturity

So ... I've always been a little more mature than my contemporaries. Generally. Maybe. This could probably be argued, but go along with me.

As a result, I've kinda always looked forward to becoming an adult and interacting with other mature people. Being mature together. Doing mature things. Talking maturely about the news. You get the picture. I assumed that people grew up when they grew up.

And then today a man in his 40s with two kids pulled the office equivalent of telling the teacher.

It wasn't even really tattling, because I didn't do anything wrong--he dropped the ball and then went over my head to get his version of events (where it looks like I did something wrong) in with the Bossman first.

Seriously?

Just steal my toy or rub dirt in my hair. Sheesh.

Is this the Real World I've heard so much about?

Not impressed.

And September went ... where, exactly?

I have been so insanely busy, it's not even funny.

When they told me this job was a 24/7 kinda affair, I thought they meant 24/7 in the same way my old resident advisor position was: you know, the wink-wink-nudge-nudge-you-are-technically-working-but-you-can-sleep kinda thing.

And, while I haven't gotten calls in the middle of the night to let people into their rooms like I used to, this position has kept my days completely full. Which is a blessing and a curse, I suppose. More blessing or more curse depending upon the specific task at hand.

Anyway, all that to say that while I wish I had blogged more this month, there really hasn't been much (of interest) going on outside work.

The grad school search continues. The list of schools that was final a while back was not, it turns out, very final after all. Only a few of those schools are still up for consideration and a few more have been added to the list. I'm eventually going to have to just decide on a few to apply to and see how it goes, because I can't keep searching or I'll miss the boat.


Right now the list goes something like this:

Washington University (PhD)

Duke (PhD)

University of Florida (PhD)

American University (PhD)

Michigan State (PhD)

University of Montana (PhD)

University of Arizona (MA)

George Washington University (MA)

University of Memphis (MA)


That's probably still not final, though. And it may shift around some. Duke and UF got added to the list because I found out I have contacts there. I think most of the others are old. Still really debating on whether or not to apply to Memphis--I'm sure I could get in and get fully funded, but I am reeeally ready to leave.

I think that's about it. I wish I had something more interesting to talk about, but I can't think of anything. I'll try to do better with my updates.