How Perfect

Tonight I was held up at work, which is not to say I was upset about being there. Tonight marked the end of one of the groups at work and the last night is always great. Unfortunately, however, as things always seem to have a way of lining up, with all of the shifting around on our end, and the choice made on theirs, the Phillies had their first game of the playoff tonight.

I was upset to be missing it, but I had a decent amount of time while commuting to the place to follow the game on my phone. Little did I know that when I came out after the group that not only with there be a 0 in the runs column, but also a 0 in the hits column. How could it be that not only do I miss game 1, but I missed watching a no-hitter be pitched for only the second time in baseball history in the post season. It's upsetting to know that such an event transpired when I was unable to see it happening. I wouldn't say I am mad because the last group session was really amazing and I am so glad I was there. There is also the consolation that, while I missed it, it still happened, and the Phils are still up 1-0 in the series with Roy round 2 coming to the mound tomorrow night.

Go Phils!

Settling In, Looking Forward

I made a whole list of "to dos" today while waiting to meet with someone. On there I wrote, "set goals/next step in career plans." I have officially moved into the next third of my stint here at Drexel. This portion of my job will be spent working out goals for things I want to have done or been involved with before June. These things will be shaped by and help shape the other part of this third which is looking for my next job. Hopefully between the two goals, by the time the third trimester of this occupation roles around I will be able to be narrowing down places to apply and starting interviews.

Rain Like Snow

There was expected to be a crazy amount of rain today. Apparently much of it is still to come. Watching the weather for tomorrow, the map of the area showed rain in inches. The storm is to be worse the further you get from the city. The Philadelphia area is expected to get over 2 inches of rain. The more immediate suburbs are expected to see 3-5 inches, and the next layer 6-10. These numbers look more like a prediction of snow fall. I don't remember the exact ratio of snow-rain but I believe its 3 or 4 times the amount meaning that if this were a snow fall it would be a blizzard.

After an interesting day which caused me to work from home, I spent some time working out a list of everything I need to accomplish tomorrow. At the end of said newscast the anchor made sure to mention SEPTA. I had already predicted problems to a friend in jest but apparently this is no joke. The Paoli/Thorndale line is already suspended. While SEPTA has said they expect it to be running in the morning, they also said that several other lines are expected to be effected by the storm. The anchor ended the segment by saying, "If you typically utilize the Regional Rail to get to work, you should consider other options." Because I am without a car (which I hope to explain tomorrow) I worked out a way to get a ride to the train. Now that might not even be useful.

I am crossing my fingers that tomorrow when I wake up, like so many times as a child I found that no snow even fell by the next morning, the sun will be out and the streets will be dry.

What Do You Do?

That question always gets me. To most people I will answer to, the simple response of "Research Coordinator" is not enough. If someone comes up and says, I'm a doctor, I'm a lawyer, etc. it is not met with further questions, typically. The term is common enough and conjures up a familiar enough image that most people won't ask for futher clarificaition. Someone more interested or more familiar with the field might want to know what type of medicine or law the person is involved with, but it's more rare.

For myself, I find that I am asked the following question next, "What does that mean, exactly?" or, "So, what do you do?" The latter of the questions is not a sign of a lack of competence or hearing capability but instead the persons more literal intention of the phrase as opposed to the initial context. Again, explaining to a person what I do is not easy. I can explain the big picture study, or I can explain the population, but that is only a percentage of my job. Often times I find myself responding with something like, "Something different every day," or, "So many different things, it's really hard to narrow down." The truth is that for anyone, even a doctor, or a lawyer, people who are rarely asked for further clarification, explaining what they do on a daily basis is impossible in 20 words or less. The amount of tasks a person does under the job title can exceed hours of conversation. For some, a few major responsibilities can still sum it up. For others, however, finding that right set of sentences is not easy.

We go to work every day. We know our jobs, we know what needs to be done. It's funny how trying to explain what we do when we are there can be so difficult to articulate.

New Phone, New Pics

Today went well. Testing ran smoothly, despite missing a few minor things. I was able to strategically avoid some traffic on the way home, and arrived to see my brand new iPhone waiting for me.

Of course I have been setting it up/playing with it all night. Of the 32gb of space it has, I am down to 1. That is after downloading a slew of apps, copying over 4,000 songs and 3 movies. I will most likely amend this list soon.

Picture quality is indescribable. The 'Tree of Life' image from The Fountain is making an incredible background to the phone.

Courtesy of a new app, today's picture has a bit of age to it.

400th Post!

Somewhere on this blog exists 399 posts. It's amazing that I have written that many times on here. For those of you who continue to check from time to time, I hope this has not been too dull. I don't lead an incredibly interesting life. I think I used to write more interesting blogs but my job and daily routine are so tiring that I find myself wanting to be in bed by 9 pm. I remember I used to see this in my older sister and wonder how anyone could be so inactive. Now, I find myself asking the same question but in the mirror.

I definitely was not made to work the 9-5 life. I am hoping to get involved in some things this fall. They will both make my life, and hopefully this blog, more exciting.

I spent a majority of this weekend working on a paper. A paper? Yes, despite graduating a few months ago, my weekend was spent splitting time between band practice and a paper. Feels like a standard college weekend to me. I am submitting this paper-proposal to be presented at the national psychological and legal conference held in March. This year it is an international conference and that means two things. Getting in is harder, but getting in looks even better. I am submitting research on potential jurors perceptions of risk factors that could lead a juvenile to giving a false confession. The false confession rate for juveniles is scary. It is really an interesting area and I love my research. The paper is due to the grad student overseeing the project tomorrow and then to my boss next week. Official submissions are in September. Acceptance means a huge booster to my resume, experience, and a free vacation of sorts to Miami Beach. Yes on all accounts, please.

Band practice went incredible well this weekend. After a dilemma of losing our drummer, potentially having to drop the show, cancel practice and can the reunion, we were able to enlist my drummer from high school to fill in. He came up with his kit from DC to practice with us and it was a lot of fun. It was the first time a band has practiced in there in 5 years - wow! It felt like it had been only week. The show is this saturday at a BYOB swim club party.

This is definitely a very very busy time for me right now. Work is in overdrive with assessments, this paper-proposal is a big deal, and the show this weekend is right around the corner. September is now not only looking nice as a break from the heat but also a break from the work. Hopefully, if things die down and I really feel comfortable with the day-to-day I can stick to the plan of finding a clinical setting to volunteer my Saturdays. Fingers crossed!

(As I am sure I have mentioned on here before, I always find a way to be really productive doing anything else when I have pressing work due. Today I spent my day cleaning out the pantry and refrigerator of foods we don't ever eat/were stale/had expired. Here is a picture of condiments I removed from the door of the refrigerator. This was not all of them. Yeesh!)

Time To Shine

Tomorrow I have to test at the facility where I work. I have observed enough and have been deemed prepared enough to conduct the testing on my own under observation. I am a little nervous. Fingers crossed!

Money!

I got paid today. And so ends the ongoing saga of unintentionally volunteering for Drexel.

The Aftermath of The Storm

So after last night's rant about how things really hit the fan all at once, today has passed. Surprisingly, I have made it unscathed.

Today I got the testing done and was back in the office by 1:30. We did not have to test all of the girls, but the traffic was bad enough that I decided to not make the trip to NY today. My dad got my uncle (his brother) to go to the golf tourney with him, and I got to get home early.

That was the good news.

I still have not been paid. I got back to the office to the good news of "We can leave at 2pm." With only 3o minutes to spare I quickly inquired about my paycheck. An hour later, after finally reaching someone at payroll, we were given this message "I was really busy and just did not get to it. I apologize but there is nothing I can do now. Cutting a check is a 3 department process and it is after 2 pm on a holiday weekend Friday. No one is here to do that for you. We should definitely have you a check next week." That last part was apparently supposed to be encouraging. Unfortunately, the word 'should' after 6 weeks of work keeps that sentence from meaning anything other than "I can't give you an answer that is at all definitive."

Luckily my mom is kind enough to lend me enough cash to make it through the weekend. I literally, other wise, would not have had enough cash to pay for gas. I actually dont even have enough money to afford a weekly train pass for work next week. I wish I could use that as an excuse and stay home, but I have too much to do.

At this point I am absolutely astounded at the incompetency. First my last name coming up twice in their system was too confusing (imagine enrollment and common last names). Second I am now told that, despite the urgency of the situation (an employee is owed 110 hours of back pay) our payroll contact was too busy this week to get to paying me. I can't imagine, and hope that this happens anywhere else. Sheesh.

The Perfect Storm

Tomorrow somehow compounded rather terribly. Somehow, the university found a way to get confused over two people submitting paperwork at the same time with the same last name. Despite the fact that one is male and one is female, two separate addresses, and one was applying as a student, one as an employee - they still were unable to get past this. 6 weeks after my first day and I have not been paid a dime. I love my job, and I say that a lot on here. It helps a lot when something like this happens.

I am assured that a paycheck should be made for me tomorrow. Tomorrow, however is not the typical pay day, as they are a biweekly system and we are at the off week. I was told if I checked online, it would listed the pay check that I would be picking up tomorrow. There is nothing online. By the time I found this out, there was no one around to inform.

On Tuesday I agreed to go test at the facility this Friday (tomorrow). My plan was to head to NY and if I could leave from testing, I would already be an hour into my trip and that would mean out of the city to avoid the congestion of traffic on a holiday weekend.

My dad called me Wednesday to ask if I could get time off to come to watch Tiger play at the golf tourney that is in our area tomorrow to which he somehow got passes to. The day of the passes: Friday. I found out that he had asked all of his friends, but on such short notice, no one could get off on a Holiday weekend. He called me figuring I could, and hoping that to be the case as the result of a no would mean going alone or not going at all. Unfortunately he was a day too late and I already committed to testing.

By volunteering for testing, and after realizing that I may not actually get paid tomorrow, I need to follow up with accounts during the day to make sure I have money in my bank account by the end of business tomorrow. Unfortunately, again, I will be offsite testing. At the facility I cannot bring in my cell phone, and if I leave, I have to go through security again. With this being a holiday weekend, even if we get out at 3:30, the people I need to talk to about getting paid may already be gone. Additionally, I may not make it back to the office in time to even pick up the check. You see, since this is my first check (after 6 weeks) it is a physical check. Only after the first will they do direct deposit.

You know what that means. I have to drive back into Philadelphia tomorrow after heading an hour towards NY, so that I can pick up my check because otherwise I literally won't be able to afford the gas to get me home. I am that broke.

Why am I that broke? Because 6 weeks ago when I was convinced to not bother financing my computer, I had the money then, I was sold on the idea that yes I would be down to a couple hundred dollars initially. But I also had my Go Trip coming up where I would not be spending any money for a week. By the time I returned, my first check would be waiting for me and it would replenish my funds.

I spent all of my graduation money on my Trip cost and the computer and 6 weeks later I have almost no money to my name. You know what that means. If I do not get paid tomorrow, and having no one to contact anyone to force them to write me a check by any means necessary, I will be unable to even go to NY for 4th of July weekend. With no NY trip, there would be no reason to volunteer to test in NJ tomorrow to make myself closer to my destination. Had I not volunteered I could have been around to sit down with people at payroll and finalize things. I also would have been able to go to the golf tourney with my dad.

So, somehow, everything converged on this day leaving everything up in the air, me broke, my dad without a friend to go to the golf match tomorrow, my friends in NY unable to make plans since they do not know if and when I will be coming, etc. etc. It's both incredibly frustrating and impressive at how much this situation is total FUBAR. Sheesh.

Getting Better

Today was much better than yesterday. Camp, MS, the kids - they're all still on my mind constantly. But things picked up a bit. I was more motivated, it was a nicer day and I just felt better.

Today Alex and Maria were back and to make up for yesterday I went to them for breakfast and lunch. Total bill - 6.60. Where else are you going to get a freshly made egg sandwich and coffee and later a freshly made chicken parmesan for that cheap? I actually think it might be cheaper than eating at home and bringing lunch. This part of my day definitely was helpful. Also the commute in the morning, as I had to drive, went well. They day of work was filled and positive and meeting up with old co-workers afterwards was a really nice close.

I got to spend some time with a good friend and my sister, picked up a bookshelf as part of the basement transformation that will hopefully be occurring soon, and I got to talk with some of my GO! team members.

Nothing overly special really happened, but I still felt like today was a big improvement over yesterday. Let's hope tomorrow continues that progression. If all goes well, the Thank You cards will be finished tomorrow and I will post about camp.

Goodnight.

Troubles

Today, while continuously boasting the new features of my brand new MBP, my mom's computer did just the opposite. Without moving, without touching anything, she was faced with the infamous Blue-Screen-Of-Death. After running several diagnostics, the computer found nothing wrong. We shut it off, and came back to it a bit later. Restarting apparently was all it needed. Maybe it was a temporary glitch in how it started up. Hopefully it is nothing more. Regardless, she now has made several mentions about how it would be nice if she could afford to buy herself something like I have.

I do not pity a woman who is able to support a family, own a car, own a house, and put food on the table. This is especially true after her remark yesterday of, "once you pay for the train, and health care, you won't be making anything. What are you going to do?" I'm going to enjoy my job, and take advantage of my opportunities within it. I love going to work, and I love what I am doing. It' so much and it is absolutely overwhelming, but I wouldn't trade it. I was added to a paper being submitted for review today. This means I am getting co-authored, aka published. It's my third week. I was just asked to co-author a manuscript that I will begin working on at the end of the summer. These are in addition to getting credit for writing a grant later this year, and speaking at a national psych conference next March. So - that's what I am going to do. And I cannot wait!

2 Down

Today completed my training, my cushion, my safety net. Today we said good bye to Meghann. She was an incredible help and guide and made my first two weeks at this job amazing. We really got along well and I loved the natural feeling to it all - it was as if we'd always worked together. Unfortunately, for both of us as we admitted, the only reason I was even there was because she inevitably would not be.

That time has come. When the work week starts again things get real. The entire department - the undergrads and the experiences they'll gain, need and use for their careers, as well as the grad students and the studies, the treatment, and the research they are conducting, and the overall product for Naomi all fall into my hands.

I don't think it has hit me yet, and I don't know if being there alone Tuesday will do that or not. What I do know is I am, in theory, ready and excited. Let's see how it goes.

Mississippi in 1 week!!!

Aaaand ...SOLD!

I made my mac purchase today. Due in sometime next week. I cannot wait.

In other news, my RAs set off the fire alarm today causing the entire 13 story office building to evacuate. I was out to lunch with the person I am replacing. When we came back we walked in and were immediately told to close the door behind us. Then came the story.

"We had a fire alarm"

"Well that's the whole story, way to ruin it."

(false- only 1 small part of the story)

"Well, while she was in the bathroom, I decided to make my Mac & Cheese. When mine finished, I started to make hers. As I was putting it in the microwave she came back. About one minute in, something started to smell terrible. When I looked back to the microwave I notice it was all cloudy. I opened it and...well...it was filled with smoke. I took the easy mac container out and put it in the sink and filled it with water - this caused even more smoke, and then the alarm went of. We all had to evacuate the building. The firemen and police came- they questioned a bunch of people. At one point I overheard someone say 'I heard it was girls on the 10th floor' and just started to laugh."

Turns out, in being distracted with the other girl coming back, the first did not remember to fill the easy mac bowl with water. The seasoning lit on fire and that is that. A building full of faculty and other staff, 13 stories tall, on a 90 degree day, was forced to evacuate - meaning taking the stairs. This cuased me to remember being annoyed at a firetruck driving by during lunch (we ate outside). Yes, this truck was on it way to our building because of my RAs.

We laughed about it most of the afternoon.

Oh, and our floor is now without a microwave. Maybe because its broken. I think its punishment. The old - if you can't use it properly, you don't deserve to have it.

(courtesy of the 10th floor psychology lab)

Round 2

Wanted to be in bed 30 minutes ago. Thanks to the Flyers game, which was ultimately upsetting but extremely engaging through and through, I am running behind.

To be brief: this is going to be a pretty intense week. I am running the position, supervised, having the ability to ask questions but starting to do things on my own. Week starts with 3 interviews and 2 meetings all tomorrow. I am excited.

Finished My First Week

It seems like graduation and finals were more than a week ago. This past week has been absolutely packed to the gills. I realized tonight that I have not gotten more than 6 hours of sleep in 2 weeks now. No wonder I was closing my eyes at work. That is to be no commentary on the job.

Regardless, its 11 pm on a Friday night at the end of my first week and I am too exhausted to tell you about it. Take that how you'd like. Let me know when I wake up.

Memorial Day/Graduation Party tomorrow! (just found out its being catered - bummed by the lack of grilling, pumped about the lessening of work/prep).

(the job has many perks - getting to walk passed City Hall as a backdrop for Love Park is one of them. Beautiful area.)

Where Will It Go?

I have a lot of stuff. People who know me are aware of this. Recently I occupied an apartment in NY for a year. Moving back into my parents' house has posed several problems in regard to this stuff. It was difficult enough to find places for everything from my dorm room. Now, I have an apartment's worth of stuff to fit into this house somewhere. Clothes alone do not fit - then there is boxes of books and lamps, music equipment, etc.

Oh and did I mention there is a time line on it. Every night this week so far I have had stuff to do. Tonight I did not get back home until 10:30. We have a Memorial Day party this Saturday in the afternoon. Somehow between after work tomorrow and the party I have to totally put away everything from NY as well as help prep the house for the party.

In other breaking news - I have 90 dollars left the in bank. It costs 10 dollars a day to get into the city by train. My car inspection is scheduled for next Tuesday and I also need an oil change. Because I don't start working on the books until next week and it is a bi-weekly pay schedule I am really wondering how this is going to work out.

Sleepy

This no-time-off is going to kill me if I don't start making smarter decisions about bed times and such. That is why I am going to NY tomorrow after work for a concert. Smart.

Endings

I think, with new birth comes ends as well.

That theory or philosophy has been stated in so many ways before and I agree with it. It is, at the very least, an optimistic way to think about endings. These ends can instead be seen as mere changes in life and lifestyle.

There have been varying levels of ends recently. As far as TV goes, and for anyone who knows me - this is significant on some level - Lost and 24, as series, have ended. Lost was beautiful. As any bold ending it - it provokes questions, controversy, hatred, and love. And I think that is how the show always was - a mixture of those, sometimes all within one person. But LOST in it's ending returned to what it was from the beginning - a story about people, finding themselves, and each other, regardless of the circumstances or obstacles the world had in store for them. For the first time in a while, LOST made me feel for the characters and care about what was happening to them, and it did so for 2 and a half hours straight - something it has not done in a while. There are plenty of other sites, and blogs, and analysts out there to delve into this more.

24 has had many its rough moments. A show that came on so strong, hit a road block in its 6th season - really teetering on the edge of ruining its legacy. It took a year off to 'find' itself and came back with a 7th season that was more high powered, more action packed, and probably more farfetched than any of the previous seasons. It was an improvement on the 6th and still entertaining to watch. In season 8, the writers took a step back. They realized how absolutely bizare the show had become in its action and toned it down. Full episodes would occur, this year, without a single physical violent act. It was never a show that functioned on a high level of acting skills or dialogue, and this was apparent, but the effort was notable.

Season 8 was not the best but it was still a very good season. It had plenty of bumps, but in the end, its finale, the farwell to the series - one that literally changed television forever (and for the better) it left me, and I assume most fans, extremely satisfied. It did not need to end on an assassination or city explosions. A show that was born out of action, ended on drama and it did so successfully. The emotional tension on screen tonight and the final scenes between the leads in the show really were prime. I could not be happier with the final hours of such a phenomenon.

TV will be different. The two biggest powerhouses (reality tv doesnt count and so you won't hear me praising American Idol despite its viewership) have come to a close. The two shows that dominated conversations in regard to tv shows for most of the decade are now over. It's been wild rides for both and I don't feel at all lacking in their departure.

Another and more life significant ending came this week with the end of my college career. This post, however, is too long and I am not quite ready to reflect on that yet. Let's just say that with endings - despite the difficulty in letting go - there comes new opportunities, change, and progress. Today was my first day of work. Looking ahead, at this week alone, I am in for a real increase in pace. Summer vacation, free time, weekly days off - things of the past. But this new adventure is one I am not only ready for, but excited for. Tomorrow is day 2.

New Beginnings

I'd write more but my internet is not being too kind. Simply - I am home. College has ended. My first day of work starts in 9 hours. Wish me luck!