I'm stalling right now. I should be writing my paper, but I've hit a temporary mental block, so I'm writing this to 1. kill time, 2. relieve stress and 3. bitch, whine and complain. The professor that went mean is my Literary Theory and Criticism teacher. She gave us one week to write a 7 page research paper with four outside sources. That's just plain mean, but it gets worse. Every student in the class is doing their paper on the same poet. This means major competition over library s...

I have to make this quick or I'll be late to class, but I had to tell everyone: I've been accepted to the University of Arkansas! After all that panicking, and anger at not being responded to, I finally got an email from their director of graduate studies. He apologized for the wait, but said he was trying to wait until he knew something definite about an assistantship. It will be a few weeks more before I know if I got one or not (fingers and toes crossed) but at least I'm in the pro...

I've been having a pretty sucky day to put it mildly. I really wasn't in the mood to leave my research papers and German study to go to a pointless staff meeting, and that's the least of my problems. But, of course, I go because it is my job. I have to go... but I don't have to go with a smile. I walk in, sit down, and start writing. I pretty much ignore everyone and everything. Someone asks, "Jai? You okay?" Without looking up, I wave them away and say, "I'm fine" That should be e...

I hate when I get in these moods. I mean, really, really hate these moods. It doesn't happen very often, but it happens often enough to bug me. I want to get married. I want to have kids. And I want it to happen soon. Seems like most of my friends are either 1. married, 2. having kids, 3. engaged, 4. in a relationship where an engagement is immanent. I know I'm not the only single gal out there, and I realize that 23 is not that old (despite what some well-meaning older peop...

Yes, I'm back after my much needed break. Here's what you've missed: I went to Tennessee on Thursday. Met with the director of graduate studies on Friday. Was back at home by 3am on Saturday. Lots and lots and lots of driving. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the school or program. According to the grad student I met with, the "sense of community" I was expecting is fairly non-existent. This makes me sad. Plus, the town was big, scary and 3/4 of it is under construction. I'm no...

I don't usually type in all caps but MY SPRING BREAK JUST STARTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so very happy right now. I have been so stressed out lately. This break is just what I needed. I'm going to blow off some steam with friends tonight, go home, see my folks, relax, go visit UTK, and do some homework. I wish I didn't have homework to do, but I'll deal. I gotta have something to do with my time anyway, might as well do some research. I won't have internet for the next week,...

Yes, I am, indeed the Queen of the Klutz People. Allow me to explain: I have four visible scars from curling irons. I have three visible scars from hot glue guns. I have two scars across my fingers from shutting my fingers in a car door. I have a slice across another finger where I deeply cut my finger with a butter knife while attempting to slice a lime. (guess why) I have a 3 inch scar on my leg where I cut my leg shaving in the ninth grade. I have a lovely scar where I burned an...

As you may have read, I got my acceptance letter into graduate school on Friday. That was one of the happiest moments in my life. I squealed, I jumped, I did a happy dance in the middle of Old Navy. Tonight, however, is a slightly different story. It hit me first when I was talking to my dad about taking a trip to Tennessee's campus. We were trying to figure out if my parents would take the day off, or if I would. Then, dad said, "Well, maybe two days. It is a, what, 8, 9 hour trip...

The letter came today to my parents house. My mom called my cell phone to tell me I had been accepted into the Graduate program at the University of Tennessee! And, if my mom read the letter correctly, I was also given an assistantship. If she didn't read it correctly, I'm on the wait list for an assistantship... which means if someone turns theirs down, I get their spot. Either way, I'm thrilled right now. I've been waiting since December to hear about this. I GOT INTO GRADUATE SCHOO...

This has been, quite literally, the week from hell. And it's only Tuesday. First, I got sick on Sunday. Cold turned sinus infection and ear infection. I can't breathe, I feel as though my head is going to explode, my throat is ripped to shreds, and my lungs are filling with fluid. Ok, so it may not be that bad... but that's how I feel. Next, school is piling crap on me. I had a test on Monday, a paper due today, a test on Wednesday, a paper due Thursday and two papers due Friday. ...