sjoh197

Just got back from the thrift store. Scored some awesome finds... had to leave before I spent more than I was allowed to.

Also... since I feel like venting.... We got our renewal offer from our apartment complex. It was addressed only to my partner, despite both of our names being on the lease. WTF? I'm not even mentioned at all in the entire offer. Idiots. We're moving anyways... but still.

I had this problem with both undergrads and grad students. My advisor was a really great guy, but he was also no-nonsense and would call people out on their bullshit. So students would definitely try to trash talk him, and not only was it uncomfortable because I worked with him, but also because I genuinely actually liked him and thought he was a good professor, researcher, and person in general.

I was starting to worry for me too lol. I guess they just wanted to see if I would have a heart attack before coming in lol.

3 C's on your transcript really shouldn't be stopping anyone from supporting you... so long as the rest of your work is good. How are your grades going this semester? Were the C's in really important core classes? My undergrad research advisor never once asked me about grades that I made in classes other than his own. It sounds as though your relationship with your research advisor is rather awkward, and that you are intimidated by him. Whereas, my research advisor... despite being my superior, treated me as an adult and pseudo-peer. I was never at any point too intimidated to tell him of any of my shortcomings. I think you should not only ask him for a letter, but also ask him for advice. This would be a good time for you to present all of your materials... including your transcript and your c.v., along with general research ideas and where you want to go. You don't have to explicitly mention your grades...

There are, but I wasn't happy with what I was wearing and wanted a new fitting. When I was like a C or a D as a teenager, I could buy stuff online and it would fit, but once I got past E territory, there was too much going on up there for unknown online bras to work. If I like this one, I'll look for it online on sale later. Men might try to say otherwise, but big boobs suck. I feel bad for the heavier women with the really really big girls.

Well, I finally got a TA offer from UH. Don't really know much else... but I'm feeling much better about my decision to try to go to grad school.

Nope... let your nipples run free. Unless you transition into a DD+ and then it will be less about presentation and more about jugs flopping in the way of everything.

I know... I've come to mildly resent smaller chested women. The $70 bra was one of the cheapest "nice brand" ones I could find. I just didn't have the $100 to shell out for a really nice one. But once you hit the 32F mark... you can't really go to walmart or victoria secret and get a $30 bra.

Everything is expensive. (I say as I just had to spend $70 on a bra)

I started giving away some stuff, specifically to family or friends who might need it. But some of the stuff was expensive, like north face gear, and glass terrariums. I'd hate to give away stuff that I know are worth something. The worst are the tarantulas. That trade is mostly done through shipping. It's really hard to sell local.

Ugh.... I forgot how hard it is to try to sell stuff. Lol. I have been trying to sell a bunch of stuff... and all I've managed to sell are 3 tarantulas next weekend at repticon. Even worse... I've managed to find a lamp and rug that I am going to buy. I'm supposed to be selling... not buying

Whoever decided that "cracklins" sounded better than "pig skin fried in fat" was certainly ready to fool all of unsuspecting people new to the south.

Moving on to a new phase in your life is always hard. Some people take it in stride... and some people don't. So lets tackle this one point at a time. This is something that should be tackled on its own regardless of the causes. Go to your doctor. Ask for help managing your anxiety. Also read up online about ways to reduce anxiety at home. For example, getting enough sleep, going to bed and eating around the same times each day, staying hydrated, not watching anxiety inducing tv and movies, listening to peaceful music before bed... etc. This is just the classic impostor syndrome. If you look through the old threads... there are tons of people with impostor syndrome. It's a thing. You have great creds, and were selected for a reason. You are obviously good enough, or you wouldn't have gotten in to 6 fully funded programs. Shit, I still don't have funding info, and only got accepted to 1 place. This goes back to the general anxiety. So my first question is... have you actually talked to your mom and grandma about these fears? Have you sat down and told them you don't want them to be sad, and that you are really going to miss them? My mother was actually a professor at my undergrad. We would get coffee at least 3 times a week. And see each other on weekends and holidays. Now I live in a different state. I only get to see her around christmas-time. But you know what, we still talk on the phone 3-4 times a week usually. And facebook message funny things. And text each other the weird things we see throughout the week. I still feel like my Mom is my bestfriend. Our communication is just a little different now. If you are really actually close to your mom... you will find a way to remain close, even with the distance. Same with your grandma. If she's not already tech savvy... teach her before you leave. Teach her how to facetime, and how to text. Set up a time of week where you guys can typically talk. Make a schedule. This is something that only you can change. You will have to make an effort to attend functions, and meet people. Whether its through school activities, or groups like meet-up where you find people who share a hobby and then go out and do it with them. Also... maybe getting a pet would help. But that is a huge responsibility that is not to taken lightly obviously. Also... one of the quotes that I try to live by at this point in my life is that "I would rather look back on my life and regret some of the things that I've done, than look back and regret all of the things I could have done, but didn't" New stuff is scary and hard. But that is part of living and growing and a person. Do you really want to not grow as an individual, and then spend your later years wishing you had lived a different life? Things don't always work out, and everyone will have regrets, but I would rather mine not be over things that I had the power to change, but was too scared to.

Lol. All of the things you mentioned drive me nuts and I cant stand people who behave this way. However, I have found that my generation seems to have some really obnoxious problems that aren't just a matter of poor personality, but poor upbringing. The everybody wins problem. Crushing under the reality that not everyone wins at a poster contest... And that not everyone gets an A just for showing up and trying half-assedly. The my problems are more important problem. Thinking that everybody will give you some slack for your outside problems. (Most grad students have their own struggles and unless they're your bestest friend, probably just want you to stfu and pull your weight. The I'm an exception problem. Thinking that rules should be bent because you're a special little flower and rules don't apply to you. (I once saw a guy turn in a 35 page paper in a format that wasn't the very specific format layed out by the professor because "He didn't think it was a big deal, and the way he did it looked just fine." He then contested the 15 points that he lost on the project.) The my time is more important than yours problem problem. Thinking that your time is more important than other peoples time (I get that free time is important, and your social life is important. I actually believe these things. However, your Friday night booze fest isn't more important than my Friday night movie marathon. And I you have a killer party hangover on Monday from your weekend... No I'm not going to do your work.) The dogs are better than cats problem... Just kidding. This has always been a problem.

I meant a laptop and a desktop. The desktop will last you for years, and a small laptop to serve as your portable go-to. But I totally understand the not spending it upfront. Saving is always good.

Shit, with an extra $5000 you could get a decent one of both.

You guys should see my father's new laptop. It's some 8 core 64 Gb ram...bs. He's got like 6 extra hardrives connected to it at his home office, along with the 2 that are already in it. I don't even understand how it works. Lol

Yeah.... he's actually a really hardcore gamer. It's his hobby. He had his last laptop for almost 6 years. Sooooo.... I can't really fault him. And that was with an extended warranty. And a new headset and mouse.

@Danger_Zone Also don't play ME as a renegade. They misinterpreted the word renegade to mean asshole.

Basically quoting my boyfriend last summer "My computer can't play new games.... waaahhhh.... waaaaahhh.... While you're gone for the summer I'm going a buy a new $4000 laptop to play games on instead of buying you an engagement ring... waaaahh." Lol.

I've seen a mix of new and seasoned grad students do these things. It's really more of a personality thing than an experience thing. People who are disrespectful, badmouthing, surfing the web etc... tend to just be those types of people. They don't usually change. There are plenty of people in the professional world who do this too. And to be fair, I've had my fair share of tenured faculty playing on facebook on the job, badmouthing other professors, undermining the wellbeing of others in the department, dressing like the just woke up, etc. Again... its the type of person. (And sometimes these are oddly successful people)

Oh see... no. I don't play video games. In fact... the only game I do play is Starcraft as a homage to my mid 90's rearing under the guidance of my techie dad. We had an entire LAN cafe going on upstairs. Multi-station. I was only 7. However, my partner is an avid videogamer... and I could basically write reviews from the hours upon hours of mindless games I've watched. I cringe thinking of how many high-value skyrim potions I've been asked to concoct from recipes on the internet... One of the more pressing arguments my partner and I have had recently in life was over the geth vs quarian battle in mass effect 3, since he didn't import his ME2 to save them both. It took like a week for him to not be butt-hurt over it.... to the point that he re-bought ME2 just to import a truce. And Fallout 4 was lame.

Noooo.... don't play skyrim on a console. Use steam. For the love of god use steam. Also... if you like AC and Skyrim... but are new to gaming, try dragon age inquisition and the witcher 2 and 3.

My advisor always said that everyone in his group was welcome to call him John. And even after 2 years, I still couldn't bring myself to call him anything other than Dr. Smith.