We've wined, we've waited, now it's time to celebrate 2016

[MarineBluePsy]

On 5/27/2016 at 5:34 AM, sjoh197 said:

It's not the campus station... its the stations I have to get off at in between. Unfortunately, there's no bus that runs directly from campus to anywhere near my house. 

I think it would be nice to be able to use public transit... but I don't know who to actually talk to about the safety of the stations. At least the train station is actually on the edge of campus property and only transfers in the middle of downtown which is pretty safe. IDK.... just can't decide if I should just drive. It's not like the public transit is free, so I'd still be paying $1.20 a day to get to and from campus. 

Your campus doesn't offer discounted passes or have your school ID act as a pass on the city bus there?  I've actually never heard of a University that doesn't strongly suggest students use the city bus and they often tack on a discounted bus fee into your semester fees so you can just flash your ID.  Less pushy ones make the fee optional and you have to some office pay it and then get a sticker to add to your ID to then act as a bus pass.

As for the safety issue, does your campus have any kind of forum where students can post questions?  If so post on there asking other women how they feel taking the bus at night.

12 hours ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

I sure hope things are going better for you guys...

I took my cat to the vet two weeks ago because he has had an upper respiratory issue ever since the shelter found him 3 months ago. I adopted him three weeks ago, and he has only gotten worse since. He's seen three rounds of antibiotics and dewormer, also a nutritional supplement for herpes, but there's no reason why he would possibly be getting worse. I can't afford to do much more for him, and he's only a kitten. He keeps coughing up mucus and his eyes are so watery that he has tears running down his face constantly... and is sneezing once every few minutes. I don't know what to do...

But this takes the cake. I've been kind of homesick as of late, so I've funneled all of my anxiety and sadness into making a box to send back home. My mom's and sister's birthday is in a couple weeks (June 7 for both) and also Father's Day. I spent probably two weeks preparing a box that I was going to ship tomorrow. I splurged and bought two locally made paintings for my mom and sister and got nice wooden frames for them both, along with a nice book for my sister. I also filled a box with awesome car cleaning supplies for my dad, and outfitted the box with a chain and padlock so he can't open it until he gets his new car. I included a couple of cat toys for my parents' cats (one is a really nice cat bed), and also a host of other goodies like pure maple syrup, maple cream, and maple candy. I had it all packed in a cardboard box and made a WalMart run to get some more tape before I take it to the post office tomorrow.

I got back from Walmart to find standing water in my bedroom. It had rained all day and must've come in through my air conditioner which is installed on my ceiling (even though I'm on the first floor of a three-story building). It completely soaked the box and everything inside of it. The paintings (including frames) and book are completely ruined, and the maple candy dissolved into the water. And the best part is that my renters' insurance does not begin until June 1, so there's nothing I can do about it.

Add that to the fact that I have a constant insect infestation in my apartment that my landlord won't do anything about, and I'm really having a rough go of it.

Did you just say cat's get herpes?  As in cat herpes?!  I'll admit I'm not a fan of pets and one my biggest irritations is their need to wipe their filthy rears on everything.  But those rears could also have herpes on them?!  This is so much grosser than I thought.  So many years from now if you all read about some 103 year old lady that lives alone, never married, has no friends, and spends her time screaming at the neighbors to keep the cat herpes out of her yard....that'll be me.

As for your apartment.....good grief!  Since your landlord isn't doing much have you found out what department enforces tenant rights?  They could give you advice on your options and also inform you of what your landlord should be doing about the water leaking and the bugs.

[sjoh197]

2 hours ago, MarineBluePsy said:

Your campus doesn't offer discounted passes or have your school ID act as a pass on the city bus there?  I've actually never heard of a University that doesn't strongly suggest students use the city bus and they often tack on a discounted bus fee into your semester fees so you can just flash your ID.  Less pushy ones make the fee optional and you have to some office pay it and then get a sticker to add to your ID to then act as a bus pass.

As for the safety issue, does your campus have any kind of forum where students can post questions?  If so post on there asking other women how they feel taking the bus at night.

Did you just say cat's get herpes?  As in cat herpes?!  I'll admit I'm not a fan of pets and one my biggest irritations is their need to wipe their filthy rears on everything.  But those rears could also have herpes on them?!  This is so much grosser than I thought.  So many years from now if you all read about some 103 year old lady that lives alone, never married, has no friends, and spends her time screaming at the neighbors to keep the cat herpes out of her yard....that'll be me.

As for your apartment.....good grief!  Since your landlord isn't doing much have you found out what department enforces tenant rights?  They could give you advice on your options and also inform you of what your landlord should be doing about the water leaking and the bugs.

Cat herpes is the equivalent of the human flu, not an std.

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

4 hours ago, MarineBluePsy said:

 

Did you just say cat's get herpes?  As in cat herpes?!  I'll admit I'm not a fan of pets and one my biggest irritations is their need to wipe their filthy rears on everything.  But those rears could also have herpes on them?!  This is so much grosser than I thought.  So many years from now if you all read about some 103 year old lady that lives alone, never married, has no friends, and spends her time screaming at the neighbors to keep the cat herpes out of her yard....that'll be me.

As for your apartment.....good grief!  Since your landlord isn't doing much have you found out what department enforces tenant rights?  They could give you advice on your options and also inform you of what your landlord should be doing about the water leaking and the bugs.

Yes, but cat herpes doesn't really mean much. Life span is the same, it just means they are more prone to respiratory issues (mine has a chronic respiratory infection, apparently). Also, about a third of all cats actually have cat herpes if they've been through a shelter at any point in time... I didn't know any of these things and had the same reaction as you

Yeah, I definitely yelled at my landlord this morning. I was up literally all night because of all the damn spiders all over my place.

[MarineBluePsy]

2 hours ago, sjoh197 said:

Cat herpes is the equivalent of the human flu, not an std.

Ok so that's still gross, but less gross I guess.  Why can't they call it feline flu or something?  I swear if they released that term over the media it would create mass hysteria.

32 minutes ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

Yes, but cat herpes doesn't really mean much. Life span is the same, it just means they are more prone to respiratory issues (mine has a chronic respiratory infection, apparently). Also, about a third of all cats actually have cat herpes if they've been through a shelter at any point in time... I didn't know any of these things and had the same reaction as you

Yeah, I definitely yelled at my landlord this morning. I was up literally all night because of all the damn spiders all over my place.

Geez it seems like vets would have come up with something to fix this by now.  Then again I say the same thing about pneumonia.  It is utterly ridiculous how much money and time is spent on something like Viagra, yet people still die from pneumonia.  

As for your spiders, you'll still need an exterminator if you're dealing with an infestation....but you can trap and drown them with vinegar.  Get a bunch of little glass jars, fill half way with white vinegar and place them in every corner.  The smell intrigues them, but they don't realize its a liquid so they fall in and drown.  Change the jars every couple of days as needed.

[sjoh197]

1 hour ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

Yeah, I definitely yelled at my landlord this morning. I was up literally all night because of all the damn spiders all over my place.

I just got 2 new spiders this morning. After selling our entire collection but one. 

 

[Cat_Robutt]

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny I'm so sorry.... how are you holding up? I wish I could offer you a place to stay  Is there anything we can do to help you other than using @sjoh197's terrifying big spiders to eat your apartment's spiders?

We have made our first leg of the move! And it's not going super well. My pard's parents are major hoarders. Like, every available surface has random shit on it. They didn't even bother to pretend to tidy up for our stay. I've spent literally all day today cleaning and am feeling super grumpy––I don't want to think they are taking advantage of us because every time we visit, we fix things/paint things/tidy up, but it feels suspiciously like that. And it's so weird because they have all this money and time to make things nice (one's an associate dean and the other is a stay-at-homer), but they expect so much of us: I hosted Thanksgiving in our tiny-ass one room apartment for the past two years; I hosted them for our wedding; I repainted rooms in their house...and yet I still feel my pard's mother disapproves of me because I was the atheist tattooed masculine liberal harlot who stole her child. Argh! 

I'm just venting, and hopefully it will get better, but damn this family unit is dysfunctional. They're even more fucked up than my family unit, and that's saying something.

Anyway, there's a wine festival tomorrow, so Ima just get sloshed and take it from there.

 

[sjoh197]

39 minutes ago, Cat_Robutt said:

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny I'm so sorry.... how are you holding up? I wish I could offer you a place to stay  Is there anything we can do to help you other than using @sjoh197's terrifying big spiders to eat your apartment's spiders?

We have made our first leg of the move! And it's not going super well. My pard's parents are major hoarders. Like, every available surface has random shit on it. They didn't even bother to pretend to tidy up for our stay. I've spent literally all day today cleaning and am feeling super grumpy––I don't want to think they are taking advantage of us because every time we visit, we fix things/paint things/tidy up, but it feels suspiciously like that. And it's so weird because they have all this money and time to make things nice (one's an associate dean and the other is a stay-at-homer), but they expect so much of us: I hosted Thanksgiving in our tiny-ass one room apartment for the past two years; I hosted them for our wedding; I repainted rooms in their house...and yet I still feel my pard's mother disapproves of me because I was the atheist tattooed masculine liberal harlot who stole her child. Argh! 

I'm just venting, and hopefully it will get better, but damn this family unit is dysfunctional. They're even more fucked up than my family unit, and that's saying something.

Anyway, there's a wine festival tomorrow, so Ima just get sloshed and take it from there.

 

That really sucks with your pards parents. We like to call those kinds of people f-in laws. Lol.

 

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

@Cat_Robutt Thanks! I spent all night vacuuming up spiders, it was great. How long is this leg of the move for you? Hopefully it doesn't last too long.

[Neist]

2 hours ago, Cat_Robutt said:

I'm just venting, and hopefully it will get better, but damn this family unit is dysfunctional. They're even more fucked up than my family unit, and that's saying something.

1

Wow, that kind of sounds like my parents.  I feel your pain, and I truly empathize!

Also, I'm so happy! I got a letter in the mail today with an official graduate assistant appointment. I thought it was going to be a normal TA appointment (the department had hinted that it was the case), but I got the more competitive 12-month GA appointment that's doing the exact thing I want to do professionally. Yipee! The appointment could change next year, but it's an amazing opportunity. At the very least, I'll have a year-long assistantship doing work relevant to my professional and academic interests. 

Honestly, I'm a bit afraid that it was incorrectly sent. It's signed by the department chair, so I doubt it, but I'm still paranoid.  

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

1 minute ago, Neist said:

Wow, that kind of sounds like my parents.  I feel your pain, and I truly empathize!

Also, I'm so happy! I got a letter in the mail today with an official graduate assistant appointment. I thought it was going to be a normal TA appointment (the department had hinted that it was the case), but I got the more competitive 12-month GA appointment that's doing the exact thing I want to do professionally. Yipee! The appointment could change next year, but it's an amazing opportunity. At the very least, I'll have a year-long assistantship doing work relevant to my professional and academic interests. 

Honestly, I'm a bit afraid that it was incorrectly sent. It's signed by the department chair, so I doubt it, but I'm still paranoid.  

Wow congrats!! It's great that you'll be able to focus on research instead of TAing. And they must think you're something pretty special

 

[MarineBluePsy]

I just found out I don't have to TA my first year!  I hate TAing!  I can't believe I move next month.  Everything is off track so I don't feel ready.

[hippyscientist]

8 hours ago, Cat_Robutt said:

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny I'm so sorry.... how are you holding up? I wish I could offer you a place to stay  Is there anything we can do to help you other than using @sjoh197's terrifying big spiders to eat your apartment's spiders?

We have made our first leg of the move! And it's not going super well. My pard's parents are major hoarders. Like, every available surface has random shit on it. They didn't even bother to pretend to tidy up for our stay. I've spent literally all day today cleaning and am feeling super grumpy––I don't want to think they are taking advantage of us because every time we visit, we fix things/paint things/tidy up, but it feels suspiciously like that. And it's so weird because they have all this money and time to make things nice (one's an associate dean and the other is a stay-at-homer), but they expect so much of us: I hosted Thanksgiving in our tiny-ass one room apartment for the past two years; I hosted them for our wedding; I repainted rooms in their house...and yet I still feel my pard's mother disapproves of me because I was the atheist tattooed masculine liberal harlot who stole her child. Argh! 

I'm just venting, and hopefully it will get better, but damn this family unit is dysfunctional. They're even more fucked up than my family unit, and that's saying something.

Anyway, there's a wine festival tomorrow, so Ima just get sloshed and take it from there.

 

Ugh ugh ugh. Not okay. Try to carve out a happy space for yourselves and find somewhere nearby that you can retreat to when it just gets a bit much. Just because you're staying with them doesn't mean you have to be around them all the time. 

Also, I'm pretty sure all family units are dysfunctional, just dysfunctional in different ways. Yay for the wine festival though

@Neist that's amazing! Congrats. and yay @MarineBluePsy that's pretty awesome too. 

I had a lovely email from my new advisor and I really cannot wait to work with him now. It's pretty exciting! And I just found out my bestie is moving to Australia So happy for her!

[Cat_Robutt]

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny Vacuuming up spiders..... nope nope nope I'm so sorry and that just sounds....terrifying. I really want to make a daddy long legs pun in relation to the move, but nothing is coming to mind (thankfully). 

@sjoh197 @Neist and @hippyscientist Thanks all for your sympathies! Venting a bit on here makes me know I'm not crazy. And I've got my pard and our cat and a safe little hiding space, so I think things will work. Here for one month, and then with my family for one month, and then on to State College. This is the weirdest summer!

@Neist Congrats!!!! How exciting! Do you know the kind of work you will be doing? And @MarineBluePsy will you have funding, like an RA deal, instead? 

@hippyscientist I'm excited that you're excited! How are you feeling today?

It's almost June! It's almost watermelon/boating/swimming/grilling weather!

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

@Cat_Robutt Everyday just think of the privacy and awesomeness that you'll have once the move is over! And in a few years, it'll be a hilarious story that you'll be telling to your kids/family.

[hippyscientist]

@Cat_Robutt ugh I'm writing this weekend off. I've got a cold, my knee hurts, and life is being awkward. You just get in those funky moods sometimes, ya'know? I'd love a bubble bath but instead there's the mould & spider infested shower.  At least you have a safe space to hide out in, and it's only for a month - then you get to be around your own family and within 2 days be on here venting about them too  

So envious of those of you with summers. It's still ~ 50F and windy and rainy here with not a huge amount of change forecast. At least that makes being stuck in the office more acceptable!

[Cat_Robutt]

Just now, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

@Cat_Robutt Everyday just think of the privacy and awesomeness that you'll have once the move is over! And in a few years, it'll be a hilarious story that you'll be telling to your kids/family.

I swear! Yesterday we worked for 12 hours, cleaning, stripping wallpaper from the 70s in the bathroom, repairing and repainting. I bought a nice thick white curtain to match the new clean bathroom look (it was like the worst bachelor pad grossness); this morning, mom-in-law took down the curtain because she was worried it was see-through.....I was like, fam I ain't buying sheer curtains for the bathroom, quit second-guessing me! I've been paid for interior design services, pretty sure I know what I'm doing here. I can't tell if she's trying to gaslight me OR if she's just really into mansplaining.

[Cat_Robutt]

@hippyscientist Aw I'm sorry Have you been able to rest and relax a bit, at least? Also, what is with this thread and spiders?! Do they know? Are they reading this and searching for us? 

I think since I'm used to my family, I know what to expect from their quirks! And, weirdly, my parents have gotten a lot more open and understanding as they've aged, and we've become quite good friends. I'm mostly excited to see my older brother and my pard's older sister as we're all really close! 

[Neist]

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny, I admit, the GA position very much aligns with my interests, so I thought I'd get the opportunity eventually, but I also figured there would be those with much higher seniority pining for the position. It pays slightly more and it's a 12-month appointment. 

@Cat_Robutt, I'm going to help maintain a bibliographic database. I mentioned it a few pages back in this thread, but my dream career is a bibliographer. There isn't a lot of them, so any experience doing bibliographic work is an amazing opportunity. Frankly, I thought I was going to have to start my own bibliographic database of one kind or another in order to list some sort of demonstrated bibliographic experience on my CV.

@hippyscientist, spiders in the shower give me huge creeps! I'm incredibly near-sighted, and I'm nigh blind without my contacts. I don't shower with my contacts in (because one isn't supposed to), but I've discovered giant spiders in the shower only after I started showering. I still shudder thinking about it. Randomly finding a brown recluse in your shoe is bad enough, but it's worse when can't even see it. Needless to say, my contacts are generally in post-shower to bed.

[Cat_Robutt]

@Neist your GA work sounds so, so much better than giant shower spiders. It's so cool that you will be doing what you want to be doing! 

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

Ew on the giant shower spiders. Even though I've been finding them all over my place, they prefer to stay underneath appliances and I'm okay with that! I killed this guy last night: 

[hippyscientist]

@Neist that's so awesome! Shower spiders are nowhere near as fun as shower beers... but I am not a fan of spiders generally. I mean I won't scream but they do make my skin crawl.

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny really?! You had to share that?! Yay on the killing him though. 

I failed at being an adult today. I had spaghettios for breakfast and pop tarts for lunch and I'm contemplating nutella out the jar for dinner. This spider conversation has me creeped out haha!

[sjoh197]

13 minutes ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

Ew on the giant shower spiders. Even though I've been finding them all over my place, they prefer to stay underneath appliances and I'm okay with that! I killed this guy last night: 

No... don't be a spider killer. Spiders want to be your friend, the just don't know how to tell you. My little red-knee will be friends with you any day. 

 

[Cat_Robutt]

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny aaaaaaaaugh @sjoh197 I don't kill spiders, but I think there is just something extra scary about having something unexpected happen while showering––you're naked, vulnerable, trying to get clean and then all of a sudden BAM what is that?! I remember finding a scorpion in my shower and it was awful! 

@hippyscientist DO IT! Although you may need more than juuuuust nutella....how about a side of peanut butter for protein? Also out of the jar of course!

[hippyscientist]

12 minutes ago, Cat_Robutt said:

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny aaaaaaaaugh @sjoh197 I don't kill spiders, but I think there is just something extra scary about having something unexpected happen while showering––you're naked, vulnerable, trying to get clean and then all of a sudden BAM what is that?! I remember finding a scorpion in my shower and it was awful! 

@hippyscientist DO IT! Although you may need more than juuuuust nutella....how about a side of peanut butter for protein? Also out of the jar of course!

I try not to kill creatures but spiders are the exception - when they crawl out of my hoodie and onto my face they tend to get smushed pretty quick. 

I had some greek yoghurt with my nutella. that's sufficient adulting. 

[Neist]

@sjoh197, I'm cool with spiders, as long as they aren't the "I'm gonna knife you!" sort of spiders. My dad nearly lost a leg to a brown recluse.

In other news, the letter for the assistantship was addressed to me in error. Womp womp! They offered to match the 12-month appointment as they've already produced the offer in error, but I'm not going to hold it against them, so I've declined and will settle for the TA'ship that I originally suspected. Annoying, yes, but I'm not going to strap an already financially strapped department.

My gut told me it was a mistake, and it was.  I have no hard feelings.