Aliquando insanire iucundum est

Rejected from Notre Dame.

/sigh

A note to potential grad students -- if you think something hasnt arrived, it probably hasn't and you should probably check on that. just sayin.

So.

On Monday, the yarn shop and I parted ways. I was... completely flummoxed by what happened -- without getting too in depth, apparently I was VERY bad at reading this woman's tone and body language, because I kept hearing and seeing "you're doing great, yay!" when apparently she was saying "you're doing everything I don't want you to do, stop it now" It happens, and we parted amicably, and it was such a short period of time, I'm not even worried about it.

One super fun thing that happened over the weekend: My mom over-watered her little garden that is attached to the house with stone (its like, a tiered thing, I'm not really sure how to explain it architecturally). The water has seeped into the house and the carpet, and I've spent alllll day trying to get the water up with a steam cleaning vacuum. yay.

In a related story, the pomeranian, Jack, is running around the house like a crazy person with a flip flop and ahahaha now he's licking my feet. oh jack. you saucy minx.

I feel that it is time for an update -- since you might all think I am wallowing in the pits of despair about this grad school situation.

eh.

I've got plans for next year is all I'll say on that, as i tend to get long winded about all things historical and grad-schooley.

Instead, I will talk about my new obsession. YARN.

So, a month ago yesterday I started working at this yarn shop, which for a knitter, is basically the best damn job on the planet. I go in at nine, play with yarn all day, then go home and knit. Win-win. ALSO. I get all my yarn at the wholesale price, which is, oh.my.god awesome. I kid you not, in the month I've been there, I've knitted five scarves and have started a cape. no really.

The only problem is this god-forsaken label/tag printer with which I have for weeks been engaged in an epic struggle. I want to print price tags you see. It doesn't. So I've formatted and I've calibrated and I've programmed and called customer support twice. We have given up. I am Napoleon, and it is Russia. It's frustrating because I'm supposed to be good with computers, but this has got me completely flummoxed. I have no idea what's going on other than there is some kind of programming overrides or something.

In other news, Seven and Carrie are coming to visit, which is super awesome, and we are going to:
Go see tiny tiny horses at a convent
Possibly watch entire seasons of tv shows
Talk about PurlsBeforeTwine, which I will soon be posting about on the regular
Go to the Antique Rose Emporium, which has a maze!
Take a tour of the Bluebell creamery and gorge on ice cream of the highest quality
See the yarn shop

So I think it will be good. No question.

Thats life til now. Yarn, basically. and studying for the GREs. joy.

Well, thats it.  The end of the road this year.  After much careful consideration, I was rejected from UT.  Its not upsetting really from the standpoint that I genuinely wanted to go there; its the feeling of failure and discouragement --  that I'm not good enough. 

So who knows. At this point my entire life feels like a series of rejections and disappointments, and its increasingly difficult to brush them off and keep going.

On the upside, I might have a connection at Notre Dame, which is a better program and fit all the way around.  The downside? Its in Indiana.



Things To Do:

• Learn French (be able to pass a proficiency test)
• Learn German (be able to pass a proficiency test)
• Practice my Latin (its getting rusty)
• STUDY FOR THE GRE
• Make at least a 1300 on the GRE
• Take the Literature subject GRE.
• Research schools and profs -- find good fits
• Look into Rotary and Fulbright scholarships.

I am in more pain than i think i have ever been in in my entire life, and theres nothing i can do about it.

My insurance is in limbo, so I cant have my tooth fixed yet -- i think the best i can hope for is to call my dentist tomorrow and have him prescribe some medication that i cant afford.

life sucks.

in other news, UT has apparently made decisions about the history PhD candidates.  I haven't heard anything yet, but as far as i know, not many people have.  I'm vaguely hoping that I will hear something one way or the other soon, because I am literally making myself sick over this.


Also, as promised, a book reccomendation:  If you havent read it already, Outlander is pretty damn awesome.  If you've read that one, try Jim Butcher's Storm Front.  If you've read both of those, try a book called Blindness (i dont know the author's name)  Sarah says it is really really good.  I still haven't read it, however.

I think I may have completely screwed up my chances at grad school again this year.

I did dual-credit in high school at a local junior college, and it completely didnt cross my mind to get a transcript from them or notate it on my application.

so basically, i think im fucked. 

I have a call and an email in to the history department liason to try and see if I will be able to fix this, or if I'm freaking out over nothing, but I think I've lost my shot. again.

So.

I have discovered that rather than December 15th (as every UT webpage has it listed) the due date for the Graduate application to the History department is on the 1st.

Groovy.


In the last three days I have:
    Contacted 3 professors that will give reccomendations
    Ordered my transcripts
    Selected my writing sample
    Completed the application

So all that is left is the statement of purpose, which I am now working on.  I can't decide if i should try to be funny and interesting or just dive right in to the hard sell.  Anyone have any suggestions?

I also have to register for the GRE's, but they said that as long as I am registered in December, they will accept the scores. woot.

So, thats the scoop here, how's everyone else?

So, 2 weeks ago, I sent a professor at the University of Texas an email introducing myself, and she hasn't responded.

Here is the email:


Is this something that a professor would probably respond to?  Those of you out there that read this and would know -- what should the next step be do you think?  I am probably going to send a snail mail letter today basically just saying "Hi, its me a again!" but I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do :/

In other news, i got postcard sized watercolor paper, so I will be sending out drawings soon.  Anyone wanting one that hasnt already said so should say something -- and maybe send me an email with your address. I promise not to stalk you. much.  :)

So, I think this time, Im finally serious about doing the grad school thing.

Its not that I dont really enjoy the Discovery Channel and being a librarian and all, I just think its time.

And lets face it, the real world sucks, and I need a substitute Red Brick Wall, STAT.

To that end, on Saturday I finally emailed the woman who I am hoping will become my graduate advisor at the University of Texas. Depending on her response, and how well we get along, I think we mightt work really well together. Plus, i've already started looking at houses in Austin and just generally getting geared up a year in advance. It makes me feel proactive and less failure-like.

Anyone have suggestions on how to get Profs to love me in 2 months or less? I am all ears.

In entertainment news, I've been reading Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden novels, and OMG i love them with so many parts of my heart. Pretty much, if you like Harry Potter and Joss wedon, you will probably like this. Think...Harry Potter meets Buffy meets Anne Rice. Check them out.

So yeah, thats the update from here -- and there are still 5 of the 10 free drawings available, get them while theyre hot.

THE FIRST 10 PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO THIS JOURNAL ENTRY WILL GET A FREE SKETCH preferrably human (but not porn)... animals require way too much research for me right now for free sketches.

The fine print:
a) If you make a request, you must duplicate the offer in your own journal. It shouldn't be too hard if you really half-ass it.
b) Don't be shy in your request, but do understand it will probably be just a loose pencil drawing.
c) You might get your sketches ages from now, but you will get it eventually.

Well, hello my lovelies

It's just shy of official -- I am now a bona fide Discovery Channel employee!

I will be an operations coordinator for their media libraries, meaning that I oversee all the tracking and communication of media and tapes to and from the various branches and production houses. AND. its a 4 day workweek -- I get tuesday, thursday, and friday off, but still have full time hours.

This of course leaves me free to take a class or two at Georgetown or Maryland -- maybe even start a masters program if I can find one.

How awesome is that?!

so yeah. how are all of you?

I have supposedly won the UK Lottery, to the tune of 450,000 pounds.

Somehow, I am skeptical -- largely because I never entered the lottery, dont live in the UK, and they want me to pay up front for courier service.

r-i-g-h-t.

anyone else heard of this?

a lead on a job, maybe?

we'll see.


home for thanksgiving, and we've got 13 people coming to the house. someone come round it out, cause 13 is a crazy number, and hey, im superstitious.

so yeah.

I a quarter of the way done on a scarf for my sister, so thats exciting -- and yes. thats about it.

have a happy gobble day!

Alas.

So i have left my job at the Real Estate company.

It was...a surprise, but not unwanted. I didnt like it there, and it made life unfun, really.

So now Ive applied to like, 10 jobs today, mostly in the DC area. Tomorrow will probably mostly be in Houston or Austin, but things that look really fun are all in DC or new york, so I will have to see what happens.

If anyone knows of interesting job opportunities, totally let me know.

in the meantime, im starting a webcomic. joy.

I know it sounds like a particularly girly english pub, but it is in fact my new attempt at a hobby!

knitting is so 2005.

its all about soapmaking in the big bad 07.

so yeah.

if anyone is interested in some honey thistle soap, let me know -- that will be our signature scent.


so yay.

I will let you know when the first batch is ready for use!

It may take a few tries to get it right, but it will be all natural, and vegetarian!

Must. Calm. Down.

I am interviewing for this job (http://people.rice.edu/jobdetail.cfm?ID=2385) today -- and I am totally freaking out.

Wish me luck, and stuff.

Can I just say, Podicus the iPod is just about the best thing since sliced bread -- regardless of the fact that it practically took all day to load the music on him. Maybe this will help the work sitch, though I doubt it.

For some reason, I'm feeling a desperation for some sort of intellectual stimulation. I know this, because I suddenly have a desire to go to seminary. Not that I'm at all religious; at best, I'm non-practicing, but I usually consider myself agnostic. I think mostly this stems from 3 things.

1. One of the most fascinating people I've ever met was a religion professor. Though he was an ordained (and still occasionaly working) minister, his real focus seemed to be the philosophy behind religion, the hows and whys, comparisons and explorations of the impact of religion on all aspects of socety throughout time and history. That, to me, its completely fascinating, and taking one of his classes is part of what made my senior year so enlightening, at least in terms of my own personal views on religion.

2. I'll be honest, I watched Keeping the Faith last night. It got me thinking about faith, and its importance. I truly envy people their faith sometimes; while obviously, it can cause alot of problems (i.e. the lebanon/israel troubles) it also gives people a sense of peace and direction that I've never really felt. I guess I'm just curious about what makes religion so important to people, and how and why do societies become secular, if religion is such a basic human need. I want to know what religion and faith mean to different people and different cultures, and how that system of belief has shaped their cultural evolution.

3. I'm bored. My job turns my brain to mush, and as of yet, I have no creative or intellectual outlets. So I ponder things, and decide "Yes. I should do that." Similarly, I decided to buy a typewriter after watching Finding Forrester. tThe fact that many of these crazy ideas are borne from movies them any less real or valid. Its not necessarily that I am easily influenced by the popular media (I am, but thats beside the point). Its more that watching such things awakens in me ideas and thoughts -- creativity that is so fleeting that it always passes me by. It can be a moment of clarity, one that strikes when I least expect (like at the bar at an iron and Wine concert, where I mapped my senior thesis) and if you dont take it right then, its gone. I guess you could say I seek enlightenment and perpetual learning, and isn't that what religion is all about?

So yeah. 3 reasons why (regardless of the fact that I'm a historian, not a theologist) I would consider going to get a masters of divinity, or whatever theyre called. Weird, Huh. Whats weirder? I felt the need to share.

ALSO: please please please, sign this petition to keep Randolph-Macon Woman's College a single sex educational atmosphere. I would seriously love you forever. www.petitiononline.com/rmwc/

Thats right ladies and gents,

I am gainfully employed.

( Read more... )

In short, the best bit was where I went in looking at 30,000 for a proofreading, and on the way to the elevator I was suddenly in charge of special projects and copywriting, and making 33,000 -- which, can i just brag, is more than they paid the last guy.

go me.

Ok everyone,

I'm applying for a job as an "Editorial Associate" for the Journal of Feminist Economics at Rice University.

This looks like a really great opportunity, so please, everybody -- wish me luck, ask the Universe, pray, whatever! That i get this position. Because it could be pretty cool.

Also, as per Seven, Im pretty bored, so ask me any seven questions and I will answer them truthfully!

ps. Leah, your letter is written and sitting on my desk in an envelope. It just needs postage and little running shoes.