Catching Up

Here are the highlights:

- My grandmother's memorial service is a week from today.  I'm ok.  I'm sad, of course, but a little happy too.  She's free of her illness, and I like to think that, wherever they are, she's reunited with her husband at last.

- I'm still only pulling a B+ in both my Human Bio and Statistics classes, but both profs assure me that I can get an A.  That is, of course, my goal.

- My PTK advisor approached me a couple of weeks ago.  She's the school's representative for the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship, one which you can only apply for if you're nominated by a scholarship rep.  I'd never heard of it before, but Sharon wants me to apply.  For a variety of reasons, I don't actually think I'll be receive one, but it's an honor to have been asked.  I'm applying anyway; I could receive up to $30,000/year if awarded!  Can't hurt to try.

- My Child and Adolescent Psych prof is teaching Behavior Modification next semester.  It's by invitation only, and he's asked me to sign up.  Again, an honor.  It isn't my favorite treatment method, despite its efficacy, but it is effective.  It doesn't look at underlying causes for behaviors; it only eradicates them.  They may return, or manifest in a new way if the cause(s) aren't addressed.  That being said, there will be times when I'll need to refer a client to a behaviorist as a supplement; I need to understand what my clients will be going through.  I've already informed my cats and my brother that they will be my first test subjects when I've finished the class.

- Illinois Institute of Technology and Marymount Manhattan are both tirelessly trying to recruit me.  Especially IIT.  Multiple emails and snail mail cards, etc.  Yesterday, though, I received an email from Columbia inviting me to come to an informational meeting.  I hadn't even contacted them.  I assume they found my hit either here or through their website.  Still, pretty cool.

- I received a good performance review at work and, though people are always complaining that it doesn't happen, I received a  25 cent raise, which is substantial for them.  Yay me.

- Randy bought me a zoom lens for my camera, something I've wanted for a long time.  Now if only I could find time to use it!

- I'm about to pay off my credit cards.  And I have a little money coming my way from my grandfather's estate (paternal grandfather who died a couple of years ago, and whose estate has been a bone of contention ever since amongst my aunts and uncles).  I wasn't expecting anything from him; it's a pleasant surprise, if something like this can ever be called "pleasant."  Also, I know my grandmother left me a little money as well.  I'm not sure how much is left, though.  I told my aunt to use the money to take care of my grandmother in the nursing home if it was needed.  I don't know whether she did or not, but it was more important to me that my grandmother was cared for while she was alive.  We'll see. 

- Randy told me that he wants to take me back to Alaska for our 15th anniversary.  That's almost 2 years away, but it's something to look forward to.  We'll spend more time there, explore more, than we did before.  I'm so excited!  Then maybe I'll have a chance to use that zoom.

I think that's all.  I've hurt my back.  Nothing serious- badly knotted under the shoulder blade and reaching towards the spine.  It's painful, but it could be worse.  Given everything else that's going right, I can't really complain.

Oh, for those who asked a month or two ago, my vacuum is a Bissell Pet Hair Eraser.