Just a few quick notes here, before I head to the gym, but wow. This weekend was amazing. It felt so nice to be recognized for my achievements. There was a great dinner (filet mignon at the president's house!) and lots of congratulations. My speech went very well, and just seeing Mike so proud of me really made me smile. It was really awesome. Then we went off to Santa Barbara and had a really nice, romantic, relaxing weekend. I love my boyfriend :)
I just want to note quickly that truly academia, in many respects, is what I love. I love learning, and I love the celebrations that come with each step. True, I hate the red tape and politics, but it was really just as rewarding to see how many people were truly excited to be earning their degrees. I wish I could be that proud of myself, but all it never seems like an accomplishment for me. I even think that choosing a "professional" psychology school for my doctorate will seem like a sell out. I don't know. Either way - I don't care. I had a great weekend!
5.26.2009
5.05.2009
ahh, push it..
I started a new workout routine tonight (which isn't saying much, since I haven't been doing much working out beyond my yoga on Sunday). I'm pairing eccentric training with interval training (see here http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100235451>1=31048). I've upped the challenge of the cardio (included some running where there was fast walking).
I thought this workout would be a bit too easy for me - but my arms are still shaking from doing the beach ball crunch. You really feel a burn when you slow it down. I'll post in two weeks any results, as I'm following closer to a 1500 calorie diet. It's a little less boring than my usual workout routine.
I thought this workout would be a bit too easy for me - but my arms are still shaking from doing the beach ball crunch. You really feel a burn when you slow it down. I'll post in two weeks any results, as I'm following closer to a 1500 calorie diet. It's a little less boring than my usual workout routine.
5.04.2009
welcome to the hotel california...
San Diego is an interesting place to be a upwardly mobile, increasingly close to thirty-something, champagne taste on a beer budget, not-single-but-not-married woman. The fact that I'm nearly 30 (ok, almost 26) makes me older than probably half the population, and at any given time, 3x more sober.
It's an interesting feeling, wondering if your relationship is moving forward at an appropriate pace when most people my age in San Diego are wondering whether they want to spend the cash to go out downtown, or get face-down-in-the-gutter wasted in PB. I worry about how much money I'm putting into savings (read: none) and the fact that yet again, I'm starting a new degree when the majority of people my age in San Diego seem to be struggling through that Wednesday morning hangover to make it to their retail or serving job.
Contrary to how this might read, I don't judge. San Diego is a tough place to grow up - and I'm not talking the tonka truck to big wheels grow up. So many people have told me, "you can't settle down and start a life in San Diego." Which is, of course, what I'm working on. I've got a decent, albeit poor paying job, starting my doctorate, and I've got a great boyfriend (2 years in about 12 days!). I'm starting to think about "the ring" when others are still thinking about "the hookup" and daydreaming about how I'm going to decorate my fabulous seaside Carlsbad house when I make a zillion dollars (I did say dream!).
San Diego is a land of perpetual youth - filled with people content to live in the moment; riding that wave from the fountain of youth. I wonder what happens to these people? I know some move "home" and get a move on, unable (or unwilling) to shake off that youthful grip San Diego has on their lifestyle (who wants to tarnish that?) San Diego's a land of youthful dreams for those who are edging away from youth - those who aren't ready for the c's - commitment, career, children, conformity.
The moral of the story? It's hard to find good roommates in paradise.
It's an interesting feeling, wondering if your relationship is moving forward at an appropriate pace when most people my age in San Diego are wondering whether they want to spend the cash to go out downtown, or get face-down-in-the-gutter wasted in PB. I worry about how much money I'm putting into savings (read: none) and the fact that yet again, I'm starting a new degree when the majority of people my age in San Diego seem to be struggling through that Wednesday morning hangover to make it to their retail or serving job.
Contrary to how this might read, I don't judge. San Diego is a tough place to grow up - and I'm not talking the tonka truck to big wheels grow up. So many people have told me, "you can't settle down and start a life in San Diego." Which is, of course, what I'm working on. I've got a decent, albeit poor paying job, starting my doctorate, and I've got a great boyfriend (2 years in about 12 days!). I'm starting to think about "the ring" when others are still thinking about "the hookup" and daydreaming about how I'm going to decorate my fabulous seaside Carlsbad house when I make a zillion dollars (I did say dream!).
San Diego is a land of perpetual youth - filled with people content to live in the moment; riding that wave from the fountain of youth. I wonder what happens to these people? I know some move "home" and get a move on, unable (or unwilling) to shake off that youthful grip San Diego has on their lifestyle (who wants to tarnish that?) San Diego's a land of youthful dreams for those who are edging away from youth - those who aren't ready for the c's - commitment, career, children, conformity.
The moral of the story? It's hard to find good roommates in paradise.
4.21.2009
Graduate Medalist
I won the graduate medalist award for the School of Social Sciences today. I have the possibility of being selected for the president's medal.
The President’s Medal and the University Graduate Medal are the highest honors given by the university to a graduating student. The medals are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, service to the school and contributions to the community.
Not bad. :)
The President’s Medal and the University Graduate Medal are the highest honors given by the university to a graduating student. The medals are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, service to the school and contributions to the community.
Not bad. :)
4.16.2009
My boyfriend and I are quickly coming up on our two year anniversary - and God bless him, he's taking me out on a legit date tomorrow night. We're going for sushi (yum) but then we're relegated to the couch because of the hockey playoffs. That's ok, I guess, it's really only once a year and he's a really good sport (no pun intended) about me bitching and moaning about how many sporting events he watches (no one cares about the National League, babe!)
In any case, we have another anniversary coming up - 1 year in June of living in the same city. We did our first year long distance. We worked out great - saw each other every few weeks (3-5) and managed just fine. We're doing great now too - we still "date," he's immensely supportive, and well.. he's hot :)
How'd I bag him? Easy. I hid/swallowed the crazy. God and my best girlfriends know that my anxiety level, on a scale of one to ten, is about a fifteen. How the hell did I manage a long distance relationship (LDR, yes, we have our own language) with a level of anxiety this high? I paced. A lot. I called my mom. A lot. I complained and freaked out to my bgfs. A lot.
Did I do it to him? Sure. Not on the same level of crazy, though. It was sure as hell hard to trust someone not to cheat on me from 2000 miles away when I had met the guy off craigslist (he subleased an apartment from me, I did not pull an Alex from Real Housewives of NY).
I don't know if he's a glutton for punishment or just infinitely patient, but he puts up with my unique style of girl crazy. He even enjoys being around me, and isn't afraid to call me out when my bitch meter hits the red zone. He's also probably the most laid back person I know - successfully balancing my type-A personality.
The moral of the story? Cool your jets, ladies. If he's a keeper, he'll call you. He'll respect you. Best of all, he'll tell you when your passive aggressive mind games are just not going to cut it. Hey, we all need a little reality check sometimes, right?
In any case, we have another anniversary coming up - 1 year in June of living in the same city. We did our first year long distance. We worked out great - saw each other every few weeks (3-5) and managed just fine. We're doing great now too - we still "date," he's immensely supportive, and well.. he's hot :)
How'd I bag him? Easy. I hid/swallowed the crazy. God and my best girlfriends know that my anxiety level, on a scale of one to ten, is about a fifteen. How the hell did I manage a long distance relationship (LDR, yes, we have our own language) with a level of anxiety this high? I paced. A lot. I called my mom. A lot. I complained and freaked out to my bgfs. A lot.
Did I do it to him? Sure. Not on the same level of crazy, though. It was sure as hell hard to trust someone not to cheat on me from 2000 miles away when I had met the guy off craigslist (he subleased an apartment from me, I did not pull an Alex from Real Housewives of NY).
I don't know if he's a glutton for punishment or just infinitely patient, but he puts up with my unique style of girl crazy. He even enjoys being around me, and isn't afraid to call me out when my bitch meter hits the red zone. He's also probably the most laid back person I know - successfully balancing my type-A personality.
The moral of the story? Cool your jets, ladies. If he's a keeper, he'll call you. He'll respect you. Best of all, he'll tell you when your passive aggressive mind games are just not going to cut it. Hey, we all need a little reality check sometimes, right?
4.15.2009
I'm nearly 26, overeducated, overworked, and underpaid. I'm going back to school to put my student loans back into deferment. (the Dr. before my name will be a nice bonus thought)
I'm in the realm of psychology, where we're notoriously underpaid and overworked. Add that into the nonprofit sector, and burnout by age 30 has a very high probability. Why didn't I go into engineering? Oh right, because I can't do anything more mathematically complex than add, and even that is hit or miss.
Sometimes I feel like I'm but a shell of my former self - yes, I have a good, solid job, a good education, and an amazing boyfriend (really, I've outdone myself finding him). I eat right, I exercise (I even yoga) and my binge drinking college days have morphed into wine trips to Temecula with picnic lunches. Gone are my wild days of reckless abandon, drinking with my girl friends until the sun came up (and sometimes continuing past), irresponsible spending in the form of world travel, and late mornings and late nights.
Why is being a grown up so lame? Bills, taxes, benefits packages. Hmph. Oh well, someday I'll live my life like the Real Housewives of Orange County, well, I would, if not for student loan repayments superseding any possibility of being able to afford a home and plastic surgery. Good thing I can still afford my stylist, as I slowly creep from redhead to California blond. At least I'm not grey... yet.
I am almost looking more forward to being 30 than in my mid twenties. This in between-y lifestyle is cramping my style. Of course, I'm not sure if it's the time period of my life, or the fact that the country is in a deep recession, and the reason I have so much debt is because I lived like a celebrity when I was but a middle-class rural girl playing college student in the city. Details, details.
Ah well, I maintain my sunny demeanor and look forward to the future. This weekend, Mike and I are attending two social events. This might help with the mundane of 9-5 (well, I creep in around 9:30, but you get my point). I spent a week in Hawaii for one of our conferences and was able to scratch off another state that I've been to (31 and counting!) Mike and I have a mini vacation planned next month for our 2 year anniversary, which is much needed. Finding the things to laugh about help.
I guess I wouldn't categorize my mid 20s as a time of emotional turmoil or of deep introspection, instead, I feel like the whole world in hunkered down, waiting for something to happen - I just happen to be in my 20s while it's happening.
I'm in the realm of psychology, where we're notoriously underpaid and overworked. Add that into the nonprofit sector, and burnout by age 30 has a very high probability. Why didn't I go into engineering? Oh right, because I can't do anything more mathematically complex than add, and even that is hit or miss.
Sometimes I feel like I'm but a shell of my former self - yes, I have a good, solid job, a good education, and an amazing boyfriend (really, I've outdone myself finding him). I eat right, I exercise (I even yoga) and my binge drinking college days have morphed into wine trips to Temecula with picnic lunches. Gone are my wild days of reckless abandon, drinking with my girl friends until the sun came up (and sometimes continuing past), irresponsible spending in the form of world travel, and late mornings and late nights.
Why is being a grown up so lame? Bills, taxes, benefits packages. Hmph. Oh well, someday I'll live my life like the Real Housewives of Orange County, well, I would, if not for student loan repayments superseding any possibility of being able to afford a home and plastic surgery. Good thing I can still afford my stylist, as I slowly creep from redhead to California blond. At least I'm not grey... yet.
I am almost looking more forward to being 30 than in my mid twenties. This in between-y lifestyle is cramping my style. Of course, I'm not sure if it's the time period of my life, or the fact that the country is in a deep recession, and the reason I have so much debt is because I lived like a celebrity when I was but a middle-class rural girl playing college student in the city. Details, details.
Ah well, I maintain my sunny demeanor and look forward to the future. This weekend, Mike and I are attending two social events. This might help with the mundane of 9-5 (well, I creep in around 9:30, but you get my point). I spent a week in Hawaii for one of our conferences and was able to scratch off another state that I've been to (31 and counting!) Mike and I have a mini vacation planned next month for our 2 year anniversary, which is much needed. Finding the things to laugh about help.
I guess I wouldn't categorize my mid 20s as a time of emotional turmoil or of deep introspection, instead, I feel like the whole world in hunkered down, waiting for something to happen - I just happen to be in my 20s while it's happening.
3.04.2009
Dr. Kori?
I'm not great at updating, unfortunately. I type all day at work, and the last thing I want to do is type more when I get home.
I guess I'll have to get used to it, as I'll be a doctoral student in the fall!
When I was going to be a freshman in college, I was so nervous, but really excited to start. I kind of feel that way all over again, but this time, nervousness outweighs the excitedness. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up - how will I pay for this? - how can I continue to work AND do practicums? - how can I afford to live off of practicums and internships that pay less than my co ops did? - how will I keep my relationship going with Mike? - What about my bills?
It's scary to chase a dream, but I'm just going to dive in and let things take their course. I know I'll be successful, I just don't want to be in the poor house doing it.
Unfortunately this blog isn't terribly introspective, but I think anyone can image going back to your 17/18 year old self and going back to school for the first time.. now imagine doing that, knowing what you do at 25/26. I'm so glad I was so naive back in the day.
It's a weird process, growing up. Having the engagement talks with your boyfriend, budgeting, bills, realizing that your decisions now really impact your life...
Sigh.
I guess I'll have to get used to it, as I'll be a doctoral student in the fall!
When I was going to be a freshman in college, I was so nervous, but really excited to start. I kind of feel that way all over again, but this time, nervousness outweighs the excitedness. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up - how will I pay for this? - how can I continue to work AND do practicums? - how can I afford to live off of practicums and internships that pay less than my co ops did? - how will I keep my relationship going with Mike? - What about my bills?
It's scary to chase a dream, but I'm just going to dive in and let things take their course. I know I'll be successful, I just don't want to be in the poor house doing it.
Unfortunately this blog isn't terribly introspective, but I think anyone can image going back to your 17/18 year old self and going back to school for the first time.. now imagine doing that, knowing what you do at 25/26. I'm so glad I was so naive back in the day.
It's a weird process, growing up. Having the engagement talks with your boyfriend, budgeting, bills, realizing that your decisions now really impact your life...
Sigh.
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