Random thing you loathe right now.

Trying to explain my undergrad grades on this grad school application. Spoiler alert: I'm not counting on getting into grad school.

But you know, nothing ventured. Besides, what else was I going to do with all this money for application and transcript fees?

Gravey wrote:

Trying to explain my undergrad grades on this grad school application. Spoiler alert: I'm not counting on getting into grad school.

But you know, nothing ventured. Besides, what else was I going to do with all this money for application and transcript fees?

STEAM!

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

One of our favourite places to eat and west Ottawa/Carp community staples The Cheshire Cat Pub burned down last night. The place is legendary in this city and was run by two of the nicest, hardest working people on the planet. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. My girlfriend and I went somewhere for dinner Friday night and it was packed to we went here instead. We're really sad it's gone but we're glad we got to go one last time. If you live in West Ottawa, please consider giving some business to Alice's Village Cafe in Carp. It's owned by the same people and they deserve the business while they assess if their insurance will allow The Cat to get back on its feet. This is a really sh*tty way to start the week.

I was planning on going to perhaps the only fantastic BBQ place in the area last weekend, only to discover that the owner/chef had died of a heart attack a few months ago

soonerjudd wrote:

I was planning on going to perhaps the only fantastic BBQ place in the area last weekend, only to discover that the owner/chef had died of a heart attack a few months ago :(

Maybe it's a good thing you aren't able to eat his food any more.

Gravey wrote:

Trying to explain my undergrad grades on this grad school application. Spoiler alert: I'm not counting on getting into grad school.

But you know, nothing ventured. Besides, what else was I going to do with all this money for application and transcript fees?

From the chemistry/science side of things, the interview that you have with the prospective professors counts *way* more than your marks.

Nevermind

I am in a bit of a rut at the minute.

The last couple of weeks have been quite tough mentally. I've been catching up with a lot of my uni friends almost all of them are now in committed relationships and are purchasing houses and such.

Now I realise I'm not really in a bad position, being 26 with no appreciable debt and obligations, but it's been tough not thinking I'm being left behind.

Part of this is the recent (early Dec) demise of my last relationship and that's been quite frustrating and disheartening to come to terms with. The other major part is my housemates are getting married later this year so being exposed to all the excited wedding planning is wearing thin.

I know it'll get better, but it's just tough atm.

Why can I concentrate on live-blogging an alumni event for a company I used to work for, but can't bring myself to bang through this stupid Word document detailing what my current role should be doing at my current company?

Aw man AP. 26 is no time to be sweating that sh*t man. You've got plenty of time, so relax and enjoy the ride and/or rides (ifyouknowwhatimean)

McIrishJihad wrote:

Why can I concentrate on live-blogging an alumni event for a company I used to work for, but can't bring myself to bang through this stupid Word document detailing what my current role should be doing at my current company?

It's all about productive procrastination. You need to set yourself a task that's clearly more unpleasant or daunting than the stupid Word document. Then you do the Word document so you can put off that other task.

LarryC wrote:
McIrishJihad wrote:

Why can I concentrate on live-blogging an alumni event for a company I used to work for, but can't bring myself to bang through this stupid Word document detailing what my current role should be doing at my current company?

It's all about productive procrastination. You need to set yourself a task that's clearly more unpleasant or daunting than the stupid Word document. Then you do the Word document so you can put off that other task.

Ugh, been putting this off for 4 days now :/

Suggest installing Runtastic on your device and assign yourself 16 km of running. So you either do the document, or you do something healthy. Win-win. I usually put off the run, myself. I really should stop doing that. Tell me to stop doing that!

mudbunny wrote:
Gravey wrote:

Trying to explain my undergrad grades on this grad school application. Spoiler alert: I'm not counting on getting into grad school.

But you know, nothing ventured. Besides, what else was I going to do with all this money for application and transcript fees?

From the chemistry/science side of things, the interview that you have with the prospective professors counts *way* more than your marks.

I'm assuming you went to school in Canada, right? Interviews aren't really common for chemistry departments in the US. I don't know of a department that does.

From what I've been told, it's fairly common to explain low grades in you personal statement. But, that's assuming that your transcript is ok enough for them to read your personal statement in the first place.

Having my first ER visit. Luckily it wasn't too terrible, just an accident in the kitchen that ended with me getting very hot oil all over my hand. My left thumb, index finger, and middle finger are all very red and forming some pretty nasty blisters. They gave me something to reduce the swelling and pain, and a cream for the burn itself, and I have to go back to the doctor in a few days. At this exact moment, I'm doing alright. It really hurts if I bend my fingers too much, and it definitely feels overly warm, but it could be worse.
I'm afraid to see my fingers in the morning, I'm sure it will not be pretty.

iaintgotnopants wrote:
mudbunny wrote:
Gravey wrote:

Trying to explain my undergrad grades on this grad school application. Spoiler alert: I'm not counting on getting into grad school.

But you know, nothing ventured. Besides, what else was I going to do with all this money for application and transcript fees?

From the chemistry/science side of things, the interview that you have with the prospective professors counts *way* more than your marks.

I'm assuming you went to school in Canada, right? Interviews aren't really common for chemistry departments in the US. I don't know of a department that does.

From what I've been told, it's fairly common to explain low grades in you personal statement. But, that's assuming that your transcript is ok enough for them to read your personal statement in the first place.

Depends on how low your low grades were, and when you got them. If you ended up with better grades toward the end you should be fine. Worst comes to worst apply at a smaller school to pick up a masters first if your dead set on getting a PhD.

AP Erebus wrote:

I am in a bit of a rut at the minute.

The last couple of weeks have been quite tough mentally. I've been catching up with a lot of my uni friends almost all of them are now in committed relationships and are purchasing houses and such.

Now I realise I'm not really in a bad position, being 26 with no appreciable debt and obligations, but it's been tough not thinking I'm being left behind.

Part of this is the recent (early Dec) demise of my last relationship and that's been quite frustrating and disheartening to come to terms with. The other major part is my housemates are getting married later this year so being exposed to all the excited wedding planning is wearing thin.

I know it'll get better, but it's just tough atm.

Don't measure your life using someone else's ruler. You're under no obligation to be in the same place as everyone else.

NSMike wrote:
AP Erebus wrote:

I am in a bit of a rut at the minute.

The last couple of weeks have been quite tough mentally. I've been catching up with a lot of my uni friends almost all of them are now in committed relationships and are purchasing houses and such.

Now I realise I'm not really in a bad position, being 26 with no appreciable debt and obligations, but it's been tough not thinking I'm being left behind.

Part of this is the recent (early Dec) demise of my last relationship and that's been quite frustrating and disheartening to come to terms with. The other major part is my housemates are getting married later this year so being exposed to all the excited wedding planning is wearing thin.

I know it'll get better, but it's just tough atm.

Don't measure your life using someone else's ruler. You're under no obligation to be in the same place as everyone else.

And just to speak from the other side of the coin, wedding planning is 90% stress (and expensive) and while marriage can be great remember that we are at times pining for the freedom you have to do what you want without having to work it out with a partner. Oh and if it helps I seriously envy your lack of debt.

This is clearly not a loathe, in fact quite the opposite, but I'm putting it here for context.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/uNB1WNY.png)

I'm so totally doing that right now =)

I don't care what they say about Belgians (probably something about waffles), that's really sound. Thanks.

Thanks also to NSMike for the awesome eCard. That really gave us a lift when we needed it.

This place really knows how to give back. Thanks peeps.

Dejanzie is, in fact, waffleicious. Also, he has excellent taste in music.

AP Erebus wrote:

I am in a bit of a rut at the minute.

The last couple of weeks have been quite tough mentally. I've been catching up with a lot of my uni friends almost all of them are now in committed relationships and are purchasing houses and such.

You know, at first I read that as "a lot of my uni friends...are purchasing horses". And I thought that would be the coolest damn thing ever. Then I re-read it and realized the mistake.

Moral of the story: Buy yourself a horse, man. Horses are cool

(Seriously, though...I second the notion that you shouldn't be comparing yourself to others. I mean, you don't have any debt or anything like that, so you're already ahead of the curve in that regard. Just think--those people that have houses are now in a mortgage and are pretty locked where they are at. You, on the other hand, have the ability to do whatever you want, whenever you want. A lot of your experience in life is just how you choose to look at it.)

[size=1]I'm telling you...buy a horse[/size]

Rallick wrote:

Dejanzie is, in fact, waffleicious. Also, he has excellent taste in music.

You know, I really am. And I really do. It's hard to stay modest, but somehow... I manage.

Spoiler:

;-)

edit: and sigged, of course.

Do what my wife does AP Erebus, friend them all on facebook, and then start making fun of how fat or bald they get, also mock their ugly children.

True story, she showed me one Mogwai that was fed after midnight, I said "that little boy looks fine"...it was a girl.

I never really kept in touch with many people in college or high school. I talk with precisely 1 person actually.

NSMike wrote:

Don't measure your life using someone else's ruler. You're under no obligation to be in the same place as everyone else.

I fall foul of this all the time and that's an excellent way to remember. Thanks =)

St.Hillary wrote:

Having my first ER visit. Luckily it wasn't too terrible, just an accident in the kitchen that ended with me getting very hot oil all over my hand. My left thumb, index finger, and middle finger are all very red and forming some pretty nasty blisters. They gave me something to reduce the swelling and pain, and a cream for the burn itself, and I have to go back to the doctor in a few days. At this exact moment, I'm doing alright. It really hurts if I bend my fingers too much, and it definitely feels overly warm, but it could be worse.
I'm afraid to see my fingers in the morning, I'm sure it will not be pretty.

Just heard about that from Kannon. Hope you feel better soon, and don't hesitate to ask if there's anything we can do for you.

Best of luck with your healing. That sounds like the opposite of fun.

Having my car die on the way in to work.

This morning, I was down to a 15 miles range left on my tank of gas according to my car's readout, so I went to the gas station to fill up. I went to the same gas station right by our apartment that I always use, went to the diesel pump like usual (I have a diesel Jetta), and filled up. About... 12 miles on the way to work, after filling up, my check engine light comes on, the engine starts making kind of pingy noises, so I start to pull off onto a side road so I can stop and check it. When I get to the corner, the engine shuts down and won't turn over.

I get the car to the dealership with a tow truck, they go, "did you fill up with gas recently?" "Yes....?" "We've had reports of gas truck drivers mixing up diesel and gasoline at pumps."

F**K

They say if that's the problem, it's a $9000 fix, they basically replace/clean out everything that the gasoline touches. Let's just say someone needs to get sued, 'cause *I'm* not paying for that a**hole's mistake.

You absolutely should not pay for that.

I would burn a path up the ladder to the top of whatever chain owns that gas station. Someone is liable for that and it shouldn't be you.

Maq wrote:
NSMike wrote:

Don't measure your life using someone else's ruler. You're under no obligation to be in the same place as everyone else.

I fall foul of this all the time and that's an excellent way to remember. Thanks =)

This was the best thing I ever did for my own mental health.

Google. Stop advertising your services. I know what they are. I don't want to use them. Stop making wade through an advertisement pop-up.