Well, hello. Remember me? I used to have a blog here, and I posted at least several times a week for years and years and years and years. Until this fall, when I completely abandoned it. I'm sorry to have let it go for so long, but returning to school has just eaten up all of my free time. I still think of things I want to post, very frequently, but blogging takes some thought and stretches of empty, quiet time for me, and lately, three things are conspiring against me on that front:
a) I'm never alone
b) It's never quiet
c) On the rare occasion when a or b occurs, I inevitably need to study.
So here's a quick update. I'm finishing up my second semester of prereqs for a graduate program -- as of December I'll have five of the eight classes I need done, which is enough to apply in January to the University of Washington. So far I've taken Anatomy and am halfway through Physiology, both of which I love. It's been really fun to rediscover my love for biology, which was my college major -- everything from cell biology right up through how the respiratory system works (where we are this week) is just so freaking cool. I drive Brett crazy with the thousands of fascinating facts I feel compelled to share with him every few days.
I've also taken a couple of psych classes and am currently taking Cultural Anthropology. This winter will be Physics, and then I only have Abnormal Psych and Statistics left, both of which I might just take online in the spring.
Been volunteering too - one of the prereqs is two volunteer or work experiences in two different clinical settings. I did 80 hours this summer with pediatrics and just started my second round at NW Hand, which specializes in hand surgery and rehabilitation. This second one looks really interesting - can't wait to get further into it.
I also took the GRE at the end of October, which was really stressful for me. I took it once, in 1991 or so, but the scores expire after a set number of years, so I had to take it again, which involved lots and lots of studying to try to get my math skills built back up. Man, was that a difficult process! Also, these days they don't give the fun logic section they used to use in the 90s (who sat next to who on the bus - easy if you knew how to map them out), and have instead replaced them with a section in which you have to write an argument essay and an issues essay.
I studied a ton, every second I could spare from classwork, and in the end it was actually much easier than I thought. I don't know my essay scores yet, but I kicked ass on the rest of it. So there's nothing there that will knock me out of the running for what is an extremely competitive program. Last year they had 300 applicants and took only 25 or so, and this year they're expecting a lot more applicants. So it's a long shot whether I might even get in. But I think I have a reasonable chance.
Whew! So there's what's new with me.
Sofie turned four this fall and is in the midst of her second year of preschool. She dressed up as a black cat for Halloween, and just as soon as I find my camera card reader, I'll share some pics of that! I made her costume and she's still wearing it around the house at regular intervals. She's started to read a little, all on her own, and is counting up to 100. Such a little smarty pants. Four is an AWESOME age -- way better than three was. I love her inquisitive little mind and how funny she is and how she's starting to, on occasion, be reasonable. :)
Brett's good, the cats are fine, my Dad is still across the street and is doing well - he's taken up painting with acrylics lately, and is taking some trips with his senior center this winter. Sof and I are off to see my sister in Texas next week, which is going to be great. We're happily planning thanksgiving and (at least in my case) planning Christmas. My favorite time of year!
More soon. Or sooner than usual. Really.
