Pre-registration for next semester began this week. It was bizarre to realize that this upcoming semester will be my last one at Cornell. I feel like I just got here, which in many ways I have, being that this is only a two year program. Once again this whole pre-registration/registration process was more difficult than really necessary, as I couldn't find all of the classes that I want to register for on my first attempt. I will attempt again tomorrow (the last day of pre-registration), and hopefully have better luck.
I was also able to meet with the chair of the government department this week, and was able to get some ideas for my thesis (he wrote a book that is related to my thesis topic that was just released in August). I am setting up more meetings with other professors for the next couple of weeks-- now I just have to find the time to read everything that I want to. Cody and I were laughing the other day as we walked out of the house about how creepy it would be to break into our place, I have stacks and stacks of books on torture piled at the far end of the couch, near the door (and these books have pretty creepy covers). We decided that if someone were to break into our apartment, they would probably walk right out again, it looks a little weird.
The second round of midterms begin soon. I receive my second stats midterm tomorrow (its a take home), and my second econ midterm is next Wednesday. And after that, it is the beginning of the end-- starting to work on lots of final projects-- my stats project, international institutions paper, intergovernmental systems paper, and labor & global cities paper. It will all be over by the middle of December, and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing-- it only leaves me about six weeks to get everything done, but its also a sign that I have already made it through quite a bit of the semester.
I keep wondering where we will be a year from now -- and the answer is, I really don't know. It's a little nerve-wracking, but also kind of an exciting opportunity to do something new. I keep trying to maintain a balanced perspective about everything that seems to be coming so quickly-- end of the semester, my thesis, graduation, a job search, a new place to live. Hopefully it will all stay in perspective as long as I need it to.
--brianna
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
We Survived Fall Break...
though it confirmed our decision not to have children for at least five years! It was a great trip, we had a lot of fun hanging out, playing, going to the beach, the park, the orchard to pick raspberries, dropping the kids off at school, watching youtube videos, watching cartoons, looking at halloween costumes, making art projects, building cars, going to a train show, going through hay mazes, and more. Clearly, it was a busy weekend. We got to New Haven at 1:00 on Saturday, and left at 11 am on Tuesday. We confirmed that sleep is well-loved by both of us-- we aren't ready to be woken up by excited yelling children at 7 am who are ready to jump in bed with us and play (I confirmed my suspicions of my style of future parenting skills-- that of reinforcing the habit my mom used to do-- of telling me to watch cartoons quietly when I would get up at 6 am on the weekends) because I definitely pulled out the couch cushions for the kids to sit on, flipped the tv onto noggin, and spent several more minutes trying to wake up before stumbling into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
Spending time with my sister, brother-in-law, and the kids was a great chance to see them and catch up. Even though they live relatively close (its about a five hour drive), it really necessitates a long weekend to make it down there, which I haven't had that many of-- school is pretty intense, and I don't skip classes if I can help it. This was the first time that we had seen them since Christmas, and it was a blast, but definitely tiring. The trip down to New Haven was excellent-- the weather was perfect, the leaves were changing color and falling as we were driving through the Catskills into Connecticut. The little two-lane roads we drove in Connecticut, alongside small lakes and streams seemed perfectly New England-esque. Cody commented that he would need to re-read Walden after our trip, it just seemed necessary.
We have made it back to Ithaca, and classes are back in swing. I started my next set of meetings for my thesis earlier this morning. It seems like it should be a good group of students and faculty that I am meeting with in this second semester of thesis prep. We each have very different topics, but all the topics are areas that I am interested in. If things go well, I should pretty much have my thesis prospectus wrapped up in a week or so (a key step in the process that is due by the end of this semester). Work is a little nuts for Cody, but I will let him explain that one when/if he ever decides to start blogging again (it isn't an intentional break from blogging on his part, more of a sudden realization recently that he hasn't blogged since June).
The break was an interesting opportunity for me to discuss my thesis topic with various people while down in CT. Paul's (my brother-in-law) parents were visiting on Saturday, which led to a brief discussion of my topic, as well as a lengthy conversation with Karissa (my sister) and Paul on Monday night when we all went out to dinner. People are definitely opinionated when it comes to my thesis-- willing to debate, question, and debate some more. It should make for an interesting year of continued research!
--brianna
Spending time with my sister, brother-in-law, and the kids was a great chance to see them and catch up. Even though they live relatively close (its about a five hour drive), it really necessitates a long weekend to make it down there, which I haven't had that many of-- school is pretty intense, and I don't skip classes if I can help it. This was the first time that we had seen them since Christmas, and it was a blast, but definitely tiring. The trip down to New Haven was excellent-- the weather was perfect, the leaves were changing color and falling as we were driving through the Catskills into Connecticut. The little two-lane roads we drove in Connecticut, alongside small lakes and streams seemed perfectly New England-esque. Cody commented that he would need to re-read Walden after our trip, it just seemed necessary.
We have made it back to Ithaca, and classes are back in swing. I started my next set of meetings for my thesis earlier this morning. It seems like it should be a good group of students and faculty that I am meeting with in this second semester of thesis prep. We each have very different topics, but all the topics are areas that I am interested in. If things go well, I should pretty much have my thesis prospectus wrapped up in a week or so (a key step in the process that is due by the end of this semester). Work is a little nuts for Cody, but I will let him explain that one when/if he ever decides to start blogging again (it isn't an intentional break from blogging on his part, more of a sudden realization recently that he hasn't blogged since June).
The break was an interesting opportunity for me to discuss my thesis topic with various people while down in CT. Paul's (my brother-in-law) parents were visiting on Saturday, which led to a brief discussion of my topic, as well as a lengthy conversation with Karissa (my sister) and Paul on Monday night when we all went out to dinner. People are definitely opinionated when it comes to my thesis-- willing to debate, question, and debate some more. It should make for an interesting year of continued research!
--brianna
Friday, October 10, 2008
Fall Break
We are going away for fall break-- to Connecticut. We are driving down to New Haven through the Catskills on what should be a beautiful weekend drive-- it's supposed to be sunny with temps in the low 70's for the next several days, which should make for a nice drive and back (which is especially nice, considering it will take about five and a half hours each way). I am very much looking forward to it, as it will be a good chance to get away, and see the fam. My sister, brother in law, niece and nephews are there, and it will be good to see them,. It will also be good to see a friend from college, who I haven't seen since we lived together the semester that we spent studying in DC.
We are taking off at about 8:00 tomorrow morning, with a stop at Starbucks for some coffee before leaving town. Hopefully, we will remember to pack our camera with us, and we will take some pictures over the course of the weekend as well. So, just wanted to give you an update. We have survived midterms (me taking them, Cody dealing with crabby customers who are studying for them), and are glad to be able to leave town for awhile.
--brianna
We are taking off at about 8:00 tomorrow morning, with a stop at Starbucks for some coffee before leaving town. Hopefully, we will remember to pack our camera with us, and we will take some pictures over the course of the weekend as well. So, just wanted to give you an update. We have survived midterms (me taking them, Cody dealing with crabby customers who are studying for them), and are glad to be able to leave town for awhile.
--brianna
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Presidential Elections and Debates
I am currently watching the Vice Presidential debates. I watched the first Presidential debate last Friday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Tonight however, not so much. I have definitive opinions when it comes to politics-- I am not wishy-washy when it comes to this election. I am wholly supportive of women in politics, and wish that there were more women involved in the political arena. However, Sarah Palin is driving me a bit crazy. I don't think she is the best choice as a vice presidential for John McCain, who I have a lot of respect for.
Sarah Palin is not reassuring me tonight on her ability to lead a country, or being the second in command. She is not making the verbal mistakes that she has been criticized for earlier this week in the interviews with Katie Couric, but she seems to be sticking to the talking points that have been prepared for her ahead of time. While I acknowledge that everyone does this to an extent, I think she is avoiding questions by changing the subject when she gets uncomfortable to an extent that isn't really showing me who she is, or reassuring me on her capabilities to lead this nation in the precarious situation we are currently in.
I will admit that I get sucked into politics-- I majored in political science in college, spent a semester studying in Washington DC in the fall of 2005 with an internship for a government commission. Even now, I am getting a degree that focuses on working for the government-- a master's degree in public administration. I am passionate about the country that we live in, and think that Sarah Palin frightens me as having control over our international relations.
--brianna
Sarah Palin is not reassuring me tonight on her ability to lead a country, or being the second in command. She is not making the verbal mistakes that she has been criticized for earlier this week in the interviews with Katie Couric, but she seems to be sticking to the talking points that have been prepared for her ahead of time. While I acknowledge that everyone does this to an extent, I think she is avoiding questions by changing the subject when she gets uncomfortable to an extent that isn't really showing me who she is, or reassuring me on her capabilities to lead this nation in the precarious situation we are currently in.
I will admit that I get sucked into politics-- I majored in political science in college, spent a semester studying in Washington DC in the fall of 2005 with an internship for a government commission. Even now, I am getting a degree that focuses on working for the government-- a master's degree in public administration. I am passionate about the country that we live in, and think that Sarah Palin frightens me as having control over our international relations.
--brianna
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