Retrosynthetic Analysis
02.28.04 (12:20 am) [edit]
Weather: Mild, but windy. As is expected.
Mood: Good, but worn out.
Book: [u]The Great Gatsby[/u] -- F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Music: "What Am I To You?" -- Norah Jones. Off her new [u]Feels Like Home[/u] album.
Subject of post: The hardest part of my three-hour organic exam Thursday night. Defined in lecture as "The trick that organic chemists use in approaching a synthetic problem," which is "to start from the target and work your way backwards." Once you establish a general approach of building the retrosynthetic plan, you have to reverse it and put it in synthetic order again, supplying reagents and solvents and the intermediates formed after each step (each usage of a reagent/solvent). The hard part is that if you choose the wrong path backwards and/or you pick the wrong reagents, side reactions can occur, creating other products that are not your desired product, which creates a smaller yield. Also, the more steps you take that are unnecessary, the more product you lose as well. Now that complicates things. Deciding what reagents/solvents are best to use and exactly which steps need to be taken to produce the given reaction is mentally tiresome. It's difficult for me to envision all of the in-between steps that need to occur.
So, being the strange analytical one that I am, I pull this idea of retrosynthetic analysis for chemical reactions into the realm of retrosynthetic analysis of our lives. More often than not, people set their goals and work their way linearly (synthetically) towards those goals. But what would happen if we thought about things in the opposite way, i.e. retrosynthetically? You have your starting material and your end product -- equating to your current situation and your future goal. Would it be easier to analyze your life if you saw your goal and worked backwards, pinpointing each important step all the way back to your current situation, and then reversing the order and enacting those steps linearly, i.e. living out your life? Would things be more or less confusing? Work out all the important events in reverse, set up your catalysts or motivators necessary to progress chronologically again, and set the reaction of life on course.
Then there is the problem of "reagents" in life. How do you know that what catalyst/reagent you have chosen to carry out the step of the reaction (what motive you have chosen to drive you to the next step towards achieving your goal) will give you your desired end product, without forming those side products (extra complications)? How do you avoid creating something unnecessary or something more difficult by making the mistake of choosing the wrong driving force in your life? How do you know what is appropriate to use and what will give you exactly what you want without resulting in a "smaller yield" or lower expectation?
Chemistry seems so much more straightforward in analyzing reactions in this manner. You're given what material you're starting with and what the end product is. It's difficult, but eventually you can figure it out with enough resources.
Life, on the other hand...I'm sure you could apply the same things I just said about chemistry. True, you do know what your current situation (your starting material) is. But life is infinitely times more complex than a reaction. People are often unaware of what their ultimate goal is in the first place, making it that much harder to figure out what is necessary to motivate them to the next step towards their goal. The end product shifts in life. Reagents, side products, and so on are also infinite and unable to be predicted. But I still can't help making the comparison.
And on that note, I shall retire for the evening. Sorry if all that chemistry jargon was confusing or if none of it made sense. Or if it just wasn't entertaining. Just an idea that popped into my head to rant about for a bit.
Mood: Good, but worn out.
Book: [u]The Great Gatsby[/u] -- F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Music: "What Am I To You?" -- Norah Jones. Off her new [u]Feels Like Home[/u] album.
Subject of post: The hardest part of my three-hour organic exam Thursday night. Defined in lecture as "The trick that organic chemists use in approaching a synthetic problem," which is "to start from the target and work your way backwards." Once you establish a general approach of building the retrosynthetic plan, you have to reverse it and put it in synthetic order again, supplying reagents and solvents and the intermediates formed after each step (each usage of a reagent/solvent). The hard part is that if you choose the wrong path backwards and/or you pick the wrong reagents, side reactions can occur, creating other products that are not your desired product, which creates a smaller yield. Also, the more steps you take that are unnecessary, the more product you lose as well. Now that complicates things. Deciding what reagents/solvents are best to use and exactly which steps need to be taken to produce the given reaction is mentally tiresome. It's difficult for me to envision all of the in-between steps that need to occur.
So, being the strange analytical one that I am, I pull this idea of retrosynthetic analysis for chemical reactions into the realm of retrosynthetic analysis of our lives. More often than not, people set their goals and work their way linearly (synthetically) towards those goals. But what would happen if we thought about things in the opposite way, i.e. retrosynthetically? You have your starting material and your end product -- equating to your current situation and your future goal. Would it be easier to analyze your life if you saw your goal and worked backwards, pinpointing each important step all the way back to your current situation, and then reversing the order and enacting those steps linearly, i.e. living out your life? Would things be more or less confusing? Work out all the important events in reverse, set up your catalysts or motivators necessary to progress chronologically again, and set the reaction of life on course.
Then there is the problem of "reagents" in life. How do you know that what catalyst/reagent you have chosen to carry out the step of the reaction (what motive you have chosen to drive you to the next step towards achieving your goal) will give you your desired end product, without forming those side products (extra complications)? How do you avoid creating something unnecessary or something more difficult by making the mistake of choosing the wrong driving force in your life? How do you know what is appropriate to use and what will give you exactly what you want without resulting in a "smaller yield" or lower expectation?
Chemistry seems so much more straightforward in analyzing reactions in this manner. You're given what material you're starting with and what the end product is. It's difficult, but eventually you can figure it out with enough resources.
Life, on the other hand...I'm sure you could apply the same things I just said about chemistry. True, you do know what your current situation (your starting material) is. But life is infinitely times more complex than a reaction. People are often unaware of what their ultimate goal is in the first place, making it that much harder to figure out what is necessary to motivate them to the next step towards their goal. The end product shifts in life. Reagents, side products, and so on are also infinite and unable to be predicted. But I still can't help making the comparison.
And on that note, I shall retire for the evening. Sorry if all that chemistry jargon was confusing or if none of it made sense. Or if it just wasn't entertaining. Just an idea that popped into my head to rant about for a bit.
Oh, the joys of babble
02.24.04 (11:36 pm) [edit]
02.23.04 -- 10:08 p.m.
[i]Everything I say I remember about you
Is a complete fabrication of my imagination
But it's such a lovely picture
That I would hate to destroy
A glimmer of hope, of air-brushed bliss
Finite hugs and a dreamt-up kiss
Reconstructed selective memory
Against the cold white light of reality
Well, wouldn't you know
It's the strangest thing
You remembered it all, too
When you looked at me[/i]
*shrugs* Yeah, I don't know either.
[i]Everything I say I remember about you
Is a complete fabrication of my imagination
But it's such a lovely picture
That I would hate to destroy
A glimmer of hope, of air-brushed bliss
Finite hugs and a dreamt-up kiss
Reconstructed selective memory
Against the cold white light of reality
Well, wouldn't you know
It's the strangest thing
You remembered it all, too
When you looked at me[/i]
*shrugs* Yeah, I don't know either.
Perhaps I should read this sometime...
02.24.04 (1:04 am) [edit]
You're Watership Down!
by Richard Adams
Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.
Could you pencil me in when you can?
02.24.04 (1:02 am) [edit]
Weather: Nice at first, but chillier as the day wore on. And then later on this evening, light rain. Spring...such a tease.
Mood: Pretty good, all things considered. Sleepy, but that's normal.
Book: [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander. I know, I know...I procrastinate. :oops:
Music: "Kisses in the Rain" -- John Pizzarelli. Excellent song off excellent CD (same album title as said track). Definitely have a listen, if you're into acoustic guitar jazzy kinda stuff. And a very nice voice.
Subject of post: A phrase that I have heard from friends ever since I started college. But applies so much more to this week's situation, and pretty much every week up until Spring Break. Yes, that's what I get for signing up for 19 hours, but I don't exactly have an exciting social life, so I didn't consider it to be a big deal.
Above phrase is also a line from "Man on the Side" by John Mayer -- one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists. Also acoustic guitar/jazz/blues/pop/som ething style. Also have a listen if you're unfamiliar with him.
Anyway, this week is pretty busy. Today I had an organic chemistry quiz over reading IR and NMR spectroscopy. Who knew little peaks and lines and such could tell you so much? Tomorrow is my long day, complete with a 3-hour afternoon lab for organic chemistry starting at 1:30, followed directly by a 1-hour organic lab lecture, followed directly by a 1.5-hour organic exam review session. Tack on morning class from 9:00-12:30, and it's quite lengthy. One day I'll stop using my weblog to babble...one day...*cough*. You're right -- never going to happen.
Uh...Thursday. Honors paper due, 3-hour Organic exam from 6-9 p.m. Followed immediately by celebration for it being over and a nice game of pool with some really close friends/classmates.
And that's all I know for certain. Okay, bedtime. Break.
Mood: Pretty good, all things considered. Sleepy, but that's normal.
Book: [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander. I know, I know...I procrastinate. :oops:
Music: "Kisses in the Rain" -- John Pizzarelli. Excellent song off excellent CD (same album title as said track). Definitely have a listen, if you're into acoustic guitar jazzy kinda stuff. And a very nice voice.
Subject of post: A phrase that I have heard from friends ever since I started college. But applies so much more to this week's situation, and pretty much every week up until Spring Break. Yes, that's what I get for signing up for 19 hours, but I don't exactly have an exciting social life, so I didn't consider it to be a big deal.
Above phrase is also a line from "Man on the Side" by John Mayer -- one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists. Also acoustic guitar/jazz/blues/pop/som ething style. Also have a listen if you're unfamiliar with him.
Anyway, this week is pretty busy. Today I had an organic chemistry quiz over reading IR and NMR spectroscopy. Who knew little peaks and lines and such could tell you so much? Tomorrow is my long day, complete with a 3-hour afternoon lab for organic chemistry starting at 1:30, followed directly by a 1-hour organic lab lecture, followed directly by a 1.5-hour organic exam review session. Tack on morning class from 9:00-12:30, and it's quite lengthy. One day I'll stop using my weblog to babble...one day...*cough*. You're right -- never going to happen.
Uh...Thursday. Honors paper due, 3-hour Organic exam from 6-9 p.m. Followed immediately by celebration for it being over and a nice game of pool with some really close friends/classmates.
And that's all I know for certain. Okay, bedtime. Break.
Fire alarms
02.22.04 (2:25 am) [edit]
Weather: Beautiful.
Mood: Okay, if the sore throat would go away. Guilty, for not doing all of the work I should have this evening.
Book: I bet you can guess.
Music: "Counting Blue Cars" -- Dishwalla.
Movie: [u]Monster[/u].
Subject of post:
[b]Attention: Whoever is setting off the fire alarms in my dorm -- please stop. That's the nicest I'll ever be about it. It's not that funny anymore. Not at 7:00 a.m., and not at 7:30 p.m. Or ever. In fact, I never found it that funny to begin with. Thanks.[/b]
Eh, not like it matters. He/she/they won't read this. But you know, it feels good to vent sometimes. [See previous entries] Definitely hasn't been my week or weekend.
However, the upshot is that it was beautiful day outside today. It's a shame I spent 6 hours indoors writing a paper instead. Went out to Pad Thai tonight with soulmate. Food was quite tasty. And the fortune cookie: "An admirer is too shy to greet you." Add the "in bed" if you'd like, but I don't even know the admirer to begin with. As if there was one. Anyway, after dinner, out to see aforementioned movie. My thoughts? Whoa. Just...whoa. I'm not quite sure what to think or say about it. But I'm a little shaky. I can say that Charlize Theron was excellent in her role. And that's all I can conjure up at the moment. Perhaps I'll come up with something more intelligible to add about the movie later on, but for now, my brain is quite sleepy. Farewell and good night.
Mood: Okay, if the sore throat would go away. Guilty, for not doing all of the work I should have this evening.
Book: I bet you can guess.
Music: "Counting Blue Cars" -- Dishwalla.
Movie: [u]Monster[/u].
Subject of post:
[b]Attention: Whoever is setting off the fire alarms in my dorm -- please stop. That's the nicest I'll ever be about it. It's not that funny anymore. Not at 7:00 a.m., and not at 7:30 p.m. Or ever. In fact, I never found it that funny to begin with. Thanks.[/b]
Eh, not like it matters. He/she/they won't read this. But you know, it feels good to vent sometimes. [See previous entries] Definitely hasn't been my week or weekend.
However, the upshot is that it was beautiful day outside today. It's a shame I spent 6 hours indoors writing a paper instead. Went out to Pad Thai tonight with soulmate. Food was quite tasty. And the fortune cookie: "An admirer is too shy to greet you." Add the "in bed" if you'd like, but I don't even know the admirer to begin with. As if there was one. Anyway, after dinner, out to see aforementioned movie. My thoughts? Whoa. Just...whoa. I'm not quite sure what to think or say about it. But I'm a little shaky. I can say that Charlize Theron was excellent in her role. And that's all I can conjure up at the moment. Perhaps I'll come up with something more intelligible to add about the movie later on, but for now, my brain is quite sleepy. Farewell and good night.
I can't handle this today. (A Continuation)
02.20.04 (6:20 pm) [edit]
Weather: Gorgeous. But windy.
Mood: Not so gorgeous. The best understatement ever.
Book: Still [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander.
Music: "Three Simple Words" -- Finch.
Subject of post: So, I wake up this morning. 4:30 a.m., to be exact, as my roommate stumbles in, with the air of a more-than-drunken stupor, lands in bed, and proceedes to retch. I can smell it, hear it, and assume that she has a wastebasket next to her bed. Apparently, it gets really bad, and she stumbles back out of bed, only to fall in the space between our beds, i.e. my side of the room. I ask her if she's all right, she says she's fine, and proceeds to walk into the bathroom to run the water and continue her retch-fest in the bathtub. I try to go back to sleep again, and awake at 9:30 a.m. to do some work. I notice the remnants of whatever the hell she had last night all over the side of her bed closest to my side of the room. And in a nice little heap on the floor on my side of the room. And, all over my [insert any strong, random expletive you wish here] piano books. (If you knew me and my music obsession, you'd understand.) So, it's this point. This point right here, that I can't take it anymore for the rest of the day, and I am pissed beyond belief.
Then I go see my writing assistant, who tells me basically in the nicest way possible that I need to rewrite my entire paper. Even better.
Class was okay. Came back to the dorms and encountered said roommate on my way in, who had sunglasses on to hide the effects of what I'm sure was her lovely hangover, and said not a word to me. Came back to the room to find out she cleaned most of it up. Most. Leaving me to do an entire cleaning of my floor and my chair that got dragged through the mess. Good times, good times.
And now, as my parents and brother should be arriving at the dorms soon, I must prepare to go out for dinner.
Praying it will be my one saving grace today. Because yesterday and today haven't been greatest, and the weekend looks extremely full of work.
Note to self: Do not make future entries so bitchy.
Mood: Not so gorgeous. The best understatement ever.
Book: Still [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander.
Music: "Three Simple Words" -- Finch.
Subject of post: So, I wake up this morning. 4:30 a.m., to be exact, as my roommate stumbles in, with the air of a more-than-drunken stupor, lands in bed, and proceedes to retch. I can smell it, hear it, and assume that she has a wastebasket next to her bed. Apparently, it gets really bad, and she stumbles back out of bed, only to fall in the space between our beds, i.e. my side of the room. I ask her if she's all right, she says she's fine, and proceeds to walk into the bathroom to run the water and continue her retch-fest in the bathtub. I try to go back to sleep again, and awake at 9:30 a.m. to do some work. I notice the remnants of whatever the hell she had last night all over the side of her bed closest to my side of the room. And in a nice little heap on the floor on my side of the room. And, all over my [insert any strong, random expletive you wish here] piano books. (If you knew me and my music obsession, you'd understand.) So, it's this point. This point right here, that I can't take it anymore for the rest of the day, and I am pissed beyond belief.
Then I go see my writing assistant, who tells me basically in the nicest way possible that I need to rewrite my entire paper. Even better.
Class was okay. Came back to the dorms and encountered said roommate on my way in, who had sunglasses on to hide the effects of what I'm sure was her lovely hangover, and said not a word to me. Came back to the room to find out she cleaned most of it up. Most. Leaving me to do an entire cleaning of my floor and my chair that got dragged through the mess. Good times, good times.
And now, as my parents and brother should be arriving at the dorms soon, I must prepare to go out for dinner.
Praying it will be my one saving grace today. Because yesterday and today haven't been greatest, and the weekend looks extremely full of work.
Note to self: Do not make future entries so bitchy.
I can't handle this tonight.
02.20.04 (12:41 am) [edit]
Weather: Was 70-some degrees outside today. Quite pleasant. And still is, at this hour.
Mood: Pretty good, overall. Still sick with a cough or something, and a little pissed right now. But I'll get to that in just a second.
Book: [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander. One more week (one more excerpt). Maybe I should get him to autograph it. Autographed books are awesome.
Music: "Out of My League" -- Stephen Speaks.
Subject of post: Loud roommate with company over when all I want to do is go to bed because I have this sinus headache/cough thing going on. And being the wonderfully passive and polite person that I am, I can't say, "Hey...can I kick you two out for a bit? Thanks, much appreciated." Also they're both on their way to "Plasterville" if you know what I mean. Boo. Sometimes I wish I had a single. Or maybe just another roommate...Yeah, I didn't just say that. *cough* Moving on...
It's been a while since I last posted. Busy week. Had friends come down from upstate last night. Good times. Pad thai and apple and chocolate satin pies to celebrate a friend's birthday. Yum.
So, today, we had discussion about my professor's book. Discussed legalized gambling and Prohibition from the 1920s and relating that to legalizing drugs in today's society. And I still can't bring myself to be vocal in there...grade still plummeting because of it. Sigh...I'm so shy, sometimes. Especially around people I don't know. How do you get over the fear of saying something completely stupid or something that has no point? Oh, and I broke glassware in organic lab. And went 30 minutes over lab time. :( Yeah, not a very good day.
Also met up with some friends on campus who I haven't seen in about 2-3 weeks. That was fun. And met someone new while playing the piano tonight. He seems very nice and a bit into music. Hmmm.
I'm not sure what else to say. Head pounding, roommate and friend knocking back goodness knows what while said roommate is screaming her head off, and...I must remember self-control. But it's awfully hard. *sigh* Good night. Maybe.
Mood: Pretty good, overall. Still sick with a cough or something, and a little pissed right now. But I'll get to that in just a second.
Book: [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander. One more week (one more excerpt). Maybe I should get him to autograph it. Autographed books are awesome.
Music: "Out of My League" -- Stephen Speaks.
Subject of post: Loud roommate with company over when all I want to do is go to bed because I have this sinus headache/cough thing going on. And being the wonderfully passive and polite person that I am, I can't say, "Hey...can I kick you two out for a bit? Thanks, much appreciated." Also they're both on their way to "Plasterville" if you know what I mean. Boo. Sometimes I wish I had a single. Or maybe just another roommate...Yeah, I didn't just say that. *cough* Moving on...
It's been a while since I last posted. Busy week. Had friends come down from upstate last night. Good times. Pad thai and apple and chocolate satin pies to celebrate a friend's birthday. Yum.
So, today, we had discussion about my professor's book. Discussed legalized gambling and Prohibition from the 1920s and relating that to legalizing drugs in today's society. And I still can't bring myself to be vocal in there...grade still plummeting because of it. Sigh...I'm so shy, sometimes. Especially around people I don't know. How do you get over the fear of saying something completely stupid or something that has no point? Oh, and I broke glassware in organic lab. And went 30 minutes over lab time. :( Yeah, not a very good day.
Also met up with some friends on campus who I haven't seen in about 2-3 weeks. That was fun. And met someone new while playing the piano tonight. He seems very nice and a bit into music. Hmmm.
I'm not sure what else to say. Head pounding, roommate and friend knocking back goodness knows what while said roommate is screaming her head off, and...I must remember self-control. But it's awfully hard. *sigh* Good night. Maybe.
Worse than the total agony of being in love?
02.14.04 (1:53 am) [edit]
Weather: Chilly, but lacking wind. So just fine by me.
Mood: Mixed-up.
Music: "Turn Me On" -- Norah Jones.
Book: [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander.
Movie: [u]Love Actually[/u].
Subject of post: A quote from the movie above, occurring after a ten-year-old boy has told his father that he is in love and there is nothing his father can do to help him. His father then states that he is relieved because he thought something worse was wrong with his son. And his son asks him this. To which his father replies, "Oh. Yeah, you're right. Total agony."
[u]Love Actually[/u] was a wonderful movie about many different couples sorting out love and relationships a month prior to Christmas. Quite sappy, but still...you know, a perfect February 14th movie.
Which reminds me. Happy February 14th, everyone. A friend provided me with a few pieces of milk chocolate -- Dove Promises. Once I got past the chocolates, which disappeared unnaturally quickly...:wink:...the wrappers read:
"Chocolate is the language of love."
and on another:
"Enjoy life's simple pleasures."
Just thought I'd share that with you.
And lastly, speaking of this fateful February day...well, there are chocolates and flowers and hugs and kisses and romance and whatnot and all things of that nature. And then there is sleep. So, umm...once again, as most years go, by default...
z^3. :roll:
That's all for now. Shoo. And have a good weekend.
Mood: Mixed-up.
Music: "Turn Me On" -- Norah Jones.
Book: [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander.
Movie: [u]Love Actually[/u].
Subject of post: A quote from the movie above, occurring after a ten-year-old boy has told his father that he is in love and there is nothing his father can do to help him. His father then states that he is relieved because he thought something worse was wrong with his son. And his son asks him this. To which his father replies, "Oh. Yeah, you're right. Total agony."
[u]Love Actually[/u] was a wonderful movie about many different couples sorting out love and relationships a month prior to Christmas. Quite sappy, but still...you know, a perfect February 14th movie.
Which reminds me. Happy February 14th, everyone. A friend provided me with a few pieces of milk chocolate -- Dove Promises. Once I got past the chocolates, which disappeared unnaturally quickly...:wink:...the wrappers read:
"Chocolate is the language of love."
and on another:
"Enjoy life's simple pleasures."
Just thought I'd share that with you.
And lastly, speaking of this fateful February day...well, there are chocolates and flowers and hugs and kisses and romance and whatnot and all things of that nature. And then there is sleep. So, umm...once again, as most years go, by default...
z^3. :roll:
That's all for now. Shoo. And have a good weekend.
Don't be such a scaredy-cat
02.13.04 (11:06 am) [edit]
Weather: Not certain yet. A bit chilly inside my dorm room.
Mood: Good. (Wait, did I just say that?) Still sleepy, no matter what I do. This is a problem.
Book: [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander. Yes, [i]the[/i] Michael Alexander, my professor. Because all of you know him personally and everything...*cough*
Music: "Daylight" -- Coldplay.
Movie: None...yet. Soon to be [u]Love Actually[/u], later on this evening with a few friends, but I'll talk about that later.
Subject of post: Yeah, that's for any of you "Friday the 13th" worriers...ooooh...not scary. Never did see those movies, come to think of it. Anyway, surprisingly, Fridays that do fall on the 13ths of the month are usually my best days.
Well, dear Thursday has come and gone. Very slowly and with much length. Received a Calc homework assignment back with an 11/10 on it (yay) and turned in another assignment. Turned in my Honors paper with a weird, long title, and went to discussion, remaining silent. This is not good for my grade...we even discussed music today, which I love talking about, but I couldn't bring myself to pipe up and say something. I really need to work on that.
So after that, I had Organic Lab. Purifying caffeine that I extracted from tea bags on Tuesday. The fire alarm went off in the entire 11-story Physical Sciences center, and all of our lab benches were left unattended. I was afraid my equipment was going to break, because we were constantly supposed to remove the water that came from the ice melting so that the tube wouldn't shatter. Luckily, nothing broke (and thus no paying for broken glassware). I hope my caffeine yield was still okay though. On a less nerdier note, I wonder what it would be like to have just pure caffeine injected into our daily drinks/food/whatever...
After that, I went apartment hunting with some friends. We only visited one, and we're hooked. Because it's brand new, close to campus, has a campus shuttle, separate rooms/bathrooms for people, and so on. I know, logically, we should look at others first. And we'll do that later on today.
Hours later, after doing...well, basically nothing, I played 9-point pitch and spades with a group of friends, and went to bed.
And here I am, 10 hours later.
That's my not-so-brief update for you. And on that note, since my day hasn't really started yet (I've currently just rolled myself out of bed), it's time for a shower (no growing "moulding fungi" for me :P) and lunch before my first class.
Tonight's discussion: V-Day and aforementioned movie, perhaps.
Mood: Good. (Wait, did I just say that?) Still sleepy, no matter what I do. This is a problem.
Book: [u]Jazz Age Jews[/u] -- Michael Alexander. Yes, [i]the[/i] Michael Alexander, my professor. Because all of you know him personally and everything...*cough*
Music: "Daylight" -- Coldplay.
Movie: None...yet. Soon to be [u]Love Actually[/u], later on this evening with a few friends, but I'll talk about that later.
Subject of post: Yeah, that's for any of you "Friday the 13th" worriers...ooooh...not scary. Never did see those movies, come to think of it. Anyway, surprisingly, Fridays that do fall on the 13ths of the month are usually my best days.
Well, dear Thursday has come and gone. Very slowly and with much length. Received a Calc homework assignment back with an 11/10 on it (yay) and turned in another assignment. Turned in my Honors paper with a weird, long title, and went to discussion, remaining silent. This is not good for my grade...we even discussed music today, which I love talking about, but I couldn't bring myself to pipe up and say something. I really need to work on that.
So after that, I had Organic Lab. Purifying caffeine that I extracted from tea bags on Tuesday. The fire alarm went off in the entire 11-story Physical Sciences center, and all of our lab benches were left unattended. I was afraid my equipment was going to break, because we were constantly supposed to remove the water that came from the ice melting so that the tube wouldn't shatter. Luckily, nothing broke (and thus no paying for broken glassware). I hope my caffeine yield was still okay though. On a less nerdier note, I wonder what it would be like to have just pure caffeine injected into our daily drinks/food/whatever...
After that, I went apartment hunting with some friends. We only visited one, and we're hooked. Because it's brand new, close to campus, has a campus shuttle, separate rooms/bathrooms for people, and so on. I know, logically, we should look at others first. And we'll do that later on today.
Hours later, after doing...well, basically nothing, I played 9-point pitch and spades with a group of friends, and went to bed.
And here I am, 10 hours later.
That's my not-so-brief update for you. And on that note, since my day hasn't really started yet (I've currently just rolled myself out of bed), it's time for a shower (no growing "moulding fungi" for me :P) and lunch before my first class.
Tonight's discussion: V-Day and aforementioned movie, perhaps.
Give in already
02.12.04 (2:19 am) [edit]
For Thursday:
First page draft of 5-page Jazz Age America paper due tomorrow: completed.
2 hours of Jazz Age America reading also due tomorrow: completed.
Calculus III Homework: completed.
Fun time: 1% completed.
[i]/begin aside
Fun time == subject of post. Sometimes, you must give in to your childish desires...as I have. Plus, it was the closest thing I could use to vent (aside from this blog).
/end aside[/i]
[url=http://www.davidandgoliathtee...]Here's the 1%[/url]
Sleep: initiating REM mode...unable to be fully completed. (I can't live on 5 hours of sleep everyday, but I'll settle for it tonight.)
Will resume fun time in about 16 hours. Signing off.
First page draft of 5-page Jazz Age America paper due tomorrow: completed.
2 hours of Jazz Age America reading also due tomorrow: completed.
Calculus III Homework: completed.
Fun time: 1% completed.
[i]/begin aside
Fun time == subject of post. Sometimes, you must give in to your childish desires...as I have. Plus, it was the closest thing I could use to vent (aside from this blog).
/end aside[/i]
[url=http://www.davidandgoliathtee...]Here's the 1%[/url]
Sleep: initiating REM mode...unable to be fully completed. (I can't live on 5 hours of sleep everyday, but I'll settle for it tonight.)
Will resume fun time in about 16 hours. Signing off.
Birthdays
02.10.04 (12:09 am) [edit]
Weather: Mild. Yay.
Mood: Tired, worried, and somehow slightly content.
Book: Still looking...
Music: "Heart and Soul" -- John Coltrane.
Subject of post: Today (or rather yesterday as of a few minutes ago) was my "soulmate's" birthday. The big 1-9. Or 9-1, as his friends put on his cake as a joke, plus a grandpa birthday card. Quite funny. We all went out for Mexican food tonight, and then came back to campus and sang "Happy Birthday" very loudly and annoyingly and...my favorite part...had cake. Yum. I feel bad that he was away from home and his family, but I hope that he enjoyed his birthday up here with his friends.
And...that's it, for now. I really should be working on my paper assignment for Honors, but I have this huge roadblock. It's called, coming up with a thesis. A strong thesis, at that. I feel that if I had that, I'd be able to write my 5-page paper in no time. But I've been racking my brain for days trying to come up with one. Sigh...back to the grindstone for another hour maybe. And then glorious sleep. Good night, blog world.
Mood: Tired, worried, and somehow slightly content.
Book: Still looking...
Music: "Heart and Soul" -- John Coltrane.
Subject of post: Today (or rather yesterday as of a few minutes ago) was my "soulmate's" birthday. The big 1-9. Or 9-1, as his friends put on his cake as a joke, plus a grandpa birthday card. Quite funny. We all went out for Mexican food tonight, and then came back to campus and sang "Happy Birthday" very loudly and annoyingly and...my favorite part...had cake. Yum. I feel bad that he was away from home and his family, but I hope that he enjoyed his birthday up here with his friends.
And...that's it, for now. I really should be working on my paper assignment for Honors, but I have this huge roadblock. It's called, coming up with a thesis. A strong thesis, at that. I feel that if I had that, I'd be able to write my 5-page paper in no time. But I've been racking my brain for days trying to come up with one. Sigh...back to the grindstone for another hour maybe. And then glorious sleep. Good night, blog world.
Knock and Die!
02.08.04 (12:29 am) [edit]
Found tonight, hanging on the doorknob of my dorm room that faces outward into the hall:
[i]Knock and Die!
I NEED TOTAL peace and quiet. I'm in touch with a creative love vibe from the center of the earth, tapped into my own special personal meditative wavelength, tuned in to all the earth's positive energy. I think you know what I'm driving at: Disturb me, and I'll crack your skull like a walnut.[/i]
And on the flipside of this doorhanger? A menu/advertisement for a gourmet sandwich place north of campus. Hmmm, maybe I'll try something from there sometime.
[i]Knock and Die!
I NEED TOTAL peace and quiet. I'm in touch with a creative love vibe from the center of the earth, tapped into my own special personal meditative wavelength, tuned in to all the earth's positive energy. I think you know what I'm driving at: Disturb me, and I'll crack your skull like a walnut.[/i]
And on the flipside of this doorhanger? A menu/advertisement for a gourmet sandwich place north of campus. Hmmm, maybe I'll try something from there sometime.
Wait...what's your name again?
02.07.04 (10:45 pm) [edit]
You're Bosnia-Herzegovina!
You've just been through a big tragedy. You weren't sure you were going to make it at all. Now that you have, there's a lot to pick back up in your life, and not enough people are helping you. You just wanted a little more freedom, a chance to be away from those who thought poorly of you. Now it's time to build up some confidence, and it looks like you have a good chance at that. But you'll need a lot of therapy.
Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid
Clothes don't really help...
02.07.04 (1:59 am) [edit]
Weather: I didn't think it could get this bad. Weather this cold should be required to include snow. Otherwise, it just isn't worth it.
Mood: Okay. Tired.
Book: Searching for something new...any suggestions?
Movie: [u]Kill Bill, Vol. 1[/u].
Song: "This Love" -- Maroon 5.
Subject of post: Related to weather. I hate wind that does that to you -- cuts through pretty much everything. And then changes directions frequently so that you're always walking into it, fighting to get somewhere. Makes me more fond of my bed, I suppose.
Took the first Genetics test today. Freaked out because minutes before I went to take it, I asked a friend, who took it two hours before me, how it went. And he proceeded to scream a nice four-word expletive, beginning with the sixth letter of the alphabet, right outside the student union, where probably 20 people were milling about. I would have found it extremely funny, had I not been worried about taking it. But then I sat down to take it, and it wasn't that bad. One question was even a nice giveaway by our professor...and a corny joke. Here it goes:
[i]What do you get when you cross a professor with a parrot?
I don't know, but he sure does talk a lot.[/i]
Don't worry -- he won't be here all weekend.
Went to see aforementioned movie tonight at the Union with a couple of friends.
And now, I believe it's time for bed. Parents and brother are coming down to visit tomorrow. And plus I have laundry and homework and all that good stuff to do.
I miss time aside to sit and write and play piano. Perhaps I'll try to work that in as well.
Mood: Okay. Tired.
Book: Searching for something new...any suggestions?
Movie: [u]Kill Bill, Vol. 1[/u].
Song: "This Love" -- Maroon 5.
Subject of post: Related to weather. I hate wind that does that to you -- cuts through pretty much everything. And then changes directions frequently so that you're always walking into it, fighting to get somewhere. Makes me more fond of my bed, I suppose.
Took the first Genetics test today. Freaked out because minutes before I went to take it, I asked a friend, who took it two hours before me, how it went. And he proceeded to scream a nice four-word expletive, beginning with the sixth letter of the alphabet, right outside the student union, where probably 20 people were milling about. I would have found it extremely funny, had I not been worried about taking it. But then I sat down to take it, and it wasn't that bad. One question was even a nice giveaway by our professor...and a corny joke. Here it goes:
[i]What do you get when you cross a professor with a parrot?
I don't know, but he sure does talk a lot.[/i]
Don't worry -- he won't be here all weekend.
Went to see aforementioned movie tonight at the Union with a couple of friends.
And now, I believe it's time for bed. Parents and brother are coming down to visit tomorrow. And plus I have laundry and homework and all that good stuff to do.
I miss time aside to sit and write and play piano. Perhaps I'll try to work that in as well.
Return of the Mack
02.04.04 (1:21 am) [edit]
Weather: Windy and cold. There's only so much winter I can take.
Mood: Somewhere between discontent and mild depression.
Book: [u]Organic Chemistry[/u] -- Joseph M. Hornback
Song: "Return of the Mack" -- Mark Morrison.
Subject of post: Song title. Also a chorus line. Anyone ever listen to that? I can't seem to get it out of my head lately.
February's a busy month...I think the number of blogs I post will be inversely proportional to the amount of homework/studying I will have to do. Or at least try to do. And that's kind of sad.
Reading organic chemistry and studying like mad for our first major quiz tomorrow. So many reactions, so little time, and all I really feel like doing is going to bed. I get caught at the college fork in the road of studying as much as possible late into the night or just sleeping it off and hoping good things will come of being well-rested and a bit unprepared. I pick sleep.
Will update more on the week later. Or will ignore the week and come up with something a little more philosophical and a little less mundane to discuss.
Mood: Somewhere between discontent and mild depression.
Book: [u]Organic Chemistry[/u] -- Joseph M. Hornback
Song: "Return of the Mack" -- Mark Morrison.
Subject of post: Song title. Also a chorus line. Anyone ever listen to that? I can't seem to get it out of my head lately.
February's a busy month...I think the number of blogs I post will be inversely proportional to the amount of homework/studying I will have to do. Or at least try to do. And that's kind of sad.
Reading organic chemistry and studying like mad for our first major quiz tomorrow. So many reactions, so little time, and all I really feel like doing is going to bed. I get caught at the college fork in the road of studying as much as possible late into the night or just sleeping it off and hoping good things will come of being well-rested and a bit unprepared. I pick sleep.
Will update more on the week later. Or will ignore the week and come up with something a little more philosophical and a little less mundane to discuss.
Better Luck Tomorrow
02.01.04 (12:39 pm) [edit]
Everything else was kind of irrelevant at the time...so:
Movie: [u]Better Luck Tomorrow[/u].
Subject of post: BLT, or "the Asian movie," as it is lovingly dubbed by some people. Pretty good -- have a watch if you haven't seen it yet. Asian high-schoolers with their 4.0s getting bored and looking for "fun" and stuff that doesn't go on their college apps. Interesting view of suburbia and Asian students.
So, a friend of mine who is at Oberlin, but currently doing a lab mentorship back in state, dropped by yesterday. The one who came to my door at 11:30 (see previous post). He's wonderful and lots of fun...and I really miss him now. :cry: He took me out to Panera yesterday afternoon, and we had ourselves a nice snack/dinner/something. The last time he came, it was more comfortable to me to sit there and chat because it was just the two of us, but this time a guy we both know from high school came with us and a guy that I just recently met in college came with us as well. Not that I don't like all four of us eating together, but I just missed getting to talk to him one-on-one. I find that I like to have one-on-one conversations with people I feel kind of close to, especially if I haven't seen them in a long time. So, I was a little unhappy that we didn't get to talk as much, but I was really glad he came to visit. He invited me to come with him to see some of our other friends upstate, but I had other plans for the evening.
As for the evening, those plans were fine. Went out with the guy that I recently met in college, who went with us to Panera. We went out to the Hideaway for pizza and big chocolate chip cookies with ice cream. Yum. And then watched the movie above. Good times.
So...as you can see, counter-productivity has won the weekend battle. Unfortunately, now I must work damage control today. Farewell, bloggers/readers.
Movie: [u]Better Luck Tomorrow[/u].
Subject of post: BLT, or "the Asian movie," as it is lovingly dubbed by some people. Pretty good -- have a watch if you haven't seen it yet. Asian high-schoolers with their 4.0s getting bored and looking for "fun" and stuff that doesn't go on their college apps. Interesting view of suburbia and Asian students.
So, a friend of mine who is at Oberlin, but currently doing a lab mentorship back in state, dropped by yesterday. The one who came to my door at 11:30 (see previous post). He's wonderful and lots of fun...and I really miss him now. :cry: He took me out to Panera yesterday afternoon, and we had ourselves a nice snack/dinner/something. The last time he came, it was more comfortable to me to sit there and chat because it was just the two of us, but this time a guy we both know from high school came with us and a guy that I just recently met in college came with us as well. Not that I don't like all four of us eating together, but I just missed getting to talk to him one-on-one. I find that I like to have one-on-one conversations with people I feel kind of close to, especially if I haven't seen them in a long time. So, I was a little unhappy that we didn't get to talk as much, but I was really glad he came to visit. He invited me to come with him to see some of our other friends upstate, but I had other plans for the evening.
As for the evening, those plans were fine. Went out with the guy that I recently met in college, who went with us to Panera. We went out to the Hideaway for pizza and big chocolate chip cookies with ice cream. Yum. And then watched the movie above. Good times.
So...as you can see, counter-productivity has won the weekend battle. Unfortunately, now I must work damage control today. Farewell, bloggers/readers.