Ho Hum

Lately, because of all the stress I've been under, I have been trying to find other ways to manage some of my anxiety. It's pretty inevitable that stress will be present during grad school, I think what makes or breaks a person is how they choose to handle it. So, in an attempt to be creative, I have found that taking a shower with no lights on and just a single candle burning has the effect of reducing a great deal of my stress. I also have discovered the key signs that my stress level is starting to rise: stomach pains/cramps, bloatedness, headaches, breakouts, cold sores (well, not in the last 2 years, but right now at least), back/neck/shoulder soreness, insatiable hunger, boredom, laziness. I think it's good that I am recognizing this, but now it's to that point in the quarter when I'm starting to feel guilty not doing work. I suppose it was bound to happen (some would say that guilt is really the foundation of grad school, though I don't like to think of it that way) and now, my job is to find ways I can abolish the guilt or at least deal with it in a "healthy" and non-I'm-going-to-go-jump-off-a-bridge-now way.

Speaking of (well, not really, I just wanted to change the subject), I want to ask you all a question. In fact, maybe I want you all to take a survey about a topic dear to my heart...Kel, maybe you can assist me on developing a little WebQ for my questions...

Do you all think I'm different? In what ways? I mean, maybe this is a recipe for disaster, but I really want to know what you think of me since I've started grad school. Have I changed? How? Do I use to much "psych jargon"? Am I too "intellectual"? Do you feel like you can relate to what I am posting and how I describe my feelings? I guess I just want to gauge how people are reacting to my changes - both my internal changes and my external (school, eduational) changes. I want to know if I'm still approachable, relatable, friendly, etc. Or do you feel like I've really gotten out of touch with you, my family, my friends, etc?

Like I said, maybe this isn't such a good idea, but I'll think about it and post something (like a link) so that you can answer my questions if you so choose. Maybe I'll make it anonymous - Kel, can I do that? (For those of you who don't know, Kelly is Miss Expert Catalyst Woman, which just means that she knows her shit when it comes to the UW's computerized educational and online technology since she has an assistantship with the Catalyst Department. She has been using these surveys and online questionnaires - Kel, I hope you don't mind me mentioning this - for her own stuff, not just school stuff. For example (this is my personal favorite use of these tools), Kelly has developed a survey for the apple pie baking contest that her and her cousin have during Thanksgiving. Brilliant, I say! What a good idea!)

Anyhow, if I get around to it, I will be developing a similar thing. Maybe.

I am going to go eat some pizza and curry, but before I do that, I have posted a little ditty that some of you may have already seen and some of you may not have already seen. It's great. Obviously done by a man, but still very clever.

Enjoy!