MEGA Post

Okay so I've started to write posts several times but been overwhelmed by the amount of time to cover and given up. So, I think I will do a shitty job updating but this will allow me to continue doing posts again.

So, weekends in Hanover were filled with some pretty sweet parties for a while. Always something big going on with lots of new people.

As karma tends to offset things, I had an absolutely terrible few weeks with my adviser before we headed to a conference in Chicago. Not only was everything I did wrong, but I was a "bad scientist", had "no idea what I was doing", and my adviser found a way to tell me things in the absolute meanest terms possible. Whereas somebody might say "this is still a little confusing, maybe think about what you want to say", she would write as a comment "I don't know what you are saying here, and in fact, I'm pretty sure you have no idea what you are saying either. This is unacceptable". Fabulous. I was also working from about 7 am until about midnight EVERY SINGLE DAY. Eating terrible food, not sleeping, and being told perpetually that I am a terrible student. Wonderful.

At some point, I actually had a completed poster for my first conference and it was just in time to head to Chicago. Chicago was professionally amazing but personally sort of blah. Professionally, I made some absolutely amazing contacts and it was really awesome (albeit intimidating) to present my first neuroscience data at a very small conference filled with the leaders in the social neuroscience field. Like, I would be going on about some sort of method and realized I was talking to the person who came up with it. But, as I love performing, I had a great time presenting my poster and networking. On the negative side, being stuck with a large group of girls and no testosterone and exhausted meant I was inevitably annoyed with everyone. But I was really pumped to be in Chicago, did lots of walking around on my own, and really enjoyed that aspect.

I got back to Hanover and felt the typical depression that occurs when I am put back in the middle of nowhere, and it was sort of compounded by thinking "oh dear, not only am I back but I'm annoyed with many of the people I spend time with here". But, some time alone and sleep really helped.

Last weekend was great though involved going to the Lyme Public School Parent Teacher Association Trivia fundraiser, and realizing that we had been mislead about the people who would be going. We were (a) the only people who did not have a child in the school system or taught those children, (b) the only people not in some ridiculous costume, and (c) the only people under 50. And obviously, being a team made of Dartmouth grad students, we won and they all hated us. But, we were nice and donated back our prize money and warmed our way back into their hearts. Best part, the winners from last year had to give us their crowns which we wore proudly and get to bring back next year.

And now there is a final matter of the fact that I am sort of possibly seeing someone. Yes, I might actually have found someone in Hanover that I don't hate and enjoy having sex with. I'll write more about him in another post this week.

So, now I am caught up and will be able to resume normal blogging behavior for the foreseeable future.

Wow

I can't believe I haven't updated since October 10th. Tonight won't be the night but I promise to get some updating done over the next few days. Highlights will include:

Apple Pie Baking party

2 weeks of being told I am worthless and working 16 hour days on no sleep or food

A trip to Chicago and my first poster presentation

Information about upcoming dates

Stay tuned....