Stand on the Shoulders of Giants.

OR, spend two days at Yale at the most amazing conference ever where you can meet (1) your academic heroes, and (2) their academic heroes. I'm completely exhausted from an insanely brain-packed weekend, but I am so happy I made it. Usually you go to a conference and about 1/3 of the talks are relevant, it's packed with too many people, and you can't ever finagle your way into saying more than "I liked your talk" to these people you totally idolize and would like to collaborate with on projects. This was completely different. It was a tiny gathering of 140 or so people, and it was all about self-regulation from the giants in the field who were basically acting like they were just presenting some data among friends. Even better, I had an "in" with the conference organizers so I got to attend the dinners and receptions afterwards and share a drink and my research ideas with these incredible people. Sorry, I don't know the proper amount I can gush about this, so I will simply close with the following: I was taking a senior seminar in psychology as an undergrad when I came across a classic study in the field that made me think "hmm...maybe I could study this forever instead of becoming a lawyer/politician." I got to have dinner with the man who ran that study and tell him just how much of an influence he has had in my life. Amazing. I also made lots of good connections with people I might potentially work with in the future since it's hard for me to find people who care about addiction up here at Dartmouth.

So yeah, conference was intense but at least I got to spend a few hours with the family and play catch up.

And now, I'm frantically trying to work out a poster and get packed up so I can go enjoy D.C. I'm making a promise that after I present my poster from 5 to 8 on Thursday, I am officially checking out until I am back on a plane coming to NH.

Other than that - still working on the sugar daddy arrangements (I'm busy and then he's busy), and The Klapper still finds new and interesting ways to suck. He dropped it on me last that he's going to be gone for 6 weeks coming up next Friday, so I think it'll be pretty easy to figure out if this sugar daddy thing is right for me so I can hopefully drop his ass when he comes back in January.

TOO BUSY + Sugar Daddy?

I'm not even going to apologize for not updating. I'm in an academic shit storm with no end in sight - but I'm getting through the mess. It seems like every single day there is a new deadline, but I keep meeting them, so soon enough there will be no more deadlines and I can be a person again. In fact, after getting through a departmental talk tomorrow, I might actually be the type of person who doesn't frequently cry in the shower. Maybe....

Some Highlights - super fun departmental party 2 weekends ago. Oh, and I ended up pushing a car 1/2 a mile in 3 inch heels and the shortest skirt I own. With no coat. In 30 degree weather. Win.

-super fun Halloween party last weekend with an AWESOME Double Dare costume. Awesome.

-weeding in the snow. Okay that sucked, but I had to laugh because my friend and I showed up to do some yardwork in sneakers and the guys yard was covered in show. So we spent 4 hours digging weeds out of the snow and pulling them from the ground. But then we found a roadside bbq joint that was amazing.

-The Klapper. Um. Sucks. I mentally wrote so many nasty posts last week but then decided I was sick of updating with like "My arm got ripped off in an elevator but The Klapper had a group project to work on so he gave me his coat and left".

Upcoming!!!!

Conference at Yale this weekend. Looking forward to being home - hope the parents have power by then.

DC NEXT WEEK. HOLY FUCKING HELL. DC. ME. SOON. FRIENDS. SOON. AHHHHH.

Plans are starting to come together, so get in touch with me if you want to hang out.

Sugar Daddy?

Okay so we all know I'm a bit too pragmatic about sex, so here it goes.

(1) I am broke. I work a ton of shitty jobs, and I'm still broke.

(2) I'm currently having meaningless sex with a guy who treats me badly. Correction, I'm having meaningless sex about once a week. Which is 6 times a week less than would be ideal.

(3) We know I like older men...

So I was browsing Craigslist in between work panic and found a sugar daddy ad. I responded and the guy seems pretty nice, cool, laid back. I basically said exactly what I just typed, and I think he appreciated my bluntness. We've emailed and exchanged pictures and I'm hoping to meet up when I get a break in the work to see if this could actually work.

So Feedback please! (1) Is this just the worst idea? I know that crossing the barrier between dominatrix and person getting paid for sex is a big one, but I've given up on finding love in Hanover. (2) What am I worth? I don't even know where to begin figuring out my bottom financial line for playing girlfriend.