Funny Picture of the Day

Professor Trudy says "stop playing around and do your homework!"

So Close...Yet So Far Away

Hello Everyone! Just a little post to let you know that we are home safe and sound from our short trip to Kingman for the Thankgiving holiday. The pups faired well, Piper did reasonably well on her own (there wasn't nearly as much pee to clean up as I expected) and the trip was rather uneventful. Can't ask for much more than that.

Now crunch time begins. Finals began for me today. I finished my first one this morning for OCHM lab. It was a tough, 2 part final, but I think I pulled off a good enough grade to get an A. We'll see...

My next final is this Friday which coinsides with a test in OCHM lecture. Lets just say I am feeling a little pressed for time. Both require a great deal of attention and studying, but there is only so much time left.

My last two finals aren't until the week of the 15th, so there will be a short break in-between exams. That short break should give me time to study and get Trudy to the vet since she has a tooth that needs to be pulled. I know, poor little girl doesn't have many teeth left, but the ones she does have seem to be rotting right out of her head. Poor baby!

Anyway, you might not see much of me for the next couple weeks, but I will definately be back after December 19th...the day of my last final.

Take Care!

P.S. We're moving again...I don't know when or where, but the decision has been made.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To All My Family and Friends,

Wishing each and every one of you a very safe and relaxing Thanksgiving!

The Cutest Infestation

Matthew sent me this website about a week ago and I have gotten such laughs out of it, I thought I would share it with the rest of you.

http://cdn1.ustream.tv/swf/4/viewer.45.swf?cid=317016

And here is an article:

It takes a village of some 4 million to raise six cuddly pups, or at least to ogle them for hours on end.

What began as a way for a San Francisco couple to keep tabs on their pet Shiba Inu dog Kika’s litter while they were at work has become an unlikely Web sensation. Viewers flock to the Internet site Ustream.com to monitor the 5-week-old brood’s growth, watching the energetic pups paw and play with one another and have at it with their chew toys.

It's like having puppies in your own house without having to clean up the poop!

Enjoy!

Diverticulitis: Update

I had my last appointment, as least for the foreseeable future, with my gastroenterologist yesterday. Overall she says I am making good progress, the intense pressure in my abdomen has lessened and my bouts of pain are only about a couple times a week. For me, this is progress.

I have been on antibiotics for at least the last 12 weeks, trying to clear up the infection in my lower GI tract. That regimen will be done in about 2 more weeks. Her advice from now on is: eat better, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and drink lots of water. I can accomplish all of these on my own except for the eating better part. Where does one begin? So, now I am seeking a nutritionist, hopefully free through the university but if not, through my health insurance company...who can put me on the right track in terms of what I should be eating. Those with diverticulitis are not supposed to eat popcorn, nuts, or seeds of any kind. Other than that, that's all I know. Hopefully a nutritionist or dietitian can tell me how many veggies, fruits, dairy, and meats I should be eating eat day/week with the condition that I have.

The only other problem I foresee is the "plenty of sleep". I am going into finals in about a week or so and I doubt much sleeping will be going on...but I will try.

High School Moment #1

Yesterday I was walking to my bike, had my helmet on and was getting my iPod out for the ride home. From a short distance away I heard someone call my name and I looked. It was two of the girls from my Organic Chemistry lab. They smiled and waved, I smiled and waved in response. I suddenly realized that the "cool" kids just waved to me and I was wearing my grubby clothes, my hair was a mess, and had my pink bike helmet on...how stupid did I look? I felt a rush of embarrassment and awkwardness and couldn't wait to get out of there, afraid of what they might think or say.

Than, two seconds later I realized, I'm not 18 anymore -- I am almost thirty and no longer do I give a darn what the 18 year old "cool" kids think or say about me.

On the ride home, I laughed out-loud and thought -- Isn't it sad that even when we are older and more mature some of those old high school moments sneak up on us out of nowhere?

Post Election Day Response

I am only going to briefly comment on the Presidental race. My candidate didn't win and I am disappointed. I thought he brought a lot to the table and would have been a great and honorable president. I am getting used to the idea of having Obama as my President and truly hope he brings the change he promises to America.

Now onto the Arizona elections!

Let's be honest Arizonans, we aren't very happy with the government we have in place or many of the policies they support. Which is why the election results are so stiking. I did a completely non-mathmatical tabulation this morning of who won and who didn't. Would you be surprised to hear that out of the approximately 64 races that took place in Pima County alone, apporximately 49 of those resulted in the imcumbant(s) staying in office? Would you also be surprised to hear that a vast majority of those 15 races which resulted in a new candidate taking office, the incumbant wasn't running against them? Don't you also find it interesting that not a single judge was unseated?

This state needs help and it needs it desperately! Our school districts have no money, our prisons are overcrowded, illegal aliens are crossing the border into our state EVERYDAY, our streets and highways need improvement, crime is on the rise, the list goes on and on!

SO WHY DO WE INSIST ON KEEPING THE SAME MORONS IN OFFICE?

I urge all Arizonans, shoot I urge people from every state, at the next election take a good long look at our (your) city/state/country and if you don't like what you see, for heaven's sake get rid of the people running it.

The Circle of Life Displayed Right in Front of my House

A couple of days ago Matthew was playing video games and I was doing homework, when all of sudden we heard an odd sound outside. Upon our investigation (ie: opening the front door) we discovered a dead pigeon lying in our flower bed. Two or three feral kitties were anxiously licking their lips and cowering in the bushes at the side of the house. We thought, "well that's strange, if they killed that bird, why are they hiding?" We walked around to the front window which gives us a different vantage point of the front yard and lo and behold, sitting on the roof of our living room was the biggest hawk I have ever seen! It was red and white and so very magestic. A stare-off between the feral kitties and hawk followed for what seemed like an hour....and than the hawk flew away. Amazing! I am just glad that the feral kitties didn't get taken away by that ginormous bird!

This is reason number 227 why NOT having a digital camera sucks!

P.S. Keep an eye out in the next few days for my post-election day response.

You take the Polish out of the name, but you can't take the Polish out of the girl!

So, I was riding my bike home yesterday like I do everyday, minding my own business. I picked up the mail from our mailbox and started to ride my bike into my front yard. Somewhere along the way the back tire slipped out from under me and me, my iPod and 20+ pounds of chemistry books took a dive right into the dirt. I was able to brace myself with my hand, so my head was safe (I was also wearing my helmet, I know...geeky), however my leg suffered some major damage. Luckily, books, bike and iPod made it through unscathed.

I now have an ever increasing bruise about 6 inches long and about 3 inches wide on my left lower leg. At first I was a total girl about it, but now I am being a total guy, hoping that it turns a dark purple-blue-black color. Cause really, if you are going to have a bruise, let it be a gnarly one that people can admire and stare at with amazement.

P.S. I would post pictures but our digital camera took a dump. When my Palm Pilot recharges I will try using that to snap some photos.

Peta: Genius or Unhinged?

Matthew sent this to be today (http://www.peta.org/sea_kittens/about.asp) and I thought it was adorable, he thought they were crazy. You can decide for yourself. The nutshell of it is is that Peta is trying to save fish, so instead of calling them fish, they recommend calling them sea kittens. Who would want to hurt a sea kitten? Not me!
Here is one that I created...so don't eat sea kittens!

Most Retarded Phone Call of the Day

I got the stupidest, honestly probably the most retarded phone call today and I just had to share it.

Me: "Hello?"
Girl: "Hello. Can I please speak to Mrs. Skibinski"
Me: "That is me."
Girl: "Hi, my name is ____ and I am a freshman at the U of A. I am calling today because we want to update our information so that you can still receive the parent's newsletter called The Pawprint. I see here that you live at ________. Is that correct?"
Me: "Yes."
Girl: "I also see that you have a student who attends the U of A. What grade is he/she in?"
Me: "I am the student."
Girl: "Oh I see, can I speak to your Mom? Is she home?"
Me: "No, I am thirty years old."
Girl: "Oh, (long pause) well than you obviously already know about our organization."
Me: "Yes."
Girl: "Would you be interested in donating money to our organization, it is 100% tax deductible?"
Me: "Umm, no thank you."
Girl: (sounding slightly rejected and upset) "Okay, thank you, bye"
Me: "Bye"

I just want to take this opportunity to thank the University of Arizona who makes their appreciation of me so obvious! Wow! I don't know what makes me more amazed, the fact that they don't even know that I attend their school or the fact that I enrolled in their school under my married name but they still are using my maiden name. Words cannot express how much this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. It really reinforces that all the hard work I am putting in is worth it.

P.S. Oh by the way, U of A, I am sure that I can speak for every student (and parent) out there when I say that we don't want to give you one more cent than we have to. You already raised tuition by over $700 next semester, raised parking permits by an additional $250, and are charging a mandatory $50+ "security" fee that is supposed to go to policing and security but I haven't yet seen ONE SINGLE University police officer on campus. No one is interested in giving you any more money!

Murphy's Law is so Accurate it Hurts

I left home at 7:30 am to attend my 8:00 class.  It was a lab so we are required to wear closed toe shoes and long pants to protect our legs and feet from glass, chemicals, etc.  Class went fine, even got some homework out of the way.

Right after class I studied for two more hours for my OCHM test, grabbed an expensive and thoroughly disgusting bite to eat at the Student Union and proceeded to OCHM.  I took the test which was massively difficult and stressful, but I don't think I failed.

Immediately following I went to Calculus II to get my test and attend lecture.  This is where things took a nose dive.  My teacher made us aware that anyone getting a D or lower on the test should drop the class immediately since there would be zero chance of getting a passing grade by the end of the semester.  I, sadly, was in the bracket.  

BUT...there was still hope.  If enough people in the class did badly than maybe he would curve the grades. HE DOESN'T CURVE...EVER!  

I felt like someone punched me in the gut.  I had just gotten past the point of suicide and convinced myself that things were going to be okay.  I guess they aren't.  Regardless of the fact that I know the material and would probably be fine to continue the class, the grade was so bad that there was no chance of recovery.  I was forced to drop the class since today is the drop deadline and I will have to retake the class next semester.  What a hit to my self esteem and my long term goals!  This sets me back considerably.

So I proceeded, defeated and stunned, to my bicycle to ride home and drown my sorrows in "no-bake" cookies when I noticed that I had a flat tire. So...I proceeded yet again, defeated, stunned, and a tad bit ticked, to walk my bicycle home in the heat, wearing jeans and boots, with 25 pounds (no joke) of chemistry books on my back.  Luckily Matthew was able to pick me and Allura up about half way home.

Now I sit here, stinky and exhausted, hoping that some of this will appear funny to me tomorrow.  Here's to hoping!

My First Test at the U of A....

....and I failed.  I can't tell you how upset I am.  Of course, this was Calculus II, the class I knew that I would have to study the hardest for and get the most help.  So, I studied, I did the homework, and I studied some more, Matt and I worked on these problems almost every night.  

I walked into the test yesterday, took one look at the test and said "YES!".  I have seen every single one of these problems before and I know how to solve them.  

And than....my mind went blank.  I couldn't think, I couldn't breath, I couldn't do anything but almost cry.  I knew how to solve them but I can't get my brain to communicate with my hand. So in 50 minutes I ended up turning in the test with exactly one problem (out 4) completed.

Now, I somehow have to pick myself up and try to study and pass two more tests in the next 24 hours but I can't do it.  I am so bummed...I worked so hard and it didn't matter.  I invested so much time and it didn't matter.  To use one of my Dad's colorful euphemisms, I choked.  And I am so devastated about it.