Pre-Ides of March celebration

I think we should celebrate the Ides of March. We should all dress up in togas and drink lots of wine. We should designate someone as Caeser and chase them around trying to mock-stab them. Sounds like a good party to me. However if you believe the news reports most Americans don't know what March 15th is and secondly they may not be able to figure out the time of the party because all Americans are bad at math.

I am American and fairly good at math but not good enough to get accepted to that PhD program. I am still annoyed by my rejection from the PhD program. I am dreading sending notice to the people who wrote my letters of recommendation. I feel like I wasted their time. Blah.

I feel like this really kills my academic dreams. I guess I need to work on a backup plan.

Angry, angry

I am so angry about my rejection from the Phd program. I have been so busy that I haven't had enough opportunity to really seethe and wallow in my anger. I want to go to their office and scream at them, Why why why! Perhaps, I will send them a kindly worded e-mail and ask to be waitlisted. This has just been devastating. My poor little ego has taken a cruel blow!

Rejected!

I was rejected from the Ph.D program! This sucks!

Have I angered the Gods? Have I sinned against the Laws of Supply and Demand? Can I have my application and GRE payments back? Damn you Admissions Committee! I am awesome! How dare you deny me my rightful place in the universe!?

I must regroup and then plot my biblical revenge. I am just kidding. I am just going to go shopping.

All Hell Breaks Loose

This week has been very eventful. Various media outlets have been stalking one of my neighbors. I have never met this one personally, but is this a shock? They wait outside the townhouse in order to get a picture or videotape. Whats good for the goose in good for the gander. I took a picture of them! Enjoy!

Finch vs the yuppies

In my neck of the surburbs, the finches are ruthless little beasts. They chitter, they nest, they expell horrible horrible things on the brick. Basically, they are a bane to humanity. They also like to build their homes in our dryer vents. As you can very well imagine, this is a serious fire hazard.

Today I saw my neighbors trying to clean out their dryer vent of finch material. These are the same neighbors who ignored my husband when he told them of the finch problem. Most of the neighbors have little grid metal covers over their dryer vents. The wife just stared at us and as we walked along the sidewalk. I don't wave now unless waved too. She gave us a half assed wave. We saluted back.

It only takes one village idiot to burn down the planned community.

How to take a picture of a peep

Here are directions how to shoot/not kill/ photograph peeps in their natural setting.

1. Peeps are cheap. If you break one, just tear off another.

2. Rationalize how the torn peep doesn't have feelings and stuff it in your mouth.

3. Put other peep on black card board with white cardboard background and add something cute.

4. Add flash because your living room is darker than a dungeon.

5. Add other peeps and chick.

6. Eat them all. Post pictures on Flickr.

Voila!

I hate Thursdays

I get really annoyed on Thursdays. I am not sure why. In fact, I freaking hate Thursdays.

I had the most intense meeting of my life today. I had to present a topic and was interupted like 4 thousand freaking times. I developed a severe headache during the meeting. Afterword, I tried to fix this with an espresso shot mixed in with regular coffee. It is called a "Depth Charge." I like coffee drinks named after weapons.

Today, I really wish I had a castle. So if someone asked me a stupid question or interupted me, well I would just through them in the moat.

Stupid Economists Tricks

I haven't heard any PhD admission news. I am questioning whether I should have taken the GRE a third time to bump my scores up.

I got so stressed out at work today cause the workload increased tenfold. I am so OCD about getting things done! I must drive my coworkers batty.

One of my coworkers is in the middle of their own soap opera. It is better than online radio and Ugly Betty! What is going to happen tomorrow? Will she return to her ex and live happily ever after?

Status Report

I have various matters to report.

1. My Phd application is finally in and being reviewed. I am waiting for word.

2. My coworker did not infect the entire Division with her contagious skin parasite. We are all breathing a sigh of relief that the mites did not mate.

3. I was outside the door to my home when I saw one of my neighbors peeking at me throught their window. I waved at the old lady. I like to tweak people like that.

Thats how I roll in northern virginia.

Yuppie food

I gorged on pizza. I currently feel like a snake that ate one too many pinkies. I ate really awesome pizza too..feta, carmalized onions, and thin crust. I also ate half a vegetarian sandwich called a "Yuppie Veggie" Well, if the shoe fits....
This is how I roll.

Heebie Jeebies

We currently have a contagious situation at work. As a card carrying germaphobe, I am absolutely horrified. I read the Andromeda Strain and know what can happen! Is the CDC going to come in an purge us! I know I have a serious case of the Heebie Jeebies. I think we should call on the special Economist SWAT team and rectify the situation.

Also in random news, all the baristas at the local coffee joints know me. I am a regular. Wow!

Bed, Bath, and Bitchiness

Over the Christmas holiday, I had to go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to buy an essential item. Don't ask me what it was. Just understand that I needed it and BB&B was the only convienent place to get it.

I had the misfortune to be in the slowest line ever. On a positive note, I got to hear this guy bitch about returning his Braun Tassimo TA 1400 Hot Beverage System
coffee maker. He discussed his complaints about this coffee maker with the store clerk. The entire line just gawked.

Complaint List:

1. a standard coffee mug doesn't fit in the cup slot
My counter argument: You don't drink capuccinos in giant coffee mugs because you can die from that much caffeine! And have you ever heard of pyrex?

2. I have to stand there and push a button.
My counter argument: Don't you have to push a button for a drip coffee maker?

3. I can't believe the Tassimo TA 1400 Hot Beverage System is a Braun product
My counter argument: None. The relationsip between electric shavers and coffee makers perplexed me.

Thank you Mr. Coffee Maker guy. I had no idea the return line could be so entertaining.

On being a misanthrope

I am really starting to dislike most of the human race. If I owned Montana like Ted Turner, I'd live out the rest of my life riding horses, fly fishing, and eating steak. I'd be happy never to see another living soul. Well, OK I wouldn't mind conversing with a few selected souls.

Anyways, I have come to the realization that I truly despise some people and that is OK. In fact, I told one odious person at work that "I don't like people." This person seemed surprised and didn't get the hint to leave my office. Wow!

I think I am turning into a curmudgeon. I have been expending so much effort toward my GRE efforts that I have little time for anything else. I hope to put 2007 behind and embark on a better life. Jeez, I sound like I need to go on Dr. Phil.

New Year's Resolutions

Dear Bloggy,

Here are my New Year's resolutions.

I am going

1. Start my Zombie novel...something I always wanted to write

2. Take a crack at Linear Algebra and Vector Calculus

3. Bid adieu to some depreciating assets

4. Develop mean streak to optimize my Machiavellian Potential at work

Goodbye 2007. You were a very very very bad year. I am going to toast 2008 with Moet et Chandon and to hell with everything else.

GRE part deux

I spent another $140 and took the GRE again. For that amount of money, I should have gotten a cappucino. Instead I got Union Workers protesting and screaming and pounding on Homer Buckets in front of the building. I could actually hear them as I took the exam. This was truly a special DC moment. NOT!

My score on the quantitative improved dramatically. However, my verbal score seemed to have dropped quite a bit. I think I got bored with the questions on the verbal side.

Anyways, I don't know what next year will bring. I hope it will be better than the last one.

Pencils

Once again I talk about pencils. I thought I needed them for the GRE. At the exam, I found out they provided the pencils, tissues, and a very nice locker to store my mechanical pencils.

I don't understand my obsession with sharp writing instruments. At this point in evening since I have run out of rum, I consider whether I should chuck everything and go to grad school for international studies.

I am just kidding about the rum. I am not kidding about the pencils.

Veni, Vidi, GRE

I survived the GRE. Afterword, I went to Caribou Coffee and got a mocha. I needed it.
Based on my scores, I think God truly has a sense of humor. I think I will have to retake it to get into the econ program. However, its all aces if I want to go to a Humanities program.

Well back to the drawing board.

Blog to God

Dear God help me with my upcoming GRE,

As I walk through the valley of GRE
I fear no quantitative analysis
For thou art with me when I do that section
Thy calculator and excel are may be at home
They comfort me even

I need to do well on quantitative so I get into the Phd program!

The aggravated economist

Things slow down in the government Thankgiving week. We yawn, we read the NYTIMES online, and we play chess. I was viciously taking away from a chess game due to a data call. My ex-officmate is currently answering most of the data calls that come into the office. She forwarded a tough case to me. I had to clean up the mess.

First she had confused them about what data were available, where they could find it, and how to download. It was so FUBU.

The data caller herself was a bit daft. First she spoke really really fast. Second she had a New Yawk accent. As a southerner I don't understand New York-ease.

I tried to help her I really did. I finally gave up explaining and told her I'd send her the stuff she needed via e-mail.

Economists are dangerous creatures

I left work around 7:30 PM last night. It was the proverbial dark and dreary night. As I walked to my metro station I heard this man yelling and screaming about women. I think someone just broke up with him. He said "Women are X#$! and women are $#%^" I realized that this guy is a total fruitloop. So I took out my mechanical pencil and was prepared to use it. Yes people, I was going to use my ergonomic mechanical pencil to gauge his eyes out if he dared mess with me. Luckily, I didn't have to use the pencil.

I think one lesson to learn is, "Don't mess with economists. They are usually armed with sharp writing instruments and not afraid to use them"