Comments are nice :)

You know how I used to obsess over money? All that is gone because I've diverted all my energy into a new obsession: reading scientific journal articles. I pretty much have to if I'm to stay afloat. So much reading!

I'm generally at the lab from 8:30 to 5, taking maybe 5-10 minutes for lunch, and then I usually take a couple articles home. And I read on the trains. Just seems like I never stop reading, except to go to class, eat dinner, and sleep. Other than my procrastination at the moment, I've really been quite focused, and I still feel like there's not enough time for everything.

It's that time of the year again! Me and Ryan's three year anniversary.

Well, it's our first three year anniversary, but another anniversary at this time of the year.

The weather has cooled a bit and the humidity is gone, so the air feels like it did when we first got together.

I got him a totally nerdy gift, which he loved: TNG 1-3. And if you know what TNG stands for, then, as is probably no surprise to you, you are a nerd.

I am starting to get my rhythym at school, and I really enjoying being a TA. Well, I actually enjoy the in-lab part of being a TA, not the other responsibilities. It feels good when someone says, as they did yesterday, "I've never understood a lab so in-depth before! You're awesome at explaining things." So I'm pretty friendly with the students, but they still respect me because I know a lot about bio in general. I feel like my background is quite broad, and that's perfect for teaching an intro course.

I've picked a topic for my research project in Maine next year: how nutrient inputs of decomposing seaweeds affect producers and thus possibly also consumers. While it may not sound too flashy, it's actually something that hasn't been looked at in rocky systems. So I'll do the project next summer and either expand upon it for my thesis or decide I hate it and try something else. But for now it's time for literature review.

We went to the King of Prussia mall last Saturday and the Jersey shore (Cape May and Wildwood) on Sunday. I guess next on our list is probably Fairmont Park and the art museum.

I've wanted to update for so long, but have had absolutely no internet. At home, the connection died and hasn't been repaired yet because they need to run new wiring throughout the entire building. At the lab, you need to register to even plug into the wall, much less use the wireless, and that process has been long and unnecessarily complicated. So I'm at the library until my bio building network application goes through.

Classes started last Wednesday, and although I'm finally on a routine, I haven't been doing it long enough for it to feel routine. I'm looking forward to settling into it more so that I have a real feel for how I should be managing my time. The commute feels routine by now and takes about 50 minutes each way. I drive or bike to the train station, ride one train, switch to another, then walk 15 minutes on the Penn side. I've been able to get a little reading done on the train, but it's quite interrupted.

I TA'd my first lab yesterday. I really enjoy TAing. It makes me feel smart, and the smartness is being put to use. The only thing is the time committment. Between 2 labs, prep meetings, prep on my own, 3 lectures, writing test questions, and doing the readings that the students do, it takes about 20 hours/week. In all, I expect all of my responsibilities and studying to add up to the neighborhood of 60 hours/week. I have two classes, ecology and seminar, plus an independent study. It's too early to know how much the classes are going to stress me out, but despite being challenging, I know I can handle them.

Ryan's mom and brothers came to visit 2 weekends ago. We went on a big shopping trip to IKEA, which is ginormous, and got a big wall hanging and nice rug for the living room. We also went downtown to the National Academy of Sciences, the Franklin Institute (aka science museum), and Penns Landing (waterfront).

Last weekend Ryan's dad and stepmom came down for Saturday for his birthday dinner. On Sunday the two of us went to Longwood Gardens, a famous botanical garden with a stunning conservatory, and the Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square, PA, which MM/MM (magical mushrooms, mischievous molds) people will remember as the birthplace of mushroom cultivation. We even went on a tour of a mushroom farm. It was interesting for about 5 minutes, but the guy giving the tour, despite growing button mushrooms for his entire life, had never even heard of a chanterelle when someone asked.

There are lots more opportunities for day trips down here. I'm looking forward to a trip to the ocean, Fairmount Park and the art museum, King of Prussia mall, more sightseeing and exploring Center City, and a theme park or two (Hershey? Great Adventure?). There still isn't a whole lot to do in the evenings over in Jersey, but now we have cable so we can at least watch TV.

I promise more frequent updates when the internet is repaired at home; I'm trying not to waste too much time at the lab doing non-acadmic stuff.