Life in Buffalo for the summer is always something I look forward to when I'm away and am bitterly disappointed by when I'm experiencing it. Although it's really nice to be in my house and with my mom and friends, I'm really bored when I'm not in school. I going to get a job so that I'm not so bored for the next couple months...school doesn't start until mid-September so this is only the beginning. Good thing I have (e:Mike), (e:MK), and (e:Jessbob) (for the time being) to hang out with. I definitely need to make an effort to be more social this summer. I don't push myself enough in that respect and I think it's time for me to work on that. (e:Mike), it's time for you to work on that too. Let me know if I need to make any calls from your phone for you.

There is a bit of exciting news to tell. I got an apartment in Cambridge for the year. It's so perfect, it's right in Harvard Square just a couple blocks from my school so I don't have to commute. It seems expensive but the girl I'm going to live with did a lot of searching and found the best price for us. I can't wait to live Cambridge, it will be such a departure from Schenectady! I'm getting a little nervous about my grad school program, but every time I start to freak out I go to the website and read all the course offerings and everything and I feel really happy again (I know I'm such a dork).

I don't have too much to tell. I'm sure I won't have anything to post about before the 4th so I hope everyone enjoys the fireworks.

Check this out:

It's so funny that someone would bother to poll poeple on whether they say "pop" or "soda." I think the interactive map is really cool. I always thought us "pop"ers were the minority but it seems we may not be. Although I have to admit, this hardly seems unbiased...just check out the Conclusion. At any rate, put down your info and be represented.

It's been a while since i updated my journal last, but things have been mighty busy. I returned from Atlanta, GA for a psychology conference (the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development). This is the first conference that I ever presented my research at so I was really nervous. I travelled and stayed with a prof a don't know that well but we got along great. I really like her company and I hope that I will be like her some day. We talked about all sorts of personal things and I felt pretty close to her by the end. I'm really lucky to have had so many good mentors while I've been at Union.

Anyway, the conference was exciting. I was the only one taking pictures. I met a bunch of "famous" psychologists (clearly no one besides me would think they are famous) and some impressive people actually sought out my research. I was terrified that people would ask me questions and I wouldn't be able to answer them, but I was able to talk to everyone. Most of the people were so supportive and interested- except one person. She came up to me and asked "so, what's the point?" I asked what she meant and she replied "well, I mean, why??" I was stumped. That was a low point, but otherwise all went well.

On the upside, I got to meet Arnold Sameroff and Robert Plomin...so cool!!

Oh yeah, I got to wear a badge!


My poster:




Grad school decisions must be made by this Friday. I'll keep you updated...maybe.

So I got into a couple of grad schools and I am really happy. I had my fingers crossed that I would be accepted to one school, so having a choice is really something I never expected. Now I have to decide where I want to spend the next 5 years of my life. It seems surreal to make a decision that involves so much time and so many variables that I couldn't possibly predict. But still, that is what I have to do. I know that if it really doesn't work out I can always leave or transfer to someplace else. Anyway, now it's time make a choice...then I can start worrying myself crazy about actually going to grad school.

[size=l]Happy Birthday Jillian Marie!!!

Sorry I can't be there to celebrate, but I hope you have a fantastic day :D [/size]