So it's been a while - sorry about that. The semester is quickly coming to an end, which means everyone goes nuts for a month.

Anyway, I'm sure everyone has heard the phrase "if you don't like the weather, just wait 10 minutes" in regards to Minnesota weather. While it is true about Minnesota, it's almost more true of Oklahoma. Take for example this past Thursday. The sun was shining, but we had a 20 minute rain/hail deluge:









No joke - it was like somebody turned the faucet on full blast. One minute: no rain; next minute: so much rain we can barely see. Crazy Oklahoma weather!

I'll be heading out to California next weekend for a friend's wedding and then we go into the home stretch of the end of the semester. There are 3 weeks left and I've got a ton to do. Where did the semester go? I'm still trying to figure out the paradox of how time can go both very slowly, yet very quickly. Once the semester ends, I have about a month off before I begin research. Yea! I'm not sure if we'll be heading up to Minnesota yet - it will depend on what the hubby finds for summer work. We hope to take a long weekend to visit some friends up in Boulder, but we'll be flying there.

And to end and just because they're cute:





Hope spring is coming to everyone!

So I applied to 9 universities for graduate school. As of 3 weeks ago I had receive 7 rejection letters. I've been waiting on the University of Oklahoma and the University of Minnesota's Astronomy department.

Until today, that is. I GOT AN ACCEPTANCE LETTER! I almost hyperventilated and had to read it over a few times to make sure I was reading it correctly. The University of Oklahoma really wants me! It's still pretty surreal, even now. In fact, I was discussing alternatives with my research advisor and even stopped by the Institute of Technology's Carerr Center today for resume advice.

So the a very short time, the hubby, kitties and I will be relocating to Norman, OK. Of course, there's the fact hat I have to pass my classes (I'll pass), but it's such a relief knowing that I don't have to take the GRE's again and go through this whole process next year.

I had an interview with a professor from Oklahoma who was giving a colloquium at the U a couple of weeks back. I hadn't posted for fear of jinxing myself, so my journal has been neglected. But no more! :D

I'll post more later, but I wanted to let everyone know that I GOT IN! Woot!

No, this has nothing to do with grad school. We're going to see Loreena McKennitt on 3 May at the State Theatre! I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd ever get to see her live - but she's coming here and we have tickets! 4th row balcony with no children under 6 years allowed. :D It's an early graduation gift, but so worth it. If y'all haven't heard her music, email me. I have every CD she's released and will send some recommedations.

I suppose I should update on the grad school front - I've received 2 rejections in the last few days - U of M Physics Dept (an oh-so-professional letter, but I'll have to expound on that at a lter date) and U Florida. But I really can't bebummed right now because of the above reasons. :D I've had my eye on Texas and Penn State, anyway.

So I'm going to continue watching Loreena McKennit on PBS - enough for now!

Well, we're still waiting to hear from grad schools, though this limbo is getting rather tedious. Neither of us can think about applying for jobs, since we don't know where we'll be, nor can we make any plans in regards to living accommodations either here in MN or elsewhere. Argh!

On an up-note, spring break is next week! Woo hoo! I'll be doing some spring cleaning and organizing as a trip to a warmer climate is not an option, but at least there are no classes. Much organization of my MLP's is needed and that involves moving much of the Demon Nephew's (name borrowed from my hubby) stored items out of the way. Perhaps I'll get ambitious and re-organize my parents storage area, as Mom is still not supposed to lift heavy things after her surgery.

Hopefully the next posting will at least include some kind of update!

Wow – a foot of snow fell this weekend. They say it’s the biggest storm in 8 years and I can believe that. I can’t remember the last time we had something like this! I joked that this must have been Mother Nature’s birthday gift to me. Though my family did brave the weather (4-wheel drive is great) to go out for my birthday. So even though it was almost a blizzard we had a great dinner and an overall great birthday. One of my half-brothers even called to wish me a happy birthday which really helped to make the day special.

Unfortunately, another rejection in the form of an email stating that a decision had been made and to check the status online was received Friday morning. *rolls eyes* After logging in, the rejection was an online letter – the most blunt of rejection letters I’d have to say. Short and to the point.

Though I do have to admit this is starting to hurt. I knew some of the schools I applied to were long-shots; in fact, the three rejection letters I’ve received were those schools. But it still stings. So I’m just going to poke a few people this week and cross my fingers.

Well, at least this was an actual letter. Though I didn't rip it up. I can now cross CU-Boulder off my list of grad schools. *scratch*

Other than that, we're still in limbo. Still waiting to hear what's going on after May. It will de nice to finally figure out where we're going to be for a while so we can a)pay down some debt (yea, school debt), b)look at possible purchasing a humble abode that is not an apartment and has more than 900 sq. ft. or c)look at a place to live around where I'm going to grad school. Personally, I'm rooting for the latter, but preparing for anything. Even if I will bawl my eyes out if I don't get into grad school for the next year.

That's it for now. I have a cat sitting in front of my keyboard so I can't see what I'm hitting until it shows up on the screen. Tweaky, princess kitty. And yes, I've been drinking. :D But tipsy isn't an option. Oh, and I've changed the look for fun. XD

Actually, it was more rejection *email* #1. It landed in my inbox earlier this week from the University of Washington. Although I knew getting into this school was a long shot, the least they could have done was sent me a physical letter! I suppose it's the way the future is shaping up, but when you've been told you're not good enough it's nice to have something to rip up. ;)

Rumor has it I wasn't one of the first wave of accepted students for the U of M, either. Which is bad, because it's my fall-back school. *starts to fret*

Still waiting on UCLA, UT-Austin, Penn State, UFL - Gainesville, CU Boulder and techinically the U of M. This means that I get to apply to yet more schools this weekend in a last ditch attempt to get my sorry butt into grad school. I'm thinking Michigan State, U of OK, Montana and Nebraska - Lincoln.

I'll update more as soon as I get more info!

The hubby keeps bugging me that I haven't updated - so here's an update. :P Nothing too exciting has been happening, hence the lack of updates. Applying to grad school is a long process that blew me away with its complexity and stupid little requirements (seriously, I can't remember how many credits I took in Fall of 1996!) My days consist of school, homework, cooking dinner and more homework. Oh, and some research, too.

As soon I hear anything exciting, I'm sure I'll post. :D