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Thursday, 16 February 2006

Stress...
Mood:  hug me
Now Playing: Late Show w/ David Letterman
What an insane couple of weeks this has been:

1) I've been training 7 new undergrads in my lab PLUS I've been having to find time to implant 20 rats.

2) Millie was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure & doesn't seem to be getting much better.

3) I've been having to deal w/ TJ's jealousy whenever I'm doing stuff w/ Millie (though I'm finding ways around that...)

4) My stats class is horribly painful -- the prof is really nice, but I just can't follow him & it's incredibly frustrating.

5) Other random crap as it arises...


As a result of all this, I haven't been sleeping well, so I haven't been able to completely fight off my sinus & allergy headaches/pain/pressure & congestion. I just need a break from it all. And I thought that this past weekend would provide that by visiting Eric. Unfortunately, it wasn't such a great weekend (though it did have some nice moments). The roads were horrible once I got to Michigan, so I was stressed out f/ driving when I got to Ann Arbor on Saturday night. Dinner w/ Eric & a couple of his friends was nice, but I always feel like an outsider with his friends in the L.A. program (but I'm sure he feels that way when we're with my psych friends, so I shouldn't complain). I kinda had a breakdown when we got back to his apartment. I hadn't seen him since Millie was diagnosed & all the crap in my lab started, so I just needed a hug & then I started crying, so I ended up being a big girly mess. I think it kinda freaked Eric out a little, but he was supportive & let me get it out of my system. Sunday was a little weird... Eric had a project to finish up for Monday, so we kinda spent time together, but really didn't. And then I was just in a bad mood or something Sunday night, which ran into Monday when I came back to Kent & the stress of everything else in my life resumed...

Thank god for my friends I have here, though. If it wasn't for Melanie, I think I'd lose it. She's just so easy to talk to, really fun to hang out with, & is just a genuine person. She's helping me out a lot with the whole Millie situation, too. It just helps to have someone to talk to.

That's all I have the energy to write for now... I'll update when I find more time...

Posted by amc10albion at 12:03 AM EST | Post Comment | Permalink

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Friday, 10 February 2006

You're a Harp!


What Type of Alcoholic Beverage Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Posted by amc10albion at 11:30 PM EST | Post Comment | Permalink

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Thursday, 2 February 2006

It's been a rough week...
Mood:  hug me
So, yeah, this week has been rough, & it all began Sunday evening. That's when I noticed some blood in Millie's urine & she also threw up. So, I called the vet Monday morning & got her in for an appointment that afternoon. I was thinking that it was just a urinary tract infection, but the vet didn't think that was the case & took some blood to rule out anything more serious. Unfortunately, she found something WAY more serious -- Millie has Chronic Renal Failure, or CRF. When the vet told me that Tuesday evening, I was just in shock (& in tears). I've had a chance to look around online & found a really great website (www.felineCRF.com) that has been extremely helpful -- they have a special section for owners who have newly diagnosed cats.

So, the bad news is that CRF cannot be cured. The good news is that w/ a modified diet, regular sub-q fluid injections & additional meds, she can still enjoy a good quality of life for several months, even years. It's gonna take a lot of extra care, even more love, & probably a few more sob sessions to get through this, but Millie's definitely worth it.

So in addition to the drama w/ Millie, the lab has been insane this week. I now have 8 undergrads working with me, 7 of which I am training. Trying to figure out a schedule for everyone & find a time that most everyone can make it to a lab meeting has been insane. But everything seems to be working out... only time will tell...

I'll keep you all updated as everything progresses...

Posted by amc10albion at 9:49 PM EST | Post Comment | Permalink

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Wow... is it bad that I act 6 years older than I actually am?!

You Are 30 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

Posted by amc10albion at 9:37 PM EST | Post Comment | Permalink

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Sunday, 22 January 2006

Farewell 2005
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Emeril Live
Farewell 2005
Bring it on, 2006

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Gave a talk at a conference; went fresh water SCUBA diving; performed brain surgery on a regular basis...

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really make resolutions

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Sorta -- a couple girls in my program here at Kent had babies this year

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope

5. What countries did you visit?
Canada

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
My Masters!

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 16th -- my brother got married to a wonderful woman

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
A lot of firsts, academically.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I try not to dwell on the negative... I guess I'm not as far along in my research as I'd like to be, but I'm not doing too bad.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A couple nasty colds

11. What were the best things you bought?
Millie (TJ was free, but he would count, too)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Not sure

13. Whose behavior made you (appalled) and depressed?
A couple people in the psych dept.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Conferences, Christmas, moving to my new apartment

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving to my new apartment & adopting Millie (& later adopting TJ)

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
I have no clue

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? a little of both
ii. thinner or fatter? I feel fatter, but probably the same
iii. richer or poorer? about the same -- perpetually poor & will be as long as I'm a grad student

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
exercising, spending time with Eric & friends & family

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about stupid stuff -- everything seems to be working out fine

20. How did you be spend Christmas?
Lots of travelling between my parents' place in Indiana, Eric's apartment in Ann Arbor, & his parents' place in Clarkston, MI

22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Remained in love... :-)

23. How many one-night stands?
None

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Desperate Housewives & Grey's Anatomy

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope

26. What was the best book you read?
Who has time to read? I actually got halfway through a John Grissom book, but that's about it

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Garden State soundtrack

28. What did you want and get?
Digital camera

29. What did you want and not get?
A million dollars! :-)

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Not sure if I have a favorite -- I enjoyed "Munich", "Batman Begins", & "The Constant Gardener"

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went out to dinner w/ some friends in D.C. & I turned 24

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Perhaps something sparkly for my left ring finger, but all in due time...

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Comfortable & practical (hey, I work with lab rats all day -- what do you expect?)

34. What kept you sane?
Eric, my friendship with Melanie & Faith

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Eh... don't really care

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The stupid Bush administration cutting the budget that funds NIH, NSF, & other institutes that fund research (bastards!)

37. Who did you miss?
Eric... my Albion friends, Kelly

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Melanie, Faith, & Jessica (I really got to know them this year & I'm glad I did!)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
I've learned it before, but it was reinforced: shit happens, & ya just gotta learn to deal

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"But there is not enough time / And there is no song I could sing / And there is no combination of words I could say / But I will still tell you one thing / We're better together" (Better Together by Jack Johnson)

Posted by amc10albion at 1:02 AM EST | Post Comment | Permalink

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Wednesday, 21 December 2005

Christmas Letter
Mood:  a-ok
It’s been another busy year for me, full of “firsts”, numerous weddings, and a few changes:

January:
The year began just as the previous one ended – freezing cold! I took advantage of the extra indoor hours & learned how to do the bipolar electrode implant surgeries on my lab rats – call me a nerd if you want, but, hey, I’m doing brain surgery now!

February:
Eric & I celebrated three wonderful years of being together!

March:
I presented my first first-author poster of my graduate school career at the Comparative Cognition Conference in Melbourne, FL. I then spent my spring break in exotic Albion, IN.

April:
Wedding season begins! Matt & Holly were wed on April 16th – the most beautiful Saturday in April! The ceremony was beautiful & I felt honored to be included as a bridesmaid. Holly has been welcomed with open arms into the family & it’s wonderful to finally have a sister!

May:
I presented my first talk at the Tri-State+ Conference in Windsor, Ontario. I was horribly sick that entire weekend, but somehow managed to pull off a decent talk. Wedding #2 – Libby & Steve(Libby is one of my KD sisters f/ Albion College).

June:
I started my summer job of lifeguarding & teaching swim lessons at a YMCA in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.
Wedding #3 – Julie & Adam (Julie is one of my dear friends from Albion, IN, & I was honored to be included as a bridesmaid).

August:
I moved to Stow, OH in the middle of August. My new address is: 3668 Kent Rd. Apt. E6, Stow, OH 44224. Along with the move, I adopted Millie from a local animal shelter (the black cat in the picture). I started my 2nd year of graduate school at Kent State.

September:
Wedding #4 – Beth & Thomas (Beth is another dear friend from Albion, IN). Wedding #5 – Jayme & Craig (Jayme is another KD sister f/ Albion College). I presented my 1st year project to the entire Experimental Psychology department – talk about nerves! I received several compliments, so I’m taking this as a good sign that I might be into the whole teaching thing (we’ll see after next fall!). I also hosted a housewarming/Pampered Chef party & we all had a great time – it was especially nice to spend the weekend with both my mom & Eric’s mom.

November:
I celebrated my 24th birthday in Washington, D.C. at the Society for Neuroscience Conference – it was “Nerd Utopia” with over 30,000 of us in one place! Thanksgiving was full of traveling and visiting with both my & Eric’s families. I also acquired a new kitten, T.J. (the black & white kitten in the picture), who is keeping Millie on her toes, but she seems to be ok with that.

December:
We were frantically productive in the lab, with abstract deadlines looming on the 15th. I’m now enjoying a much-needed break visiting with family, friends, & Eric. I’ll be back to the lab the 2nd week of January & will start classes again on the 17th.

Have a joyous & blessed holiday season! Best wishes in 2006!

Cheers!
Amber :-)

Posted by amc10albion at 12:00 AM EST | Post Comment | Permalink
Updated: Tuesday, 17 January 2006 3:45 PM EST

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Wednesday, 14 December 2005

Yet another survey to pass the time
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Criminal Minds (via TiVo)
Name: Amber Maurine Chenoweth

Birthday: 11/14/81

Birthplace: Ft. Wayne, IN

Current Location: Stow, IN

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Color: Blonde

Height: 5'4

Right Handed or Left Handed: Right

Your Heritage: Tossed salad -- little bit of everything, but it's all good :-)

The Shoes You Wore Today: Black dress boots/shoes

Your Weakness: Chocolate & kittens

Your Fears: My parents getting older and passing away, failure

Your Perfect Pizza: Hawaiian made w/ Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ sauce

Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Calendar year -- make it to the New Year w/o going crazy; School year -- write & defend my Masters & pass my prelims

Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messanger: lol & riiiiight...

Thoughts First Waking Up: my bed feels so warm & comfy -- can't I just stay here all day?

Your Best Physical Feature: been having a few good hair days lately...

Your Bedtime: 11:30 or 12:00

Your Most Missed Memory: living in Huntertown, IN, across the road f/ my best friend Emily

Pepsi or Coke: Coke Zero

MacDonalds or Burger King: neither, but BK if I have no other choice

Single or Group Dates: both

Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: don't like iced tea

Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate candy, vanilla ice cream

Cappuccino or Coffee: both

Do you Smoke: Nope -- no desire to

Do you Swear: more than I should some days...

Do you Sing: only if I get enough drinks in me on karaoke nights...

Do you Shower Daily: but of course!

Have you Been in Love: Yes & still am :-)

Do you want to go to College: already been

Do you want to get Married: some day... 2008 at the earliest

Do you believe in yourself: I try

Do you get Motion Sickness: not usually

Do you think you are Attractive: Eric seems to think so, so I'll take his word for it ;-)

Are you a Health Freak: I try, but it's not always easy

Do you get along with your Parents: More w/ my mom than my dad, but that's been getting better since I've moved away f/ home

Do you like Thunderstorms: if I'm safe inside

Do you play an Instrument: used to play the flute

In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: yup -- did tonight, in fact!

In the past month have you Smoked: Nope

In the past month have you been on Drugs: Nope

In the past month have you gone on a Date: I've visited Eric -- does that count?

In the past month have you gone to a Mall: Yup

In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: Nope, but I think I did the month before

In the past month have you eaten Sushi: I wish

In the past month have you been on Stage: No

In the past month have you been Dumped: Not that I'm aware of...

In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: No

In the past month have you Stolen Anything: No

Ever been Drunk: Yes

Ever been called a Tease: I don't think so

Ever been Beaten up: just by my cats & my rats when they're extra fiesty

Ever Shoplifted: Nope

How do you want to Die: of old age

What do you want to be when you Grow Up: a Psychologist running my own animal lab at a pharmaceutical company

What country would you most like to Visit: Any country in Europe

In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color: Hazel
Favourite Hair Color: Blondish-brown
Short or Long Hair: Eric looks good in both
Height: taller than me
Weight: heavier than me :-)
Best Clothing Style: comfortable (but he looks HOT in a suit/tux)

Number of Drugs I have taken: None
Number of CDs I own: I've lost count
Number of Piercings: 2 in each ear
Number of Tattoos: none (yet)
Number of things in my Past I Regret: try not to have any regrets -- just learn from the mistakes & hope not to make them again!

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Thursday, 1 December 2005

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

Posted by amc10albion at 7:23 PM EST | Post Comment | Permalink

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