From the 405 to 495

I haven't written on here in 4-eva.  I guess if you want to follow me you can do so on Facebook or Twitter.  Things are good :)

I realize I hardly use LJ anymore, what with the Facebook and the Twitter and the Google Reader, I just don't have time.  But I suppose I should check in for 2 or 3 people that do read my page, and say that things are going pretty well.  I am emerging from my funk - thawing if you will.  I found out that Hopkins will give me "safety net" funding if my original funding source doesn't come through.  So YAY!  I'm getting a PhD :)  I start in the end of August.  I received good reviews at work.  I'm still hella broke but I'm keeping it in stride and trying to cut corners wherever I can.  I have 5 1/2 months sober.  Lalalalala.  That's it I guess :)  I'm getting some Spring Fever.  I need a hot man in my life.  I'm not supposed to date in the first year of sobriety, but I don't have to "date" to have a hot man in my life ;) 

kthxbai
 

There's not much to report.  I'm still waiting to hear about funding from Johns Hopkins.  One grant that could have funded me isn't available this year, but should be available next year.  Meanwhile they're looking into another grant.  I really hope it goes through.  I talked to my adviser, and he's very nice and we have the exact same interests.  I think it would be great to work with him.  So now it's just a manner of cash money.  Worst case scenario, I could defer until next year if the other funding source doesn't go through this year, and continue to work at RAND.  I could move in with one of my sober friends and not live in BFE anymore.  I could stay in the same recovery community.  It wouldn't be so bad, assuming my RAND researchers aren't sick of my laziness. 

That brings me to my other "news".  I have "Seasonal Affective Disorder", per my therapist.  I think I'm just being a fat lazy piece of shit.  I don't have the motivation to do ANYTHING: Gym, meetings, work, socializing.  I've been such a slacker.  It seems like when I make progress in one or 2 of those areas, the others suffer.  I was actually very social last weekend, hanging out with friends in the program, grad school friends, and work friends.  And I've been going to meetings more regularly - back to my 5/week routine.  But then I've been half-assing it at the gym, if I make it at all, and I've been extremely unproductive at work.  However when I put my all into the job and working out, I tend to skip meetings and decline social invitations.  I just want an equilibrium.  Granted, it's hard to balance those 4 facets of my life, especially when my commute is 4-eva.  But surely if I planned more efficiently, I could get into a healthy routine of work, gym, meeting, fun on weekends (not that meetings aren't fun - they're actually a big source of socialization for me). 

Also, fuck this recession.  Well, actually these problems are not directly related to the recession, but the fact that the economy is in the shitter doesn't help.  Food prices are still high, even though fuel prices have declined and fewer people can afford groceries because of massive layoffs and reductions in work hours.  Maryland and Montgomery County are in my paychecks, stealing all my monies - For what? For unreliable buses and schools I don't use because I don't have children?  It sucks, and I can't make ends meet. 

So I'm being proactive this weekend.  I'm not going out, so as not to spend money I don't have.   I'm going to use this time to catch up on work, and hopefully kickstart my work mojo.  I'm going to spend a lot of time at the gym both days, to rejuvenate my exercise routine.  I'm going to read AA literature, to renew my commitment to the program.  The social life is on hold, but at least I'll catch up on 3 of the other areas instead of my average 2.  Plus I'll go to my Sunday AM bagel meeting, so I'll see friends. 

In essence, I'm going to make sure the economic depression doesn't turn into a personal depression :)

Hopkins - In
UNC - Wait listed

And this just in:

Emory - Wait listed, but apparently #1 on the list.   They only take 2 students per year in my track.  I'm #3, and one of the admitted students is so/so on accepting. 

Still waiting for Washington.  They also have a small class (about 3 in my track), so I'm not holding my breath. 

But dude, the #1 Public Health program in the country wants me.  That's awesome :)

Apparently I can.  I got into Hopkins :)  UNC waitlisted me, but I'm going to visit and try to make my case to some professors.  Either way, I HAVE A FUTURE IN PUBLIC HEALTH!!!  And don't worry, I won't make you all call me doctor ;)