http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm Exploring the Unknown en-us Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:31:29-0700 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:23:00-0700 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss mariebmk@yahoo.com mariebmk@yahoo.com http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2008/4/12/Just-plain-weird A South Korean gallery has unveiled hi-tec versions of world famous paintings which move and talk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7320000/newsid_7326000?redirect=7326085.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&asb=1 what's up? Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:23:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2008/4/12/Just-plain-weird http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2008/3/5/This-is-Life "This is Life" seems to be a phrase people like to use when bad things are happening in life and you must interrupt the daily monotony of your existence. I would love this phrase if it were for much more positive things like, "you have just won a free trip to Ireland", or you found a wonderful boyfriend, or your paper was just accepted for publication. These would all be wonderful things of life to interrupt the daily flow (well except the last one, which your advisor will just tell you to start working on the next paper). The last two weeks I have heard this phrase a lot. My grandmother had a massive stroke two Friday's ago, was declared brain dead, and we put her to sleep on Sunday. This was a complete surprise to everyone. Poor Uncle Mike has had a lot of life, he found out he had emphysema, quit smoking, and was laid off that same week (what am I complaining about, right?). This was my dad's mother in South Carolina and the last relative that lives down there that my family is close too. It kind of feels like a large chapter of my life has just come to a close. I probably will not ever go back to Table Rock (at least once we finish selling her stuff - another source of guilt). That side of my family was calm, stable, reliable and very loving. The other side of my family is erratic, crazy, unreliable and condemning. At the celebration of her life, I got to hear all her friends and family tell stories and the things they loved most about her. My grandma was incredibly neat!!! I wish I had spent more time getting to know her and listening to what she had to say. She just loved people unconditionally and they all loved her back. I hope someday I am as cool a grandma as she was. I think one of the biggest keys there is to live in the present, rather than letting your mind dwell on the past or plan for the future. I started paying attention to how much of that I do (it is really scary!). You should try to catch yourself sometime. The other key thing I learned from her was the importance of attitude. You can take the worst view point of what happens to you, or you can choose to put a positive spin on it. I know it sounds like pat words and I hate being told it, but maybe there is some truth there? My other recent "this is life" moment was when I left for a doctors appointment and locked my car/house keys inside the house. So I missed my appointment, was charged a $50 no show fee, and I managed to lock myself out on the only day in NC where there would be major thunderstorms and tornado warnings. Fortunately some good came from the whole thing as it brought great mirth to all my friends when they finally called me back several hours later to see what I needed. what's up? Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:42:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2008/3/5/This-is-Life http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/8/26/Another-School-Year After the first week of school and a full schedule of classes, I am feeling a tad overwhelmed . . . much of which goes towards the thought "Why am I still in school?" I have 4 classes this semester plus the work of fixing and then publishing my Masters stuff. On the side, I think I am supposed to be figuring out my phd too? Hmmmm, and my main goal is to get out and meet new people, particularly boys. Should have heaps of time for that right? So the game plan for meeting new people and developing those essential social skills to find and snare in good boys is to join clubs. I am now a member of the coed soccer team for Chapel Hill-Carborro - first game was yesterday and it was so much fun and we kicked some butt. The team name is "Hamstring", which has a bad feel to it if you ask me . . . On the days I am not playing soccer I am on the water polo team. I am by far the weakest swimmer and the only one who cannot do an egg beater, but it should be fun. If nothing else, my swimming will get better and I should get into stellar shape. And to balance the sport clubs, I joined the Intervarsity Graduate Christian group, which I am really excited about. I have been wanting a way to strengthen my faith and give back to the community. Hopefully, this will provide it. Plus the people I have met so far are incredibly nice and supportive. So I am looking forward to the new year and what it will bring! evil Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:41:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/8/26/Another-School-Year http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/8/3/Holiday July has been a rush. I moved, finished my thesis, became a Master of Disaster, and went to New Zealand on vacation. I got to meet up with Dana twice - absolute life savor. Saw the oddness of Hollywood, enjoyed surfers and the beach. New Zealand itself left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I went there to figure out if me and the boy would work out. A two week trip, and I sadly figured out within 2 days that we are not compatible material, for as fast paced and gung ho as I am, he is equally slow and chilled. A little too slow... it drove me absolutely nuts! So despite the beauty of NZ, I spent the whole time wishing I was home because the situation felt so ackward to me. Word to the wise, never set yourself up in a situation like that, because if it doesn't work out and you didn't make up a back-up plan, you feel very much stuck to circumstance. Not that Edward did anything wrong - great person and a great friend, just not my type for spending copious amounts of time together. So now I am free again and have found that with age and experience I have definitely formed opinions as to what I do and do not like. Hopefully this wisdom will show up in the future. Well, I am off to go play at the beach because it is so bloody hot here! Peace out everyone! what's up? Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:20:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/8/3/Holiday http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/7/1/Mwhahhaahahaaaaaaaaaaa I am now a Master of Disaster:) Feels good. And I am finished moving - feels great! Now all I have to do is fix my thesis, go to the conference in Boulder, and then the sweet sweet trip that is New Zealand shall be upon me. I cannot wait! what's up? Sun, 01 Jul 2007 19:44:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/7/1/Mwhahhaahahaaaaaaaaaaa http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/6/23/shitton-of-crappe So moving is definitely a challenge. Both I and my roommate moved over the last week (well me mostly, just furniture left). I have moved no less than 3 times every year for the last 3 years. Moving is fairly easy, especially when you don't own much. Three trips in my Honda has moved everything that does not require a bigger vehicle. My roommate has lived in this house for 5 years. The pack rat nature has left me dumbfounded as to the amount of shit that can simply be stored in a 10X10 room. And the closet - words cannot describe. It is suffice to say that there was not enough space for air molecules...seriously. So she has been spending the vast majority of every day for the last 6 days moving. I never would have made it, but then I am not good at wars of attrition. Leaf blower man cleaned the tennis courts again. 6 more days until I am a Master of Disaster . . . what's up? Sat, 23 Jun 2007 14:39:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/6/23/shitton-of-crappe http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/6/15/Wowzers Yesterday was the day! The thesis went into the committee, who now holds my very small life in the palms of their hands.... I have not really had much to report on since the wedding. It has been a blur of typing and beating the crap out of tennis balls. This summer is decidedly a month of change and I decidedly am not a creature of change. There is the thesis defense - scary. There is moving again, which is giving me seperation anxiety because I have so much fun at my house now. I don't even get this upset leaving home, so why does leaving this house bother me so much? I will definately miss it:( Then there is the trip to New Zealand which is nerve wracking on multiple levels. I really wish I knew what I wanted out of my life - have some direction. It would be a nice change. I do not feel like I have much control over where I am going and am just reacting to circumstances as they come. Some circumstances can be very good . . . so which is right? I don't know, I just know I am tired of where I am and want change, but at the same time I hate change. Wickedly confusing isn't it? what's up? Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:18:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/6/15/Wowzers http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/4/14/better-than-sliced-bread What could it be you might ask? Ordering bras online. . . It is a beautiful thing. I weep for joy because all of them fit and it means no more bra shopping for at least a year or two:) Absolutely splendid. Not much is going on right now - I just saw the extended version of LOTR (awesome), and I am waiting for it to rain again so I can wash my car. For free . . . and save water (or something like that). Rained during tennis, now I have a brush and "car soap" and am ready and . . . no rain. This must have been how Calvin's mom felt . . . have the bath ready and . . . no Calvin???? Disclaimer: Little sleep occurred last night on account of helping someone move furniture at 5:30 am for a garage sale. This was followed by the sweet sweet coffee of D&D:) what's up? Sat, 14 Apr 2007 15:01:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/4/14/better-than-sliced-bread http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/4/7/Happy-Easter Happy Easter everyone!!! what's up? Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:27:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/4/7/Happy-Easter http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/3/31/Random-Thoughts-and-What-Nots Isn't life grand? Isn't crazy how when shit hits the fan you become so appreciative of everything you have? This has been a crazy year for me - people I have know died, family members are sick and not doing well, mom is going to have major surgery this summer, I have some freak illness they can't figure out. Craziness. Oddly, the more shit that is piling on the more appreciative I am of everything I have had in the past. Loving family, great friends, travel, health, the physical and mental ability to chase my dreams. It is truly amazing when you think of all those people who don't have those things . . . truly amazing. Anyways - an update on new things: I have started the thesis writing. My made up word is: insegrivious. My model's name is FLEM - loving it. Hope to be done by June and I am taking my writtens early May. Have started playing water polo (not at all like the real horse polo though). That is a brutal sport! Not only are you not allowed to touch the bottom or sides of the pool for the entire game . . . you can drown the opponent if they are holding onto the ball. I love leaching onto their backs and using them as a life preserver. It is well worth the foul:) Playing indoor soccer - we have won only 1 game - but it was in playoffs where it counts. Makes me really miss high school sports alot . . . and to realize how out of shape I am. Finally I am getting the desire to get in shape again - we shall see how that progresses. And now . . . BACK TO WORK!!! what's up? Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:20:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/3/31/Random-Thoughts-and-What-Nots http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/1/22/Excuses My new favorite saying when asked where is my thesis: "I have the paralysis of analysis" what's up? Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:59:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/1/22/Excuses http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/1/16/Loss-of-a-Friend My friend who had cancer in the Philly hospital died the other day. It is the first time I have ever lost a friend around my own age. It freaks me out too because there are so many coincidences involved in everything between her and me over the last few months. It has caused me to sit and inspect the quality of my life. I have learned a few lessons in those reflections that I feel need to share: 1) Live life now. Don't wait and hold off and categorize your life. I do that - always have - I focus on one thing, finish it, and move on to the next. I have been saving my fun, personal life for a later time - I want to wait until I lose weight or until I feel better, or until my Masters is done. That is just stupid because it might be that someday you go into a hospital and they tell you that you are never going to leave their until you die. That gives you a hell of a long time (maybe) to contemplate and have regrets over all you have not done. So my new motto is to do it now. Live the life you want to live in the way you want to live it. If someone asks - When are you going to do this? - I am going to say - Shit, what are we waiting for, let's go! 2) There are no such things as coincidences. If you have a huge coincidence happen - I'd think about it because someone is trying to tell you something. 3) I need to write stuff down when I have a revelation because I can't remember the rest of them. Anyways, if my brain ever works again - I will write down the rest of my revelations and maybe start keeping a journal because my memory has seriously degraded. So if you are all for a cruise - hell ya! Let's go:) what's up? Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:11:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2007/1/16/Loss-of-a-Friend http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2006/11/26/I-survived Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!! I thought I would spread the word that I had my surgery and have survived. I am forever petrified of evil needles though:) There was no cancer, which was great and I think I just have to take a pill to do all the stuff my thyroid stopped doing and I will be golden. I also am now the proud owner of a scar going across my neck - making it seem as though my throat has been split. My advisor of course wants me to spread the roomers that he is a "hard ass" and something along the lines of me not being able to take it anymore:) The cool thing is the shear amount of sleep and movie watching I am allowed with a totally guilt free concious. The sucky thing is that my driving privelages have been revoked! I think I get them back on Tuesday, but I cheated and drove today because I was out of my drugs and jello, which just is not cool! Other important news to me, myself and I is that there are only 2 more weeks of school and then some freedom! I am hoping to make it up to IN a little bit (and after reading about the coolness of Beth and Scott's new toys . . . ) Then there is PA, which will rock - and you all might get to meet my scary/fun/crazy (so they will fit right in) cousins at New Years. Ok, while you all work hard, I am going to go take another um, well earned, um nap:) what's up? Sun, 26 Nov 2006 11:17:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2006/11/26/I-survived http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2006/10/28/A-Months-Catch-Up Hi all, My Month: School work and Hell Labs. I am a programming fiend. I have code that actually works at preparing the data for analysis. Now i just have to do the analysis. Learning to play the bells for church choir. 4 practices before performance and no idea how to read music. I know left hand is the space and right hand is the line. I ring the bell whenever I think I am reading the right line of the music - probably about half the time. Should be interesting. Been sick a lot lately. Got my biopsy back Wednesday and it was suspicous, so I have to have surgery now to determine if I have thyroid cancer. More on that as it happens. This means no more trip to New Zealand to see Edward. Sucks! Made fondue tonight. It was good. Now I am claiming my extra hour in the day by trying to sleep, which doesn't seem to be happening anymore. Oh well. Ta what's up? Sat, 28 Oct 2006 20:01:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2006/10/28/A-Months-Catch-Up http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2006/8/29/California-rocks (Music)-Do you know the way to San Jose? (end music) I just spent 4 beautiful days in San Jose, CA - silicon valley, Oakland, San Fran, Monterey, Santa Cruz are all right there. There is so many fun things to do it is amazing. This trip was planned out way in advance before the Labour Day weekend trip - which would not have worked for me anyways because apparently UNC does not cancel classes on Labor day so they can keep in sync with Duke (whatever!). Hope you guys have fun! We went to a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert - I was not a fan before, but am now. There guitarest 'Flea' has the best rocking stance I have ever seen. I am also getting firmly addicted to Guitar Hero on PS2 and might have to make a purchase soon. I am now in a concert going mood and will be seeing Nickelback this Sunday in Raleigh:) We also attempted surfing. I accomplished 90% of it - the paddling and waiting for a wave. The whole riding the wave thing is the 10% I will need to accomplish the next time around:) The last thing I did was to see the Golden Gate bridge and hug some red woods - those are big trees!!! Especially when you think that the average height of those trees is the distance from water level to the bottom of the Golden Gate Bridge (220 ft)!! Anyways, I am now back at UNC and getting my ass kicked by school stuff:( Fortunately, there is a hurricane a coming, so that should provide some entertainment (and cool air)! I can't wait to be able to breath again! what's up? Tue, 29 Aug 2006 18:54:00-0700 http://www.oldgraycat.com/lauren/client/index.cfm/2006/8/29/California-rocks