The last 6 hours have sucked big time. I just had one of the worst allergic reactions I've ever had. It's still bad but much better.

This is what happened: I started tanning on Friday so that I wouldn't burn when I go to Spain in June. The first day was fine, a little pink after 4 minutes but cool. I went today and about an hour after doing a second 4 minute session my back, stomach, and chest turned bright red and splotchy and I broke out in severe hives. So basically I had an allergic reaction to the high intensity light of the lamps. Surprisingly its pretty common for people to do that (10-15%). Anyway, I am calling tomorrow morning to cancel my membership and ask for a refund. Hives are still bad but not so much so that I can't sit still.

One thing I have learned is that I am just not made to tan and need to bring at least 30spf with me on my trip.

I just finished my take home final! It's after 2am and I have to be up in three hours but at least I am done with the blasted thing.

My final work is 27 pages long and is printing off now. It is the cumulation of roughly at least 45 hours of work, not including the work of all my group-mates. The actual assignment is 8 SAS problems written by the most demonic teacher ever.

I have two finals left, one of which I have barely studied for and the other which I have been cramming for for two weeks and still don't know much. I have no idea how I am going to memorize everything in time.

I open Starbucks in 4 hours. Heaven help me.

It's been frigid here the past week and we even got a couple of inches of snow on Wednesday. Today it's 62F outside and so amazingly beautiful. The sun is out and the snow is finally all gone.

Since I started running in January it's been too cold or too snowy and icy to run outside so I've been stuck going to our nasty gym. Our workout room has no windows and very little ventilation so it's always overly hot and boarderline depressing. I've never really enjoyed my runs there but did it out of determination to get in shape. Today was the first day it's really been nice enough to go outside. And wow, I had so much fun. Instead of pacing myself I just ran all out for as long as I could. Covered almost as much distance as I normally do but just a lot faster. It was so lovely that I'm really looking forward to being able to do it regularly. Especially when I have a car and can drive down to the river front.

So here's to beautiful days!

PS- Less than two weeks till spring break.

I am so proud of myself!

I have never been able to run. I have always sucked at it horribly, just something I wasn't good at. Well, I decided to make it one of my resolutions for the new year and just go for it. Starting out I am ashamed to admit running over a minute and half was not easy. I've been at it for six weeks now and today I ran two miles straight. I honestly didn't think I would be able to do it, but I guess it shows you can do anything if you work at it. My goal is three miles though eventually I'd like to build up to five.

In celebration I am getting pizza. (Yes yes I know SO counter productive but oh well)

I am so stressed right now I've entered into this numb phase. It's dotted with periods of complete panic but most of the time I just don't even know what to do. It's like I'm trying to hold everything together by a few strings and some of them are dangerously close to snapping. Between classes, research, and work I have no time to breath except when I'm running.

I think I will have to quit my job though that really bums me out. Though with the shit and treatment I have been getting from my boss it may not be a totally bad thing. I already told them I wasn't coming in on Saturday except for half an hour to help them close.

I don't know what else to do. I got up for work today at 5:30am and have class and research straight till 4:45pm. When I get back I have a paper due tomorrow and a presentation as well as beginning to study for a big exam on Monday a large homework project Wed and another exam on Thursday plus the normal work and two quizzes not to mention two lab notebooks and a lab report. I'm not prepared for any of it and that's not normally me. I just can't keep up. The only success I seem to be having is with my running and weight loss. Don't know why I bother to complain, it won't make things better. Sorry to those who read this.

I had a seizure last night. I am kinda upset about it since I haven't had one in almost 18months. Probably due to stress and lack of sleep.

At two years you can go off meds so I think this was a one time thing and I am not going to mention anything to my parents or my doctor. I can't stand taking meds, I feel like a drug addict or something.

New York was so much fun! I didn't get back until about 11:30pm but it was worth it. We got into the city at a little after two and broke off into groups. Some of us decided to eat at Applebees where we pretended it was that one girl's birthday just for the heck of it. The problem was that none of us could keep a straight face so we were laughing pretty hard as they were singing to her. I think the servers knew we were faking. Then there was a huge issue as we tried to break up the bill since we tried to put parts on three different credit cards plus one paid cash. Some were charged twice, some not at all, and all had to go through at least twice. Heh. That took 20minutes.

After that three of us walked down Broadway and to Times Square. Sometimes I forget just how bright and busy that city is. The sidewalks are so packed and there are billboards and signs flashing everywhere. For a moment it reminded me of London right by Oxford street. Both are very different in their own ways though still quite reminiscent of each other. The one thing that made me quite sad was when we started to head back to Radio City there were these two animals (a small white dog and a gray and white cat) set on a box dressed up. It was so cold and they both had little Christmas sweaters on and looked extremely pitiful, especially the kitty. I don't know why they were there or who would do something like that but I really just wanted to wrap them up and take them home!

Eventually we actually got back to wait in line to get into the theater. The line was about two blocks long and ran into Rockefeller Center. They have huge scaffolding all around the big tree, decorating it for Christmas. There were no lights up yet and I was wondering just how many it really takes to light that thing. We were late to see the actual show and missed the first bit but it was still a lot of fun. Those girls are totally amazing to be able to do what they do. The dancing and music were both great. However, I get so pissed off at people who take pictures during the show. It seemed like half the audience needed to capture every moment so there was nearly continuous flashing. In my opinion it's very disrespectful. Anyway, afterwards we went back to Times Square and had dessert and tea in this cheesecake restaurant. We ended up leaving the city at about 9pm. So it was a really good day over all.

I left work early today. I made it to a half day for the hours but my boss finally made me go home. I felt ok this morning but after about 45minutes at work it hit me again. Just got up from a nap and the fever is back. Still can't really eat. So not pleased. I haven't left from work or missed a day of it for 2 1/2 years. School, yes, but that's different. You don't get paid to go to school. So now I'm moping around feeling very sorry for myself.

So today I have spent 95% of the day procrastinating revising for my Buddhism exam tomorrow morning. And, through all of that I'm managed to make myself tired enough to consider that studying would be too taxing and that sleep is really just better. I did manage to get laundry done and one of my two bags packed though. I am finding out that it's a daunting task to fit your entire room into two suitcases. They look so much bigger before you try and fill them up. Anyway, exams tomorrow and Wednesday.

Oh, and I have a new favorite British word that I am SO happy I've learned before I go back to the US. Namely "waffle". Not in the yummy Belgian kind coated in sugar and eatable. No, it is used in phrases like "to waffle about". It's come up a lot around exams and I guess for good reason. According to various online slang dictionaries it means to "take aimlessly" and in my dorm it seems to be used also in reference to aimless behavior or actions. No matter what though it's cool. I mean how many times do we really get to use the word 'waffle' except at breakfast? So much fun! Waffle, waffle, waffle!

This is a late update for going out on Sunday night. The whole story is quite long and now that I look back on it, very amusing. I had never done a pub crawl before, but now I know they are a ton of fun. Some of the stuff we did included trying to run a three legged race while drunk, having a boat race (which my team one, of course), purple haze, and generally running about. Most of the rowing team was there. Heh, I had this little incident with a bus stop...there was no glass in one of the pannels and I did not realize this until I was face down on the concrete. It is amusing now, but wasn't quite so much at the time. I don't think I will ever live that down.

Also, it's Tuesday, which means I am about to leave to go to the airport and pick up my mom. I can't really describe how totally excited I am about this. So, I'll be staying with her in a hotel for the next week and such.

Hey y'all. I'm too tired tonight to write anything worth reading except to say that starting next entry everything will be friends only cause I think I have everyone who reads this covered and the idea of having random people read all this is...well, disturbing a bit after some past comments. Let me know if there are any of you that read this that want to be added to the list, incase for some reason I accidently left any of y'all out when I was fiddling with lists. Cheers and g'night :)

I got home about ten minutes ago and there sitting on the counter was a box from Amazon with my name on it. I knew I hadn't ordered anything from there but it clicked after remembering Kat and my...uh, interesting conversation last night. Aaaaanyway, it's my b-day gifty from katfish! A DVD of Eddie Izzard who is like THE most hilarious man /ever/. I am so very excited to get home tonight and pop it in my computer to watch. So thank you thank you thank you, Kat! Love it!! You're awesome :D

I saw this and was amused as well. It's long so I did one of those cool skippy things that La taught me to do. :D So proud...Is hould go find a cookie.

( Mandy's Quiz Thingy )

Maps and directions do not account for people like me. Really, I knew I had a poor sense of direction but didn't realize I lacked it entirely. This summer might just be my undoing, but I ain't going down without one kickass fight that's for sure. Today I got lost in my car for a record of two hours, ending up 45minutes late to my MCAT class. And the funny part is that for the first 30minutes I had no clue that I was going the opposite direction till my radio station went out. So, I have thus decided that my sense of direction and ability to find my way around is somewhere equivalent to a blind frog whom lacks a left leg. See, I try really hard but just keep hopping around in circles. ;)

Just got home from the first day at work. Sadly this looks like the earliest I will be home, which sucks cause I'm going to miss the Notts peeps most nights. Tuesday and Thursday I won't get home till 9:30-10. The job is ok, but the pay is good so that is the more important part anyway. The MCAT class ends in mid August and the job ends the last week of August so I'll have some time to actually relax before going to school :)

In other news, this driving thing has been interesting. I seem to be a little more erratic when I drive alone which can be interesting at times, let me tell you. Got lost /again/ on the way home today, though not nearly as bad as yesterday. This time it was another route so at least I have an excuse.

Now the question for the day (and I really would like y'all's thoughts on this):
Under what circumstances do you think it is alright to hide something from others if it poses no harm to anyone else?

No real reason just wondering morally, ethically, ect. The topic was brought up today during work.

Ever have a day like this?
Let's just say I now carry a detailed map and jumper cables in my car.

Finally I've answered the rest of those survey-type things. Since it was so long ago, I'll remind you of the date: June 3rd. So yay for that!

Today I move out and move into my dad's house where I will stay for the summer. I didn't realize I have so much stuff. :P Ohhh boy, should be an interesting move. But it'll be nice to work on trying to customize my room and to be out of the city for a little. I also will get my car tonight. Won't be able to drive it tonight but I will tomorrow!! :D

Last night was a bit rough, I ran out of my meds and had quite a few seizures so I'm all grouchy, sore and tired today. But at least I know now that they really help, especially the one. It'll all be better after sleeping tonight plus I already have meds waiting at my dad's house. So not that big of a deal just an inconvience.

Four grades have trickled in and so far all A's which is so amazing cause this is what I needed to show that last term was just a fluke. So far all the work has paid off and though I was stressed during the term it is a huge confidence booster to know that I can still do it. I was nervous that I had lost my academic ability but even if I get a C in Biochem I'll still be very pleased with this term. So many people believed in my like Katfish, Mandy, La, and Jacob. And right now I am so thankful that they saw what I couldn't but maybe (without sounding too full of myself) that I am starting to see it too.

Ok, so you all know how much time I spent working on that horrible terrible Biochem lab report. Well, it was all worth it. Today my friend in my lab group forwarded me this message. I cannot believe it! So, thus, I have to share. :D Now, keep in mind we made up about 80% of the data based on nothing but reasoning and guessing. I think this is a true example of how college is all about getting a BS in BS. ;)

hey Raina,

You and your group did a great job with the final report, getting 34/35.

PO
Peter Oelkers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology
Drexel University

Just for all of you who don't know, tomorrow I get my car. I'll have it for the summer and am most excited. Here is a picture of it but mine is bright red, I think. ;)



Now, back to packing as fast as I can.

Cheers