I have made wedding and birthday cakes for a while now, and have also done some small-time catering and event planning. I want to give it a go down here in LA, but have had a really hard time thinking of a name.

What would you name a catering company that specializes in, but is not limited to cakes?

( Inspiration? )

- 14 days until graduation
- last day at current job was yesterday (have to go in today to tie up some loose ends)
- signed papers for new job yesterday; start training there on wednesday
- applied for giraffe apartment
- in a moment of weakness, almost pursued a job that would provide stability, but that i would hate. roommate and advisor knocked some sense into me
- fam is coming down for graduation. mixed emotions
- therapist leaves mid-july. separation anxiety continues to grow.

So, I've dabbled in amateur catering/event-planning for a while now, and I've finally decided to see if it's something I can really see myself doing on a more regular basis. As of now, I'm doing cakes and/or favors for two weddings this summer, and am meeting with another potential tomorrow morning.

I decided I'd like to make some fliers and business cards that I can hand out on campus and at events, but as of now, I don't have a name for the business. I know that you-all are intelligent and creative folks, so any help would be much appreciated.

( A Short Poll )

I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job.

Ahem.

I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job. I got a job.

I'm kind of excited about it. At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to take it. After some deliberation, though, I think I'm going to. Kind of excited. A real job. In the mental health field and everything. Eek.

There's so much on my mind lately that I hardly know where to begin. I don't post hardly at all anymore - certainly not for lack of things to say. Life feels like absolute mayhem lately. Things will get themselves sorted out sooner or later, though.

For now, I've just recently arrived at Becca's lovely home in Utah. I'm lying on the couch, willimg myself to sleep, but having trouble. It's always hard for me to sleep in a new place at first, especially when I've spent the last several hours pumping my body full of caffine in order to enable me to keep driving. I made it though, and quite enjoyed the drive, to be fully honest. I'm looking forward to the drive back, as well, because it will be in the daylight, and I feel like I'm missing out on something when I drive through a new place at night. Well, at least the drive back won't be boring.

And, I can add three states to my list of places I've been (Nevada, Ariona and Utah).

( Look! )

It's amazing the lengths to which I will go to avoid doing a necessary-but-fear-inducing task. For someone who is majoring in psychology and very interested in emotions and emotional processing and other such things, I avoid my own like the plague.

I'm sitting at Denny's working on a paper and drinking coffee. This has been a long day, but I think I'm going to push through the night.

It's that time of year.

Last Wedesday I sent the last two lessons for my Spanish independent study course.

I just submitted the last assignment for my Psych of Learning independent study course. I completed lessons 8-20 this weekend. I completed half of an entire course this weekend. No wonder I'm tired.

Now, all I have to do is take the finals, and I'm done with them.

I only have one independent study course left, that I need to finish before spring semester starts. This was the major hurdle for me to graduate in May. It looks like it's really going to happen. I can hardly believe it.

My mom just called to tell me that it's snowing (and sticking!) in Downtown Seattle.

Phooey.

If you're up there, enjoy it. I'll be pouting here in L.A.

[ETA: I'll be flying up there on 12/15 (it's a Friday). My flight gets in sometime late in the evening. Anyone want to pick me up at the airport? I'll buy you coffee, and give you gas money.]

It wouldn't be a major holiday without some sort of family crisis.

*sigh*

My advisor called me on my cell phone this morning, because he couldn't find one of the USB keys that we need for some of our software.

I was able to help him find it, by directing him where in the lab to look, but it was weird talking to him on the phone.

Seriously. Weird.

I was sitting here, working away, and feeling kind of tired. I walked down the hall to the restroom to wash my hands, and as I came back, I glanced at the clock and was dismayed to see that I've only been here an hour. Augh. Three hours to go...it's going to be a long day.

Apparently I'm graduating in May.

I was planning my schedule for next semester, and if I do the summer program I've been wanting to do, I'm out of classes after this next semester. I can walk, and then do the summer program, and then I'm done.

*Insert major paradigm shift*

Im not sure how I feel about all this.

My advisor sent me an email this morning telling me about this and that if I'm able to collect enough data by the submission deadline of November 15th we can submit an abstract and hopefully present there. Eep!

It's kind of really exciting. It's in Vancouver, BC, a city that I love, and my advisor said that if I can find somewhere cheap to stay (the hotel it's being held at costs like $199 a night) he can request funds from the department to help cover travel costs. I've already done a search, and there's a youth hostel really close to the hotel where I can stay for like $78 for the three nights. I know I'm probably the only one who goes to these big things and stays in a youth hostel, but who cares. I'd stay in the park if it meant a chance to present at a conference.

I guess I really need to start collecting data now.

On a slightly lighter (and much cuter!) note, here are updated pictures of the boys. Corbin (Corby) is almost two-and-a-half, and Larson (Lars) is about two-and-a-half months. These pictures are a couple of weeks old, but I don't think I ever posted them.

( be astounded by the handsomeness )

I love those boys.

I'm having a moment of profound frustration with the Library system at my school.

Apparently I have an unresolved fine with the Inter-Library Loan Department. To be honest, this doesn't surprise me in the least. The problem, however, is that said fine keeps me from being able to access any of the materials on reserve, a resource utilized by several of my professors this semester. However, because the fine is through ILL and not the general library, I'm unable to just pay the it without talking to someone first. I've gone to her office four times now, all during what I would consider to be reasonable business hours (9-5 type thing), and she's never there.

I finally was able to get in touch with her by phone today (only after going to four different locations in the library as every person sent me to someone else), and she said that she was unable to meet with me today, but that I'd have to come in tomorrow. And, yes, the hold will stay on my account until I meet with her.

Argh.

I've tried to clear this up several times. I have no doubt that the hold is a legitimate one, and that I owe them the money. I went to the accounting department and took money out of my school account so that I could hand them the cash and walk away with a clean conscience. Apparently it's not so easy.

Maybe I do need a change of pace. I found a program in Palo Alto that looks /really/ intruiging. They're doing trauma research there, but have a very strong clinical focus. They lack the integration and familiarity of Rosemead, but moving away and starting over is starting to sound really tempting.

I know I'm just frustrated right now, and I won't make any rash decisions, but I have requested information from them, and I'm thinking about going up for one of their visit days this year. We'll see. I still love Rosemead, but who knows.

Note: There is not such thing as "checking LJ really quickly before I go to work". It doesn't work that way. It didn't work that way yesterday, and it won't work that way today.

Gah. Time to go. (Actually, time to go a while ago, but, who's counting...)

I played tennis for several hours tonight. I can feel it already that I'll be sore tomorrow, but it was fun, albeit a bit frustrating at times.

Things are going okay right now. I'm pretty busy with work this summer, but not too overwhelmed. Right now we're gearing up for the fall, for the launch of an entirely new Ambassadors program. I'm excited, but can't help feeling a bit tired just thinking about it.

I'm considering dropping one more class and going down to just 12 units. I figure what with working 20+ hours in Admissions, plus my 7+ hours I'm committed to spending in Dr. Williams' lab this semester, I'll be plenty busy. I can do it, and still graduate on time/early, and maybe, just maybe, it'd be good for my sanity.

I'm also thinking about volunteering at a rape crisis center, or domestic violence shelter on a very part-time basis. It would depend on my schedule and their needs, but I feel like it might be a good idea to get my foot in the door and get a taste of what's yet to come if I keep pursuing the track I'm on right now. If I drop a class, I'd be able to do that, without adding too much stress to my life.

If I do drop, this semester I'm taking:

PSYC 309: Abnormal Psych (Van Lant) - R 9:30-12:00
PSYC 365: Cognitive Psych (Williams) - MWF 12:30-1:20
PSYC 412: Physiological Psych (Williams) - MWF 10:30-11:20
BBST 251: Theology I (Thoennes) - T 3:00-5:40

And, fitting my work and research hours in the midst of that doesn't seem too daunting. Maybe I will drop a class. It just feels so counter-intuitive to take less than seems physically/emotionally/mentally possible. Maybe I deserve a break for a semester, it's not like I'll be slacking off...

Mia's a mom again. Larson Graham Helweg. Born July 2nd at 1:07am. 7lbs, 7 oz, 20.5 inches.

( Baby!! )

I think I'm in the process of being stood up.

*sigh*

I even bought a new dress. It has tulle. And polka dots.