Swamped...as usual:)

In final exams....

Always manage to sneak up on me somehow:)

Brain hurts...feels kinda gushy....

Whew! What a last couple of weeks!

What a stressfull last couple of weeks! I had 4 midterms in four days, had to do a 20 minute presentation to a geology class and my professor and hand in another presentation that I have to give in the coming week.

That first presentation was sssoooo stressful! I had to give a twenty minute power point presentation (including handouts and references) to a class of my peers, graduate students and my professor. My topic was the midcontinent rift that occured 1.1 billion years ago along Lake Superior. The biggest part of the stress was that (apart from being graded), my professor has been involved in most of the major studies in this area, so I really had to know my stuff.

I tried to take control of the situation and gave my friends questions to ask me ahead of time, so I could have answers prepaired. I think it paid off, because I managed to avoid a major grilling by my professor; those who presented before me and weren't asked any questions got asked tough ones by my professor...not fun!

I think it went ok, but I was shaking afterwards. I have to give another presentation this week in another class, but this one is only five minutes. I've been finding it hard to keep my focus for this last one after going full board for the last two weeks. I hope it goes ok. Public speaking is not easy!

So that's what I've been doing for the last couple of weeks...stressing out and practicing my public speaking.

I have to say, oddly enough my Kung-Fu came in handy. By taking control of my situation and trying to shape it to my advantage, I managed to make it through. Definatly a valuable lesson! No matter how out of control you feel, there is always something you can do to stack the odds in your favor.

Crazy how Kung-Fu applies everywhere eh?

Still alive...just in exams...

So, I didn't blog last week, and missed it on Tuesday. But here I am.

It's that time of year again and I'm back in exams. Bah!

One day, when I'm a millionaire living in an Irish castle, I'll look back on these stressful times and laugh. Until then...back to the books I guess:)

Good luck candidates!

I just wanted to say that I hope the black belt testing is going well for all the candidates.

I know it can be an incredibly grueling, exhausting and sometimes even disheartening process, but hang in there. I also found it to be one of the most worthwhile, rewarding things I've ever done and it was a priveledge to take part in.

Just remember, we're all behind you and if your ready, you'll make it.

For those of you who are not grading right now, but planning to in the future, it's important to realize that that day can come sooner than you think, so don't wait until your last year to up your training.

Once again, our thoughts are with you Sihings!

Sweet sweet coffee....

Listening to celtic music on AOL radio right now...pretty cool stuff.

And trying to work on my biology assignment. Emphasis on trying:) Tuesdays are now my least faverite days of the week. I only have two classes on Tuesdays, but one is at 12:30, and the other isn't until 6pm. The break I have from 2-6 is just long enough I want to go home, but short enough that I have a hard time justifying the gas....

And my 6pm class doesn't end until 9pm! I tell you, whoever thought up that genius scheme was not a friend of mine! I like to refer to it as my weekly death march, but that's probably being over dramatic.

So ya, I'm sitting here, listening to celtic music, staring at my bio article and drinking coffee, trying not to fall asleep before the death march begins....

I don't know if I'm gonna make it...*gasp*....but hey, at least I have coffee! Sweet, sweet coffee:)