i just want you for my own...

 I haven't written in a while, due to several reasons.  Firstly, I had a poster presentation to work for, and a busy last week of term.  My poster was on the global burden of disease of Haemophilus influenzae type b) and we were all nervous... :/  It went well though, and that's one coursework out of the way for this module.  Anyway, afterwards, we went to A's and watched Moulin Rouge which  I liked; very musical although the ending was a bit... odd.  She dies and then he writes a story... kinda a bit anti-climactic though I guess the climax is when she dies?  A's flat is beautiful though.. very spacious and open and big too!!!  I want a flat like that. We wanted to watch He's Just Not That Into You, based on a dating advice book, which I didn't much care for, because a) I don't need dating advice and b) I find those self help type books boring and a bit too New Age-y for me.  But the disc I burnt it on wasn't recognised by A's DVD player :( .... another time though.


Had a lovely Christmas... we had a lovely Christmas lunch and some family time.  That's what Christmas means to me: a day to spend time with your family.  We don't give presents, especially not anymore.  It makes me very sad how everything is becoming commercialised... I don't believe in that.  If I need something, it doesn't get dressed up as a present from my parents unless it's my birthday.  Since when did the birth of Jesus become a day where people eat way too much and fight to buy the best presents?  Now whilst I never claimed to be religious, I still think we should respect all religions.  And Christmas Day is a day where Christians across the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  I don't think that Jesus would have advocated the mass commercialisation of Christmas, how everything becomes about the presents and/or getting drunk... how Black Friday marks the start of the Christmas season in America... how Selfridge's set up a Christmas display in August.  It's crazy and blown totally out of proportion.  What would have our ancestors thought?


So, didn't get presents.. standard.  I don't really get them anymore and I have been slacking on the "buy the boyfriend gifts" front, though to be fair, he didn't get me anything either.  We've both been so busy, he with his trips away and thesising post-doctoring and earning £2000 on the side, and I with my tons of work and domestic stuff.


Braved the sales today.  I got this coat... been wanting it for ages.

(C) Carol, October 2009

Got some brown boots, and some books. :)  No new phone yet, but am reachable still.. using my mummy's phone.  My sister was looking for a dress today, so I thought I'd try some on.  Got excited when I fit into a size 4 one, then my mummy turned to say, "yeah, don't trust what it says on the label, it's different in different shops".  And before you go on at me for the size 4 thing.. don't.


Er... this post has been edited over several days, not sure if I mentioned this: been working lots.  I have this guilt that I carry around with me if I skip a day of uni related work, and P has long been witness to this behaviour.  I guess it was the way I was brought up: my parents encouraged me to put studying and education before everything else, even health, such that I was never allowed to take a day off school when I was younger.  Not that I had any inclination to.  It never occurred to me that I could say, "mommmm, I feel so illlll, pleeease let me have a day off school?"  And obviously I skipped lectures in first year of uni, maybe about 10?  And lots in second year, but all was in cause of doing my own work.  And yes yes, during firms I skipped a tiny bit (haha) in favour of doing my own work and finding people to practice examinations on.


So I try to do at least a tiny bit everyday (even Christmas Day... I wrote something up).  I hate feeling like this.  And consequently during the summer (which has ever only been my time off uni/school - I used to revise during Christmas and Easter at school too - I feel so... bored.  Thankful for the time off, and yet bored.  So I do little projects. (NON work related, I hasten to add!)


Am I weird...? :-(  I am going to blame the Chinese work ethic.  For as long as I remember, my parents always gave everything they did 110%.  I never used to understand it when people would say, "oh I gave it 110%" or some number >100.  But I really do now.  Pushing yourself beyond what you know and think you can do.  Because, if someone else can do it, you can do it too. :-)


I mean, I try to take time off.  During term, I would take Saturday morning and afternoon off and go out.  That's enough right?


Feel like my posts are so rambly and boring... I need to increase my readership, over 0.  Oh, I found something on the BBC describing this decade in 100 words and in a portrait.  For my part, 2009 has shown me, in very loose phrases, just who my real friends are, and just what I am capable of.  I shall try and write once more before 2009 is over, and explain in further detail.




xo