What? Hello? Hi.
I’ve been reading a lot for gothamist (book a week! geez! what a good idea!), writing a lot for a deadline coming up in two weeks, eating a lot of soup, and oh my god, preparing a lot of forms and applications and things. Wait, did I mention the GREs? On Thursday? And then the Bahamas? For five days after that? Not that there’s any way to complain about going to the Bahamas (and not that I’ve tried), but whatever genius (me) looked at the December 15th deadline at NYU and then said, “hey, let’s smack a five day trip right in the middle of that!” was on stupid pills (me again).
I haven’t even checked on my blog in, like, three days. I feel pretty guilty about this, but then again, the pile of menacing recommendation letters that have been waiting to be mailed, and the pile of books waiting to be read, and oh, did I mention the manuscript waiting to be written? And you’re sure I mentioned the GREs? They make me feel a lot guiltier. Trust me here. The guilt-o-meter, she’s off the charts.
Did you know the word inimical? It means damaging. And trenchant means vigorous or incisive. And refulgent, surprisingly, means radiant or shiny. I know this because Stuart was quizzing me on them while I lay half-asleep on the couch last night. I probably knew it before then, but damnit if I don’t really know it NOW.
Rufulgent: Beauty :: Psychotic breakdown : Standardized tests! See that there? Practical applications, ahoy. Oh, and in case you’re wandering around with a drastic and itchy case of 8x +10 = 21 + (7x – 4x), I can probably fix that for you*.
Not that I’ve spent more than three? maybe four? hours studying for this test on Thursday, or anything, because I point-blank refuse to drive myself around the bend for a formality, and trust me when I say I know it is a formality. Tonight, I’m going to not study by writing, and tomorrow night, I’ll probably not studying by getting drunk and watching Law & Order! That’s my big study plan. Refulgent, isn’t it?
Thanksgiving was full of turkey, this week is full of vocab words and swearing (which is also vocab!), and next week will be full of sand and hammocks. I tell ya, I can’t complain. I’ll try, but I can’t.
* x = 2.2 where:
1. 8x + 10 = 21 + 3x
2. 5x + 10 = 21
3. 5x = 11
4. 11/5 = 2.2
5. thus, x = 2.2
6. Yes, Stuart, I figured that one out all by myself and a red pen. Did I get it right?
this post endeavors to be prosaic, quotidian, and other adjectives as well
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RAH RAH RAH ALGEBRA
and also Bahamania. Bahamania rocks my socks. Even the socks I’m not currently wearing. It rocks, like, every single one of my socks concurrently.
I’m so glad you’re back at your blog and I’M SO GLAD SOMEONE ELSE’S GUILT METER IS OFF THE CHARTS!
Today I tried to do my day job and my dream job at the very same time. And so at lunch decided to see if I could stretch my one hour lunch break a wee bit (ahem) by running (literally) up to the Bronx Zoo from 14th street, union square where I needed to spend at least half an hour.
If x = my one hour lunch break, y = the forty minute One Way trip uptown then what does z, my guilt level equal?
oh, and I’ll give you a hint. I got back to work at 4 o’clock.
Krissa-
I actually had to drop a big chunk of change on a GRE prep class, and it’s been consuming my entire life!! I wish I could clone myself with a number-savvy replacement to take my quantitative section. I’ve started having really crazy nightmares about it, and completely stressing myself out, and my usually ebullient nature has become lachrymose (here are some bonus words for ya!! Ah, nothing like GRE vocab to make one sound pedantic).
Good luck, I’ll think of you on Thursday. Think of me on Dec. 12th. Where do you want to go to grad school??
-Yours in GRE misery,
Brooke
Spot on, darling, well done.
If I find that example in the book, there’ll be detention, mind.
wait, did i miss something? GRE’s?! AND, I’m still itching to hear more about this manuscript. You’re very adept at waving the proverbial tantalizing carrot before your readers’ noses. (are those possessives right? can i even spell possessives plural?)
Jillian, I’ve been somewhat cagey about mentioning that I’m applying for grad school, and that’s what the manuscript is for.
it’s always weird when my life matches someone online. i’m taking the gre (again- it’s been five years) saturday.
Krissa, I sat for the GREs back in October after not having taken a stitch of math in like eight years. I crammed like crazy and got super stressed out, but it turned out to be just fine. You’ve got a superb vocabulary, so unless you just completely blank out at that computer, I know you’ll be great!! Good luck w/ that and the apps and have a great time in the Bahamas.
Good luck on the GRE’s. You’ll do great. You think they’re difficult until you get to school and then you start to wonder if you’ve lost your mind. Good times.
Oh my, do I know this feeling…
I took the GRE twice because I forgot math in the seven years since highschool, and then I took the biology GRE after cramming a textbook into my head in two weeks (yes I actually slept with it in my bed because I thougt it might help.)
Right now I’m four applications down and four to go. NYU isn’t done yet, that’s tomorrow’s job. Gah, it’ll be worth it in the end, right?!?
Good luck, and have fun!
I think I might be one of the world’s biggest geeks because I saw the math problem and the bottom, got excited and whipped out my pen and paper and had to do it myself. I just love the stuff. What’s wrong with me?
Honestly, I reckon schools won’t even glance at your math scores. I applied to programs in engineering and I know the admissions committees for those certainly don’t care what your verbal scores are. Actually, most don’t pay attention to the GREs period unless you’re below whatever threshold they have. I wouldn’t sweat it too much.
good luck w/ everything! and enjoy vacation.