The semester is over!

1. That research methods class is over. It was a year long, and it's done! My six-month long project is over, completed, and graded. The final is over, and graded. I won't divulge how I did (sometimes I don't do as well as I would have liked in a test situation), but I feel very relieved and a sense of major accomplishment. I'm keeping my books -- all five of them -- and my downloaded SPSS software, although the rental agreement is over. That class was a toughie!

2. I can finally tackle this pile, the TWO PILES, of papers and books and stuff that have been sitting next to my desk for the past six months. After I moved in with my boyfriend, I warned him that I'm a graduate student, and not only does he get to live with my delightful self (ha!!), but also my delightful stash of books and papers, which grow semester after semester. By May, it was pure chaos, and even though he's not the cleanest of folk, he ignored the growing pile. We made fun of it -- we had for our sanity. Now, I can tackle it, and recycle the printed reading assignments, the printouts, the notes that I don't want, everything. And, then I can vacuum the dust-bunnies. I might have an orgasm while doing it!

3. Now, what do I do in my spare time? I'm not working right now. I was a full-time student last semester, and this concept of being a student and not working is strange to me. My internship is done. I'm looking for a part-time job or a summer job -- as are millions and millions of unemployed individuals. I've been looking for a job, it seems now, for more than two years. I started looking for volunteer opportunities, and we'll see what happens on that route. Until then, I'm keeping myself occupied with a good book (Isabel Allende's "The Infinite Plan") and visiting friends and family. I need to take better care of my body with yoga and exercise (I might go for a walk with my two friends today). I'm also trying to cook for my boyfriend more (we just had baked potatoes and soup last night, although he made them, I bought the ingredients).

If anyone reads this blog and has any ideas what I should be doing in my spare time (and they're legal and proper) let me know.