When complications become entirely too complicated.

So recently I was offered another position at school which I was extremely excited for! I never thought that I would ever get an offer that would be so wonderful, but alas I did. This put me in a bit of a predicament. One of my current places of employment is not conflicting with my dream job! Yes, I know the answer is just screaming out at me. I however seem to have some sort of moral soul that makes me "feel" bad about certain situations no normal person would really feel bad about. I'm not entirely sure if this is a blessing or a curse. Thus far it seems to be more of a curse.

Hopefully by the end of this week I will have everything figured out in its entirety. Other than that exciting news, I have also developed a thesis idea which I find to be more suiting for creating further research as well as changing things within the research world. It involves my mother and is extremely important to my life. I feel as though it can really inspire and change and that is what I intended for my thesis. My professor seemed shocked that I was already eligible for candidacy after this semester. She looked baffled at me and stated "How'd you get all those credits after only your second semester." I am a go getter and when I want something enough I will get it regardless of how much pain and suffering I must go through in order to obtain my dreams. It's quite difficult to work so much and go full time in a masters program, but quite honestly I thrive off of stressful situations.

Such as my paper being due on Monday for my New Mexico conference which I will be attending in just about one week! Well it will be one week from Weds. I am thrilled and nervous all in one. I've never presented at a conference before and hope that I will do a wonderful job. My friend Shannon says that I speak "eloquently." I hope that others too find some sort of intelligence and eloquence to what I have to say about Sexuality and Second Life. Pictured to the left in a newer photograph of myself. I've been dressing in turquoise jewelery to get me into the "New Mexico" state of mind. I plan on spoiling myself silly since I will be there on Valentines Day weekend and since I am lacking a Valentine I am going to treat myself to all kinds of lovely vegetarian cuisines (something they are famous for) as well as buy myself loads of pretty items. I will of course also be bringing back a few surprises for some of my favorite people! My mother says I look like a movie star in that picture. If only.

Other than being terribly busy I have been looking at other ways to get my work out there. It seems more difficult than simple and rejection is something I know I will have to face in time. I found one call for papers that I am interested in potentially researching. It is about Joe Strummer. For those of you who are not aware of this musical genius he is the lead singer of the Clash! He is fantastic and so is his music. Basically, I can research anything I want about the legend I just have to relate it to communication studies. I'm not entirely sure if I want to do some sort of research on solely him or in relation to his band. (Though he has a couple of those circulating around). The research abstract is not due until May 1st so I have some time to research and formulate some ideas. I also have another abstract that I must finish by the 10th and finish my paper before November for another conference I plan on attending. I may even submit to present at more than one panel this time. I must attend this conference because it is crucial for getting into a PhD program! I can't believe I'm two classes away from completing some of my masters and then thesis here I come!

Well tomorrow is a busy day and I will most likely get up extra early to shower, run to school to fill out paper work, then go to work. After work I have something special planned out so I'm excited about that :). Hopefully things will go better than the last time I went out with the opposite sex. To the left my dinner is pictured. Yes, I know it is not the most bright idea to eat dinner at this hour, but there simply aren't enough hours in my day to cater to my bodies needs. After working out I actually weighed myself and found that I've lost weight so this is my celebration dinner. Go figure, I lose weight and I run back home after a good workout to eat something and potentially gain weight. It is a mozzarella and portibello sandwich on whole grain bread, fruit, a tart, and some of my favorite blackberry merlot! Mmm mm mmm good. I will eat this and have pleasant dreams tonight. Hope you all have a wonderful night and stay warm!

Sincerely,
Alexis Zoe

Have I the Right to Hold You

I often wish that I lived during the 50's/60's. My father and I often have coffee together and sometimes when we go we are lucky enough to run into this little old widowed man. He is a doll and completely riveting story teller. My father and him were discussing their childhoods and how they missed little butcher shops, barber shops, and the connectedness of a community. When I see movies, read, and hear stories about that specific time period it makes me feel as though I have a void that will never be filled. I love the music, the culture, just everything about it. The honeycombs are a wonderful band from that era and I just can't seem to get their wonderful song out of my head!

Today was yet another wonderful day as a Northeastern graduate student. I was able to vent my complex thoughts yet again on a reading review and was able to read some more stimulating text. Though I must admit the book I had to read was a bit too simplistic for my taste. Tonight was freezing rain so I was all geared up with my little hoodie shirt that I was so thrilled to sport tonight. Though I'm not sure anyone else was as thrilled about it as I was. That is a typical Alexis on class night. Drinking some sort of tea to cleanse me from my long and tiring day and looking a bit exhausted. Despite being exhausted I am always excited to go to class and if that makes me a nerd well so be it! I've accepted that I am intelligent and that intelligence is not widely accepted in this day and age. My professor gave me an article just confirming how much scholars must suffer in the name of research *sigh*. Oh well that will not stop me from doing and living my dream! I am determined and am willing to fight for what I love. As 30 seconds to mars sing "Tell me would you kill to prove you're right." Okay, well maybe I wouldn't turn to that drastic of measures, but I would no doubt fight!

I would put up a mean fight too, because I am just as active as ever and loving it! Tonight I ran 3 miles and lifted. Not as many miles as yesterday, but it's good to get any exercise in! Better than being stationary. I actually saw an article posted on facebook by another old professor of mine that sitting can actually cause death and heart failure! Oh my what a scary thought. I sit a lot so I'm just hoping that I can find ways to not sit so much. Other than working out I pretty much had the day to myself! It was really nice to be able to just drink coffee, do homework, and relax if only for a few hours before class. I also got to sleep in which was much needed and appreciated! Before class I also got to get some bank things sorted out and stop at Walgreens. Arizona teas were on sale for 59 cents and I went nuts! I love the black and white tea they manufacture and just had to get some! I am actually enjoying it right now and will be cooking my popcorn and watching a movie before bed tonight :). Can't beat snuggling under blankeys, eating popcorn, drinking tea, and watching a good movie while it's freezing rain outside!

I'm not feeling very prolific tonight so I shall end this post right now. Tomorrow is another busy day and it seems that I may be working every day this weekend. I suppose I must accept at some point that my social life will have to be put on hold for a while. At least until summer. The good news is only two more classes and a thesis before I graduate my masters. I'm praying that I have it in me to write such a work! I've never written anything that lengthy and in depth in my entire life so I'm a tad nervous! Luckily I believe my thesis adviser should be extremely helpful in ensuring that my thesis be up to par on expectations. I always feels the urge to end my posts in a photograph because I feel photography speaks so much to people. So I shall leave you with the most adorable picture of my car and my cars new "friend" (note: friend is not someone I know, just happens to be at Starbucks at similar times as me!)

Adorable! (My car is on the right).

Sleep tight folks!

Sincerely,

Alexis Zoe

It's been eons.

Dearest darling blog,

It seems eons since we last encountered one another and I do apologize. My life seems to have become extremely full of responsibilities and these responsibilities have led me to neglect you. Instead of writing a blog that is speaking to an intimate computer generated idea I will actually discuss what sorts of events have been occurring in my life. Though whoever feels compelled to read this I must warn you it may not be the most exciting thing you've ever read. If you're looking for a tale of far off worlds and dazzling adventures then please do not feel as though you must read this. However, if you are interested in what sorts of events occur in my daily life then I encourage you to read on. Though this update may not be super exciting, it still has some vital information to understanding my current life status.

I did not take the time to review my last blog so I am not entirely sure if I already shared this information with you. If so do forgive me. My mother is sick again and if you'd like to know how sick you may contact me personally. I do not care to share my deepest life secrets with the world just those who care enough to know :). It has left me in a real rut and I'm not entirely sure how I'm holding up. Some days I feel as though I will have a complete meltdown and just feel like crying. Other days I'm feeling wonderful and using this time to get closer with my family and build a stronger persona. Today I'm having one of the wonderful good days so this blog shouldn't be too much like a primetime drama!


When I really think about it things could be worse. Mother Nature though beautiful can be somewhat diabolical and ugly as well. Haiti has experienced an earthquake that was horrid and has left the poor country scrambling to just make it through this tragedy. Though my mother is extremely ill there are things in life that could be worse and I have to count the blessings I do have rather than focus on the misfortunes. Other than my mother being sick I have been dreadfully busy.

I suppose I want to be a professor because I'm not a fan of the typical type of career. Working at a bank is not a terrible thing and I have wonderful co-workers, but I could never do that for the entirety of my existence. I am grateful to be making money to help me financially. Not as good financially as I would hope, but something is better than nothing. I also am working as a graduate assistant at school which I am even more grateful for! It helps me with paying for school and giving me a little side money as well. Both jobs take up quite a bit of my time. They allow me to do things though and I need some financial freedoms. For instance the other day I spent a decent sum of money on a new shirt, a new purse, and some things for my hair. That is my purse on the right! It's on an ebay auction so I'll edit this post with my actual purse. Isn't it gorgeous? I also got a new laptop in Galena (again not sure if this information is repetitive). Beautiful story behind my wonderful Sony Viao. I got it in Iowa on black Friday. Some gentleman 2 people ahead of me got the last one (the one that I wanted!) and he ended up letting me have it and took the more expensive less attractive Toshiba laptop! You can imagine how smitten I became with Iowa. My camera also crapped out on me so I got a black sony digital camera to match my laptop. I know dork, but hey I like to match :). Speaking of matching my nails also match my new purse! I've been so into coloring my nails lately.

Work is not the only thing that is occupying me at the moment. I also am going full time in school again and these three classes are even more challenging than the first three. I know that if anyone is capable of going full time in a masters program and working two jobs that it is myself, but I hope that I am able to maintain some sort of sanity in the process! My research has been accepted to a conference which I will be attending on the 10th of February until the day before Valentines Day (coming back that time is perfect, because since I do not have any set in stone relationship currently I plan to bake heart shaped cookies for my cohorts and possibly coworkers as well :P).  It will be held in New Mexico and I can not express how excited I am to get away and experience my first time presenting! Riveting to say the least. I am also happy that it is being held in New Mexico. It is one place that I never anticipated to visit, but that's what makes it so appealing. Plus they are known for vegetarian cuisine and turquoise so I will be in heaven!

Other than that I have just been doing research, writing my little heart out, and enjoying this silly little thing called life. I take everyday and make it something new instead of redundant and it seems to have been working for me thus far :). The only real thing I am working on is my weight yet again. I feel so chubby and am determined to be healthier! Been doing my crazy workouts in the gym again and no more mass amount of carbs for me :) That is the one negative thing about being vegetarian. It seems difficult to resort back to carbs! Too excited for Alice in Wonderland to come out and I recently saw Daybreakers! It was pretty fantastic, I loved the concept despite being weary at first.

Have a wonderful day folks!

Sincerely,
Alexis Zoe