The Grind

feeling like a noob

Today is my official first day of grad school at UCLA. Being so long out of the loop of academia, I feel like such a newbie...except that I'm not jumping from table to table during Welcome Week to try to make friends (Fall '96 at UCI, scary) Anyways, I'm now in Ackerman Union (their student center) feeding off of UCLAWLAN. They've got booths all along the path outside, full of the usual college clubs and promotions, just for Welcome Week. Made me remember my days as an undergrad at UCI, and made me realize how glad I am to leave those days behind. I knew to steer clear of those damn solicitations they always threw in my face (except the party flyers from frats/sororities; they never gave me the time of day anyway). I'm not travelling on a bus 2 hours a day to relive my undergrad year. That's not why I'm here in the first place. That's why I'm not buying any Bruin paraphernalia; I'll always think of myself as an Anteater.

And yes, as I referred to it above, Parking and Trans decided to deny me my parking permit. The possibility of walking around Washington and Centinela alone at 9 or 10 pm wasn't compelling enough. What's worse, i guess some glitch in their email has resulted in me getting an automated email notification of that denial, every day since Monday. Need I be reminded? Ten weeks on the bus...*sigh*

I have class five days a week + lab research...My first class is a seminar at 4 today. Maybe I should go grab some Rubio's (yes they have that on campus =) )

Current temp: Cloudy at 69
Currently playing: Nothing.
Currently feeling: Hungry.

westside connected...

I'm mostly settled into my new place on the west side of town...on the edge of Culver City. Despite the fact that I would have to dodge red light cameras to get to Target (my favorite department store), this place is not all too bad. Up on Sepulveda (going north, thank God) there's a drive thru Coffee Bean in the same shopping center as a Trader Joe's! Besides, being on my own ("mostly" as I'm living with my sis) is a nice breath of freedom. Home will once again be a nice place to visit.

On a related note, as I'm getting ready for my first quarter as a grad student, today was officially my last day at my job. Nice timing: Sept 19, 2002-Sept. 17, 2004. The girls hooked me up with a nice backpack for my iBook. But the thing's got so many frikkin' pockets you'd think I was on field study in the Mojave. I could definitely use this.

It's time to get used to being a student again.

Current temp: The fan is blowing; it must be warm in here.
Currently playing: Nothing. My iTunes on this is still virgin.
Currently feeling:My eyes getting heavy