Oh Yeah.

Not "Oh Yeah" like the Cool-Aid Man. This is more like an "oh no." But just a heads-up: If you're eligible for a California State tax refund, it may be a while before you see any money. I filed my tax return a couple weeks ago, and when I checked to see the status of my refund (http://www.ftb.ca.gov/online/refund) this is the message I got:

"Your return has been received and processed, however, your refund cannot be issued at this time.

Due to the state’s persistent cash flow problems, the State Controller has directed FTB to stop sending refund requests to the State Controller’s Office for payment. Refund payments will resume when the State Controller indicates there is enough cash available to make refund payments."

Great...

UPDATE:

On the upside, I just got my federal tax return. woohoo.

Today

I'm happy I joined gospel choir. I love the music, the people, and the way I feel right now.

Today

I'm glad that I wasn't the guy who got punched on the way to work. What a crappy way to start the day.

I'm Tired...

...of ending every day feeling, well, tired.

I don't wanna be one of those people who come up to the youngins at work and is like, enjoy life now because before you know it, you'll be like me: married, with kids, and wondering where the years went.

So. Every day I feel like "this" I'm gonna think about something that made me glad, happy, or laugh (there's a subtle difference) and write it down. This will be my way of remembering that day so that it doesn't just go by without leaving a some sort of trace.

Beat

I now understand why my dad would come home after a long day at work and eat off of a stack of newspapers. That's all.

Stanfuord

So Stanford...

I got to the inn they booked for us after an hour and a half of Google maps screwing me over (that's not supposed to happen, right?!?). It was dark and rainy on top of everything else, but I was still in good spirits when I arrived because of the performance. See my previous post :) Plus, I was singing gospel the whole time I was driving - it's hard to stay down that way.

It was about 11:30 when I arrived, and my roommate from Texas got there at about 1. We talked for a little bit, and then went to sleep because we had to wake up at 7 for a long day of lab tours, faculty and student panels, and interviews.

I don't wanna go into the boring details, but I gotta say that I was pretty impressed with the program. It's sooooo expensive, though, if you don't have any fellowships. Here are a few numbers:
Tuition: $8-12,000/quarter. Most candidates receive their M.S. in 5 quarters.
Housing: $600-1200/month
Stanford Graduate Fellowship (SGF): Covers tuition, health insurance, and gives you ~$30,000 stipend/year. I want it so bad, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

What I liked best is the fact that they have a bunch of professors who have projects exactly along the lines of what I want to do. I'm interested in biomechanics and medical implants, and there are experts there in fibrocartilage, bone, skin, etc. Plus, what's cool about the fellowship is that you aren't tied to any particular professor or lab (which is not the case if you get a research assistanceship). You have a quarter to shop around/rotate labs and see where you fit in best. And, there's extensive collaboration with other departments and the Med School there.

My interviews went well (all of the Professors were fascinating), and because we were among the top 5 to 10% of applicants (I didn't know that until I got there), about a third of us will get some sort of fellowship. *Crossing fingers*

Anyway, after the interviews we had dinner (GOOD Greek Food!), and went to a dive bar called the Nut House to wind down. A couple of the people I got to know played some pool, talked, and drank a little. Nothing crazy, just a good ending to a tiring day.

The next morning was cool too. I got coffee and talked with a grad student (thanks to a hookup from a former professor), and then drove through campus and downtown. The city is boring if you're looking for nightlife, but it seems like it's great for outdoor stuff.

Ok. I went into the boring details. It had to happen.

I dunno how I'm gonna react if I get a fellowship. I could hear back from the Professor/Coordinator anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks. :p When I got the email a month ago saying that I was accepted, I was in Evans basement and I totally stood up (my aisle was full) and did an air punch. I think I did the whole squinty-eye, bite-your-lower-lip thing too. I'm a dork, but I was really excited.

Oh. I bought a Stanford shirt while I was at the orientation, too. I've never bought Cal gear...haha. Btw, the whole Cal/Stanford rivalry is a lot bigger at Cal. No one seems to care about it at Stanford.

Lastly, that picture I posted is of a totem pole on campus. Apparently totem poles have butts. See, Stanford already taught me something new.

I Really Love the Lord

No really though. Haha. Here's a link to a vid of the song we sang at the Valentine's Day Concert.



I'm beat. I got back from an orientation at Stanford. It was pretty awesome. I'll blog about it later.

Come!

Hoo Haw.

Today...

...Ok. Haha. Had to take a food break just when I started to write this because I was looking up images of chocolate, right after I came home from work, running on empty. You'll see how the chocolate ties in later.

First of all, I had some pretty effed up dreams last night.

1) I was at a random toy store buying a huge stuffed animal hippo. All I remember is that it was about as big as me, gray, and really, really soft.

2) I got bit by a snake. Someone in my house brought a striped red and black snake home, and after a week it grew into this fat white and yellow spotted boa constrictor or whatever. For some reason I was alone with it in the house, got chased by it, and it bit me on the ankle. I remember running to my car afterward, but don't remember making it to the hospital. Hmm...

3) My sister's Yorkie died, so I bought her a stuffed animal one. What's weird is that the stuffed one eventually became alive (Pinnochio!!!). Actually, this might have been a continuation of the first dream. So dream 2, where I got bit by a snake was a commercial? Woah. That's never happened before.

So about the chocolate. Today at work was pretty cool because 1) I got to go to a field site (read "field trip for engineers") to check out some work they're doing on the BART seismic retrofits, and 2) on the way back we saw a Ghiradelli Factory Store and went in and bought hella chocolate. For cheap. Best day I've had at work in a long time.

As a last note, these stories on the news about people who get evicted from their houses, fired from their jobs, etc... and kill their families and themselves need to stop. Seriously. Have some hope/do something about your situation (besides killing everyone you "love"). And leave the kids out of it. They will be fine without your effed-up idea of parenting anyway. If I hear another story like this on the news I'm gonna kill myself. And my family.

Jk Jk Jk

Yeah, Son.

I'm pretty on top of the world right now. Got into Stanford (yeah, yeah...hiss all you want) and Gospel Choir, and rehearsal tonight was pretty awesome.

On a side note, I'm glad I keep getting reminded of the three important things in life: God, Family, and Friends.

Peace.