OK...OK...OK... Two of my friends "yelled" at me this weekend for the lost weeks of updates. Jennifer and Christa - It was awesome seeing the two of you this weekend. I really enjoyed our talks and watching Jennifer open up baby presents - I am pretty excited that I am going to be an aunt again. Unfortunately, I will be many miles away from him. Once this journey is over next May, I will be visiting Texas more often.

Quick and dirty update on the love of my life - Sydney. I just found out two hours ago that she is no longer diabetic. Her glucose level was normal, and she no longer needs insulin shots twice a day. These last few months have been absolutely hell trying to find enough skin on her little body to give her a shot - FINALLY - it is all over.

I completed my IRB form last week, but waiting for approval from the legal department in my company to allow me to conduct the study with the international employees employed at GSK. An IRB (Internal Review Board) must review all studies involving human subjects conducted through the university. Being that I am going to be conducting interviews and focus groups with international students and faculty at RMU, along with international employees at GSK, I must supply the IRB with a 100-page paper on the scope of my study and if there will be any potential harm to the participants (OK - I was exaggerating about the 100 pages - more like 10).

I have been trying to complete the first three chapters of my dissertation - just about there. I think I am just being neurotic about the "small stuff". No joke - sometimes it takes me two hours to write one stinking paragraph - ONE!!! I spent a few hours tonight writing, and you can see where it led me - straight to this blog because I am getting ready to throw my computer out on the street. The cool thing is that when I get frustrated, I no longer F-bomb...I go for a nice long walk in the neighborhood. Although these two boxers across the street scare the $hit out of me when they jump out from behind the trees, I don't let them get in the way of my "F this dissertation" attitude. I ran into a neighbor who shares my pain with the boxers. I am not the only idiot that walks on the other side of the road avoiding them.

OK - speaking of walking, I just went out a few hours ago for 2 miles, but now I am heading out again before I eat everything in the house :)

Until next time!