Change is stressful; uncertainty is stressful. I’m a planner; I write to-do lists constantly, I’m usually pretty uncomfortable if things are in flux and not figured out (though I’m getting better about that). I can be spontaneous, and I enjoy change and surprises; I just tend to plan more so than just act.

Which means my mind has been going crazy the past few months since my future has been up in the air. I’ve gone from planning to be in school for a few more years to graduating in May, being done with my thesis by March. I’m severely limited in what physically I can accomplish due to a torn ligament in my wrist. I’m limited financially by unexpected medical expenses due to crappy student insurance and getting unfortunately screwed over by a family member. Life as I planned it is no longer feasible.

And I’m trying not to plan it back out. Because so much is still up in the air right now. So I want to ask you, those who read this humble blog, what do you do to stay sane in times of change?

Right now, I’m being a bit more spontaneous, remembering to breath, reaching out to people I love and care about, and constantly reminding myself it’s ok to not know. And still writing to-do lists constantly. Any further suggestions? Greatly appreciated in advance.

One of the things that has been on my “after I finish my prelims” list for awhile is to take the entrance test to see if I qualify for MENSA. National MENSA testing day was October 18; I signed up, had my boyfriend drive me to the library in North East Philly where the testing was being held, and took the two tests.

I got in the mail yesterday the letter saying that I got a qualifying score to be admitted to MENSA! I’m so excited….my mom told me I’m now a certified smart ass

Edit: Oh, and by the way, I voted this morning. Did everyone else who can in the United States?
My precinct didn’t have “I voted” stickers, but The MacMommy sent me one

One of the most common complaints/worries/quasi-compliments I get is that I do so much! I don’t really ever notice it, I just do what I think needs to be done or what I think will be interesting or fun to do. I’m getting better at recognizing my limitations, as someone with several chronic illnesses, I have a lower saturation point than most people. (There will be an entry about my chronic illnesses sometime this month, I’m sure). I still very much have a Type A personality though, and am constantly doing something, or else I either get bored or feel guilty that I should be doing something.

Right now, I am working full-time in my lab. This involves working 8:30/9-ish AM to 5-ish PM Monday through Friday, unless I have an overnight study to work. Then I work until around 3:30-4 PM, nap, and then come back to work at 10:30PM and work until 4AM. I have the next day off from work then. I sleep in and veg on my couch unless there is somewhere else I need to be that day. I’m working on my masters thesis, which needs to be done by mid-March at the latest.

This month, I’m taking part in NanoWriMo and NanoBloMo for the first time for both of them. I want to work on my writing, and I feel the best way to do that is to just write! I’m collecting cards and gifts for my friend Liana who has been ill to send her a care package later this week. My cousin, who I am very close to, and consider my sister, is very pregnant, and will be giving birth to my nephew sometime in the next 4 weeks. She also has a 5-year-old, my niece, who I am very close to, and try to make as much of her school events as possible (she’s in kindergarten). I talk to my mom at least once a week. I live with my boyfriend and our two cats, and try to keep the apartment clean when I can. I’m volunteering at BarCamp Philly this weekend, and helped make the handouts for the event. Also, I’m going to the Society for Neuroscience meeting with my lab in a few weeks in Washington, DC.

My wrist is still in a brace and is still sore and healing from when I was mugged in September. Not being able to effectively use my left wrist/arm is frustrating me, I miss my independence. I can’t wash dishes or clean as much as I should or want to without hurting my wrist further. I should be getting MacSpeech Dictate in the mail today to try to take the pressure off my wrist with all the writing I’m doing. Review pending I’m sure.

Thoughts? Am I letting my Type A personality get the best of me?

I was so busy this past week with some reports due to grant agencies in our lab, and planning yesterday’s baby shower; I didn’t really have time to plan a Halloween costume. I do dress up every year, I love Halloween, and plus the baby shower was Halloween-themed and guests were encouraged to dress up. I had found ordered myself a fun shirt from Forever 21, and someone on Twitter had suggested a Captain Hook costume to incorporate my wrist brace since the ligament in my wrist is still torn. So I stopped by Kmart really quick on Friday, picked up a pirate’s hat, and threw a costume together Saturday morning. Here’s the result:

Today I threw my cousin’s long-planned Halloween-themed baby shower. I spent yesterday and this morning making 2 vegan pumpkin pies, a gluten-free vanilla cake, 2 dozen vegan chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing, apple cider punch, and cutting squares of off-white cloth. I had the guests decorate the squares with sharpies so I can make a blanket for the baby. There was also lots of chips, pretzels, and candy. I had the kids bob for apples, which they had a great time. Also, filled baby bottles with candy corn, and the kids got to use them as bowling pins and then eat the candy. I also had little pumpkins full of Halloween candy and Halloween stickers for the kids as goodie bags.

I dressed up at the last minute as a pirate. I found a pirate’s hat for half off at Kmart yesterday, along with a pimp daddy hat for my cousin’s boyfriend. I had a tiara for my cousin (she hates those paper plate ribbon hats), and figured the daddy should have a silly hat too. Pictures will be forthcoming once I get them off the camera. I put my boyfriend on camera duty since I was busy making sure all the food and such was alright.

Now it’s time to focus on NanoWriMo and NanoBloMo this month, begin to work on my masters thesis, and try to let my wrist heal more. I’ve got MacSpeech Dictate on order, should be here on Monday so that I can write as much as I can without hurting my wrist.

Daylight savings time ends tonight here in the USA. Remember to turn your clocks back an hour!