something's gotta give

It's been 2 weeks, and I think it's hitting me, I am in graduate school (again). I have to say the second time around is a different experience. The students in my class are pretty diverse, which is nice. The curriculum isn't as foreign to me as it was when I was in my masters. I mean how much can things change in 5 years? Although I have to say that I have a lot of refreshing to do. At least I don't have to memorize the DSM-IV! My classes are your basic clinical classes: assessment (IQ), clinical interviewing (therapy 101), psychopathology (diagnose-o-rama). They sound intense. They are. I think the challenge for me will be how to balance of all of this and still have a life and a full time job. When I started school the last time around, like 6 years ago (damn, was it that long ago?) it seemed like I can do it all. I was 29, which isn't spring chicken territory, I had an intense job that took alot of brain power, a life that included a new relationship and good friends, volunteer work, etc. What I remember from that experience is that I didn't feel like I had put enough time in my school work. I felt different things pulling at me and I let go of some things and I didn't feel the repercussions until much later.
This time around, I'm in the same situation, a full time job, a new relationship, good friends, volunteer work...I'm a little older, as the greying of my temples can attest, and I still think I can do it all. But I don't want to. I want to focus on my dream and that may mean that something has to go. Yes, I may have break up this ongoing relationship that has become abusive and unhealthly over the years. For forty hours a week, I have paid attention to this relationship and although I appreciate the compensation for my time, it doesn't make up for the countless hours of banality, boredom and pettiness. It's time to call it a day. I hope to get a part time job sometime in the Spring of '06, just in time for me to start my practicum. I may still have to work to pay some bills, but this time around I'm going to be choosy.

Bush el Pendejo

Reading the Univision comment page has given me an insight to my Latino brothers/sisters' reactions are to katrina's aftermath. There is no "viva bush" here...raza is very angry
here's a taste..my translations aren't literal..
in a thread titled cuantos mas tienen que morir por la ineptitud de Bush?
judithra63 says

Bush el verdadero genosida de nuestros tiempos. Cristobal Colon se le quedo cortito.

translation: Columbus can't compare to the genocide that bush has committed

same thread comment by a guy named pichagua

No me explico,como hay personas que todavia tratan de denfender a este
presidente..es lo mas inepto que se ha instalado en la Casa Blanca ...hasta el General Colin Powel lo critico!!!!Y cuando el perro muerde a su amo,la cosa es grave... .

translation: even colin powell criticized him! I love the last sentence "when a dog bites its owner, it's very serious"

in another thread entitled El presidente no desea ayudar ni a negros, ni a indocumentados
rocio6 said

si hubieran sido blancos y rubios,hubiera mandado ayuda inmediatamente............y debido a esa falta de ayuda,murieron cantidad de personas...lo demostro quedandose un dia mas en su rancho en texas.........la verdad yo no creo en ese senor

translation: if they were white and blonde they would've gotten help immediately. finally she says, i don't believe in him anymore...

pat said with some resignation

Claro que no desea ayudar a los negros, si por el fuera que se mueran todos junto con los indocumentados, Bush es un metiroso,hipocrita y para el es mas importante enviar soldados a Irak que enviarlos a ayudar en el desastre, las pruebas estan ahi, ni siquiera les avisaron con tiempo para evacuar, muchos dicen que no sabian, asi estan las cosas en el pais mas poderoso del mundo. pero aqui seguimos, quejandonos y aguantando lo que sea

translation: Bush is a liar, hypocrite..it is more important to send soldiers to Iraq..then she ends her comment with classic fatalism that only my people know how to express "well, we continue, complaining and putting up with what comes may"

finally in response to Mexico's aid convoy...in a thread entitled Fox Vejete Titere del Borracho Bush (Fox, the elderly puppet of Bush the drunk)
notehagaselyanqui (love the handle!) with the best rant of the day

FOX HAY QUE AYUDAR A SU COMPADRE EL BORRACHIN MAYOR, QUE SE GASTA MILLONES DE DOLARES EN MATAR GENTE EN IRAK Y EN DAR DINERO A LA NASA PARA IR A JODER A LOS MARCIANOS, PORQUE NI ELLOS SE SALVAN DE ESTE VIEJO, NI A ELLOS LOS DEJA EN PAZ SIEMPRE METIDO EN TODO

translation: Fox has to help his drunk buddy who spends millions in killing people in Iraq, who gives money to NASA to fuck with the martians, because they aren't even safe with this jerk, even the maritans aren't left alone, always meddling... His/her comment made my night!

Seriously, there is alot of raw emotion on these threads, lots of anger and shock, many are those looking for lost relatives, other threads speak about the concern many have about immigrants getting deported if they ask for aid. Clearly, this disaster/tragedy/superfuckup effected not only African-Americans and the poor but many immigrants, Latinos and Asians...