It's official. I'm bad at blogging. G-ma said so on the phone last week.
It's Wednesday, March 26. I am halfway through the first week back from spring break. I graduate in just over 5 weeks. How crazy is that?!?
So, for those who are sick of hearing about me, please refrain from reading this post. This is going to be a fast run-through of why I'm fabulous for G-ma's sake.
This has been a good semester so far.
I am officially a PhD candidate for Materials Science and Engineering at Clemson in the fall. I signed my contract this morning. I have a Teaching Assistantship for the first year that turns into a Research Assistantship after that. I'm being paid quite a bit and I am NOT going to complain about that.

I will be doing work in Washington State this summer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. My research will be on the same family of glass that I have been working with here but a different aspect of the glass. Electronic, I believe. Getting this internship planned has been a bit crazy, but things are good now. It will be good for me to do research elsewhere before I start as a graduate student in the same group I've been in for a year as an undergraduate.

I wrote an article that was published in the American Ceramic Society's Bulletin (their monthly magazine). It has my name under it and everything. Mom has an electronic copy of it if you would like to read it or just see proof that I'm published.

Speaking of the American Ceramic Society, I am now the Outreach Committee Chair for the President's Council of Student Advisors. If you read the last post, you probably noted that I had just gotten back from Daytona Beach. I had been at a planning and implementation meeting for the PCSA, a student-run committee of ACerS whose purpose is to encourage student membership in the society, promote membership of young professionals, and direct student activities at the conferences. The trip was a blast and I am honored to be working with a group of dedicated students from across the country.

I have a new boyfriend (yes Sam). His name is Chris. He's a senior in Mechanical Engineering. He's cute. Or, as G-ma says, he's a "handsome fellow." He goes to my church and he's completely respectable (I figure someone is going to ask that).
He went to semiformal with me, hence the dress and tie. (PS~ isn't that blue dress awesome?!)

I would tell about the spring break trip to the keys, but instead I'll just give you a link to the photo album. Spring Break Pictures

I am so lame

I guess G-ma is going to disown me for letting a over two months pass without updating my blog. Okay, more like 3 months. I am probably the lamest blogger on the webnet.

So apparently I have been working on this one post for like 2 months, because It was about that long ago that the next paragraph happened... I think I'll have to go ahead and post this one soon.

I just got back from an entire week in Daytona. I have returned, having forgotten what cold is really like, and being way thrilled that I can open the blinds and check my e-mail without leaving my bed. I can also rebel and skip meetings without anyone caring. Life is good.

But yeah. Let's see...I should do a quick review of the last month and a half, huh?

A small part on Thanksgiving would go here, I guess. We went to Knoxville. Like old times. Here's Auntie Rose and I being silly...Then there's the family tradition of watching the sweet potatoes to make sure they don't catch fire like they always end up doing...
The twins (still silly as ever) and G-ma... The fabulous Lauras of the Burka family... All both
The (un) usual A to Z lineup, with Dad standing in as Scott and Aunt Rose standing in for Zachary. This family sure is strange. But it helps to have these pictures so people don't wonder why I am the way I am.

We went to the rodeo. It was sweet. Thought I'd share...I think I'll throw some football pictures in here just for the heck of it. Last home game of my senior year. We lost. But I got a lot of good pictures.
We had fun playing on Julie's front porchJulie and Olivia and I hung out at the game until Olivia and I took off for the band and sat in front of our favorite drummers. It was really loud right there. I highly suggest NOT sitting in the middle of the band.
And of course, I stole Paul's hat after the game. Long running tradition I guess...Christmas, the Burka clan went to LA. Lower Alabama, that is. We went to the beach down near Ft. Morgan. All 16 of us still fit into one house. I'd say that's pretty impressive.
I suppose I'll put a few more pictures of that in here and call it a post. I mean, it's time to talk about spring break now. That's how lame I am.
Here we are before a walk on the beach. I say any Christmas that involves a walk on the beach is pretty stinking cool.
G-pa got a piano for Christmas.The cousins ready for the usual lineup. We almost look respectable. You have no idea how cold our feet were...This is pretty much a normal picture of the cousins...
Last but not least, my favorite Burka family Christmas photo.

stupid dude with the beret

Remember the dude from last night? The one who insisted on sitting near me and reading and looking all stupid and chatting on the phone? I apparently am getting bad at my "leave me the crap alone" vibes, as he eventually decided to talk to me. I mean, the clear fact that I was so focused on my studying was lost on him. Every time he spoke I had to pause my music, take out my headphones (which i did with both hands for effect), and turn to say "beg pardon?", then respond, put my headphones in, turn on my music, and go back to my studies. Then, after about 30 seconds, he would do it again. I even glared every once in a while. How on earth did he not get it? When a friend came over and sat with me and I pointedly turned and talked to her, he finally apologized for having to go (huh?!?) and left.
I just wanted to share about mister get a clue.