Saturday, November 27, 2010

Winter Plans

Plans for the winter have materialized, although sometimes it seems as though they have just fallen into place (or are in a constant state of falling, but haven't quite landed yet). Things are just kinda coming together, how 'bout that?

I'll be going to California, oh yes. But just for a few weeks. Before I go to California, I'm going to go to Texas for a week to spend the X-mas holiday with my best friend. I shall commence the trip by flying south on the darkest day of the year, the winter solstice.

In California, I will spend 3 weeks in data-collection-mode for my research study at UC Irvine. I wasn't sure if it was going to work out, as I am having communication issues with the kinfolk there, but hell. My IRB application was approved, dammit, so I'm collecting MY DATA!! I have dived right into what I do best--planning and organizing--so that I can pull this off with very little drama. And minimal help. I have already started the first phase of the study, which is an online screening tool, and I have almost 100 eligible participants already!! Hurray for research at the University of California! Unfortunately, there is no way in OC (i.e., Hell) that I'm going to be able to process all of these participants in January--although, if I did (assuming they all attended, etc.), I'd have all the data I need. The goal is 80-100 participants. However, I will be able to process 40-50 participants in January, by scheduling people every freaking day that I'm there...so that is awe. some. Two and a half solid weeks of data collection will equate to an entire semester of processing people once per week.

In other words, I'm consolidating and condensing...and will be working efficiently. And I don't have to spend months in Orange County again. And that is good.

Of course, the whole point of this is to do it as quickly and simply as possible in order to get some data to write a paper and get a publication out of it. And I think I've proven, over the last year with my thesis, that I am perfectly capable of getting work done remotely. Yay for me.

I'll just have to plan to go back over spring break to finish the job. Cool beans.

So, in about a month, I leave for a month, to be a traveling woman once again...including living in the trailer again...to get some sunshine and pursue a lofty academic goal.

When I return, I will continue working as I have been, but I will also start a short internship as an addictions counselor and finish a certification in addictions counseling. I will also apply to practicums for the 2011-2012 year that will eventually capstone my master's degree.

Around the first of the year, if I can secure recommendation letters, I may be applying to 2-3 doctoral programs in clinical psychology. So, the spring may just be a game of waiting to hear of acceptance. Or not. Depends if my letter writers respond to my emails!! Otherwise I plan to apply heartily at this time next year.

In other news, I have a new LONG, warm down coat, Uggs, and a plan for staying warm and moderately content this winter--excessive overdressing, exercise (via daily cardio/elliptical/jogging and weekly ballet classes) and semi-weekly visits to the tanning bed. Oh, and a month in a warmer climate. Not 7 months this time. Just a nice quick visit, and back home.

And so it goes...