The Birthday Week Begins!!

so, not much new to report here except that the birthday fun has started. I love that no matter how old I get, I can always still celebrate my birthday for a week or so. :) Anyway, I have Friday off from work since it is a national holiday along with my birthday. Oh the perks of being born on the 4th of july. :) Well, on Thursday, my coworkers and i are ordering out lunch and having cake to celebrate my birthday. Then, in the evening, michael and i are going to lake arlington to see the fireworks. (my professor said i didn't have to go to class, she is so good to me) Then on Friday, I plan to sleep in, lounge around (maybe swim) and relax during the day. Then, Michael and I are going to go to dinner and maybe even catch a movie or something else totally fun I don't even know about yet. then, Saturday my parents, sis and Gabe are coming over for some lamb and other delicious foods and some good times by the pool. My dad is also going to help us put up a ceiling fan outside so we can be nice and cool during the summer months. Thanks dad. Then, on sunday michael and I are going to continue planning our august vacation and i think i need to get some study time in also. All in all, sounds like a great week. I cant wait!!!!

In other news, it seems you that you have to be registered for 6 hours in the summer in order to be a graduate research assistant (GRA) and since i am only registered for 3 hours, it seems that i am no longer able to be a GRA this summer. It kind of put me in a panic last week when i found out since i have already put so much time in on this research project. But, i talked to the professor i am working with and she said that i could just sign up for a tutorial with her and be a GRA in the fall, so it will all end up working out. She basically said she doesn't really care what semester i do the work. So, now I will get a 3 hour course (the tutorial, which is a class you basically design with a professor of your choice) out of the way and also get paid to be a GRA next semester. so, all in all it worked out pretty well.

The class I am helping teach is going well also. I just finished grading their first set of quizzes. I think I am a pretty tough grader, but I think that is necessary if these students are working towards their master's degrees. I have already received several emails with students protesting certain wrong answers and I have been able to respond back pretty well to help them understand what was incorrect about their answer. I think I am really going to enjoy being a professor.

Other than that, not much is new here. I am still working on the weight loss. Today I am at the lowest weight I have been at since i started this journey. :) i am also running 2.5 miles when i go to the gym which is pretty good, for me. Not much else to report here, hope you all have a great 4th of july.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot the jackfruit update. So, the jackfruit chips did not go so well. I baked them so as to not use all the oil needed to fry them and they came out kind of mushy. If i was willing to fry them, I think they would be delicious. Also, we tried a jackfruit curry dish and it was also not so good. Overall, I am not a big fan of the jackfruit :). But, if you know anyone out there who is, we have two gallon ziploc bags full in the freezer. :) Let me know.