i am the…

Cookie Monster, of course!

The picture above was taken when I was 5 maybe? My cousin was practicing with the camera. You can see that it is old from the scatches and tears. I love old photographs. They speak of moments that can linger into eternity.

Today was a highly tiring day. The alarm rang at 7am and I thought it was the aliens landing. Dont you hate when that happens?

I had to give my presentation this morning. I ran in huffing and puffing. Of course I do everything last minute. Gosh, how I hate doing things last minute. [And yet, I never learn my lesson]

The way it worked resembled a science fair. I had a big board with fancy figures and words and people came up and I told them about the brainstem in autism. Naturally, Stephen had to be the very first to say "Elina, tell me about your studies…" Who is Stephen? He was my TA a couple years ago in Behavioral Neuroscience. I have had a crush on him ever since. He has these dimples and eyes so innocent and pure, I swear they probably never changed since he was six. And he smiles in that way, that can make any girl just giggle and not care what is coming out of his mouth.

So there he was. Cute as ever with his cup ‘o coffee. Standing and waiting for me to tell him grand things. While I was still frantic and out of breathe and hair frazzled and sentences jumbled into gibberish. Despite all this, he left saying "If you ever need subjects for any of your experiments, Im always willing to be a participant…" And I smiled and said how Im running much older adults right now. And if only. If only I didnt have a naughty brain. Elina the experimenter and Stephen the subject. wowsa. HA!

When it was all done and over, I stole the free bagels and muffins and coffee. I ended up talking to this one girl Paulina. She is as cute as a button. She was thinking of taking a russian class, and i tried to persuade her to do it. Its funny how Russian has connected me to people. I know you and you know me in a way that no one else knows.

In lab, I was frantic. My inbox would not stop getting new emails from older subjects. Which is great, cause it means I will be done with my experiment DEFINITELY before winter break. But it is still such a hassle. I think I have sent about 70 emails in the last couple days. Its insaaaannneee. They not only email me but call me as well. And Im just so awkward with the phone. I might resemble a bird on drugs, while on phone.

I participated in Brian’s experiment where I had to wiggle my fingers for an hour. It was interesting.  I felt so stupid. We cant really remember 4 movements with the fingers.

I bought myself a big pack of Milano Mint Cookies. I am entirely too addicted to them. The new worker in the lab.  You know, the one with those lips. He laughed at my jokes.

It always pleases me when people get my jokes. The worst thing in the world is if you say something and you think its funny and you wait for the laughter but instead you get that stare of DOOM.

I came home at 8pm quite tired. No one was home, which was quite lonely. No one to say "Honey Im home!" I was in quite the sour mood actually. But then Marina showed up and I had my hot bowl of Rammen Noodle, and we gossiped over boys and watched silly tv [How awesome is Billy Cosby,eh?] And all was right with the world.

One more week until going home and Thanksgiving. WOO!