ARGH SICK.

I like how I managed to get sick the very day after classes ended. And by "like," I mean "am really irked at."

Sure, it means that I didn't have to miss any finals or give any presentations under the influence of Sudafed, but damn it, I have Important Winter Break Things to get done! I only have a month off! It's also seriously thrown my running schedule out of whack.

The crazy thing is that it seems to be the same awful illness I got last year. It started with a sore throat, then I lost my voice, then I felt okay for a day, and now my sinuses are so clogged up that my eyes look bruised and my face hurts. I hope I get better faster this go-round; I was sick for almost two weeks last year and it really sucked.

In which I talk about my new phone.

I got a new phone over Thanksgiving. I was due for a new one and the one I had kept doing this irritating scrolling thing that made it more or less unusable whenever it decided to act up. My mom offered to pay for part of it as this year's birthday present, so I decided to go big and acquire an HTC Rezound. Now that I've had it for a few weeks, here are my thoughts:

+

• The battery life is very good for it being a 4G-enabled Android phone. It lasts around 10-12 ish hours with moderate use (texting, a few calls, some app use and internet surfing) if I leave the 4G on continuously. If I disable mobile internet when I'm not actively using it, it lasts over twenty-four hours. 
• It came with a pair of really awesome headphones, which was pretty cool as I needed some new ones.
• It's super fast. 
• I'm getting really good reception with it despite living in an area that is abundant in dead spots (downside to living in the mountains). 
• The big screen is nice.
• It has a front and rear-facing camera, and the photo quality is really great. The front camera also has a flash on it. 

-

• I still miss having phones that I don't have to charge every day. 
• It's almost too big and can be difficult to hold and manipulate, especially with a protective case on. Granted, I have pretty small hands.
• Speaking of, the Verizon-authorized case makes it hard to hit the power button because it partially covers it. 
• The phone comes with a bunch of random, stupid apps that I will never use, but since they are factory installed, I can't seem to get rid of. Blockbuster? Hot Pursuit? Let's Golf 2? REALLY?
• Apps randomly come on when you're not using them, which can really drain the battery. Making good use of the task manager (or downloading a third-party app killer) is a must. 

Overall, though, I'd definitely recommend it.

FO Friday: Very Berry Socks

Just in time for the first snow of the year, a new pair of socks!

Pattern: Basic Sock Recipe
Yarn: OnLine Supersocke 100 Emotion III - Color #1276
Needle: US #1 and #2

Finished Size:  Fitted to my tiny feet!

Seriously, I knit socks in class almost every single week. This is why I have so many new pairs now-- and is pretty much the only knitting I got done this semester.

::confetti::

I have officially survived my first semester of graduate school. I will now sum up what I have learned:

• Always be ready to run, and don't wear shoes you can't run in.
• If feminism is the radical notion that women are people, social work is the radical notion that all people have worth (even the bad ones).
• I really hate APA formatting. MLA 4 LYFE!
• Tab is Coke's pink-haired, overly-sweet little sister. 
• There is no such thing as a "worried whale." 
• Related to the above: paying attention in class is a good thing.
• I am still the Evel Knieval of procrastination (this is probably not a good thing...), as are many of my classmates.
• Utilitarianism can be used to justify basically everything, including telling kids to not drink Mountain Dew because it makes you stupid.
• White kids use way more drugs and drink more than black kids do, but Native American kids abuse substances the most.
• It is generally considered unwise to have your clients mow your lawn for you. 
• Do your documentation.
• Living on a casino boat sucks.
• Don't take your work home with you, and don't bring your home with you to work.
• Drug tests are expensive and largely ineffective. 
• Kicking puppies is not an appropriate form of self-care.
• And, uh, much, much more.

I'm looking forward to next semester. I finally get to take some electives and am embarking upon my very first internship! Sadly, I am unable to blog about said internship due to the usual confidentiality constraints. Perhaps one day I will write a book. 

Anyway, I don't start school again until January 9th, and therefore have an abundance of time in which I can knit, read some frivolous stuff, watch some TV, clean my room, go running, and blog about the same. I've really missed you guys! Hope you haven't stopped reading!

Hiatus :(u

The semester ends December 6th. I'll be back then.

Looking forward to it! I have lots to say.