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bboundless · 3 years

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I normally post on Saturday’s, but yesterday I decided to give myself a day off. Mostly. I did some physiology reading to prepare for summer and autumn quarter, and then I played video games. Bruce and Douglas were also being extremely cute so I gave them lots of cuddles! I was feeling incredibly burnt out; I had been grouchy and exhausted all week. I’m glad I took some time to just relax and have fun yesterday.

Bruce also did really well with his training this week. I’m so proud of him! We still need to work on certain things, like not approaching strangers and their dogs without permission. I think he will be able to master that over the next few months though and will pass the Good Citizen test in no time. Bruce and Douglas played together this week a lot too, and we finally got it on video!

We learned about the house of Atreus in CLAS430 this week. We read the Oresteia by Aeschylus, Fabulae by Hygnus, and Pindar’s Olympian. Moral of the week: don’t commit hubris by feeding your son to the gods for dinner and always follow through with promises or your family will be cursed. Also, I totally understand Clytemnestra. I mean, her husband Agamemnon was gone for like ten years and he sacrificed their daughter for the wind. I’d be pissed off too. As Lucille Bluth said, good for her. We are going to read Virgil’s Aeneid in our final week which should be fun. We have a final exam, but it’s multiple choice and open book/note and I’ve done well on all the quizzes so I’m not super nervous about it.

I also finished my third paper for ENG281, I wrote about basic income programs like universal basic income and guaranteed basic income. My argument was that it could stimulate the economy, alleviate poverty, decrease the economic inequality gap, improve health outcomes, and allow people to start their own business. I’m not really a fan of Andrew Yang, I prefer Bernie Sanders, but the data looked promising in my research. Hopefully the professor likes it! We have an essay for our final exam, but I won’t know what the topic is until June 4th.

In ENG288 we had to write a press release, so I used the product from the report assingment as my subject of the press release. We have to do a portfolio in our last week, and I’m a bit nervous about it. We have to revise all of our assignments for the portfolio, and now I wish I had left room for more improvement. Hopefully it will be fine.

This will likely be my final blog post, as this blog was created for ENG288. I may continue documenting my studies on studyblr using a different account though, so if you liked my blog send me a message and I’ll let you know how to find me on tumblr. I hope you all have enjoyed reading about my life! Wish me luck on my finals!

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bboundless · 3 years

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My partner and I got our second doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine on Thursday! My partner’s parents drove us again which was really nice of them. We brought the boys (Bruce and Douglas) with us again too, and Bruce was a big snuggly noodle in my lap in the car (pictured). He has been really silly and roaching for us all week too (pictured). The boys got lots of treats from the retired physician that gave us the jabs. It was an exciting day for them. I was expecting the side effects to be much, much worse. I got a bit of a migraine, some joint and muscle pain, and I’ve been extremely tired. I slept a lot over the past few days. Overall though, the side effects are not too bad.

In CLAS430 this week we read the Odyssey, which is super fun. I’ve not read the Odyssey since high school, which was like a century ago. Reading it as an adult is definitely a different experience, I think I was able to really comprehend it and understand it within an ancient greek context a lot more. Odysseus was being a bit prideful though, he would have saved the lives of his men if he hadn’t boasted to Polyphemus. Not to say I wouldn’t have done the same thing, but still. Also, the part where his dog Argos sees Odysseus after nineteen years and finally lets himself pass on was just so heartbreaking. I started to tear up reading it.

I’ve started doing research for my third and final paper in ENG281, though I have not entirely landed on my central claim yet. I’ve still got a lot of journals to read I think before deciding what my central claim is actually going to be. I also have a presentation for ENG281 on Monday, I’m a bit nervous about it. Wish me luck! For ENG288 we had to write cover letters this past week. It honestly took way longer than I intended. Job hunting is like dating. I don’t wish it on my worst enemies.

I also did some pre-quarter studying and reading for BIOL350 and BIOL465. I started taking notes on the endocrine system while watching my favorite comfort movie of all time (Jurassic Park, I know I’m weird but whatever). After a quarter of humanities I’m craving science. Although I love remote learning, and I think it should be an option for all lectures/quiz section/conferences within universal design pedagogy, I’m really excited to get back into a lab.

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bboundless · 3 years

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On Sunday my partner and I went on a lovely walk with her parents, and of course the brindle noodle boys (read: greyhounds). Bruce and Douglas lose their minds when they visit, likely due to the copious treats, it’s really cute though. The weather was a bit overcast, but the sun came out later which was nice. I love warm weather, but I hope it rains more this month so that the wildfires don’t choke Seattle again (thanks climate change). If anyone wants directions on making particle masks for dogs to use during wildfire season, send me a message!

I accomplished a lot this week, but it doesn’t feel like it. I turned in my second paper for ENG281 which was on the topic of remote education as part of universal design pedagogy and reasonable accommodations. My argument was that remote education can break down barriers to education for disabled students. It’s something that I’m really passionate about, so I hope the prof likes it! I also wrote and submitted the extra credit act of kindness essay for ENG281. I talked about how we came to foster and adopt our greyhounds. I also turned in the final version of the report for ENG288, my group pulled through in the end and I think it turned out really well. I really like the group I was assigned to, they are lovely people, but I still think that group projects are a bit silly outside of laboratory work in an academic setting.

In CLAS430 this week we read excerpts from The Illiad, Catullus 64, Heroides, and Achilleid. We also read an excerpt from The Song of Achilles for modern receptions of Achilles. My partner’s mom is a librarian and has been recommending I read Madeline Miller for months, and I am finally sold. I loved the lecture discussion about the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. It’s so clear from the way Achilles mourned Patroclus that he loved him, they were way more than ‘gal pals’. I also emailed the CLAS430 instructor since I had a lot of questions about sexuality in ancient Greece and Rome, and she gave me loads of sources. She also pointed me in the direction of two profs that exclusively study the topic in the classics department and encouraged me to stop by their office hours after the pandemic. I love the instructor for CLAS430, she is really passionate about the subject and wants students to learn in an enjoyable way. She is honestly in my top five favorite instructors at UW. I think at the end of the quarter I will write an email to her supervisor to let them know how amazing she is.

I’ve been working out more this week compared to what I normally do. I decided to challenge myself and do HIIT everyday, outside of my rest day, on top of my normal lifting schedule. I’ve been a bit sore and more hungry than usual, which is expected. Though, I’ve been having a terrible time sleeping. Usually if I work out more I sleep better, so maybe it’s stress related.

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bboundless · 3 years

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This week as felt like a year. We are going to the arboretum tomorrow with Bruce, Douglas, and my partner’s parents. Hopefully the weather stays nice. I could really use a relaxing afternoon stroll. The boys have been really good this week, and Bruce has been great in training. It will be a nice reward for them too.

Registration for Autumn quarter opened this week, and I decided last minute that I am going to take two courses instead of three which will put me at part-time. I wanted to enroll full-time, but considering what I’m taking I think I am making the right choice. I registered for BIOL350 Foundations in Physiology (3 credits) and BIOL310 Survey of Human Anatomy (5 credits), which will be a total of 8 credits. I’ve been told BIOL350 and BIOL310 are very difficult but rich courses with a lot of self-directed learning outside of lecture and lab.

I really enjoyed our reading this week in CLAS430, one of the readings was Sappho’s Prayer to Aphrodite. There is a particular line where Aphrodite is basically like, ‘Okay Sappho, what girl are you in love with now!? What girl are you complaining about now?!’ Although I’ve been with my partner for about seven years, my younger babygay self felt roasted. I was cracking up laughing reading it. We also learned about Maenads and the cult of Dionysus (Bacchus). I have to say Maenads taring a dude apart for spying on rituals is a total mood. Worship through frenzied ecstasy also sounds fun. Christianity seems really boring by comparison.

I’ve almost completed the first draft of my second paper for ENG281. My argument is that remote education can break down barriers to education for disabled students — only 16.7% of disabled people attain a bachelors degree by age 25. The disability community was rightfully upset about being told remote work and education were impossible before the pandemic, and then suddenly it was possible when non-disabled people needed those accommodations. Disabled voices are usually ignored and forgotten, so it’s a really important topic. I really hope my professor likes it!

I also worked on our report for ENG288. My group seemed very swamped or unengaged so I have basically done all of the work for it. My group is going to help with final touches and making it look nice visually, hopefully. It’s always that way for group projects, I always end up doing all or most of the work. I totally get it though, people are swamped, it's not like people are being malicious. I don’t really mind, but I would just rather not pretend that group projects are a good idea. I really don’t understand why instructors insist on them. Psychological research is pretty clear that humans don’t work well together on group projects like this. Social loafers are going to social loaf.

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bboundless · 3 years

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This week has felt incredibly long. I’ve only managed to get about thirty minutes of rest time in this week. I would say thank god it’s the weekend, but I have so much to do.

I contacted some of the professors about syllabi for Autumn quarter so I plan to do some extra studying in the evenings either this quarter or next in preparation for Autumn. The courses I'm planning on registering for sound really cool, but challenging. I'll tell you more about them next week! I really want to continue studying full-time so I can graduate sooner, but time will tell if that is possible. Wish me luck!

I studied some interesting and fun things this week at least. In CLAS430 we read more Ovid and Homeric Hymns. We focused on Artemis, Apollo, and Hermes. Artemis and Apollo are queer icons so I was really chuffed that the instructor discussed this aspect. Ovid also had a greyhound reference in the section we read, and the instructor is studying dog epitaphs which was really cool to talk to her about. Speaking of, Bruce and Douglas are doing great. They are both taking their training really well. We discovered though that Douglas has a big crush on a lemon fawn greyhound named Emma. Emma’s human works in our area, and she is really not into him at all. That doesn’t stop him from doing a territory bark at other male strangers near her though, ridiculous boy. After he did this he decided to pout in a strange spot in our bedroom which was really funny.

I’ve started working on my second paper for ENG281, which is proving more challenging than anticipated. I’ve also started using End Note, which is helping me organize all my research and will make citations so much easier. I’m still in the research phase, but hopefully I will be able to outline my paper by tomorrow so I can start the writing process. I also have another essay I need to start, but the subject is fun.

We started working on business reports in ENG288 this week too. My group is nice, but working with a group always feels like herding cats. I’m not the biggest fan of group work, though I know it’s sometimes necessary. I prefer to only rely on myself, other people can disappoint. I’m a very independent person. I like teaching other people though, I did that a lot in quiz section when I took the chemistry series before the pandemic. When my grade is on the line though, it makes me a bit anxious.

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bboundless · 3 years

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I got my first COVID vaccine jab on Tuesday! My second dose of the Moderna vaccine is in late May. My partner’s parents live on an island outside of Seattle and they helped us get appointments and drove us. We took Bruce and Douglas with us, Bruce sat in my lap in the car and the nurses fell in love with them at the vaccination site. We are incredibly grateful considering we are both immunocompromised and it’s unclear if the University of Washington is going to require vaccines which is totally bonkers considering, uh science and uh mass death. Anti-vaxxers don’t interact!

Anyway, my arm was a bit sore after. I also got a migraine Wednesday and Thursday, but I’m not sure if it was the vaccine or if it was stress that triggered it. Bruce was worried about me and guarded me for those two days, it was really sweet. Greyhounds don’t generally have guard behaviors, but I think Bruce is just especially empathetic. I ended up not working out a lot this week due to the day trip to get vaccinated, my migraine, as well as my optometry appointment Friday.

We studied the Eleusinian mysteries and katabasis myths this week in CLAS430. We read the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Callimachus’ Hymn to Demeter, and the myth of Orpheus from Vergil’s Georgics. I really enjoyed the reading this week. Katabasis myths are myths where the protagonist, usually a legendary hero, goes into the underworld and comes back. Mystery religions, like the Eleusinian mysteries, are ancient religious secretive cults. I love mystery religions, they are totally wild. Apparently Augustus didn’t even divulge the secrets of the Eleusinian mysteries after he converted to Christianity.

I turned in my first paper as well as the letter of appeal assignment for ENG281. I’m a bit nervous about them. I hope the Professor thinks they are good. I’ll let you know when they get graded!

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bboundless · 3 years

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I’ve had a super busy week! It’s also finally feeling like spring in Seattle, so that is making studying a bit more difficult. Hopefully I will be getting vaccinated soon so I can enjoy the outdoors on weekends without constant fear.

This week in CLAS430 we studied myths related to Poseidon, Athena, and Hephaestus which I really enjoyed. Athena is basically a queer icon and I’m here for it. We read selected works from Bacchylides, Pausanias, Apollodorus, Callimachus, Ovid, and Hyginus. I think Apollodorus is my favorite so far, but I loved the basically ancient “you’re not my mom!” line in the Arachne myth by Ovid.

I’m really enjoying ENG281 right now too. The theme of the class is walls, which has brought up a lot of deep topics like immigration. I started working on our first paper for the course this week. Originally I had thought to write about barriers to education, and how remote learning can give so many underserved communities access to education. However, halfway through my research I decided to put that idea on the back-burner for our second paper and write about desegregating and decolonizing climate activist spaces for the first paper. I’m really passionate about both topics, but I need a bit more time to research and noodle on my original idea.

I’ve been teaching myself animation, and I finally finished animating the heart! I’m really interested in science communication, and maybe textbook writing and other material creation. What do you guys think? I think I may animate neuron action potentials next.

As far as Bruce goes, he is feeling a lot better! He has been improving a lot this week as far as his training goes. I’ve been struggling to teach him to lay down on a target though — he lays down on his bed fine but is resistant when it comes to laying on a target. I’m going to watch some instructional videos and maybe contact the greyhound rescue we are associated with and see if they have any advice. If anyone has any advice, I’d appreciate it!

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bboundless · 3 years

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A couple people requested that I post my bujo template, so here you go! I’ve uploaded the templates in formats for keynote or powerpoint as well as pdf so you all can customize! Remember that the hyperlinks are only clickable in goodnotes after you press the pen icon for read-only mode. Google Drive

This week I had a lot going on! I am really tired and need to rest, but I don’t think I will be getting a break this weekend. This is actually my first quarter as a full-time student, I’ve been part-time previously for various reasons. I think I’m handling it okay though! Plus, my digital bujo has been really helpful. If anyone wants a blank version of my bujo with hyperlinks, let me know!

I have a lot of reading for the classical mythology course I’m taking. Last week and this week we read Hesiod’s Theogony. We also read excerpts from the Iliad by Homer, the Library by Apollodorus, Metamorphoses by Ovid, Hymn to Zeus by Cleanthes, and Compendium of the Traditions of Greek Mythology by Cornutus. We were also assigned Blood of Zeus to watch on Netflix, which I actually got really into. I’ve been taking notes using tables in the pages application which has been really helpful for the weekly quizzes. I’m also finding the etiologies and themes in the myths that we are talking about in lecture to be really interesting!

In the expository writing course I’m taking, my discussion post was used as an example during our zoom lecture. It was really embarrassing, and I totally fumbled when I was asked to describe how I approached the assignment. I am really enjoying the course though, and the professor is really nice.

Summer registration begins April 12th for me so I had to make final decisions about what I am taking. I decided upon BIOL313 Civilizations Biology, PSYCH257 Psychology of Gender, and BIOL465 Comparative Endocrinology. I hadn’t originally planned to take BIOL465, but there aren’t that many classes that I need to take during the summer being offered for whatever reason. I’m a little nervous since I wasn’t able to find a syllabus for any of those courses, but hopefully everything will be okay.

As far as my workouts go, I normally do an upper body and lower body weight lifting split, two days of HIIT, and have one day off. This week I had to nurse my shoulder a bit though, so I skipped anything that engaged my deltoids. I did some physical therapy exercises, and used ice and heat throughout the week on my shoulder. I’m not entirely sure what I did to it, but it’s starting to feel better. Maybe I’ll post my workout routines here!

My partner and I have a pair of two year old greyhounds, Bruce and Douglas. Can any of you guess where their names come from? I normally clicker train Bruce daily, we are working towards the Canine Good Citizen Test and the Therapy Dog test. This week the poor guy had diarrhea though, and I had to take him to the vet when it didn’t clear up. Hopefully the medicine works so we don’t have to get more tests done. Send him well wishes!

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bboundless · 3 years

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This week I had a lot going on! I am really tired and need to rest, but I don’t think I will be getting a break this weekend. This is actually my first quarter as a full-time student, I’ve been part-time previously for various reasons. I think I’m handling it okay though! Plus, my digital bujo has been really helpful. If anyone wants a blank version of my bujo with hyperlinks, let me know!

I have a lot of reading for the classical mythology course I’m taking. Last week and this week we read Hesiod’s Theogony. We also read excerpts from the Iliad by Homer, the Library by Apollodorus, Metamorphoses by Ovid, Hymn to Zeus by Cleanthes, and Compendium of the Traditions of Greek Mythology by Cornutus. We were also assigned Blood of Zeus to watch on Netflix, which I actually got really into. I’ve been taking notes using tables in the pages application which has been really helpful for the weekly quizzes. I’m also finding the etiologies and themes in the myths that we are talking about in lecture to be really interesting!

In the expository writing course I’m taking, my discussion post was used as an example during our zoom lecture. It was really embarrassing, and I totally fumbled when I was asked to describe how I approached the assignment. I am really enjoying the course though, and the professor is really nice.

Summer registration begins April 12th for me so I had to make final decisions about what I am taking. I decided upon BIOL313 Civilizations Biology, PSYCH257 Psychology of Gender, and BIOL465 Comparative Endocrinology. I hadn’t originally planned to take BIOL465, but there aren’t that many classes that I need to take during the summer being offered for whatever reason. I’m a little nervous since I wasn’t able to find a syllabus for any of those courses, but hopefully everything will be okay.

As far as my workouts go, I normally do an upper body and lower body weight lifting split, two days of HIIT, and have one day off. This week I had to nurse my shoulder a bit though, so I skipped anything that engaged my deltoids. I did some physical therapy exercises, and used ice and heat throughout the week on my shoulder. I’m not entirely sure what I did to it, but it’s starting to feel better. Maybe I’ll post my workout routines here!

My partner and I have a pair of two year old greyhounds, Bruce and Douglas. Can any of you guess where their names come from? I normally clicker train Bruce daily, we are working towards the Canine Good Citizen Test and the Therapy Dog test. This week the poor guy had diarrhea though, and I had to take him to the vet when it didn’t clear up. Hopefully the medicine works so we don’t have to get more tests done. Send him well wishes!

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bboundless · 3 years

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Hi, my name is Rebekah! Weclome to my studyblr! I'm a Physiology major at the University of Washington (Seattle) in my senior year. This blog is part of an assingment for ENG288 where we are asked to run a blog for several weeks. I will be blogging about my studies, my digital bujo, my hobbies, my dogs, and my fitness journey. My hobbies include art, science communication, gaming, and learning new skills. Feel free to send me an ask, or comment on my blog! I'd love to get to know other studyblrs and/or get feedback on my blog. I do not support racism, sexism, homophobia, terfs, anti-semitism, ableism etc. Please do not engage if you support hate.

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