:D

Merry Christmas!!!

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Germany...

Since I returned from visiting my little sis in Germany I've been meaning to post some photos here... but I've been lazy and has you can see I haven't done it yet... It's just that I have to choose the photos and upload them in a image sharing site... and like I said I've been lazy.

Will do that this week...

Apart from that I really had fun, enjoyed the time that I was there and the efforts that she made to show me the most in the little time that we had. Furthermore, she took me to a shop (in fact 2 shops) where one could find Japanese Visual Kei rock music. Hihihi, I bought to cds... :D

Some photos will be up soon...

Kagrra, - うたかた (Utakata)

Because this music is beautiful and I've been to post it for some time now... Here it is Kagrra,'s Utakata.

(I would like to acknowledge Oneechan345 for posting the video on YouTube.)

Utakata means Ephemeral, if you're curious about the lyrics go here.
The traditional japanese instrument played is a Koto. :)

In case you wanna learn more about this Visual Kei band, here's the link for their official homepage: Kagrra,.

EDIT: Sorry, I just noticed that the previous link wasn't working... I've replaced it. :) (27-02-2008)

Happy Birthday Baby Brother!!

Even though I'm 24 hours late I just wanna wish my Baby Brother a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, for the completion of his first year among us. :D

Another sleepless night...

It seems that at least once a week I'll suffer from insomnia... I'll go to bed felling completely ready for a good night sleep, but in the instant that I lay my head on the pillow... I feel fully awake. It's completely frustrating, especially 'cause I wanted to wake up at a decent time...

So what have I done to manage my insomnia, after an hour in bed I'll get out of it and normally I'll come to the computer. Today I decided to be productive and ironed while watching a movie (I can't iron without some kind of visual distraction). Today's choice was, Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (great graphics and fighting scenes). After that I decided to come and see what was happening online. :)

I think it's time to go and give it another try... bye.

P.S. - It's finally getting cold. And I have to go eat something before going to bed, I simply can't sleep with an empty stomach...

6 Months and 5 days!!

Oh!!! I completely forgot to celebrate the 6 months that this blog has been online... (bad girl...)

I've been completely absent... My live is on a limbo right now, I've delivered my Thesis, and I'm awaiting to be called to defend it. In the mean time I'm trying to find a job, but to be honest I'm not feeling that enthusiastic... But one cannot live without money...

On a brighter note, I'm going to visit my little Sis in Germany, next week. :D I'm finally up holding my word. And I think it will do me some good to travel and see new faces and places. :)

See you around. :)

Here's another one... :)

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Sixth Level of Hell - The City of Dis!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	High
Level 2 (Lustful)	High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very High
Level 7 (Violent)	Low
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

What can I say?! I'm not a very religious person... :P

Haven't post one of these yet, so... :)

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Craving...

Once in a while we crave for something, it can be anything... but usually it is something not quite easy to obtain, something that is just a little out of reach. Other times it is something that it is not reachable because all the conditions for that something aren't all gathered.

It's funny how you can crave for something that you really know it's quite not there... that it's something just in your imagination, and that you know that if you get it you really wouldn't know what to do with it... because you cannot really see yourself in that situation... you just want to experience that feeling, because in spite of your own personality you also wish to feel that way...

We cannot always get what we want, especially if you are not quite sure of what is it that you want...

Confusing?! Well, my mind sometimes is just like that...

Happy B'day big Sister!!!! :)

(Guns n' Roses - Patience ;))

Before the day ends: Happy Birthday Sis!!! :)

Love You!!

And.... It's Done!!

What's that?!!

My Thesis... Finally!!! Ready to be delivered... :D

It has a total of 124 pages... It's huge...

I feel accomplished!!!

New month...

... new life?!

Let's see, let's see... :)

A picture...

I've been to post this picture for about 3 weeks, but I've been lazy... Those shadows are from me and my Mom. It's not specially artistic, but... I like it. :)

The GazettE - Chizuru

Today I bring to you all another Japanese band, their name is the GazettE (or ガゼット) and I really like this music. The images on the preview are from a Japanese horror film, that seems interesting it's call The Apartment.

Hope you enjoy:
(credits goes to ridewiththerockers for posting the PV in YouTube)

For more info on the band:
Official Homepage (choose the more appropriate language , but the Japanese version is the most complete)
Wikipedia

How older siblings stunt growth (in BBC News)

Sis this is for you... apparently I'm the cause for you to be shorter than me (hihihi)... but something is not right, since we have a older sister and I'm taller than her also... go figure... :)

Well, I think the title is pretty self-explanatory, for more details please follow the link:
How older siblings stunt growth

A thunderstorm is coming...

A thunderstorm is approaching...

You can already see the lightnings flickering in the sky...

A soft rain is falling...

On the background Release by Pearl Jam can be heard...

All the lights in the house are off...

It´s all so soothing, so calming...

It feels good, peaceful... :)

Century - Lover Why (lyrics)

And as a complement here are the lyrics (for a long time I only knew the chorus and not that well :P).

A sign of time
I lost my life, forgot to die
Like any man, a frightened guy
I'm keeping memories inside
Of wounded love

But I know
I'm more than sad and more today
I'm eating words too hard to say
A single tear and I'm away
Away and gone

I need you
So far from hell, so far from you
'Cause heaven's hard and black and gray
You're just a someone gone away
You never said goodbye
Why, lover why ?
Why do flowers die ?
Why, lover why ?

Everytime
I hear your voice, you heard my name
You built the fire, wet the flame
I swim for life, can't take the rain
No turning back

I need you
So far from hell, so far from you
'Cause heaven's hard and black and gray
You're just a someone gone away
You never said goodbye
Why, lover why ?
Why do flowers die ?
Why, lover why ?

Why, lover why ?
Why do flowers die ?
Why, lover why

(taken from here)

Century - Lover Why :P

About a hour ago I was sitting on my couch trying to read some articles with music on the background (I can't work without music...). As usual my ipod was on shuffle... suddenly Lover Why by Century starts to play. Instantly a big smile appears on my face, this music holds so many memories of my childhood. :)

For a long time I didn't know the name of the song or of the band, until my little sis found it and shared it with me.

So today I decided to share something that makes me smile:
(credit goes to senhorgasmo for posting it on YouTube)

P.S. - This was the best quality that I found.

Three Years!! Thank you!!

Yesterday it would make 3 Years that I was living and working in Porto, if I was still there...

Time passes by so quickly that sometimes we don't even notice!!!

Despite of some bad memories, I've also gathered some wonderful memories. Thank you, guys!!! You know who you are!!!

Thank you for...

...supporting me, when things got unbearable in the lab!

...for your ever present warm smile!!

...for taking the place of all our mothers!! ;P

...for the ABADIAS!!

...for CDUP!!

...for the late nights talking in front of my door!!

...for the fun nights on Lusitano!!

...for dancing until dawn in Via Rápida!!

...for being the only sane person in that god damned master!!

...and so many other little things...

But above all

THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE!!

You all made it all worth it!! :D See you!

P.S. - Another emotional post, but you deserve it!

What Tarot Card are You?

You are The High Priestess

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.

The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Without You I'm Nothing (Placebo)

Here I am in my dinning room surfing around the Internet and suddenly my Windows Media Player starts to play Without You I'm Nothing by Placebo. Which starts:

Strange infatuation seems to grace the evening tide
I'll take it by your side
(...)

And my first thought was really it is a strange infatuation... I'll not dwell on this, but at the moment I really have a strange infatuation... I really need to get a life...

For the complete lyrics go here.

This music brings so many memories, some good some not so good, but all contributed to my development as a person. It's strange to associate this music with current events.

Life...

I've been completely absent from this blog...

My life has been more or the less the same for these past few months, a struggle to write my thesis, but if before it was painful but in the end I was able to write... now it doesn't hurt has much, but I'm completely unable to write... sad isn't it... :(
If it wasn't for my pride I think I would have given up already... (and that's really sad)

Besides the thesis what I've been up to?!

Well, I went to spend some days at my Dad's place, to bond a little with him and my baby brother. :D It was a pleasant time, my baby brother is growing very well and I'm a proud sister :D (but I have to add that I'm a proud sister to all my siblings :D).

Other than that, I've been listening to a lot of Japanese music, especially Miyavi. :)

And I've been using my new found interest in Japanese music has a way to escape from my thesis work. I've been so good at it that I've been almost completely unaware of what's going on the world and in my home country (bad girl). So today I decided to scan through the news, and sometimes I think it's better to be unaware, because so sad events happen. I'm not talking about the Natural Disasters, has pain that they might be, there's not much us Humans can do about them, except try to warn everybody has soon has possible. I'm talking about the wars that occur throughout the planet and the crimes against innocent people.

Why do we insist on wounding Mankind continuously?

In the end, We all are gonna be responsible for our own downfall... And We still call ourselves the rational species and the superior species...

Thesis (once more...)

So haven't talked about my thesis (or anything else for that matter) for a while...

A quick update: I've finished writing everything!! It should be a good sign, no?! No!! Even though my supervisor complained in June (26th, I think) that I wasn't writing has fast has she wanted and that she wanted everything ready be the end of July. She completely ignored all the complete chapters that I send her through out the month of July. I had all the chapters written by the end of July!! But she got stuck on the second (of six) chapters and didn't bother to call me and ask me to go talk with her.

In the end, I went to Porto in the 1st or 2nd of August, after a series of insults (for me were insults) and after she had read the remaining 4 chapters overnight. And, of course, the work sucked and everything has to be re-written. But in the end the only thing that she wants is to me to copy what she has already written without having to explain anything... She doesn't want to teach, she wants work slaves...

...

I'm nervous

I'm anxious

...

I just don't know the reason...

雅-miyavi- : Selfish Love (7 SAMURAI SESSIONS-We’re KAVKI BOIZ- version)

I just had to post this video here!! This version of the song is just amazing!!
I fell completely in love with it and made me even more want to get the mini-album!! But that will have to wait a little... :(

Here it is 雅-miyavi- Selfish Love (7 SAMURAI SESSIONS-We’re KAVKI BOIZ- version):
(credit goes to MeevLover for posting it in YouTube)

My Peace Crane

Here´s the Peace Crane I did. :)

Ex-Surgeon General Says White House Hushed Him (in Washington Post)

Here is a very interesting article that shows what I already thought was happening.

Here are some quotations from the article:

"Former surgeon general Richard H. Carmona yesterday accused the Bush administration of muzzling him on sensitive public health issues (...)"

"Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees' ideological, theological or political agenda is often ignored, marginalized or simply buried," he said."

For the full article and a more accurate view here's the link for the article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com

Peace Crane

A very worthwhile initiative:

Please read, and join:

"Every year by August 15th, neatly folded paper cranes are grouped into strands of 1,000 and sent to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park as a symbol and a wish for world peace. They hang proudly outside in the Children's Peace Monument, mere feet away from the epicenter of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan.
Myspace from every corner of the globe has joined forces in hopes of sending virtual paper cranes to the already 10 million due to arrive this year. Post a picture of a crane you have made or just a crane found here on this page to send your wishes for a world living in peace.
Please add THE PEACE CRANE as your friend and leave a crane in the comments to form, what we hope, to be the world’s biggest wish for peace."

The text wasn't written by me, but it's very self-explanatory.

To join the myspace community and send a virtual crane:

For more information on this event go here.

The address to send your own peace crane to the Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park is on the previous link.

To learn how to fold a paper crane go here.

Chapter 5 - COMPLETED and SENDED!!!

The only chapter that remains to be written is the conclusions...

Almost... almost finished... :)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - READ!!!

I've just finished reading the 7th book... :)

Today I exploded…

Today, everything that I have been avoiding surfaced. All my frustrations, all the pain that I’m feeling, the disappointment, everything… I’ve become a master in hiding from myself, in not looking in side of me, so I can avoid the discomfort of this entire situation.

The name of this blog has a reason, I really am lost. A lost track of me somewhere, somehow... I don’t know what I want and to where I’m heading. All this feelings bring me great discomfort and pain. When I close my eyes in searching of myself, I only find emptiness… I feel empty, has if I haven’t accomplished anything. Even though I’m almost finishing my thesis I do not feel accomplished. I should, it has been a very arduous journey. Maybe that is the reason I feel like this…

How can I have let myself come into this situation?!

I lost track of my dreams! How do I find them?!

You are trampled, or plucked,
You can blossom again, just keep on believing in it.
Even if it isn't raining or there is no sun.
Look calm, like you don't care.
If you lost your way, just ask somebody.
If you lost your dream, just close your eyes again.
And some day you will blossom, with your hands wide spread.

咲き誇る華の様に-Neo Visualizm- by 雅-Miyavi-

(Sakihokoru Hana No You Ni -Neo Visualizm- or
As the flower blooming proudly -Neo Visualizm-)

The first time I read this lyrics I felt like crying, it was the message that I needed to hear. But closing my eyes and looking in side of me is painful… It makes all my feelings surface, I’m forced to deal with them. However, if I rationalize it, in order to find myself again I have to solve my “problems” and my frustrations. I have to look myself in the eyes I face the “monster” inside. What if I don’t like what I see?! I can only become the person that I want to be if I identify and face my own imperfections (ohhh, this is difficult to admit since I am a perfectionist…).

I really needed to express how I’m feeling today.

Here’s the preview for the song 咲き誇る華の様に-Neo Visualizm- by 雅-Miyavi-:
(I would like to acknowledge Chikara31 for the post, the translation and subtitles)

P.S. – I usually don’t expose myself like this, but I feel I have to be honest and to start to face the real me.

Moles 'good indicator to ageing' (in BBC news)

An interesting article!!

Scientists have found a relation between the number and the presence / absence of moles and the ability to "fight" aging. It seems that people with more moles are less prone to suffer from aging effects, since their telomeres are longer than those of someone with less moles.

And I learned new thing, moles disappear with aging!! I didn't knew that!! I'm still in the phase that they are appearing.

So happy news for those who have "some" moles (like me :P). But keep in mind that people with moles are more prone to develop melanoma, so keep out of the sun!!

Here's the link to article in the BBC news website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6285610.stm

P.S. - If you click on the telomeres word in the text you will find a explanation for what a telomere is. :)

Chapter 3 - COMPLETED!! :D

In less than a week a completed a Chapter!!! Yurraiii for me!! :D

If it wasn't for the f*****g blockages it would have been written in 3/4 days... Well, that's life I've already decided not to struggle against it...

I'm a chapter closer to ending this Thesis!!

P.S. - I didn't wrote a word the all weekend, so...

Thesis part n+1 :P

So, today I finally wrote. :)

I really must stop planning my work, because when I say: "Tomorrow I'll write!!" it's when not even a word comes out from these fingers.
Today wasn't a perfect day... If it had been, I had written the complete Introduction for my 3rd Chapter. I only wrote about half of it. On the good side, I already know what I want to say next, and I took note of the topics on the page... (So I don't forget it tomorrow when I sit in front of this computer again.)

It's terrible the way my brain works, it won't allow me to push him. I think I really pushed it to much over the years, and now it just won't work when it doesn't want to... I remember that I was able to start working at 9 in the morning until 1 in the evening, with just a 1h stop to lunch. I really over did it... There's nothing I can do about it now, unless let it have his way (I like to have my brain healthy, thank you!! :P)

On a side note, I listened to a lot of Japanese Music today!! :D

S.K.I.N.

This is one of the best videos, in terms of sound and image quality, I've come across. Enjoy:

Here's the link (the box was too big...):
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v713200xPRfwd77

UK bomb attacks!!

What can one say?!

There are better ways to pass the one's messages!! Killing innocent people is never a good way to make your case!! (Even though there were no victims this time, there have been to many over the years!!)

And this is for attacks in Europe or in any other country/region in the World!!!

At least this is what I think!!

(I know this post is a bit late, but I couldn't let it pass.)

Life...

I've been completely absent from this blog... Well, between my new found world of Japanese Rock and the Thesis I heaven't had time to do much more on the PC. Besides, there's nothing really new to report in my life.

Today was a good day when it comes to my Thesis, I've reread all the articles I need to write the third chapter. :) Yurraiii for me!! :D
That's a new thing that I haven't mention yet, I yesterday I finished making the Introduction modifications that my supervisor asked, and started working on the 3rd the chapter. :)
Tomorrow, if everything goes has expected, I'll write!! (Don't know how much, hopefully more than a sentence...). I'd like to have this chapter completed by the end of the week.

Concerning everything else...

I just discovered that my favourite band ever (LAMB) made a collaboration SUGIZO (one of the members of S.K.I.N.) in 1997. I already knew this song and loved it, but I didn't know who was the author of the song.

SUGIZO – Kanon

S.K.I.N. obsessed or Japanese Music III

So the first ever concert of the Japanese Rock band I mentioned in the previous post was yesterday (or better today at dawn). And I've just spend the all day looking for details... (crazy me :P)

It seems that they completely rocked!!! :D

Japanese Music!! Part II

I was supposed to be inserting my supervisor's corrections to my Introduction Chapter.. I'm completely distracted... I'm so wishing to be across the Atlantic Ocean (and almost all the USA) right now... I would love to go and see the premiere of S.K.I.N. (a new band that includes the two Japanese artists that I referred some posts ago)...

Well, I will see if can concentrate...

A good day!!

Today (well, yesterday) was a good day!! In 2 days a wrote a full section of the chapter I'm working on.

This was after almost 4 days of blockage... Even though I'm happy I was able to write it this fast, I still get a bit frustrated because if I wasn't blocking so much I would have my thesis almost written by now...

Well, one has to accept what is given to her...

P.S. - Wednesday I´m back to Porto to talk to my supervisor. (Wish me luck.)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!!!

In less than 1 month I will have my Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows copy almost read!!!

I don't know if it will be almost read, but at least I think I will be deep into it!!! :D

Good News for Women entering Menopause (in Público)

As most people know a woman can suffer several side effects when entering menopause, such has osteoporosis, depression, night sweats, and others. Most of us, when young, laugh a little about it, but it can have very serious consequences. In order to diminish these side effects, women are typically treated with a combination of estrogen and progesterone (sexual hormones responsible for the women menstruation period).

However, a few years ago (2002-2004), a study revealed that these treatments increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Which led to panic among patients and physicians alike, and many stopped their treatments, suffering the full potential of these side effects.

Today, an article was published that shatters this findings and states that if the treatment is started at an early phase it will not only help avoid this side effects but will also help prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Here´s the link to the news:
(in Portuguese, sorry couldn't find the news in the BBC website)
http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1297286

Quick post....

I just noticed that most of my last post have been mainly news comments... well my life has been pretty the same thing... the usual stuff...

I'm still trying to write my Thesis... nothing new here...

The 10 commandments for safe driving

1) You shall not kill.

2) The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

3) Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

4) Be charitable and help your neighbour in need, especially victims of accidents.

5) Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

6) Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

7) Support the families of accident victims.

8) Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

9) On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

10) Feel responsible towards others.

in Gulfnews.com

P.S. - Have a safe drive. :)

Vatican issues the 10 commandments for driving safely (in BBC news)

First of all, I must say that any measure to ensure safe driving is a good measure. I totally agree that more care should be take when one is on the driving wheel or when just walking down the street. All of us are responsible, drivers and pedestrians...

So I think that it is a good measure to issue "commandments" for the drivers, but I found some of the passages funny.

Here´s the link to the news:
(sorry but the 10 commandments weren't listed, if I find them I'll post them here)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6768395.stm

Japanese Music!! (a new addiction)

About 3 weeks ago I discovered the fantastic world of Japanese Music, through chance I might say...
I have this habit of sometimes clicking on the link that says next blog and read a bit of what is written in the first blog I come across. On one of these "journeys" I bumped into a comment that said something like: "Finally Gackt has stopped being gay...". I found this statement quiet curious so I decided to go and see who Gackt was...

After surfing on the net for some hours, and a few pictures, translations and videos later I really got into Gackt's music (even do I don't understand a single word of Japanese). While discovering Gackt I came across other artists, and the next one to catch my attention was 雅-Miyavi.

Unfortunately getting Japanese music, or anything Japanese for that matter, is not very easy here. So in order to get to know better these artists I had to surf a lot on the Internet, and finally I decided to order two of their cds. Which arrived today!!!!!!

Completely addicted to Gackt and 雅-Miyavi!!!!

Here is the first music that really got my attention by Gackt - Lust for Blood:
(I would like to acknowledge pallidwraith for posting the video on YouTube)

And here's my favorite music by 雅-Miyavi - Ashita, Genki ni Naare:
(I would like to acknowledge xxitsxmitsukixx for the post in YouTube and the subtitles)

Damn Hares!! :)

It seems an Italian airport had to be closed down early morning today, so that officials could catch a "family" of hares that have been disturbing the natural functioning of the airport.

Nature is catching up with the Humans...

Here´s the link to the news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6761485.stm

Once again I'm speechless: "Vatican urges end to Amnesty aid" (in BBC news)

I really don't know what to say...

This article concerns a statement that Amnesty International made. In which it said that women that have been raped or suffered from incest should have the right to choose whether or not to take the resulting pregnancies to term.

So, regarding this the Vatican has stated that all financial backup and aid to this Human Rights organization should be ended, by all catholics.

I know that the Catholic Church is against abortion, but to take such a strong measure or better to promote such a strong measure against an organization that has done so much for Human Rights... I really do not know what to say...

Here's the link to the BBC news article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6750887.stm

Only in the US: "US town set to ban saggy trousers" (in BBC News)

Read and laugh or cry (I'll leave it up to you)...

Here's the link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6751777.stm

To Cry or to Laugh - That's The Question!!!

Really!! Sometimes people are just funny (?!)....

After the fantastic news that my supervisor gave me yesterday saying that I should redo all my Thesis, today she send me another "gentle and caring" e-mail. This e-mail states and I quote:

"Tamuril, since your work is delayed here's a little help. The text concerns the Introduction and Discussion for the first chapter of your Thesis."

SINCE MY WORK IS DELAYED!!!! Who the hell is she to say that to me!! Over the past 2 MONTHS she did not care to know how the writing was going.... I get so.... arrggghhhhhhh.....

I sincerely do not know if I should cry or laugh when comes to my Thesis or my Supervisor....

Anger!!!

Ohhh god!!! I'm so angry!!! And frustrated!! Why?!

Because of my thesis!!! But especially because of my supervisor!!!

After spending 2 months writing and finally getting something done, my supervisor decides to tell me that a Thesis is not written has I thought it was... After 2 months she remembered... Is she joking with me!!!!

I'm so glad I'm not there right now... I do not know what I would do if she was standing in front of me....

FINISHED!!!

Yupiiii!!! I've finished my Results' Chapter!!! Finally!!!

I just send it to my supervisor, so she can read it and correct it. But I think it's about it. I do not know what she's going to say, but I'm happy. It took me a whole month to write it!!

Next: I'll finish my Introduction chapter, it's about half written.

P.S. - I've been absent because of the work. Tuesday I had to go back to Porto to speak to my supervisor. Where I discovered I had to repeat a section that I had already concluded. But, well, it only took two additional days to do everything. :D

No phone call!!!

Well... that's life!! :(

Day's resume!!

I'm already at my Dad's house!! Finally, some rest!!

Still waiting for the phone to ring (or not?!)!!!

Busy day!!

Today’s itinerary:

- 6:45 p.m.
Wake up in Coimbra. Do the usual things, shower, breakfast…

- 8 a.m.
Leave the house to catch the train to Porto.

- 8:46 a.m.
Get on the train.
(I fell completely asleep in the train and woke up in the train station just before Porto, that is to say 5min before I had to leave the train).

- 9:36 a.m.
Arrived at Porto, charged my bus card with voyages so I can go around the town.
I waited for almost half –hour for the bus to take to the University of Porto “Reitoria”, for an interview. I got there almost an hour before the time my interview was scheduled for. Everything was going has scheduled, until they decided to discuss the applicants they had already interviewed, and everything got a 30 minutes delay.

- 11: 30/35 a.m.

My interview!!

I think it went pretty well!! It was very simple, and very pleasant. The last interview I went (for another PhD program) they were much harder on me; they made more questions, and wanted to know what I was planning to do. Here they just asked me simple things about my work, and the mood was completely different, I did not felt as nervous as last time. And, one thing I was not expecting, the interview was in Portuguese, not that I feel difficulties in speaking English, but it made me less nervous.

- 11:50 a.m.
On the bus stop again… another long wait for the bus, this time it were about 15 minutes, but again… (The buses in Porto are completely out of schedule, it is so irritating…)

- 12: 05 a.m.
IBMC, last time I was there was a month a go… not a very pleasant visit.
Went to try and see if my supervisor had time for me, I need her help to finish my Thesis Results’ Chapter, but she was going to the field in the afternoon so… no talk for anyone. As so, I went to see I could find some of my friends and see what had happen in the last month of my absence. I found two of them, we chatted for a while and I lunched with them.

- 2 p.m.
Time to go to the airport to say goodbye to my little sis, which is right now on her way back to Germany. I had the greatest of lucks, while I was leaving IBMC a bus passed that would leave me just in front of the metro station. :P
In the metro station, it was the usual confusion to charge the card for the trip to the airport. Besides that I had arrived just in time to catch the right metro, but since I got on the wrong platform… I missed by seconds.

- 2:39 p.m.
I got on the metro. (Yupiii!!!)

- 3 p.m.
I arrived at the airport. I had just got out of the platform and I saw my sis and my Mom, who had just arrived. Just in time!! :D
After that, me and my Mom accompanied my sis in every usual thing you have to do when you are travelling: check in, go and see if the plane was on time (it wasn’t, it was with a 45 minutes delay), wait for a while, then she went in to departures zone. This is always a “fun” episode, my sis uses army boots that have a metal plate on the front of the boot, so she has always to take off the boots so she can pass in the metal detector. She does not even wait for the detector to give a sign; she takes them off while waiting in line. Then we waved goodbye, and it was again time to get on the metro.

- 4:22 p.m.
On the metro again, this time on the way to the train station.

- 5 p.m.
I arrived on Porto’s train station. Went to buy my train ticket, and instead of asking a ticket to Lisboa, asked for a ticket to Coimbra… My mind today is little bit off. I noticed just before I paid, so no harm done.

- 5:45 p.m.
A 3h journey awaits me… (I’m writing this on the train it is 7:12 p.m., I have ahead of me more 1h and 20m of journey).

And this has been my day so far… It was a big day. And by the end of the day I will know if got in on the PhD Program… Let´s see!!!

Above all I wanna thank my little sister for having come to Portugal to mine (and my father’s) birthday. Thank you so much!!! I just loved your present!! :D

Absence...

I've been a little absent from the blog world. Has I said my little sis is back from Germany, but just for a few days, and I've been enjoying her company while she's here. :)

The only thing is that it completely turned by thesis plans upside down, and I have to finish by Results chapter by the end of the week. So, she went to visit our Dad (today is his b'day :)), while I stayed home working.

Well, at least he'll have her, which is the one must difficult to be with.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!! :D

Just came to wish my Dad a very Happy Birthday!!! I love you very much!!

Once again sorry I couldn't be there!!! :(

P.S. - I've been working has I said I would.

Great Day!!!

Today can be considered a GREAT DAY!!! Why?!

Because my little sister came from Germany just in time for my birthday next week!!

THANX SIS!!! :D

Today's work

Despite of all of the procrastinating I've done today, I feel like in the end the day payed off. I haven't written a single word, but the research I've done will help the writing tomorrow.

(I just hate the models and statistics.... arghhhh!! But, eventually I'll have to learned them, even if I don't fully understand them!! I'm doing the work of 2 years and 1/2 in two months...)

"Human Rights "eroded worlwide"" (in news.bbc.co.uk)

I know I'm supposed to be working, and I am... but sometimes I need to be doing more than one thing at the same time to be productive. So while reading important information on the net, I decided to take a look at the news and came across this one: Human Rights "eroded worldwide" on the BBC web site.

The only comment I will make is: We really should worry about Human Rights because it concerns every one.

Here´s the link (I advise everyone to read and think about it):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6681437.stm

Procrastinating...

Yesterday a great day... today.... procrastinating...

hmmm...

Better get over it....

Hard Day Work!!! :) (part II)

After yesterday's frustrations, today I had a good day's work! I wrote another complete sub-section of my Results Chapter!!

But I'm still mad and disappointed with how things are done in the group I worked!!

Hope tomorrow will be has good has today!! :)

The faster I get this Thesis complete the better for me!!

Frustration is the word of the day!!!

I feel so frustrated!!! I just feel like crying, screaming and giving up of everything!!

I do not think that the end result will compensate all the harm I'm doing to myself at the moment by continuing to try to write my thesis!!!

Every single day is a struggle to work and get anything done!!

On the other hand, I know that I will regret if I do not finish this!! I expect more of myself!!

Maybe tomorrow I'll feel little bit better!!

Global Warming - True or a Haox?! (according with the american evangelists)

One of the major concerns of the last two decades, has been the increase on the emissions of greenhouse gases, and their effects on global warming. I have a particular view on this subject, but I do think that we should worry and do our best to prevent it.

This said, let's talk about a news a read today. So, in the USA the issue of global warming is dividing the evangelical world. While ones believe it to be a hoax, that is "trying to move the world from nationalism to international or global governance", others are doing their best to diminish the greenhouse gases emissions. The first ones say that God will take care of the Earth for them, the seconds believe that one should help a little.

Personally, I do not defend any religion in particular, but I agree with the seconds... One should give a helping hand when the subject is the Earth!!

Here is the link to the news (this time in English):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6648265.stm

Bullied child with cancer forced to leave school

I feel so sad when a read stories like this on the news...

A boy that was diagnosed with cancer in the central nervous system at age 7, and that survived all the treatments is being bullied in school for not being "normal". Even teachers have complained to the parents, because the child had to eat and take medications every day at 9 a.m. during classes... The boy is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and his grades have fallen...

What kind of world is this?!

The news is in Portuguese, but here is the link for who ever wants to read it:

http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1294470

...

The deadline for the submission of an application to a PhD program ends tomorrow... I'm having huge difficulties in writing two parts of the admission form:

- why do I want to participate in the program (should be easy; last year would probably have been)

- my scientific interests (hmmm, I have this weird idea that I REALLY should write it quite easily)

Well, by tomorrow I'll think of something...

P.S. - I hate writing about myself, I always blank out!! I like loads of things but when I have to say or write about it... it's like having my head full of wonderful, light air...

Hard Day Work!! :)

Today I had a good day work!!! I just wrote a complete sub-section of my Thesis' Results chapter!!! Yupiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!

I haven't had day like this not ever since I begun writing my thesis!!!

So, yeah, it was a good day!!! :D

Betterman, Pearl Jam

Betterman lyrics - just couldn't resist... ;)

Waitin', watchin' the clock
It's four o'clock, it's got to stop
Tell him, take no more
She practices her speech, as he opens the door
She rolls over
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over
She lies and says she's in love with him
Can't find a better man
She dreams in color, she dreams in red
Can't find a better man, can't find a better man
Ohh...

Talkin', to herself there's no one else
Who needs to know
She, tells herself, oh...
Memories back when she was bold and strong
And waiting for the world to, come along
Swears she knew it, now she swears he's gone
(2x)

She lies and says she still loves him
Can't find a better man...
She dreams in color, she dreams in red
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man

She loved him, yeah...
She don't want to leave this way
She feeds him, yeah
That's why she'll be back again
Can't find a better man...

Pearl Jam...

Today my "little" sis had a link to a YouTube video of Pearl Jam (a live performance in Lisboa) in her messenger personal message. When I accessed the link I did not know where it lead... when I started hearing the first notes of Betterman I got goosebumps... so many memories came into my mind...

Thanks sis... :)

Stress!!

Every other day I go for a fast walk in the park in front of my house, and usually I take my ipod has company.

Well, today was one of those days, or it was supposed to be. But my ipod decided to freeze. I could not do anything. For almost 4 hours I tried and tried to fix it, by doing everything that apple.com advised and it simply didn't work.

In the mean time I had given up on doing my exercise, had taken my morning shower, and had cooked lunch. Only after all this, I discovered that I had not read the instructions properly and solved everything in 2 minutes.

How frustrating!! But in the end I had to laugh!! :)

Who Moved my Cheese?!

Last night I read a book called: "Who Moved my Cheese?" (by Dr. Spencer Johnson).

It is about how to prepare and deal with changes in your live. It is written in very smart and simple way, and I think that it goes straight to the point. It was quite a pleasant book to read.

So here are the lessons from the book:

• If you do not change, you will get close to extinction.
• What would you do if you were not afraid?!
• Smell your cheese frequently, so that you know when it is getting old.
• Moving towards a new direction will help to find the New Cheese.
• When you move beyond your fears you feel free.
• Imagining myself tasting the New Cheese, even before I find it, will take me to it.
• Sooner you get rid of the Old Cheese, the faster you will find the New Cheese.
• It is safer to look after the cheese in the labyrinth than to remain in a situation without cheese.
• Old beliefs do not lead to the New Cheese.
• When you see that you might find and appreciate the New Cheese, you change your way.
• Noticing the little changes in time, will help you to prepare for the big changes that are coming.

(Note: I translated the text myself, so any errors and imprecisions are my fault.)

If you are going through a change in your life either professional or emotional, I recommend you to read it.

Procrastinate

verb - to keep delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring.

Thesis..

Do you know when something just isn't going the way you would like it to go?! And everyone seems to ask you about that all the time?!

Well, that is what is happening with my thesis!! Almost every time I speak with someone they ask me: hey, how's the writing going?! or how's the thesis going?!

I know that most of them just do it out of concern, but I do not like to lie, and it is not going well. So every time I have to answer that question it hurts me. It is a reminder of the thing that I was supposed to be doing and that is not going has planned.

Maybe I will put out a warning: NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THESIS ARE ALLOWED!! WHEN I FINISHED I'LL ISSUE A BRIEFING TO YOU ALL!!

All Harry Potter books read!!!

Well, after a month and a half, I have read the complete collection of the Harry Potter series, from book six (Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince) to book one (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)!!! :D

Yupii!!!

Can't wait for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. :)

Someone one lost out there?!

Am I lost?! Literally, NO!!

I simply do not know what to do with my life at this moment!!
Even do I have never been a person of great plans, I usually knew what I was going to do next. Now... I do not!!
For the past 2 years I have worked relentlessly to become an scientist. I just loved to be in the laboratory and do all the stuff I had to do, I didn't concerned if I stay there overtime. But all the pressure I put on myself and that was put upon me by others, just killed the fun out of it. Besides all this, where I live this line of work those not give you many guaranties, and I want some stability...

But what am I going to do next?! I have no idea!!

I just want to do something that fulfills me and that gives me time for myself (really missed that over this time).

Well, let's see what happens...

Thesis and Harry Potter :P

In the past month I've been home trying to write by MSc thesis... I must be honest and confess that I haven't been very successful!!

I've been stressed, blocked and above all angry.

Which is surprising, one should feel happy to get to the pointing of writing, but the past 2 years have been full of work, stress, frustration and disappointment. To the point I started hating something I loved to do. Hence the difficulty to write.

So, in order to deal with all this frustration I turned to my Harry Potter books.

I've been a fan for the past 7 years. As you can imagine with the 7th and final book coming, I've been completely excited to know how the series is going to end. I started to gather information in various sites and entered the fantastic world of podcasts... They have made me laugh out loud when I feel completely lost about everything else.

So for good therapy and a lot of laughs I recommend PotterCast from the Leaky Cauldron. (Loads of fun!! At least for me!!) :D