Chopsueybrandy

To explain, it's a claddagh cross and also has a Celtic knot on it. For those that don't know, the claddagh represents friendship, loyalty, and love. The Celtic knot represents the interconnectivity of life, nature, and the universe.

As for me, I don't believe Jesus is God. (I don't believe in the trinity or any Christian concept of God. I don't believe the bible is the word of God. However, I do believe in a higher power/energy, just not in human/tangible form). That being said, I do think Jesus set a good example for how people should live their lives. I respect and admire him as a person and role model, just not as a God.

To me, the necklace is just a reminder of my heritage (I come from a long line of Irish Celts who were Christian) and good values (love, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice for others, etc.)

Do you think it would be wrong to wear this necklace given my beliefs? Is that too misleading? I don't want to offend a bunch of people.

Hypothetically speaking, if your options were between paying full price for a 2nd tier law school (20k/yr) or a full ride or half scholarship at a 3rd tier law school (0-10k/yr) (both in your target market), which would you take?

Just curious.

I've been debating going back to school to get a second bachelor's degree in dietetics. While I would be okay with just being an RD, I was hoping to pursue a PhD in order to teach.

The problem: My first BA degree is in sociology and my GPA is horrifying (2.6) due to lots of personal problems and immaturity throughout my degree.

I have to have a 3.0 GPA in order to be eligible for admissions so my question is: which GPA do graduate programs look at? Or do they combine those degrees? If I use some of the general education classes from my first degree, do those grades factor into my GPA on the second degree?

I use fleece bedding for my guinea pigs and I read that a way to disinfect the fleece (and remove odors) was to add a half cup of vinegar to the washing machine during the rinse cycle. However, I live in an apartment with on-site laundry facility. The washing machines won't allow you to open the lid without stopping the entire cycle and (after paying again) the machines will restart at the very beginning.

Is it okay to add vinegar to my laundry at the very beginning? Can I use it with my regular detergent?

I have two guinea pigs and they have eaten a little less than 5lbs of pellets in the past 4 weeks since I got them. I want to buy in bulk to save cost, but I wasn't sure how long I can safely store pellets before they spoil. (Do they spoil?) Does anyone know? Also, what is the best way to store pellets? I'm thinking about buying the ones from the KMS Hayloft if that makes a difference.

Further, how long can I store hay? And what is the best way to store hay?

It's long; sorry. I've been dating this guy for a 16mo. He's sweet and caring, but certain things annoy the heck out of me. I've been wondering lately if this is a compatibility issue since I've tried talking to him about these things to little avail. Do I keep trying or just move on?

1) He doesn't believe in saving face in public. Ever. In private, I have no problems with inappropriate jokes, but in public, it would be great if he didn't joke constantly about sex, sexual organs, bodily functions, etc. Can't we just have a conversation about something else? But he tells me I'm being "fake" b/c I don't act in public like I do in private. This isn't me saying I like a band in private and then saying I hate it in public. It's just censoring myself so I'm not talking about sex in front of my grandmother or someone's child. I've refused to bring him home to meet my parents b/c I am so afraid he will embarrass me in front of them.

2) He complains about everything, and it's really draining. For example, today we tried a new sandwich shop neither of us had been to before. We order and when he gets his meal, he gets upset that it isn't "unique" enough, saying he could have made this very sandwich at home. I told him to go complain if he wanted, but in my head I was thinking, "the ingredients were listed on the menu. If you thought it sounded boring, why not choose something else?" Of course, they told him they gave him what was on the menu. Instead of just accepting the mistake (we've all ordered something we didn't really want), he starts blaming the restaurant for lying. No. YOU ordered a boring sandwich made as advertised. Doesn't mean the entire place sucks. So I had to spend the whole meal trying to cheer him up. It's like this everywhere we go; he always has to find a fault and get upset. Just enjoy life and stop letting little things upset you. It's a sandwich you had for one meal in your life. Not a big deal.

3) He is pretty jealous. All the time. For no reason. I have never cheated in my past relationships, nor have I cheated while I was dating him. We got into a huge fight over this issue over the summer. I was taking 24 college credit hours (yes, 24) during an 8wk summer session while also helping my sister plan her wedding. Since I wasn't spending as much time with him, he starts listening to his friend who is saying I'm cheating on him. Literally, I saw only him and my family that entire 8 weeks b/c the rest of the time I was studying or sleeping 2-4 hours a night. He finally said he trusted me, but he won't let it die. Now he's always subtly accusing me of cheating. I just turned 22, so the bar scene is new and exciting to me. He's 30, so he's been there, done that (which I can understand). But when I say I want to go to a bar (we've been 3 times since we started dating), he's like, "why, you want to pick up some guy?" Yes, b/c I'm going to take my boyfriend to a bar so I can pick up another guy. I'm getting a little tired always having to defend myself, especially since there's no reason for his suspicions. He always says these comments in a joking way (which he then says he was just kidding after I point out the shoddy logic), but why would you even joke about stuff like that?

Anyway, I've tried talking to him and he just tells me I'm a bad communicator. Things change for a few days, but then it always goes back to what it was before. Do I keep trying or just move on?

I'm trying to figure out a good xmas present for my cousins and their families that doesn't break the bank. (I'm a college kid in the process of applying to grad school, so money is tight this year). I've decided to give them a "cookie in a jar" recipe (where you give them all the dry ingredients and the instructions to make cookies). It could be brownies or some other baked good too. I was just trying to think of something that would be good for families with kids under 10.

Anyone have a good recipe? If anyone has a better idea for a nice, but under $10 gift, let me know.

I just rescued two Abyssinian males from a pound. They are brothers and less than a year old, although I'm not sure exactly how old. The pound just said "young." But they are still little (I'd say maybe 5/8 to 3/4 the size of a full grown boar.)

They were housed at the pound for over 2 months in a small cage that was just big enough for one igloo hidey hut and a water bowl and food bowl. Now, they are in a 2x4 C&C cage with their own food dish and hidey hut. Obviously, they are happy to have the space and have been popcorning and running around like crazy.

However, in the past 2 days since I've brought them home, they've been rumblestrutting a lot (usually over hidey huts when one tries to get in the same one with the other and occasionally over food dishes b/c they both seem to prefer one and ignore the other dish). Occasionally, they would chase each other, almost like playing tag. Not a concern, except today when I was taking a nap, I heard one of them squeak in pain so I reached my hand in to separate them. I can't find any marks or obvious signs of any wounds or missing fur on the pigs, but I'm a little concerned about the escalation. They seem to have moments where they get along fine, and then a few moments where each tries to dominate the other (and neither one is budging; it's a tie). There hasn't been any bullying behavior that I've seen and most times they share everything just fine, but I worry about them getting into a fight while I'm at school/work.

Obviously, I'll separate if things get violent, but how long should I wait before this behavior becomes a major concern? I'm assuming that this behavior is due to the new (and larger) environment and should cool off in the next few weeks. Is that a correct assumption?

I'll be getting a BA in Sociology this December, but I absolutely hate it. Since I'm so close to the end, it seems silly not to finish it. I thought about going to law school since everyone in my family either has a law degree or a PhD, but I am not a very academic person. Perhaps it's time I finally admit that I don't belong in an academic world and try to find a different career path. Since I have always enjoyed photography, it seems like my best bet.

As far as experience, I have taken photography classes in high school for 3 years. I also have 9 hours of college credit in photography and I have been published in an international magazine. Further, I was a staff photographer for multiple clubs in high school and college.

Given my experience, and the fact that I *will* have a bachelor's degree, should I go back and get a second degree in photography, or go ahead and start working on my career? How much would it hurt me to not have a degree in photography?

Basically, I'll have 21 credit hours to complete after I finish my summer classes. Should I break that up into two semesters, or try to get it done in one? I was just curious if I over looked a critical reason why I shouldn't try to just finish in December.

Reasons why I think it's a good idea/would work:

-2 of the 7 classes will be online and I have always done much better in online classes than regular classes.

-It will be 3 soc classes, 2 intro business classes (for a minor so nothing too hefty), and 2 upper level electives (probably intro to anthro and some other intro class or musicology class).

-I've taken 18hrs the past 3 semesters successfully.

-I also don't work. No extracurriculars.

-Knowing it's my last semester will keep me motivated.

-I always get better grades in the fall.

Reasons I'm worried it won't work:

-I don't want to get burned out.

-And I'm worried that 21 hours might be too much.

-Also, I'm worried about not having time to find a job after graduation. It's cool to graduate early, but not so much if I can't get a job. Granted, I could get a basic cover letter and resume ready in the 3 weeks in between the summer and fall semesters or during breaks.

Anything I haven't considered? Has anyone done this before?

I only have 12hrs left in my major and 36hrs left in my degree. If I stay, I'll graduate next spring with a BA in sociology. However, I hate my major, and it doesn't really give you many career options except being a research assitant or a receptionist. Both of which sound like hell on earth.

I know the smart answer would be to cut my losses and switch majors. Except I really have no idea what I want to do or what I would want to major in.

Should I finish my degree in soc and try to find a career, or just take a break from school until I figure out what degree to get? How did you guys figure out what to major in?

I have been debating between going into law vs. going into nursing since I hate my current major and don't want to get stuck as someone's desk assistant as my career. I worked as a lifeguard for years and loved helping people during emergencies, so I'm looking into what I'd have to do to get a career in nursing.

Next spring, I will be graduating with my BA in sociology. Since I only have 30hrs left and only 9hr left in the major, I'm getting the degree regardless. It's silly at this point not to finish. The benefit to getting the associate's is that I already have the prerequisite's done, and all but one of the general education requirements completed. So, while it would still take 4 semesters to complete the program, I wouldn't have to take as many classes each semester since I've already taken some of them. Which also means spending less money for tuition (which would already be a 1/3 of the cost of BSN programs in my area). Also, in order to apply for the BSN, I need about 12hrs of prerequisites, which wouldn't count toward my current degree, and would require an extra semester of coursework after my BA. I know you have to spend money to make money, but I'd like to keep costs down as much as possible if the payoff is about the same.

While the associate's looks appealing, I was wondering if it would limit my career in any way. It's an approved program and NOT online, but are employers willing to hire someone with just a associate's (I would have a BA, just not BSN)? Would I still be able to work in a hospital? Is there a drastic pay difference?

Often times, I'll sit down to do my schoolwork and about 20min later I realize that I have been "ghost reading" or just turning pages and following with my eyes but really daydreaming/thinking about other things.

I've tried everything I can think of:

1) drink caffeine. Even tried RedBull, which helps a little but super unhealthy.

2) get more sleep/better diet/exercise.

3) remove distractions. I turn off my phone, my computer, etc. Even took the batteries out of my clock that is really loud. Tried playing white noise in the background.

4) Used time management techniques like the Pomodoro.

Nothing consistently works, so I was wondering if any of you had any ideas or a similar experience.

Do you think it's worth it to see if I have ADD? Or am I just being lazy? How do I snap myself out of it?

Short story: I attend a large public university meaning much of my intro level courses were large lectures (100+ students). To make matters worse, personal problems and bad grades gave me a bunk sophomore year and I had to complete my 3rd year at a community college. Now I'm back for my last 3 semesters, and I would like to know some tips on how to build faculty relationships so I have people to ask for letters of recommendation. I already enrolled for spring classes with professors that teach in the fall hoping that I could snag another class with a prof or two from spring semester. However, since most applications are due right after fall 2012, I only have 2 semesters to get letters of recommendation. Any advice or tips?

Long story short, I was prescribed Cipro, had a rare reaction that caused the ligaments in my knee to become horribly inflamed to the point where I can barely walk without pain, my knee won't straighten, and if I try to walk longer than a few feet my knee swells up, even with a knee brace. (I have seen a doctor and they switched my antibiotics and told me to wait a week.) I've been doing the bed rest thing for the past 2 days and taking ibuprofen to help ease the swelling but it is still really painful. I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with this and what they did to recover. Normally I'd just tough it out, but I have finals this week and I am finding it hard to concentrate due to the pain.

For the past 4 months I've been battling a double dose of Mono and anemia. I'm finally to the point where I'm off decongestants. During my illness, I tried hard to not cough in an attempt to save my vocal chords. For the most part (minus the really bad week) I was able to maintain my voice enough to continue taking voice lessons. However, now that I'm finally feeling better, I keep losing my voice and I find it more difficult to control. So my inquiry is: Has anyone else had a long illness like this? About how long did it take you to regain vocal control? (Forgive me if I sound impatient; I'm anxious to get better)

I'm buying a mac for video and picture editing. Please provide support to your opinion if applicable.

I am attending a college audition in the next couple of weeks and I'm looking for a monologue and imploys a sort of understated humor. Maybe even political humor. Sort of similar to the Daily Show, SNL's Weekend Update, or even just something like the Office. I would prefer for the monologue to come from a play if at all possible. I apologize for the desperate nature of this question. I've just been looking for months and still haven't found a piece I like and time is almost up. Thank you for your time and effort.

I've been acting for about two years now and absolutely love it. But bad things keep happening that prevent me from acting. I suddenly get this feeling of cold feet before turning in my application for USC, but decide to shell out the money anyway b/c that's where I want to live. Then I find out that the audition I chose is the same day as the audition for the new york school I really want to go to. Then when I'm asking my mom for advice she blows up at me saying we don't have the money to go to LA. This is after I was told that even though I have enough points to be inducted into thespian society that I can't audition at state thespian conference because I'm not officially inducted. After I didn't make two shows because I have "too much going on". All because my cheerleading coach wouldn't let me out of practice to go to the audition on time. I'm a very superstitious person, and see this as a bad omen. But should I? Would you keep going? or am I holding on to false hopes?