Weird Dreams and Kreb’s Cycle

So, I had quite a disturbing dream last night that involved getting into my car after having dinner with my family in a particular restaurant on a dark, stormy night and being strangled by a man in the backseat and getting tossed into a nearby river. I am leaving out the details because it was a bit too vivid for my likings. It left me quite rattled this morning, though I’m thinking it may just be due to stress and other things.

“Nightmares can be an important resource for self-knowledge and emotional discovery. They convey an important message and help clear up the conflict in your life. it is important to distance yourself and work pass the emotional content (fear, grief, anger, etc.) of your nightmare and analyze it from an objective perspective. The disturbing emotions may be a way for your unconscious to prevent you from digging deep into the meaning of your nightmares. Sometimes rehearsing or reliving the nightmare while you are awake and then changing the nightmare’s content or outcome helps to dismantle the nightmare, breaking it down. Although it may be difficult at times, it pays to try and make sense of those darker dreams.”

Some “meanings”—

Restaurant – To dream that you are in a restaurant, suggests that you are feeling overwhelmed by decisions/choices that you need to make in your life. Alternatively, it indicates that you are seeking for emotional nourishment outside of your social support system.

Parking Lot – To dream that you are in parking lot, suggests that you need to slow down and take some time to relax from your daily activities. To dream that you cannot find a parking space, indicates your inability to find your place in life. You may still be on your quest to find your talent or niche where you belong. Alternatively, it may reflect your busy life and the lack of time you have.

Pervert – To see a pervert in your dream, suggests that you are having issues with closeness in some relationship. You are trying to keep your distance and avoid from getting hurt.

Fear – To dream that you feel fear, signifies that you achievements will not be as successful as you had anticipated. You are having anxieties in certain circumstances of your life. However, your worries will be temporary and short-lived.

Strangle – To dream that you or someone else is being strangled, denotes that you are repressing or denying a vital aspect of your expression.

Choking – To dream that someone is choking you, indicates that you are suppressing your emotions or that you may have difficulties in expressing your fears, anger, or love. Consider the phrase “being all choked up”. Alternatively, you may feel that you are being prevented or restricted from freely expressing yourself.

Throat – To see your throat in your dream, symbolizes the ability to express yourself and communicate your thoughts/ideas. To dream that you have a sore throat, suggests that you are having problems saying what you really think. You may feel threatened when you express yourself. Alternatively, your dream may be telling you that you need to swallow your pride.

Neck – To see your neck in your dream, signifies the relationship between the mind/mental and the body/physical. It represents willpower, self-restriction and your need to control your feelings and keep them in check. Consider the familiar phrase, “don’t stick your neck out” which serves as a warning against a situation. To dream that your neck is injured, indicates a separation between your heard and mind.

Pain – To dream that you are in pain, signifies that you are being too hard on yourself with regards to a situation that was out of your control. It may also be a true reflection of real pain that exists somewhere in your body.

Panic – To dream that you are in a panic, indicates a lack of control and power in your life. You may be feeling helpless in some situation or unable to make a clear decision.

Death – To dream of your own death, indicates a transitional phase in your life. You are becoming more enlightened or spiritual. Alternatively, you are trying desperately to escape the demands of your daily life.

Die – To dream that you die in your dream, symbolizes inner changes, transformation, self-discovery and positive development that is happening within you or in your life. Although such a dreams may bring about feelings of fear and anxiety, it is no cause for alarm and is often considered a positive symbol. Dreams of experiencing your own death usually means that big changes are ahead for you. You are moving on to new beginnings and leaving the past behind. These changes does not necessarily imply a negative turn of events. Metaphorically, dying can be seen as an end or a termination to your old ways and habits. So, dying does not always mean a physical death, but an ending of something. On a negative note, to dream that you die may represent involvement in deeply painful relationships or unhealthy, destructive behaviors. You may feeling depressed or feel strangled by a situation or person in your waking life. Perhaps your mind is preoccupied with someone who is terminally ill or dying. Alternatively, you may be trying to get out of some obligation, responsibility or other situation.

Murder – To dream that you are murdered, suggests that some important and significant relationship has been severed and you are trying to disconnect yourself from your emotions. It also represents your unused talents. Note also that dreams of murder occur frequently during periods of depression.

I just think it’s too much CSI. Combined with stress.

I am looking forward to the weekend–I have a quiz this afternoon and then I have a hot date with the Kreb’s Cycle. I am starting to study now for my biochem exam in a week or two. I will need to study a lot.

I am going fishing with Dad on Saturday morning. It should be fun.

I sent Katie a package this morning. I do miss her very much. I hope she can come down to visit in May. That’d be so much fun.

I miss my Jeremy. But I’ll see him sometime soon.

Piled Higher and Deeper

…always hits close to home.

If you don’t read it, you need to…

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php

One Down, Three To Go

I got this email last night from the UGA SURO:

Dear Ms. Johnson,

It is my pleasure to extend to you an offer for SURO2007 in the
laboratory of professor Jeff Urbauer. Dr. Urbauer utilizes
biomolecular NMR spectroscopy to explore the stability and function of
interesting proteins and protein complexes.

I am very pleased to invite you to UGA for this exceptional
opportunity. Please reply to this email with your acceptance decision.

Congratulations,

Dr. XXXXXX

—-

Here is his page: http://www.chem.uga.edu/DoC/ResFacJLU.html

Now, I have a week to hear from the others and to decide. We’ll see how it all goes.

Stress, Stress

So I haven’t updated in ages. It’s been busy. Hah. Understatement.

My grandfather has been in the hospital since Spring Break. They released him to come home yesterday, though we still have to hire someone to come stay with him. I hear rumors of nursing/assisted living homes, though I know how that would go over with him(not well). I have tried to be helpful, but I’ve also been trying to stay out of the way since everything that will occur in the next few months/years is ultimately between my father and my grandfather. I know that they have their differences, but I know it will all get worked out.

We had our St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday–it was nice to see my family. I don’t get to see them very often and I miss them more than they may realize. I think it went quite well and was a nice break amidst all the stressful hospital/illness talk.

I had two more friends announce to me over the weekend that they were engaged. And another is pregnant. I am happy for them. Though, I do find myself wondering about my own future quite a bit lately, and it doesn’t look very “kid friendly.” I keep telling myself that I want to wait on a family until I am financially stable, which is the wise thing to do. But I cannot keep myself from thinking about it–it’s a biological thing, I suppose. Maternal instinct and all that jazz. That and it’s all I ever hear from people–”When are you gonna settle down and have kids?!?!?!” Like that is the only end goal for a female. Reproduce. That’s it? I hope not.

I DO want children, I really do. But it’s like everyone I talk to assumes that I need to do that ASAP. “You’ll be done with school soon, right?! Then you can have kids!!” (In reference to my undergraduate degree, by the way.) No pressure or anything(HAH). Um…I am seriously considering grad school…which means five years minimum of not being around to procreate. People just don’t understand why I’d want to do something with my life OTHER than make babies. Yes, that’s great. But ANYONE CAN MAKE BABIES (excluding obvious fertility issues). I mean, seriously, watch Jerry Springer or Maury. Those are the people making lots of babies with everyone. Babies do not always equal perfect families (get the point?). But how many people can say that they’ve helped with research that may help SAVE LIVES (including said babies)?

I don’t know. Thinking about it makes me depressed, so I try not to think about it. I disappoint people no matter what I do. Either I’m barefoot and pregnant or I’m a hardcore career woman doomed to growing old alone with my house full of cats. There is no happy medium with these folks.

I am hoping to see my Heather next weekend–she’s leaving for Hawaii for April, so she’s coming home for a going away event. I’m sure all of the kids will be there, much to my enjoyment. Kids and dogs. Hah.

I need to go to lab now. More later as time permits.