Again, I've not posted in ages, like a bad, bad person. In my defense, I've been travelling like a madwoman---a week and a half with my parents, a week and a half with N., four days in Spain, and now five days here in the UK. It's been quite busy.
A rundown of things (and hopefully a more detailed travelogue will follow):
1. Afghan: My hands are feeling better, but I'm so far from my yarn. ;_; I'm looking forward to getting back to it.
13. New dish: I made a squash soup with sage and thyme while at Nick's. It's not a really new thing for me---I've made squash soup before---but the exact recipe was new, off of Smitten Kitchen. It wasn't my favorite soup I've ever made, but I also forgot the cumin, so perhaps I'll try it again some time.
15. Key interest is still under $3000, at least. I should be getting a big chunk of money some time soon, which I will probably most put towards that, but I'm not counting on it yet.
21/22. Fruits and veggies: I've been kind of average recently---not a great job of keeping track of the noms, but not super horrible, either. I was exercising with C. quite a bit before leaving for this trip, but have been travelling and therefore my only exercise is from walking (which has been not bad at least). The most fun thing about this is that I started a walking challenge at Walker Tracker with a few folks, which has been really fun. I'm 4th out of 15 people, although I suspect several of those people have given up on updating. Still! I'm over the goal I'm trying to meet, which is 7k a day, and that pleases me. I'd love to be able to get it up to 10k, though. I'd feel very nice about that.
25/26. Skin and teeth are going pretty well, though I need to remember to set up an appointment to get my damn wisdom tooth out. :(
29. I've been better about contacting Mum and Dad, though still not perfect.
37/45. Utter fail on language practice and Lang-8. So sad.
40. I've completed my Goodreads for this year already! (Actually, I did this at the end of October. I've been reading like mad this year.)
61/62. I went on a lovely hike over the moors with W. the other day (to be recounted in more detail in a later entry). It was incredibly pleasant. I'd also been biking more, what with trying to bike to school. I'm really hoping to just be more active this year---I feel like utter shite whenever I'm just doing school stuff ALL the time.
84. I AM IN THE UK RIGHT NOW OMG. More later.
91. I've been to enough conferences this year---been to the (Mis)match workshop in Berlin, plus the workshop I just presented at in Spain. And now, for the Annual Meeting in January!
So, things are not looking too terribly desperate right now, although of course I'm freaking out over my dissertation and the job hunt. I'll ignore that now, though, and think of doing Other Things with life. :)
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
15 November 2012
11 October 2012
It has been forever!
Oh dear, I haven't posted in ages! This is very, very bad of me. I got very lazy in September---really, I just kind of spent a lot of time reading stories on the internet. I didn't do much work, or really much of anything. However, school has started, and I'm energized again. this is further helped by the fact that I'll be visiting family and N. starting next week, and that I'll be going to a conference in Spain (!) in November, after which I will spend a few days visiting a friend who just moved to Manchester, UK. Very very exciting!
So, I suppose I'll run through a bunch of goals, so that I can update what I have (and have not done). Mostly it's a lot of have-not, but ah well!
1. I've been trying to rest my hands, after the nasty RSI spat I had; I therefore haven't really crocheted in over a month. It's sad, but it's how it is.
3. I have figured out that things look less good on me when I gain five pounds. Sigh. ;.; One of the things I have decided to do is get on my exercise bandwagon again---I just need to move more!
4. Revamp wardrobe: Got a few skirts and a new pair of pants, which are sleek and have rich warm colors and which are just pleasant to wear. Huz-zah!
13. In September, I tried a cornmeal bread out of James Beard. It was pretty satisfying, and made a lot of bread! Really good toasted. For October, I've made both pumpkin cinnamon rolls and banana millet bread. The first was decent; the second was divine (I am now addicted to millet in bread, oh my!).
15. Key interest keeps going down, though still not under $2000.
19. My emergency fund is slightly expanded; I've decided that every time I deposit coins/get interest, it's just going into the emergency fund. This doesn't grow it very quickly, but an extra hundred a year from those sources is better than nothing!
21/22. I've been eating like shit lately, and so I'm trying to both eat better and get some more exercise. I've decided to try to bike up to campus as much as possible. I'm now down to almost 40 minutes from door to door, which is quite good, given that it's four miles with a nice little grade.
23. Just did a breast exam because oh yeah, I should do that!
24. Dentist: I went in September.
25. I'm doing better still with the skin on my face! It's responding to having moisturizer, which is good. :)
26. Doing better with teeth still too.
28. I'm okay with my hands. Not perfect. I went to the hand therapist again, and I'm trying to make sure I take breaks and just let them be a bit.
29. I've called Mum and Dad a lot more recently. I decided to work this into my decision to walk/exercise more. If I go for a half hour walk, of course I should call them!
30. Reading another CMV right now!
37. Total suck at language practice since August.
38. I've been neglecting the bed the last week, but I'm still doing this more than I was when I started this whole project.
39. Fixed/got rid of a few pieces in the to-fix pile, so it's at least smaller!
74. I went to Oswalds yesterday with several friends for the local restaurant week---$25 for a three-course prix fixe. The appetizers were fantastic; I got a little gem salad with (perfect) beets and pecans and grana padano, while my friends had a very good mushroom soup. The entrees were a little enh; strip steak that was cooked too rare (I asked for medium rare, and several of the pieces were just rare---not good for a fatty steak), and the fries were way too dry. I make better at home. The dessert, a vanilla creme brulee, was perfectly nommy and happy, although my friend's apple crisp was rather disappointing---mostly toppings, and a bit dry. I would go back, but not on such a busy night, and I would be very careful with my orders.
84. I will go to the UK in November omg.
89. I'm working on some journal submissions! Yesss!
92. And I'm working on the dissertation, too.
95. I've added some fic writing into my rotation, too. Nothing like, but it's good to get some fandom into my life!
96. I've been donating $10 a month to Wuqu' Kawoq, which I mentioned before but which I think is a fantastic organization. As I mentioned, they provide medical care in Guatemala; one of the important things they do, however, is provide medical care in indigenous languages (currently I believe in Kaqchikel and Kich'ee, two of the highland Mayan languages). The majority of Guatemalans do not speak Spanish natively, and the poorest Guatemalans (the ones with the least infrastructure, most likely to be murdered by their government) often speak no Spanish at all. If you can imagine being in a foreign country and unable to tell the doctor how and why and where your stomach hurts, you can imagine why it's so important to provide medical care in the language of the people. They also do a lot of real improvements (especially in water quality and malnutrition work), and they help train midwives. So, awesome! Go support them!
So, I suppose I'll run through a bunch of goals, so that I can update what I have (and have not done). Mostly it's a lot of have-not, but ah well!
1. I've been trying to rest my hands, after the nasty RSI spat I had; I therefore haven't really crocheted in over a month. It's sad, but it's how it is.
3. I have figured out that things look less good on me when I gain five pounds. Sigh. ;.; One of the things I have decided to do is get on my exercise bandwagon again---I just need to move more!
4. Revamp wardrobe: Got a few skirts and a new pair of pants, which are sleek and have rich warm colors and which are just pleasant to wear. Huz-zah!
13. In September, I tried a cornmeal bread out of James Beard. It was pretty satisfying, and made a lot of bread! Really good toasted. For October, I've made both pumpkin cinnamon rolls and banana millet bread. The first was decent; the second was divine (I am now addicted to millet in bread, oh my!).
15. Key interest keeps going down, though still not under $2000.
19. My emergency fund is slightly expanded; I've decided that every time I deposit coins/get interest, it's just going into the emergency fund. This doesn't grow it very quickly, but an extra hundred a year from those sources is better than nothing!
21/22. I've been eating like shit lately, and so I'm trying to both eat better and get some more exercise. I've decided to try to bike up to campus as much as possible. I'm now down to almost 40 minutes from door to door, which is quite good, given that it's four miles with a nice little grade.
23. Just did a breast exam because oh yeah, I should do that!
24. Dentist: I went in September.
25. I'm doing better still with the skin on my face! It's responding to having moisturizer, which is good. :)
26. Doing better with teeth still too.
28. I'm okay with my hands. Not perfect. I went to the hand therapist again, and I'm trying to make sure I take breaks and just let them be a bit.
29. I've called Mum and Dad a lot more recently. I decided to work this into my decision to walk/exercise more. If I go for a half hour walk, of course I should call them!
30. Reading another CMV right now!
37. Total suck at language practice since August.
38. I've been neglecting the bed the last week, but I'm still doing this more than I was when I started this whole project.
39. Fixed/got rid of a few pieces in the to-fix pile, so it's at least smaller!
74. I went to Oswalds yesterday with several friends for the local restaurant week---$25 for a three-course prix fixe. The appetizers were fantastic; I got a little gem salad with (perfect) beets and pecans and grana padano, while my friends had a very good mushroom soup. The entrees were a little enh; strip steak that was cooked too rare (I asked for medium rare, and several of the pieces were just rare---not good for a fatty steak), and the fries were way too dry. I make better at home. The dessert, a vanilla creme brulee, was perfectly nommy and happy, although my friend's apple crisp was rather disappointing---mostly toppings, and a bit dry. I would go back, but not on such a busy night, and I would be very careful with my orders.
84. I will go to the UK in November omg.
89. I'm working on some journal submissions! Yesss!
92. And I'm working on the dissertation, too.
95. I've added some fic writing into my rotation, too. Nothing like, but it's good to get some fandom into my life!
96. I've been donating $10 a month to Wuqu' Kawoq, which I mentioned before but which I think is a fantastic organization. As I mentioned, they provide medical care in Guatemala; one of the important things they do, however, is provide medical care in indigenous languages (currently I believe in Kaqchikel and Kich'ee, two of the highland Mayan languages). The majority of Guatemalans do not speak Spanish natively, and the poorest Guatemalans (the ones with the least infrastructure, most likely to be murdered by their government) often speak no Spanish at all. If you can imagine being in a foreign country and unable to tell the doctor how and why and where your stomach hurts, you can imagine why it's so important to provide medical care in the language of the people. They also do a lot of real improvements (especially in water quality and malnutrition work), and they help train midwives. So, awesome! Go support them!
29 August 2012
Roundup AND Focus! (Wednesday)
Today is a bit of a combination post. I've not posted in so long---two whole weeks!---that it'll be good to get the head screwed back on, all around.
My focus, really, is very simple---get back to keeping track of what I'm eating (and eating healthier), spend some more time exercising, and otherwise just keep keeping on. I need to find an easy way of keeping track of this, and of reminding myself to do it---something portable, private, and non-silly.
Also, I need to write more.
As far as the roundup goes:
1. White afghan: This has been going slowly. My hands have been acting up (rather nastily), and so my crocheting has slowed to a standstill as I try to get them back into working condition. I think I'm going to focus on finishing up a couple other projects which are, at this stage, just needing some fine-tuning to be finished.
2. Yarn bin: I gave away some scrap yarn, as I said in the last post, but then I also thrifted some yarn the other day. Oh darn.
7. Perfecting the noms: So making hopjesvla again soon. I have all this coffee leftover that I can't drink because ow. I'm in need of a few other good puddings/custards, though. There's a nutmeg and maple custard I've been eyeing over at Smitten Kitchen, which I messed up horridly the last time I tried it. (This, I think, is my story with custards and puddings: Fuck up horribly the first time, make it great the second.)
12. Nail polish: Very excited to be doing a girls' night with one of my housemates and a friend. Toe-painting will be happening.
13. One new dish: I tried "Java Jacks" from The AntiCraft yesterday. I used double-strength coffee, but still barely got any coffee flavor(!), and the pancakes were pretty dry. Not making these ones again, I think, although I do love the idea of coffee + sweetened condensed milk in a pancake.
14. Capsule warddrobe: Having such problems here! You see, I like black. I also like grey, navy and brown as base colors. The last of these three are very easy to match with a wide variety of colors---those neutrals are pretty interchangeable. Black, on the other hand, I find to be a pretty stark color that, well, pretty much only goes with... black (and grey and white). So, I'm torn between being colorful and turning corporate goth.
15. Key interest: It remains below $3000, and I've had the luck to get it lower and lower each month. Barring disaster, I might even be able to pay it *fully* off if I do it right.
19. Emergency fund: I've expanded it to 4 months (relatively generous) living expenses. Ideally I'd like it to be at six months before I graduate, but we'll see how that works out. It's quite difficult to keep that much money aside when you make 16.5k a year.
Then again, the idea of graduating (without a job) and needing that money is also god-damned terrifying.
21. Fruits and veggies: Yeah, whoops.
22. Exercise: Ditto.
24/26. Dentist/brush/flossing: Doing fine, and again looking forward to clean teeth in early October.
28. Calling the 'rents: I've been calling them! And it's awesome! It makes me happy!
32. All music: 3509/6354.
36. Lang practice: I started out very strong this August, and then poof! None. I'm feeling the craving again, though, which is good.
37. Making the bed: Being going strong on this. It's nice to have a neat bed (especially when my books decide to escape their bookshelves, i.e. I don't have room for them on my bookshelves).
85. Japan: This is not happening, as it turns out. The paperwork got messed up and I would only be able to be there for about three weeks---and I can't quite justify the ticket for that right now. I'm sad, but I think I will just go visit my parents and N. instead.
91. Dissertation: I'm almost done with the first draft of the first chapter! We'll see how this goes....
95. Charity: Donated $100 the other day---a friend of a friend desperately needs a life-saving surgery, has no insurance, and is already broke from medical bills.
My focus, really, is very simple---get back to keeping track of what I'm eating (and eating healthier), spend some more time exercising, and otherwise just keep keeping on. I need to find an easy way of keeping track of this, and of reminding myself to do it---something portable, private, and non-silly.
Also, I need to write more.
As far as the roundup goes:
1. White afghan: This has been going slowly. My hands have been acting up (rather nastily), and so my crocheting has slowed to a standstill as I try to get them back into working condition. I think I'm going to focus on finishing up a couple other projects which are, at this stage, just needing some fine-tuning to be finished.
2. Yarn bin: I gave away some scrap yarn, as I said in the last post, but then I also thrifted some yarn the other day. Oh darn.
7. Perfecting the noms: So making hopjesvla again soon. I have all this coffee leftover that I can't drink because ow. I'm in need of a few other good puddings/custards, though. There's a nutmeg and maple custard I've been eyeing over at Smitten Kitchen, which I messed up horridly the last time I tried it. (This, I think, is my story with custards and puddings: Fuck up horribly the first time, make it great the second.)
12. Nail polish: Very excited to be doing a girls' night with one of my housemates and a friend. Toe-painting will be happening.
13. One new dish: I tried "Java Jacks" from The AntiCraft yesterday. I used double-strength coffee, but still barely got any coffee flavor(!), and the pancakes were pretty dry. Not making these ones again, I think, although I do love the idea of coffee + sweetened condensed milk in a pancake.
14. Capsule warddrobe: Having such problems here! You see, I like black. I also like grey, navy and brown as base colors. The last of these three are very easy to match with a wide variety of colors---those neutrals are pretty interchangeable. Black, on the other hand, I find to be a pretty stark color that, well, pretty much only goes with... black (and grey and white). So, I'm torn between being colorful and turning corporate goth.
15. Key interest: It remains below $3000, and I've had the luck to get it lower and lower each month. Barring disaster, I might even be able to pay it *fully* off if I do it right.
19. Emergency fund: I've expanded it to 4 months (relatively generous) living expenses. Ideally I'd like it to be at six months before I graduate, but we'll see how that works out. It's quite difficult to keep that much money aside when you make 16.5k a year.
Then again, the idea of graduating (without a job) and needing that money is also god-damned terrifying.
21. Fruits and veggies: Yeah, whoops.
22. Exercise: Ditto.
24/26. Dentist/brush/flossing: Doing fine, and again looking forward to clean teeth in early October.
28. Calling the 'rents: I've been calling them! And it's awesome! It makes me happy!
32. All music: 3509/6354.
36. Lang practice: I started out very strong this August, and then poof! None. I'm feeling the craving again, though, which is good.
37. Making the bed: Being going strong on this. It's nice to have a neat bed (especially when my books decide to escape their bookshelves, i.e. I don't have room for them on my bookshelves).
85. Japan: This is not happening, as it turns out. The paperwork got messed up and I would only be able to be there for about three weeks---and I can't quite justify the ticket for that right now. I'm sad, but I think I will just go visit my parents and N. instead.
91. Dissertation: I'm almost done with the first draft of the first chapter! We'll see how this goes....
95. Charity: Donated $100 the other day---a friend of a friend desperately needs a life-saving surgery, has no insurance, and is already broke from medical bills.
14 August 2012
Roundup (Tuesday)
1. White afghan: I finished all but one of the required panels. I then started stitching together some of the panels, and realized that although the length was exactly what I wanted, the width was not. So, I'm now making four more panels, in order to make the afghan larger. Looks like I'll need to order more yarn. . . again.
2. Yarn bin: I gave away some scrap yarn to N.'s mother, as she knows some ladies who make scrap afghans. Now I've not got to deal with the stuff, and I still have plenty left for making hats and the like.
22. Exercise: Totally haven't been doing this. Totally should get back on that wagon.
23. Breast exam: Complete for August! And entirely because I was l
ooking down my list and went "oh, I should do that". Go this project. 25. Skin: Doing okay with this one. My skin really does feel better post-moisturizer.
26. Brush/flossing: Doing fine. Looking forward to my next cleaning.
28. Calling the 'rents: I haven't done this as much as I'd like to. I had a great hour-long call yesterday; I want to do that more.
32. Music: 3414/6367.
34. Fruits/veggies: I've decided I'm going to start some up over the winter---perhaps some herbs. I'm not quite sure what, though. I'll want something that can handle colder nights here on the coast.
36. Foreign language practice: I've been doing this! I've also added in some Old English, for the hell of it. I'd like to learn a bit more about the history of my language....
37. Bed-making: Starting this back up again, now that N. is gone (sad) and I won't have to kick him out of bed (not consolation).
44. Lang-8 has been going well: I've managed it so far for most of the summer.
70. E-mail inbox: Down to 44 unread out of 1498. This is actually a significant improvement over before....
74. Camera: I've been checking out cameras, and girding myself to throw down the $200 that it will cost.
85. Japan: Plans have gone awry. At this point, I'm not certain if I'll be going or not, as paperwork on the other end has gotten wonky; I wouldn't be able to go until mid-September, and would still need to be back fairly early for NELS/the Vigo conference. It would be maybe a three-week stay, at that point, and I'm not sure what to do (both for financial and other reasons). I'll need to make this choice soon, though, as in this next week. Ack.
2. Yarn bin: I gave away some scrap yarn to N.'s mother, as she knows some ladies who make scrap afghans. Now I've not got to deal with the stuff, and I still have plenty left for making hats and the like.
22. Exercise: Totally haven't been doing this. Totally should get back on that wagon.
23. Breast exam: Complete for August! And entirely because I was l
ooking down my list and went "oh, I should do that". Go this project. 25. Skin: Doing okay with this one. My skin really does feel better post-moisturizer.
26. Brush/flossing: Doing fine. Looking forward to my next cleaning.
28. Calling the 'rents: I haven't done this as much as I'd like to. I had a great hour-long call yesterday; I want to do that more.
32. Music: 3414/6367.
34. Fruits/veggies: I've decided I'm going to start some up over the winter---perhaps some herbs. I'm not quite sure what, though. I'll want something that can handle colder nights here on the coast.
36. Foreign language practice: I've been doing this! I've also added in some Old English, for the hell of it. I'd like to learn a bit more about the history of my language....
37. Bed-making: Starting this back up again, now that N. is gone (sad) and I won't have to kick him out of bed (not consolation).
44. Lang-8 has been going well: I've managed it so far for most of the summer.
70. E-mail inbox: Down to 44 unread out of 1498. This is actually a significant improvement over before....
74. Camera: I've been checking out cameras, and girding myself to throw down the $200 that it will cost.
85. Japan: Plans have gone awry. At this point, I'm not certain if I'll be going or not, as paperwork on the other end has gotten wonky; I wouldn't be able to go until mid-September, and would still need to be back fairly early for NELS/the Vigo conference. It would be maybe a three-week stay, at that point, and I'm not sure what to do (both for financial and other reasons). I'll need to make this choice soon, though, as in this next week. Ack.
10 July 2012
Tuesday Roundup
1. Afghan: Finished a fourth panel. I'm now into the last of the skeins I'd already bought, and need to go acquire more. Only three panels to go, though. The goal now is to get it done before I leave for the end of the summer---so, one more month to go.
21. 5 servings: I've been quite bad this week; it's been a lot of carbs. Tried to get that started going the right way again by eating some salad tonight.
22. Exercise 3x a week: I've been walking a lot still, although my actual running/biking has lessened quite a bit. My knees and feet are doing better, though, so I hope that I can get out a bit more now.
25. Skin: Still mostly doing well on this.
26. Teeth: Also doing quite well on this still. If there's anything I'm happy about it, it's that I've been taking care of my skin and teeth better. This is definitely a positive change.
37. I've been doing a bit better with the bed-making recently, too. It helps if I go for a run when I get up---usually N. is up by the time I get home and out of the shower.
44. Lang-8: Doing pretty well.
85. Japan: I got my paperwork in to go this August. Now I just have to wait for it to get processed some. . . and to buy the tickets. ::nervousexciteds::
90. Conferences: I got into a conference in Spain for this November (in Galicia). I'm beyond excited, especially as N., M.B., and L.V. also got in!
I'm hoping to get a bit of a focus post in soon---I've been waffling a bit too much this past week, and so need to get my mojo back in order.
21. 5 servings: I've been quite bad this week; it's been a lot of carbs. Tried to get that started going the right way again by eating some salad tonight.
22. Exercise 3x a week: I've been walking a lot still, although my actual running/biking has lessened quite a bit. My knees and feet are doing better, though, so I hope that I can get out a bit more now.
25. Skin: Still mostly doing well on this.
26. Teeth: Also doing quite well on this still. If there's anything I'm happy about it, it's that I've been taking care of my skin and teeth better. This is definitely a positive change.
37. I've been doing a bit better with the bed-making recently, too. It helps if I go for a run when I get up---usually N. is up by the time I get home and out of the shower.
44. Lang-8: Doing pretty well.
85. Japan: I got my paperwork in to go this August. Now I just have to wait for it to get processed some. . . and to buy the tickets. ::nervousexciteds::
90. Conferences: I got into a conference in Spain for this November (in Galicia). I'm beyond excited, especially as N., M.B., and L.V. also got in!
I'm hoping to get a bit of a focus post in soon---I've been waffling a bit too much this past week, and so need to get my mojo back in order.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)