I'm still trying to decide how I feel about blogging so I'm not going to talk about that.
Instead I think I'm going to reflect on things.
Here I talked about how I wanted to read a book a month outside of class. That didn't go very well. I should be finishing my fourth and starting my fifth book by now but instead I've only read two. So I'm changing things up and posting all the books I've read since August:
Guyland (good book)
Nurture Shock (good book, anyone can read this and get something out of it, so you should read it)
The Spirit Level (good book, easily accessible, quick read) (I've got 2 chapters of this left but I'll be done by Thursday for sure)
Organizations Evolving (blah, class textbook and it reads like it)
Freaks of Nature (science-y but good)
Evolution in Four Dimensions (good book, really science-y)
Three Cups of Tea (good out-of-school reading material)
I skimmed the rest of Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, figuring I'd already gotten the gist of the book. I've got Stones Into Schools checked out from the library and I'm looking forward to finding time to read it. I took it to Disney with me but couldn't find the motivation to read more than a page in the car. (Maybe I'll post about Disney later this week. Just to record it.)
Finals are a week away and I've got three days left of class. I look forward to this part of the semester because there's so much freedom but hate it for the same reason. I'm so much more productive when I've got strict deadlines. At least I get a chance to tackle big things one at a time instead of working on lots of little things.
I'm still trying to decide if I should buckle down at home and work on stuff or if I should head into school, looking for structure around me.
(This post is mostly so that I can remind myself that I DO do a lot of stuff, DO learn things, accomplish things, etc. Sometimes I get trapped in what I haven't done yet, it's good to look back at what else I have been doing.)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Hello?
I don't mean to be snarky (as I have for the last few days... which I attribute to stress) but I'd like to know if anyone is reading this. If not, I'll just journal.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
100 (no... 50) things about myself
(Written a few nights ago)
1. I am a graduate student. I’m in the Sociology department at a school in Georgia.
2. I’m in my 2nd year.
3. I focus on crime, family, and variables that influence those. (How broad!)
4. I’m reluctant to talk about my work because I’m so much more comfortable regurgitating information I’ve learned in the last year and a half.
5. This is a change from when I was an undergrad and designing and running my own experiment was easy and something I was confident about.
6. I’m not sure why the change happened but now I’m much more comfortable learning.
7. Which leads to…. I fear that I won’t cut it in the field because I don’t have many strong convictions and don’t have much to offer. (Oh, insecurities, I wear you like my oldest, most snug pair of jeans. Sigh.)
8. In other news, I’m from Nebraska and this is my first time “away from home” so to speak.
9. I went to college about 45 minutes from home.
10. The (biggest) reason I agreed to go to school so close to home was because of the concession my parents made: Go to undergrad here and you can go wherever you want for your grad coursework.
11. I keep trying to figure out the best way to segue out of school related stuff… I sneeze often.
12. Often in this sense doesn’t mean many times a day, just many times a sneezing fit. We’re talking 7 or 8 each time I sneeze, on average.
13. I’ve been sneezing this much since I was in 10th grade, at least. That’s as early as I can remember people laughing at/with me for sneezing a lot. Back in Algebra II with Mr. Wisdom.
14. I used to think that friendships were doomed after 4 years.
15. I just sneezed 7 times in a row.
16. I had a series of friends (Jenn and Lauren, Jenna, Jorge) and for most of them, the friendship significantly changed after the 4 year mark. With Jorge it took longer. With Liesal it hasn’t changed. With Chase, I don’t think I ever considered him my best friend.
17. There are some girls from high school I’m friends with on facebook but wasn’t good friends with in high school. I’d like to talk more to them, congratulate them on things; have a friendship with them, but I hesitate because I think that they’ll think of me like I was still high-school-Jessica.
18. Sometimes friendships need to end. Sometimes they don’t. It all comes out in the wash.
19. I make a lot of to-do lists. But with a twist. I often make calendars during class. On the left side of a page in my notebook I’ll make the actual calendar and use the right side to write out dates and events. Yeah, this habit gets me made fun of.
20. Chase and I don’t go to bed (or sleep) at the same time. Chase “puts me to bed” around 12 most nights and then stays up til about 3. I get up around 8 most mornings, he gets up around noon. It works for us (right now).
21. I’m a chapstick addict. I probably have 5 different tubes right now. One in my purse, one in my backpack, one in a pair of jeans, one on my desk, one on my dresser. All Chapstick brand Vanilla Mint.
22. Dude. I can’t believe I’m only on 22. I don’t like biting into apples. I won’t eat it if it’s not sliced up. I think it’s because my front teeth are sensitive.
23. I’m pretty poor these days. Chase and I are both full-time students without jobs. Eek.
24. I enjoy hiking.
25. I wish I went camping (the real kind) more often. I’ve only gone once and it wasn’t really what I’d consider camping. Well… maybe Nebraska camping, but that was lame.
26. I want to whitewater raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon sometime before I die. It’s only about $2,000 per person for the trip. Reservations generally need to be made 9-12 months in advance, I think.
27. I’m only going to 50 this time. I’ll save the other 50 for another time. I can’t do 100 at once. That’s a lot!
28. Next semester I really want to take a class with my friends but think the class I’m going to take instead (they’re scheduled for the same time) will be more useful. I’m SO TEMPTED to say fuck it and take the fun class instead. Gah.
29. I’m going to Disney next weekend. All I can reeealllly think about is how I’ll probably spend more money than I can afford to.
30. OH, AND MY SISTER WILL BE HERE AND GO TO DISNEY WITH ME. That’s worth noting too.
31. I have a gym membership but only go a few times a month. I wish it was closer. I HATE that I have to drive 15 minutes to get there.
32. In July, Chase and I are moving closer to said gym. It’s also closer to a grocery store, friends, etc.
33. Today I let Chase convince me to buy some donuts and I ate 2.5 of them.
34. I’m trying to give up Dr. Pepper but I’m failing badly.
35. I didn’t buy any at the store today in an attempt to quit but I’ll probably start buying them daily until I give in and buy another case.
36. It’s not even the taste that I crave, it’s the mental crutch. I feel like I’m being rewarded every time I drink them.
37. The best concert I’ve ever been to was Papa Roach. How… sad?
38. There’s only one boy/man I’ve had a crush on since moving to Georgia. He reminded me of a more professional, better looking, taller Twofer from 30 Rock.
39. Chase and I have been dating for 3-4 years and I still get sad when it’s been awhile since I’ve had a crush on someone. Eh. Dating one person doesn’t mean I still can’t think other boys are pretty. As long as that’s all that happens: looking.
40. My office is on the 4th floor of a building without an elevator. My knees hurt by the end of the trek upstairs. I’m not sure what that means.
41. My favorite song right now (Conversation 16 by The National) is pretty depressing. I’m not sure what that means, if anything.
42. I like individual sports better than team sports. I hate teams. I can be uncoordinated on my own, thankyouverymuch.
43. Tennis is my favorite.
44. I like running, I’m just never convinced I can actually keep running without dying, so I can’t run that long without a break.
45. I’ve got a bookcase with books I haven’t read yet. Some of them probably won’t ever get read.
46. (5 left!) I really really really really really want a DSLR camera but can’t afford one.
47. After this, I’m going to bed.
48. I used to work at a psych hospital.
49. I LOVED working there. It was really inspiring, helping kids get things back on track.
50. I wish I could work at a psych hospital around here part time but the closest one is at least 45 minutes away. Le sigh.
1. I am a graduate student. I’m in the Sociology department at a school in Georgia.
2. I’m in my 2nd year.
3. I focus on crime, family, and variables that influence those. (How broad!)
4. I’m reluctant to talk about my work because I’m so much more comfortable regurgitating information I’ve learned in the last year and a half.
5. This is a change from when I was an undergrad and designing and running my own experiment was easy and something I was confident about.
6. I’m not sure why the change happened but now I’m much more comfortable learning.
7. Which leads to…. I fear that I won’t cut it in the field because I don’t have many strong convictions and don’t have much to offer. (Oh, insecurities, I wear you like my oldest, most snug pair of jeans. Sigh.)
8. In other news, I’m from Nebraska and this is my first time “away from home” so to speak.
9. I went to college about 45 minutes from home.
10. The (biggest) reason I agreed to go to school so close to home was because of the concession my parents made: Go to undergrad here and you can go wherever you want for your grad coursework.
11. I keep trying to figure out the best way to segue out of school related stuff… I sneeze often.
12. Often in this sense doesn’t mean many times a day, just many times a sneezing fit. We’re talking 7 or 8 each time I sneeze, on average.
13. I’ve been sneezing this much since I was in 10th grade, at least. That’s as early as I can remember people laughing at/with me for sneezing a lot. Back in Algebra II with Mr. Wisdom.
14. I used to think that friendships were doomed after 4 years.
15. I just sneezed 7 times in a row.
16. I had a series of friends (Jenn and Lauren, Jenna, Jorge) and for most of them, the friendship significantly changed after the 4 year mark. With Jorge it took longer. With Liesal it hasn’t changed. With Chase, I don’t think I ever considered him my best friend.
17. There are some girls from high school I’m friends with on facebook but wasn’t good friends with in high school. I’d like to talk more to them, congratulate them on things; have a friendship with them, but I hesitate because I think that they’ll think of me like I was still high-school-Jessica.
18. Sometimes friendships need to end. Sometimes they don’t. It all comes out in the wash.
19. I make a lot of to-do lists. But with a twist. I often make calendars during class. On the left side of a page in my notebook I’ll make the actual calendar and use the right side to write out dates and events. Yeah, this habit gets me made fun of.
20. Chase and I don’t go to bed (or sleep) at the same time. Chase “puts me to bed” around 12 most nights and then stays up til about 3. I get up around 8 most mornings, he gets up around noon. It works for us (right now).
21. I’m a chapstick addict. I probably have 5 different tubes right now. One in my purse, one in my backpack, one in a pair of jeans, one on my desk, one on my dresser. All Chapstick brand Vanilla Mint.
22. Dude. I can’t believe I’m only on 22. I don’t like biting into apples. I won’t eat it if it’s not sliced up. I think it’s because my front teeth are sensitive.
23. I’m pretty poor these days. Chase and I are both full-time students without jobs. Eek.
24. I enjoy hiking.
25. I wish I went camping (the real kind) more often. I’ve only gone once and it wasn’t really what I’d consider camping. Well… maybe Nebraska camping, but that was lame.
26. I want to whitewater raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon sometime before I die. It’s only about $2,000 per person for the trip. Reservations generally need to be made 9-12 months in advance, I think.
27. I’m only going to 50 this time. I’ll save the other 50 for another time. I can’t do 100 at once. That’s a lot!
28. Next semester I really want to take a class with my friends but think the class I’m going to take instead (they’re scheduled for the same time) will be more useful. I’m SO TEMPTED to say fuck it and take the fun class instead. Gah.
29. I’m going to Disney next weekend. All I can reeealllly think about is how I’ll probably spend more money than I can afford to.
30. OH, AND MY SISTER WILL BE HERE AND GO TO DISNEY WITH ME. That’s worth noting too.
31. I have a gym membership but only go a few times a month. I wish it was closer. I HATE that I have to drive 15 minutes to get there.
32. In July, Chase and I are moving closer to said gym. It’s also closer to a grocery store, friends, etc.
33. Today I let Chase convince me to buy some donuts and I ate 2.5 of them.
34. I’m trying to give up Dr. Pepper but I’m failing badly.
35. I didn’t buy any at the store today in an attempt to quit but I’ll probably start buying them daily until I give in and buy another case.
36. It’s not even the taste that I crave, it’s the mental crutch. I feel like I’m being rewarded every time I drink them.
37. The best concert I’ve ever been to was Papa Roach. How… sad?
38. There’s only one boy/man I’ve had a crush on since moving to Georgia. He reminded me of a more professional, better looking, taller Twofer from 30 Rock.
39. Chase and I have been dating for 3-4 years and I still get sad when it’s been awhile since I’ve had a crush on someone. Eh. Dating one person doesn’t mean I still can’t think other boys are pretty. As long as that’s all that happens: looking.
40. My office is on the 4th floor of a building without an elevator. My knees hurt by the end of the trek upstairs. I’m not sure what that means.
41. My favorite song right now (Conversation 16 by The National) is pretty depressing. I’m not sure what that means, if anything.
42. I like individual sports better than team sports. I hate teams. I can be uncoordinated on my own, thankyouverymuch.
43. Tennis is my favorite.
44. I like running, I’m just never convinced I can actually keep running without dying, so I can’t run that long without a break.
45. I’ve got a bookcase with books I haven’t read yet. Some of them probably won’t ever get read.
46. (5 left!) I really really really really really want a DSLR camera but can’t afford one.
47. After this, I’m going to bed.
48. I used to work at a psych hospital.
49. I LOVED working there. It was really inspiring, helping kids get things back on track.
50. I wish I could work at a psych hospital around here part time but the closest one is at least 45 minutes away. Le sigh.
What I Do Best
Picture Entry!
Chase's mom and sister visiting:
A tree that's had the kudzu cut away from it (in the run-down cemetary nearby.
Linny, hanging out next to me on the couch
FALL! This week's been color-awesome.
I'm having a hard time motivating myself to work on my thesis. (I'm a broken record.) I'm good at my classes and good at things that have a clear, concrete deadline but I'm bad at abstract jobs. I've got a 20 minute presentation next Wednesday that will be based on my review of 15 or so articles and I've read about 4 of the articles. There was a point where I was EXCITED! about the class but my excitement's boiled down. I'm over it. Next! (This is problematic.)
Solution: break things up into little goals. Hold self accountable to those goals. Go!
(Side note: That 20 page paper I had to write a few weeks ago? I did well on! I got a B+ (basically). I think little by little I'm getting better at working on things before they reach that critical must-do-now point but I've still got a long way to go.)
Next entry: friends
Chase's mom and sister visiting:
A tree that's had the kudzu cut away from it (in the run-down cemetary nearby.
Linny, hanging out next to me on the couch
FALL! This week's been color-awesome.
I'm having a hard time motivating myself to work on my thesis. (I'm a broken record.) I'm good at my classes and good at things that have a clear, concrete deadline but I'm bad at abstract jobs. I've got a 20 minute presentation next Wednesday that will be based on my review of 15 or so articles and I've read about 4 of the articles. There was a point where I was EXCITED! about the class but my excitement's boiled down. I'm over it. Next! (This is problematic.)
Solution: break things up into little goals. Hold self accountable to those goals. Go!
(Side note: That 20 page paper I had to write a few weeks ago? I did well on! I got a B+ (basically). I think little by little I'm getting better at working on things before they reach that critical must-do-now point but I've still got a long way to go.)
Next entry: friends
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Lately
It's probably bad form to only blog once a week but eh, it's my form. I've been pretty busy lately. I had visitors last week, 20 pages to write on top of classes, and this week rebelled and read a book I bought at ASA this fall (a non-sociological book, mind you): Three Cups of Tea.
It's about a mountaineer who got lost after climbing K2 (and becoming quite exhausted after having to help save a co-climber instead of sleeping for a few days) and happened to end up in an impoverished village in Pakistan. He saw the crappy conditions they lived in and the generosity they had for this stranger and vowed to make a difference in their lives. He flew home to America, saved money for a year, and then made his way back to Pakistan to build them a school. More than ten years and 30 schools later, he'd made a career of helping develop schools for students in Pakistan. (He later moved on to building schools in Afghanistan too.) YOU SHOULD READ IT!
After such a school-centered week it's been nice to relax and read for leisure, something I don't often get to do. I've got to get back into the swing of things this week and I'm not sure how well that's going to go. I feel like I have a few big things to do for the rest of the semester but overall it's a lot of little stuff. I need to keep working on my thesis too.
Also, Daylight Savings Time has made me a sleepy lass. It's 10:37 and I'm thinking about bedtime... Hmmm.
It's about a mountaineer who got lost after climbing K2 (and becoming quite exhausted after having to help save a co-climber instead of sleeping for a few days) and happened to end up in an impoverished village in Pakistan. He saw the crappy conditions they lived in and the generosity they had for this stranger and vowed to make a difference in their lives. He flew home to America, saved money for a year, and then made his way back to Pakistan to build them a school. More than ten years and 30 schools later, he'd made a career of helping develop schools for students in Pakistan. (He later moved on to building schools in Afghanistan too.) YOU SHOULD READ IT!
After such a school-centered week it's been nice to relax and read for leisure, something I don't often get to do. I've got to get back into the swing of things this week and I'm not sure how well that's going to go. I feel like I have a few big things to do for the rest of the semester but overall it's a lot of little stuff. I need to keep working on my thesis too.
Also, Daylight Savings Time has made me a sleepy lass. It's 10:37 and I'm thinking about bedtime... Hmmm.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)