What better place to complain than my own blog?!
Chase and I had guests this week (his mom and sister) and they were here Thursday and Friday. We had TONS OF FUN and I'm realllllly not ready to buckle down and do my homework. I just want to hang out and play. Which is something I can't really afford to do right now. I planned on getting something like 6 pages written yesterday and only added about 2 sentences (and revised my intro). I'll get it done, don't get me wrong, but I know it could be done a lot easier if I didn't fight it, if I just sat down and wrote.
I've been reading articles about time management lately. All of them suggest limiting your access to distractions (like the web), using a timer of some sort, and taking breaks often. I tried using a timer a few days ago, it helped. I can't really muster up the resolve to use it right now. I've kind of got a headache, I don't want to write, I feel like I deserve a break.
(Insert paragraph I just wrote and deleted about not having enough free time and being asked to focus/read too much.)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Currently
In other news, this is what I'm into:
Current Reads: Uhhh. Today involves an article on epigenetic systems and Organizations Evolving by Howard Aldrich. Snooooze. It's mostly snooze-worthy because I have to read it, not because of its topic. I don't do well with assigned readings, I don't like taking orders from others.
Current Albums: I alternate between High Violet by The National and Ratatat's latest: LP4. Ratatat is really useful to listen to while reading, it's mostly instrumental electronic music... basically the backtrack to rock songs, without any lyrics. It sucks me in and acts like a soundtrack to my Oh-So-Exciting homework.
Current Films: The last good movie I watched was Hot Tub Time Machine and before that... I'm not really sure. I know we saw Inception and thought it was JAWESOME but other than that, nothing really comes to mind. We haven't been out to a lot of movies lately, we've been poor.
Current Guilty Pleasures: Brownies, Dr. Pepper, Potatoes after 8pm
Current Colors: Autumn tones: burnt orange, mustard yellow, fiery red. Yum.
Current Link: This!
Current Fetish: Dr. Pepper. Lame? Yes. True? Yes.
Current Drink: DR. PEPPER!!
Current Songs: Conversation 16 by The National
I think the kids are in trouble
Do not know what all the troubles are for
Give them ice for their fevers
You're the only thing I ever want anymore
Live on coffee and flowers
Try not to worry what the weather will be
I figured out what we're missing
I tell you miserable things after you are asleep
Current Outfit: My too-big Community Olympics shirt from last summer with baggy shorts. It's Sunday, I haven't showered yet.
Current Fragrance: B.O.?
Current Blog: Eh. I don't wanna say.
Current Wish List: Money! More time to watch tv without feeling like I should be doing my homework. To lose 10 pounds. To find the motivation to go to the gym consistently. A fridge full of fruits and veggies (and meat).
Current Triumph: I was nice to Chase on his birthday even though Nebraska played horribly and really pissed me off.
Current Bane of my Existence: Bills, school.
Current Celebrity Crush: Um, hello. Sam Jaeger as Joel Graham on Parenthood.
Current Indulgence: Dr. Pepper, two episodes of Say Yes to the Dress this morning, sleeping in til noon.
Current Excitement: None. I have homework to look forward to all day.
Current Mood: Tired, but positive. It'd be a good day to curl up with Us Weekly or People and just zone out.
Current Reads: Uhhh. Today involves an article on epigenetic systems and Organizations Evolving by Howard Aldrich. Snooooze. It's mostly snooze-worthy because I have to read it, not because of its topic. I don't do well with assigned readings, I don't like taking orders from others.
Current Albums: I alternate between High Violet by The National and Ratatat's latest: LP4. Ratatat is really useful to listen to while reading, it's mostly instrumental electronic music... basically the backtrack to rock songs, without any lyrics. It sucks me in and acts like a soundtrack to my Oh-So-Exciting homework.
Current Films: The last good movie I watched was Hot Tub Time Machine and before that... I'm not really sure. I know we saw Inception and thought it was JAWESOME but other than that, nothing really comes to mind. We haven't been out to a lot of movies lately, we've been poor.
Current Guilty Pleasures: Brownies, Dr. Pepper, Potatoes after 8pm
Current Colors: Autumn tones: burnt orange, mustard yellow, fiery red. Yum.
Current Link: This!
Current Fetish: Dr. Pepper. Lame? Yes. True? Yes.
Current Drink: DR. PEPPER!!
Current Songs: Conversation 16 by The National
I think the kids are in trouble
Do not know what all the troubles are for
Give them ice for their fevers
You're the only thing I ever want anymore
Live on coffee and flowers
Try not to worry what the weather will be
I figured out what we're missing
I tell you miserable things after you are asleep
Current Outfit: My too-big Community Olympics shirt from last summer with baggy shorts. It's Sunday, I haven't showered yet.
Current Fragrance: B.O.?
Current Blog: Eh. I don't wanna say.
Current Wish List: Money! More time to watch tv without feeling like I should be doing my homework. To lose 10 pounds. To find the motivation to go to the gym consistently. A fridge full of fruits and veggies (and meat).
Current Triumph: I was nice to Chase on his birthday even though Nebraska played horribly and really pissed me off.
Current Bane of my Existence: Bills, school.
Current Celebrity Crush: Um, hello. Sam Jaeger as Joel Graham on Parenthood.
Current Indulgence: Dr. Pepper, two episodes of Say Yes to the Dress this morning, sleeping in til noon.
Current Excitement: None. I have homework to look forward to all day.
Current Mood: Tired, but positive. It'd be a good day to curl up with Us Weekly or People and just zone out.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Chase: Wonder Student
I don't have much to say about this (on my blog, in person's another story) but it's MOMENTOUS! so I'm writing about it.
Pictures = interactivity!
I forgot to get a picture of him BEFORE he went to school on his first day, so I had to settle for after school pictures. (These are after his first day of class, on 9/27/10. It was rainy out.)
Here he is walking in the door.
Linny says "Hi Dad!" (Note all that Chase took to school... we've since bought him a bag.)
He looks like he's going to serenade me. :)
Obligatory front-on shot.
A few days later I came home to find him on the couch, STUDYING!
Ah!
Linny did not appreciate the flash photography. :)
He was studying again when I came home yesterday and this brings me to two exciting points:
-Yaye for Chase and focusing!
-Yaye for him finally knowing how I feel when I'm trying to study and he's playing games. HA.
I like that I've gotten to write this. I'm SO PROUD of him for taking the steps necessary to get back into school. Yaye Chase!
Pictures = interactivity!
I forgot to get a picture of him BEFORE he went to school on his first day, so I had to settle for after school pictures. (These are after his first day of class, on 9/27/10. It was rainy out.)
Here he is walking in the door.
Linny says "Hi Dad!" (Note all that Chase took to school... we've since bought him a bag.)
He looks like he's going to serenade me. :)
Obligatory front-on shot.
A few days later I came home to find him on the couch, STUDYING!
Ah!
Linny did not appreciate the flash photography. :)
He was studying again when I came home yesterday and this brings me to two exciting points:
-Yaye for Chase and focusing!
-Yaye for him finally knowing how I feel when I'm trying to study and he's playing games. HA.
I like that I've gotten to write this. I'm SO PROUD of him for taking the steps necessary to get back into school. Yaye Chase!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Ramble
I went to the gym tonight. It's the first time I've gone in who knows how long. I've still been active, walking Linny, going on (2) bike rides... doing stuff. But I know that for me nothing compares to the gym. It's the only place I feel willing to push myself; to do the squats and the lunges and the planks. I could do them at home if I had will power, but home's for lounging, not lunging.
Anywho, I spent 35 minutes on the stationary bike reading an article (hell yeah for being productive) and then spent about 15 minutes on the other stuff (the lunging, squatting, and planking). I've been trying to eat healthier for the last oh, 5 or 6 months but I can't hold myself to it. Or I'll eat one piece of crap but then eat healthy at the next meal, telling myself that at least now I'm eating right. In the past I've had success with the food stuff after committing to good intense workouts so I'm gonna try that again. Here goes nothing.
I didn't post last week because I had too many excuses. :) I had a bit of a cold (the congestion) and was really tired. I got my homework done, watched my tv shows, and played online but other than that I was pretty lazy. Except for Monday and Tuesday night. On Monday, Ashley and I went on a walk (I proposed the walk) and a few minutes after we started walking it started pouring so we (and Linny and Ashley's two dogs) spent the next hour walking through some passing showers. It was chilly. On Tuesday, Ashley and I spent the evening at a local marching band exhibition. Some friends from Nebraska had written things about Harvest of Harmony on Facebook and it made me nostalgic for the band atmosphere, which is funny considering I was never in band. All of my friends were band nerds but I wasn't. The bands that performed were pretty amusing and one of the high schools even did a tribute to Queen that thoroughly impressed me. The night ended with a performance from the UGA marching band. Their band was about 4 times as big as any of the other bands and the sound really reflected it. It was really cool to hear such a big sound after I'd gotten used to what a "big sound" sounded like from the high schoolers.
Saturday I spent the day with a few other Sociology students at the Women and Girls in Georgia conference on campus. There were some interesting presentations on qualitative studies of women in Georgia, some theoretical cases made for why we should focus on women and girls, and a panel presentation featuring some women in important positions in Georgia. The panel was most entertaining. There were 5 panelists including two state senators, a house representative, and two (I'm assuming non-profit) executives of organizations directly related to politics/policy. They told of their decision to get involved in politics and the challenges they've faced. It was really inspiring. Personally I never plan to run for public office but I'm not shutting myself off to it. I want to make a difference in the world (aww, corny) and I don't know what my vehicle for change is going to be. All in due time. Regardless of my personal convictions, they really highlighted the roadblocks women and family-oriented persons are up against. After that was a short documentary about a woman who fought against workplace discrimination in the 70's (she fought for her right to do a "man's job"). She's around 75 now and it was really funny and touching to hear her vim and vigor over an issue we take for granted. It was a good conference, especially considering the price and location (free and at home) and I was worn out my the time it was over. So that night Chase and I stayed home and watched a movie.
Yesterday felt like Saturday and I slept in and then spent the day reading. And here we are... Monday. I'm trying to be more productive than I was last week. I've set a goal for myself... every day this week I want to work on school stuff for 8 hours. If I had taken my lunch to school today I'd probably already be done, but as it is I've got 1 hour and 15 minutes left. Anddddd.... I should go read.
(Oh, and Chase started school last week. I've got a few pictures of his first week and want to post an entry with that stuff in it. :) And I've taken a few pictures of Fall around here but I'll save those for when they're a bit more dramatic... it's still pretty leafy and green here.)
Hope all's well with you.
Anywho, I spent 35 minutes on the stationary bike reading an article (hell yeah for being productive) and then spent about 15 minutes on the other stuff (the lunging, squatting, and planking). I've been trying to eat healthier for the last oh, 5 or 6 months but I can't hold myself to it. Or I'll eat one piece of crap but then eat healthy at the next meal, telling myself that at least now I'm eating right. In the past I've had success with the food stuff after committing to good intense workouts so I'm gonna try that again. Here goes nothing.
I didn't post last week because I had too many excuses. :) I had a bit of a cold (the congestion) and was really tired. I got my homework done, watched my tv shows, and played online but other than that I was pretty lazy. Except for Monday and Tuesday night. On Monday, Ashley and I went on a walk (I proposed the walk) and a few minutes after we started walking it started pouring so we (and Linny and Ashley's two dogs) spent the next hour walking through some passing showers. It was chilly. On Tuesday, Ashley and I spent the evening at a local marching band exhibition. Some friends from Nebraska had written things about Harvest of Harmony on Facebook and it made me nostalgic for the band atmosphere, which is funny considering I was never in band. All of my friends were band nerds but I wasn't. The bands that performed were pretty amusing and one of the high schools even did a tribute to Queen that thoroughly impressed me. The night ended with a performance from the UGA marching band. Their band was about 4 times as big as any of the other bands and the sound really reflected it. It was really cool to hear such a big sound after I'd gotten used to what a "big sound" sounded like from the high schoolers.
Saturday I spent the day with a few other Sociology students at the Women and Girls in Georgia conference on campus. There were some interesting presentations on qualitative studies of women in Georgia, some theoretical cases made for why we should focus on women and girls, and a panel presentation featuring some women in important positions in Georgia. The panel was most entertaining. There were 5 panelists including two state senators, a house representative, and two (I'm assuming non-profit) executives of organizations directly related to politics/policy. They told of their decision to get involved in politics and the challenges they've faced. It was really inspiring. Personally I never plan to run for public office but I'm not shutting myself off to it. I want to make a difference in the world (aww, corny) and I don't know what my vehicle for change is going to be. All in due time. Regardless of my personal convictions, they really highlighted the roadblocks women and family-oriented persons are up against. After that was a short documentary about a woman who fought against workplace discrimination in the 70's (she fought for her right to do a "man's job"). She's around 75 now and it was really funny and touching to hear her vim and vigor over an issue we take for granted. It was a good conference, especially considering the price and location (free and at home) and I was worn out my the time it was over. So that night Chase and I stayed home and watched a movie.
Yesterday felt like Saturday and I slept in and then spent the day reading. And here we are... Monday. I'm trying to be more productive than I was last week. I've set a goal for myself... every day this week I want to work on school stuff for 8 hours. If I had taken my lunch to school today I'd probably already be done, but as it is I've got 1 hour and 15 minutes left. Anddddd.... I should go read.
(Oh, and Chase started school last week. I've got a few pictures of his first week and want to post an entry with that stuff in it. :) And I've taken a few pictures of Fall around here but I'll save those for when they're a bit more dramatic... it's still pretty leafy and green here.)
Hope all's well with you.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Fall is Here!
Sometimes I'm a broken record. Get over it.
Old desktop background:
New, Fall-o-rific desktop background:
(P.S. All of my backgrounds are pictures I've taken. So the ones above? I shot.)
I long to go take photos of leaves changing colors, wear sweaters and drink apple cider (which I do once and then realize it's only good for the first half of the first cup), and drive around in the country, (sans miles and miles of corn).
I'm really jonesing for the last one but I can't scratch the itch. There's no close country to drive around in. No gravel (that I can find). There aren't fields and intersections that have had corn growing at them all summer. The smell's different. The crispness of fall hasn't settled in. I'm anxious. I just want to revel in it, but it's not here yet.
Bits of it are here, but not enough. The temps have broken. Instead of 90 something, this week's supposed to be 70 something. I got cold this evening! Cold! Who knew!?! And tomorrow I'm breaking out a sweater for the first time since what feels like forever.
Tomorrow I'll be wearing this outfit:
Be jealous.
And send the rest of fall soon, I can't wait.
(P.P.S. Here's Linny and Cisco yesterday! We were parking-lot-watching.)
Old desktop background:
New, Fall-o-rific desktop background:
(P.S. All of my backgrounds are pictures I've taken. So the ones above? I shot.)
I long to go take photos of leaves changing colors, wear sweaters and drink apple cider (which I do once and then realize it's only good for the first half of the first cup), and drive around in the country, (sans miles and miles of corn).
I'm really jonesing for the last one but I can't scratch the itch. There's no close country to drive around in. No gravel (that I can find). There aren't fields and intersections that have had corn growing at them all summer. The smell's different. The crispness of fall hasn't settled in. I'm anxious. I just want to revel in it, but it's not here yet.
Bits of it are here, but not enough. The temps have broken. Instead of 90 something, this week's supposed to be 70 something. I got cold this evening! Cold! Who knew!?! And tomorrow I'm breaking out a sweater for the first time since what feels like forever.
Tomorrow I'll be wearing this outfit:
Be jealous.
And send the rest of fall soon, I can't wait.
(P.P.S. Here's Linny and Cisco yesterday! We were parking-lot-watching.)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Happy Saturday
Today involved:
the couch
me laying
a trip to Target and then Kroger
a trip to the dog park
much football
encouragement for Alabama and then Arkansas and then sadness when Alabama won
zero homework
listening to the Huskers via internet radio
and some internet browsing
I'm gearing myself up for a big day of homework tomorrow and have been "preparing" by doing nothing. It's been nice but I can't help but feel guilty for not working. And I'm fighting a cold. And I want to whine but am trying to keep it to myself. Oh, and what's the deal with the Huskers? Why are they playing so poorly??
In other news, I saw this and this while browsing online and it made me giggle. Check em out!! :D Happy weekend y'all!
the couch
me laying
a trip to Target and then Kroger
a trip to the dog park
much football
encouragement for Alabama and then Arkansas and then sadness when Alabama won
zero homework
listening to the Huskers via internet radio
and some internet browsing
I'm gearing myself up for a big day of homework tomorrow and have been "preparing" by doing nothing. It's been nice but I can't help but feel guilty for not working. And I'm fighting a cold. And I want to whine but am trying to keep it to myself. Oh, and what's the deal with the Huskers? Why are they playing so poorly??
In other news, I saw this and this while browsing online and it made me giggle. Check em out!! :D Happy weekend y'all!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
It's HOT
It's hot down here. It's the middle of September and I'm boycotting this 90 degree weather; I wore jeans and a longer sleeved shirt to school today. I spend most of the day in the same building so the only time I feel unbearable heat is on the ride home from school, and as soon as I get home, I often change. I dream of sweaters and hoodies, chilly noses and my breath in the air, fallen leaves and gray mornings. But until then, I'll just continue fighting the heat with hoodies in the evening and jeans at school.
Here's what I've spent the last hour and a half working on. (Disclaimer, the highs for each day don't reflect the coolest times of the day, BUT STILL, we don't generally say "It was 99 degrees out today, though it was only 73 when I woke up." We only remember the 99. Oh, and humidity isn't factored into this at all.)
These are the monthly averages for June-September this year. I'm comparing Athens, where I live now, to Kearney, where I lived from 2003-2009.
This shows the number of days each month with temperatures under 90 degrees. This one is the reason I did all this. It's been HELLA HOT for as long as I can remember. Hell, it was MAY the last time the high for the day was under 84.
Look at this. In July in Athens, there were 26 days where the temp was at least 90 degrees! (September shows the same but here there have only been 16 days with temps over 90. Only 16.)
This gets at the point above, about how it's been FOREVER since it's been cool.
And finally, something more traditional, though this doesn't really show the range or average temp.
Chase: What? Are you a meteorologist now?
Me: No, I'm a statistician.
Here's what I've spent the last hour and a half working on. (Disclaimer, the highs for each day don't reflect the coolest times of the day, BUT STILL, we don't generally say "It was 99 degrees out today, though it was only 73 when I woke up." We only remember the 99. Oh, and humidity isn't factored into this at all.)
These are the monthly averages for June-September this year. I'm comparing Athens, where I live now, to Kearney, where I lived from 2003-2009.
This shows the number of days each month with temperatures under 90 degrees. This one is the reason I did all this. It's been HELLA HOT for as long as I can remember. Hell, it was MAY the last time the high for the day was under 84.
Look at this. In July in Athens, there were 26 days where the temp was at least 90 degrees! (September shows the same but here there have only been 16 days with temps over 90. Only 16.)
This gets at the point above, about how it's been FOREVER since it's been cool.
And finally, something more traditional, though this doesn't really show the range or average temp.
Chase: What? Are you a meteorologist now?
Me: No, I'm a statistician.
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