Oops
I've been so good lately about posting, and now I've waited 10 days again. Two weekends ago was a family reunion back home. It was a fun time, but very hot - 102 degrees. There was some shade to be had, but ich. Still, it was good to see people and meet some I didn't know. Before we headed over there, my cousin Jill and I went swimming for a few hours. She is 7 mo. pregnant, and the water feels nice, less weight on the body. I'll be headed back that way in two weeks for her baby shower.
This past week was my first week of actual work. There is a lot to learn, and I feel I'm not learning it quickly enough. I have a LOT of training to do...at least 40 - 50 hours, and that's without retention time added in. With that, and out of house trainings, and meetings, and etc. I'd say I have another month or so of hard learning. Still, it feels good to be challenged, and my supervisor is really understanding about it all. Monday of last week I met some people at Blarney's pub for 6 dollar pitchers, pool, darts, and karaoke. Katie and I rocked the house with "I Will Survive" and gave "Shoop" our best effort. It was cool to go celebrate, even if it was a weeknight :)
This weekend was uber busy as well. Friday night I went to a house party, Saturday I volunteered at the Raptor Center, which may become a semi-normal thing, the went shopping with Katie for pretties, and then went out dancing. I only made it til 1:15 out though, too hot and tired. Then yesterday I went outdoor climbing, climbed three routes all the way to the top (I've not been outdoor climbing in ages and ages!) , and bruised my toes really really badly. They are black and blue under my toe nails. Ouch. After that I came back here, had dinner out, and went for a walk. Poof! Weekend gone.
Now it's back to the grindstone. All weekend I was like, "shit! Have I done my homework? What am I forgetting??!" It's going to take a while to get used to the ole 9-5. Or, in my case either 7-4 or more likely 7:30 to 4:30...
Monday, July 24, 2006
Friday, July 14, 2006
Girls Night
Last night was girls night. Katie and I prepared dinner for Jenny, Erin, Karin, Cheyenne, ourselves and my roommate. Great food was eaten, wine was had, ice cream was had, and gossip was had. It was a great time. We'll definately have to do more of those.
Today was damned hot and it's only supposed to be warmer on the weekend. So happy I'll not be here. Speaking of, I should go pack...
Last night was girls night. Katie and I prepared dinner for Jenny, Erin, Karin, Cheyenne, ourselves and my roommate. Great food was eaten, wine was had, ice cream was had, and gossip was had. It was a great time. We'll definately have to do more of those.
Today was damned hot and it's only supposed to be warmer on the weekend. So happy I'll not be here. Speaking of, I should go pack...
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Note to Self:
Self's body dislikes immensly the high fructose corn syrup.
I talked to a nutritionist at the end of the school year about eating healthy, etc. I mentioned my tummy ailments, and she mentioned that fructose can cause such things. Mostly when one is working out, if one has it, one gets tummy cramps. But for some people, like me, larger amounts of it when I'm not working out cause tummy cramps at night.
Why was this an issue last night? Because I was drinking Red Bull/vodkas. Red Bull has EXTREMELY high amounts of the fructose. I had almost two full cans of Red Bull, rather right before bedtime. So bedtime went from12AM to 1AM to 3AM to...I tried to sleep, got up and journaled. Tryed to sleep again, got up and got Maalox and a glass of water. Tried to sleep again, got up and moved to the couch where I slept fitfully for 4 hours or so. I felt better after 7 AM when I got up to use the bathroom and drink yet more water. Slept until 10 but then got up because, seriously, it's getting too hot in my room by then to be in the bed. It's damned hot in the Twin Cities this week, and will be nigh on 100 F by the end of th week. YUCK.
I'm heading to DC for a family reunion this weekend. It will reach 90 there, but should be nice lakeside. Hopefully I'll get to play in the lake this weekend. Swimming, sunbathing, cooler air; all would be nice . Still, 90 is better than 100 and where I'll be staying has A/C. Much happieness. Here there is only bags of frozen veggies, shopping, and the library to keep cool.
I think I'll go see if laying in the hammock is any cooler than moving about the house.
Self's body dislikes immensly the high fructose corn syrup.
I talked to a nutritionist at the end of the school year about eating healthy, etc. I mentioned my tummy ailments, and she mentioned that fructose can cause such things. Mostly when one is working out, if one has it, one gets tummy cramps. But for some people, like me, larger amounts of it when I'm not working out cause tummy cramps at night.
Why was this an issue last night? Because I was drinking Red Bull/vodkas. Red Bull has EXTREMELY high amounts of the fructose. I had almost two full cans of Red Bull, rather right before bedtime. So bedtime went from12AM to 1AM to 3AM to...I tried to sleep, got up and journaled. Tryed to sleep again, got up and got Maalox and a glass of water. Tried to sleep again, got up and moved to the couch where I slept fitfully for 4 hours or so. I felt better after 7 AM when I got up to use the bathroom and drink yet more water. Slept until 10 but then got up because, seriously, it's getting too hot in my room by then to be in the bed. It's damned hot in the Twin Cities this week, and will be nigh on 100 F by the end of th week. YUCK.
I'm heading to DC for a family reunion this weekend. It will reach 90 there, but should be nice lakeside. Hopefully I'll get to play in the lake this weekend. Swimming, sunbathing, cooler air; all would be nice . Still, 90 is better than 100 and where I'll be staying has A/C. Much happieness. Here there is only bags of frozen veggies, shopping, and the library to keep cool.
I think I'll go see if laying in the hammock is any cooler than moving about the house.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
WHEEEEEEE!
I am ecstatic, exuberent even! I have finished Draft Two of the Thesis. It took me longer than I had anticipated, but I added 10 pages of typing, and went from 17 to 35 pages. (I know the math doesn't work out, but I added a lot of formatting too, and more appendices). My corner of the room is hot, and humid, and I don't want to sit at this computer anymore for a while. I'm going to go get cleaned up at treat myself to lunch w/ a friend. I rock! I'm awesome! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!
I am ecstatic, exuberent even! I have finished Draft Two of the Thesis. It took me longer than I had anticipated, but I added 10 pages of typing, and went from 17 to 35 pages. (I know the math doesn't work out, but I added a lot of formatting too, and more appendices). My corner of the room is hot, and humid, and I don't want to sit at this computer anymore for a while. I'm going to go get cleaned up at treat myself to lunch w/ a friend. I rock! I'm awesome! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Naughty, Naughty Self!
I'm a very naughty self. Here I am blogging when I said I would work on my Thesis. I have finished editing the first half, and added 3 more pages of type. The next part will be the hardest. I have the methods, results, and conclusions to finish. That part was only four pages in my first draft (the first part being 6, this of straight type, ignoring figures and tables). I added three pages to the first part and really should add 6 to the section I'm working on now. I want it to be a good 30 pages when I'm done. It has to be. (Yes, 9 + 10 does not equal 30. I'm saying 30 with the figures and tables and pictures and etc.) Writing this is so hard though, I learned to write in 'engineering school', where concise was good. Say what you have to say and be done with it. Let your figures, your bullet points, and you tables talk for you. Explain what they mean, don't restate what they are, etc. There is red all over my paper. Apparently in Public Health, a more flowy, less scientific voice is appreciated. Oh, still sound learned just do it in a friendly manner. Poo. I need more tea, that is the ticket. That is more classical music.
On a happier note, I have perservered and have triumphed over the leviathan that is the campus health service. All I asked was that they send a fax to my new place of employment stating that I may wear a respirator even though I have very mild asthma. Not hard, they could have hand written it on the note I give them and faxed it back. Takes 3 minutes tops. Or it takes 3 minutes for those of us regular type people. If we are from the health service it takes 2 weeks, 3 administrative assistants, all of the nurses, one doctor, one dictation expert, and 17 phone calls. Still, I finally got them to send the letter off to my employer's human resources division. Whee! I am proud of me.
Today so far I have accomplished the above defeat of the leviathan, the first have of my thesis, the dishes, a 2-3 mile run, sit-ups and stretches, getting clean again (hot out), and lunch. I guess I'm not a very naughty self after all. Still, I should stop stalling.
I'm a very naughty self. Here I am blogging when I said I would work on my Thesis. I have finished editing the first half, and added 3 more pages of type. The next part will be the hardest. I have the methods, results, and conclusions to finish. That part was only four pages in my first draft (the first part being 6, this of straight type, ignoring figures and tables). I added three pages to the first part and really should add 6 to the section I'm working on now. I want it to be a good 30 pages when I'm done. It has to be. (Yes, 9 + 10 does not equal 30. I'm saying 30 with the figures and tables and pictures and etc.) Writing this is so hard though, I learned to write in 'engineering school', where concise was good. Say what you have to say and be done with it. Let your figures, your bullet points, and you tables talk for you. Explain what they mean, don't restate what they are, etc. There is red all over my paper. Apparently in Public Health, a more flowy, less scientific voice is appreciated. Oh, still sound learned just do it in a friendly manner. Poo. I need more tea, that is the ticket. That is more classical music.
On a happier note, I have perservered and have triumphed over the leviathan that is the campus health service. All I asked was that they send a fax to my new place of employment stating that I may wear a respirator even though I have very mild asthma. Not hard, they could have hand written it on the note I give them and faxed it back. Takes 3 minutes tops. Or it takes 3 minutes for those of us regular type people. If we are from the health service it takes 2 weeks, 3 administrative assistants, all of the nurses, one doctor, one dictation expert, and 17 phone calls. Still, I finally got them to send the letter off to my employer's human resources division. Whee! I am proud of me.
Today so far I have accomplished the above defeat of the leviathan, the first have of my thesis, the dishes, a 2-3 mile run, sit-ups and stretches, getting clean again (hot out), and lunch. I guess I'm not a very naughty self after all. Still, I should stop stalling.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Fourth of July
The week before the Fourth and the Fourth weekend were great! Rachel was visiting from her new home in Ithaca and we had much fun. We went to see Body Worlds at the Science Museum Thursday. I highly, highly recommend it to everyone, even very littles. Great exhibit. We played Mini-put in the "Big Back Yard" there too. The theme was source to sink, talking about waterways and pollution, etc. Rachel had an interesting habit of launching her ball from Source to next mini put hole...I'm not sure water can do that, but it made for an interesting 9 holes :) Thursday evening we went climbing...first time in about 6 months for me, and I was SORE afterwards. Then after that we went dancing.
It was so very hot on Friday that we ended up mostly relaxing, watching "The Muppet Show" episodes, and putting frozen bags of vegetables on our heads. I had been at the Raptor Center all morning, after only getting 3 hours of sleep, and I think the combo of the heat there and the activities of the day before wiped me out, hence the staying home. My tummy was not a happy camper.
Saturday Karin, Rachel and I went to DC for the Fourth weekend, but didn't get going quite as planned. As Karin states, it's the bee that stung her in the AM's fault. The extremely summed up version of the story is that Rachel's car was towed because we couldn't remember the date, and her mom had to rescue her by convincing the police to give the car back. They weren't going to give it to us because her name isn't on the title (sister-car) and so we would have been stranded here. On the plus side, we got to watch both the start and end of the England/Portugal World Cup game. Still, after much haggling, the car was returned to us, and we set off for DC.
We got in late - 9:30 on Sat, so we didn't set up tents, but slept in the house instead. Sunday we had girls day, the three of us and my mom went to the olive oil bar, the winery, the market (dinner of brats very important to Fourth of July celebrations), and the the mini-put course. This mini put course contains hazards, water, rocks, rough...just like real course. Great fun. After brats we had a wonderful fire at the property, I drove papa's tractor (1940's ...much fun!), and gormet smores were eaten.
Monday morning Rachel headed for her parent's place, and Karin and I went to the lake to lay on the beach and possibly swim. When the water was seen, the swimming was right out. Lake Michigan had turned itself into a gigantic serving of pea soup. Damn algal blooms. So, walking the beach and avoiding the zebra muscle shells and tanning on lawn chairs w/ our books was the order of the day. We thought about the fireworks as we drove back from the lake and stopped at the candle place, but it decided to rain, so we played Cranium instead. We did get to see the finale to the fireworks from my aunt's driveway, and it was very pretty.
Tuesday the Fourth dawned bright and clear, and Karin and I raced the Hairpin Run 5K in Fish Creek. This was the first year that it has been chip timed. I got a little recipt with my time and average mile and place in my age and overall. Very cool. I sucked it up running though. The time was not terrible, but I felt aweful running. I forgot to use my inhaler before the race and felt it each and every step. Next year. Actually, I'm tempted to work so that by October's race up there I can run better and make myself feel good for the winter. We'll see.
So now I'm back in the Twin Cities, working on the next draft of my thesis and waiting to start my job. That's a whole different story that I'll tell at a later date.
The week before the Fourth and the Fourth weekend were great! Rachel was visiting from her new home in Ithaca and we had much fun. We went to see Body Worlds at the Science Museum Thursday. I highly, highly recommend it to everyone, even very littles. Great exhibit. We played Mini-put in the "Big Back Yard" there too. The theme was source to sink, talking about waterways and pollution, etc. Rachel had an interesting habit of launching her ball from Source to next mini put hole...I'm not sure water can do that, but it made for an interesting 9 holes :) Thursday evening we went climbing...first time in about 6 months for me, and I was SORE afterwards. Then after that we went dancing.
It was so very hot on Friday that we ended up mostly relaxing, watching "The Muppet Show" episodes, and putting frozen bags of vegetables on our heads. I had been at the Raptor Center all morning, after only getting 3 hours of sleep, and I think the combo of the heat there and the activities of the day before wiped me out, hence the staying home. My tummy was not a happy camper.
Saturday Karin, Rachel and I went to DC for the Fourth weekend, but didn't get going quite as planned. As Karin states, it's the bee that stung her in the AM's fault. The extremely summed up version of the story is that Rachel's car was towed because we couldn't remember the date, and her mom had to rescue her by convincing the police to give the car back. They weren't going to give it to us because her name isn't on the title (sister-car) and so we would have been stranded here. On the plus side, we got to watch both the start and end of the England/Portugal World Cup game. Still, after much haggling, the car was returned to us, and we set off for DC.
We got in late - 9:30 on Sat, so we didn't set up tents, but slept in the house instead. Sunday we had girls day, the three of us and my mom went to the olive oil bar, the winery, the market (dinner of brats very important to Fourth of July celebrations), and the the mini-put course. This mini put course contains hazards, water, rocks, rough...just like real course. Great fun. After brats we had a wonderful fire at the property, I drove papa's tractor (1940's ...much fun!), and gormet smores were eaten.
Monday morning Rachel headed for her parent's place, and Karin and I went to the lake to lay on the beach and possibly swim. When the water was seen, the swimming was right out. Lake Michigan had turned itself into a gigantic serving of pea soup. Damn algal blooms. So, walking the beach and avoiding the zebra muscle shells and tanning on lawn chairs w/ our books was the order of the day. We thought about the fireworks as we drove back from the lake and stopped at the candle place, but it decided to rain, so we played Cranium instead. We did get to see the finale to the fireworks from my aunt's driveway, and it was very pretty.
Tuesday the Fourth dawned bright and clear, and Karin and I raced the Hairpin Run 5K in Fish Creek. This was the first year that it has been chip timed. I got a little recipt with my time and average mile and place in my age and overall. Very cool. I sucked it up running though. The time was not terrible, but I felt aweful running. I forgot to use my inhaler before the race and felt it each and every step. Next year. Actually, I'm tempted to work so that by October's race up there I can run better and make myself feel good for the winter. We'll see.
So now I'm back in the Twin Cities, working on the next draft of my thesis and waiting to start my job. That's a whole different story that I'll tell at a later date.
