Monday, June 21, 2010
Monday's are still my favorite days
Full of relaxation!!
I was woken by a Roo with exciting news! GG has a banquet reservation at last! I know most readers have no idea what I am talking about. That is ok. It makes me happy so I posted it!
I relaxed and worked on my thesis history editing. I have another couple pages gone through. I need to clean them a little more and add my references, but it is coming along. I washed tons of dishes and did laundry. I wrote fanfiction and fed all the lizards. I made a detailed "Feeding & Care" list for the hubby to care for the animals for the week while I am away.
I am now waiting for butter to thaw so I can make Mint Cookies. I am taking some as late mother's and father's day gifts to my parents tomorrow.
I have to plan and pack for my trip to Toronto, then for the trip to the USA.
Mondays are ME days. I do whatever I want on these days, or nothing at all. Well, I never do nothing. Mondays are my relax days but also my most productive days. Hence the lots of thesis stuff done.
I have abandoned doing the article for Concordia's Multifaith Chaplaincy. They never got back to me with confirmation of my proposed article. OH! That reminds me to dig out the information for the academic journal's book review criteria. I have to pack that book and read it and write that review.
Hmmm... do I take my laptop to Toronto's teaching conference or not?
I was woken by a Roo with exciting news! GG has a banquet reservation at last! I know most readers have no idea what I am talking about. That is ok. It makes me happy so I posted it!
I relaxed and worked on my thesis history editing. I have another couple pages gone through. I need to clean them a little more and add my references, but it is coming along. I washed tons of dishes and did laundry. I wrote fanfiction and fed all the lizards. I made a detailed "Feeding & Care" list for the hubby to care for the animals for the week while I am away.
I am now waiting for butter to thaw so I can make Mint Cookies. I am taking some as late mother's and father's day gifts to my parents tomorrow.
I have to plan and pack for my trip to Toronto, then for the trip to the USA.
Mondays are ME days. I do whatever I want on these days, or nothing at all. Well, I never do nothing. Mondays are my relax days but also my most productive days. Hence the lots of thesis stuff done.
I have abandoned doing the article for Concordia's Multifaith Chaplaincy. They never got back to me with confirmation of my proposed article. OH! That reminds me to dig out the information for the academic journal's book review criteria. I have to pack that book and read it and write that review.
Hmmm... do I take my laptop to Toronto's teaching conference or not?
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Dreaming of Transportation
Every year... a month before my birthday... I start to dream of having a scooter. Apparently this year is no different... other than the fact that this year I have no motorized wheels at all, whereas i always had a car before.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Monday, blessed Monday
This day was wonderful and busy! I have worked on some fanfic and some thesis and some house.
My kitchen got cleaned. My bathroom got deep cleaned. the laundry is mostly done. The dove cage was deep cleaned (and needed it). So many dishes got washed. AND planned dinner.
I reviewed some texts for my thesis and FOUND my Triumph of the Moon book. I finished making the editorial changes on my intro and am almost done doing the same with my methodology. I discovered a neat way to handle the Historical section. A Timeline! Chas Clifton used one in his book, Her Hidden Children, and it swiftly and neatly summarized the historical stuff as it was an annotated timeline.
I let my dove fly around the house and he is happier for the company. He is lonely in my office since I am hardly there anymore. Must move sorting office up the priority list.
The rain was lovely today! I stepped out right after and enjoyed walking in the wet grass in the backyard! My garden is doing amazingly! I have cantaloupe, potatoes, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries... and tons of herbs!!! OMG need to cut them back!
Off to enjoy sun and more paper writing/editing!
My kitchen got cleaned. My bathroom got deep cleaned. the laundry is mostly done. The dove cage was deep cleaned (and needed it). So many dishes got washed. AND planned dinner.
I reviewed some texts for my thesis and FOUND my Triumph of the Moon book. I finished making the editorial changes on my intro and am almost done doing the same with my methodology. I discovered a neat way to handle the Historical section. A Timeline! Chas Clifton used one in his book, Her Hidden Children, and it swiftly and neatly summarized the historical stuff as it was an annotated timeline.
I let my dove fly around the house and he is happier for the company. He is lonely in my office since I am hardly there anymore. Must move sorting office up the priority list.
The rain was lovely today! I stepped out right after and enjoyed walking in the wet grass in the backyard! My garden is doing amazingly! I have cantaloupe, potatoes, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries... and tons of herbs!!! OMG need to cut them back!
Off to enjoy sun and more paper writing/editing!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
progress report
Thumb:
Hurts like hell! The meds sometimes work and sometimes don't. They make me a bit befuddled, but thankfully not nauseous. I have 4 weeks and $40 to deal with then I get a cortisone shot in the thunb and hope that cures the situation.
School:
I am still de-registered and a non-student, but my request is now pending. I have a game plan sorted out with the religion department. Over the summer, I would on my thesis and have it completed sometime in the Fall. I take a course in the Fall and write a comprehensive exam on Paganism. I have yet to compile a suitable list of books for this for the professor supervising my exam. That had to be done in the next 4 weeks. In the winter, I will take a reading course with another professor (whom I have to send a bibliography to as well by September) and my second comprehensive exam in East Asian religion with the stressing prof (whom i also have to send a bibliography to by September). If all goes well... and I really pray it does... I will be done next April and... graduated!
Thesis:
I am reworking the history section and updating it and reading and stuff. The request was for 10 pages of historical context. I think it will end up as 5 pages of history and 5 pages of contemporary pagan research identity and conversion leading into my lit review on conversion theories. I just got an email of comments from the Ethics Review Committee. I have to rework my request to participate form AND my consent form. *SIGH* I spent most of today doing just that. Now I wait to see if my supervising prof approves, then I send it off to the committee again.
Avatar:
I have temporarily suspended working on this fanfiction and engaging in RP's in the forum while I sort school. July 2nd is the opening of the film... I am so there!!! Even if it is a midnight showing and I have to walk home from downtown!
Coven:
Retreat this month is killing my budget in ways I never want to experience again. However, there are wonderful things happening too. I have a great group that I love much. we are leading a baby blessing July 3rd, then a handfasting in August and another in September.
CMS:
The classes are moving along well, though we have run into a few small snags I have yet to find solutions to.
Gaia Gathering:
Wow! it will be in Montreal and there is so much happening with it!
Assassin's Creed:
I am almost finished the game, the original one. My fanfic for it is happening and I am happy with it.
The House:
It has again fallen into relative chaos. I can't stay on top of it and feel a bit alone in the effort. Mark works all week and i am struggling between work and school and coven and teaching. I am hating where I live and it is growing harder to think and be comfortable here. I am not yet sure how to resolve this.
The Baby-Making / Adoption:
I know people have wondered. they are pointedly not asking. I am actually really grateful that they don't ask. I get stupid emotional and totally upset and messed up for DAYS when someone does. Nothing is happening... at the moment. Nothing ever seems to happen. I try not to feel totally like a failure on a variety of levels, but I do. Adoption is out at least until January. Then we can consider our options. The government is supposed to be making insemination free for three tries starting sometime this month, but I have no official news yet if that is concretely for sure. I am not sure where to ask. I dreamed again today of a little blond girl of about 5 years old. Maybe we should consider fostering?
Isolation:
I know I have been very much an isolationist lately. I am sorry to everyone who misses me, including my family. I am going through stuff that is not making me comfortable with other human beings right now. Please be understanding while I go through this.
Hurts like hell! The meds sometimes work and sometimes don't. They make me a bit befuddled, but thankfully not nauseous. I have 4 weeks and $40 to deal with then I get a cortisone shot in the thunb and hope that cures the situation.
School:
I am still de-registered and a non-student, but my request is now pending. I have a game plan sorted out with the religion department. Over the summer, I would on my thesis and have it completed sometime in the Fall. I take a course in the Fall and write a comprehensive exam on Paganism. I have yet to compile a suitable list of books for this for the professor supervising my exam. That had to be done in the next 4 weeks. In the winter, I will take a reading course with another professor (whom I have to send a bibliography to as well by September) and my second comprehensive exam in East Asian religion with the stressing prof (whom i also have to send a bibliography to by September). If all goes well... and I really pray it does... I will be done next April and... graduated!
Thesis:
I am reworking the history section and updating it and reading and stuff. The request was for 10 pages of historical context. I think it will end up as 5 pages of history and 5 pages of contemporary pagan research identity and conversion leading into my lit review on conversion theories. I just got an email of comments from the Ethics Review Committee. I have to rework my request to participate form AND my consent form. *SIGH* I spent most of today doing just that. Now I wait to see if my supervising prof approves, then I send it off to the committee again.
Avatar:
I have temporarily suspended working on this fanfiction and engaging in RP's in the forum while I sort school. July 2nd is the opening of the film... I am so there!!! Even if it is a midnight showing and I have to walk home from downtown!
Coven:
Retreat this month is killing my budget in ways I never want to experience again. However, there are wonderful things happening too. I have a great group that I love much. we are leading a baby blessing July 3rd, then a handfasting in August and another in September.
CMS:
The classes are moving along well, though we have run into a few small snags I have yet to find solutions to.
Gaia Gathering:
Wow! it will be in Montreal and there is so much happening with it!
Assassin's Creed:
I am almost finished the game, the original one. My fanfic for it is happening and I am happy with it.
The House:
It has again fallen into relative chaos. I can't stay on top of it and feel a bit alone in the effort. Mark works all week and i am struggling between work and school and coven and teaching. I am hating where I live and it is growing harder to think and be comfortable here. I am not yet sure how to resolve this.
The Baby-Making / Adoption:
I know people have wondered. they are pointedly not asking. I am actually really grateful that they don't ask. I get stupid emotional and totally upset and messed up for DAYS when someone does. Nothing is happening... at the moment. Nothing ever seems to happen. I try not to feel totally like a failure on a variety of levels, but I do. Adoption is out at least until January. Then we can consider our options. The government is supposed to be making insemination free for three tries starting sometime this month, but I have no official news yet if that is concretely for sure. I am not sure where to ask. I dreamed again today of a little blond girl of about 5 years old. Maybe we should consider fostering?
Isolation:
I know I have been very much an isolationist lately. I am sorry to everyone who misses me, including my family. I am going through stuff that is not making me comfortable with other human beings right now. Please be understanding while I go through this.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Recovery?
I guess I can call it that. I cramped and thought I would just die for a while after the Congress talk. Tuesday, I pushed myself to attend a religion panel discussion on Religion and Nature. Chris Klassen gave a talk about Pagans from South Ontario and their perspective of Nature's place in their religion. Her talk was unfortunately very surface material. I think I expected more depth. Maybe she was just in the beginning of her research? The other talks seemed somewhat interested except for the Voodoo documentary that almost made me walk out. THAT? THAT was the work of a professor? *cringe* Why did I feel so embarrassed? I felt like as a Pagan, the people who were there did not do the religion any justice. The talks at the AAR were much better.
I will take this experience as a learning experience when i put together the academic stream for Gaia Gathering for 2011.
The other talk I went to was for Religion grads about how to present themselves at conferences and to potential job interviews. It was held over a catered lunch. Chartwells SUCKED for their catered lunch. Worst pizza ever. Hell, the crappy cheap metro station pizza was way better. The talks though were AMAZING! They had lots of good advice and things to consider.
I got home to death by cramps again and gave up on the world for a while.
Wednesday was a slow day with a good class in the evening. Thursday was an exercise in futility. I went to get my passport renewed and was sent back home as I had the wrong forms filled. I will have to try again on Monday. Friday was a work day again.
I was so exhausted during the week that I could barely function. no thesis work was done at all. Saturday was little better, though I met up with freinds for a trip to a reptile shop to oggle the new creatures. I almost came home with another skink... but didn't. I want to know the actual gender of mine before I get a second one.
I have spent so much time trying to just... sleep. Like I cannot get enough. I hate being this drained all the time. I did not remotely know or realize how much energy the RA talk would cost me. But apparently, it cost me alot.
Today was relaxed with some visitors. Now I am looking at the overdue thesis. I am really determined to accomplish something with it this summer. So much editing to do!!!
I will take this experience as a learning experience when i put together the academic stream for Gaia Gathering for 2011.
The other talk I went to was for Religion grads about how to present themselves at conferences and to potential job interviews. It was held over a catered lunch. Chartwells SUCKED for their catered lunch. Worst pizza ever. Hell, the crappy cheap metro station pizza was way better. The talks though were AMAZING! They had lots of good advice and things to consider.
I got home to death by cramps again and gave up on the world for a while.
Wednesday was a slow day with a good class in the evening. Thursday was an exercise in futility. I went to get my passport renewed and was sent back home as I had the wrong forms filled. I will have to try again on Monday. Friday was a work day again.
I was so exhausted during the week that I could barely function. no thesis work was done at all. Saturday was little better, though I met up with freinds for a trip to a reptile shop to oggle the new creatures. I almost came home with another skink... but didn't. I want to know the actual gender of mine before I get a second one.
I have spent so much time trying to just... sleep. Like I cannot get enough. I hate being this drained all the time. I did not remotely know or realize how much energy the RA talk would cost me. But apparently, it cost me alot.
Today was relaxed with some visitors. Now I am looking at the overdue thesis. I am really determined to accomplish something with it this summer. So much editing to do!!!
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Survived!
I survived my presentation. I spoke for too long but it all worked out in the end. I was very nervous. Nervous enough to give myself a stupid asthma attack (the first in a year). My hands shook so badly through the whole thing, but thankfully my voice did not.
It would have been so much easier if I were speaking about Paganism. To peers.
This was speaking about the scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL) to people who were mostly my superiors in the subject.
Stress over, dairy queen rewarding...
Paid for both the stress and the dairy queen when I got home. Bleh.
The husband is hooked on the TV show of Castle. so we enjoyed lots of that and will continue to do so for a little while.
What is on the agenda today?
- return to the conference for a pagan talk & then a free lunch discuss for graduate students
- get my bus pass
- laundry and clean house
- write a small pagan article for multifaith chaplaincy Concordia
- write a book review for an academic journal
- edit my thesis
- plan the history section of my thesis
- plan CMS level 3's class
It would have been so much easier if I were speaking about Paganism. To peers.
This was speaking about the scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL) to people who were mostly my superiors in the subject.
Stress over, dairy queen rewarding...
Paid for both the stress and the dairy queen when I got home. Bleh.
The husband is hooked on the TV show of Castle. so we enjoyed lots of that and will continue to do so for a little while.
What is on the agenda today?
- return to the conference for a pagan talk & then a free lunch discuss for graduate students
- get my bus pass
- laundry and clean house
- write a small pagan article for multifaith chaplaincy Concordia
- write a book review for an academic journal
- edit my thesis
- plan the history section of my thesis
- plan CMS level 3's class
