Saturday, September 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Deals to Meals
Ok, so I realize it's been years...
And I know that's really pathetic...
But the first step is always the hardest and things improve, right? And a super cool site I just found has finally provided me the motivation to do what I'm supposed to do:
Deals to Meals is a super cool website anyway that is going to be a big part of helping me with all of my transitioning to living on food storage now while John's going back to school and we're starving starving starving, but now they're also giving away a Bosch bread mixer that would SAVE me since we don't even have a stand mixer or a wheat grinder or anything yet!
So, one of the ways to enter the contest is to post about. So here I am. But while I'm posting, I'll just say it's definitely worth checking out! And if I can figure out how to do it, I'll add a button to their site on my blog anyway!
Later...and I really will try to do better!
And I know that's really pathetic...
But the first step is always the hardest and things improve, right? And a super cool site I just found has finally provided me the motivation to do what I'm supposed to do:
Deals to Meals is a super cool website anyway that is going to be a big part of helping me with all of my transitioning to living on food storage now while John's going back to school and we're starving starving starving, but now they're also giving away a Bosch bread mixer that would SAVE me since we don't even have a stand mixer or a wheat grinder or anything yet!
So, one of the ways to enter the contest is to post about. So here I am. But while I'm posting, I'll just say it's definitely worth checking out! And if I can figure out how to do it, I'll add a button to their site on my blog anyway!
Later...and I really will try to do better!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Secretarying
Well, the 2007 USAS/UPAC Convention is officially OVER!!! Celebrate one less thing to juggle! It went off well, though, and I'm tired but satisfied. I was, as expected, voted in as statewide secretary. The President's Meeting was this morning and went fairly well. I'm sitting here trying to work up the motivation to type up the minutes and get them sent off to the webmaster, now. Oy. But I don't think things will be as difficult as they could be, so I suppose I'll survive and it'll be a good experience to operate with such a good-sized organization.
Other than that, work goes well, and I'm completely happy. Wish we'd gotten more snow-pack in the mountains--fire season is gonna be bad--but for the most part it's going to be a light field-season. In light of my continuing back problems, it's probably for the best.
That said, I'm jetting off Thursday with John to see the Manti Pageant and crash overnight with a friend there. Then on to Zion NP for a weekend camping trip with the Jolley-Odenwalder clan...well, the parts not in Taiwan and Florida! It should be really fun and a nice opportunity to see how John handles three days in the wilderness...a critical test-point for me. =)
You know, one of these days, he's gonna start reading this and I'll be in trouble for everything I've written. =) That said, he'll actually probably get a kick out of it. Things are going well, but we're trying to keep it slow, though, so, he won't read this anytime soon. Too much random musing-style bizarroness for a boy to handle until he's thoroughly smitten. =)
It's now 171 days until Angela and I fly out for our Disney trip. She still doesn't know the details, and I figure there perfect for the flight rather than anytime before then. But I think we're both doing relatively well at staying excited for a trip that's still more than a season away!
Other than that, work goes well, and I'm completely happy. Wish we'd gotten more snow-pack in the mountains--fire season is gonna be bad--but for the most part it's going to be a light field-season. In light of my continuing back problems, it's probably for the best.
That said, I'm jetting off Thursday with John to see the Manti Pageant and crash overnight with a friend there. Then on to Zion NP for a weekend camping trip with the Jolley-Odenwalder clan...well, the parts not in Taiwan and Florida! It should be really fun and a nice opportunity to see how John handles three days in the wilderness...a critical test-point for me. =)
You know, one of these days, he's gonna start reading this and I'll be in trouble for everything I've written. =) That said, he'll actually probably get a kick out of it. Things are going well, but we're trying to keep it slow, though, so, he won't read this anytime soon. Too much random musing-style bizarroness for a boy to handle until he's thoroughly smitten. =)
It's now 171 days until Angela and I fly out for our Disney trip. She still doesn't know the details, and I figure there perfect for the flight rather than anytime before then. But I think we're both doing relatively well at staying excited for a trip that's still more than a season away!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
SIR Winter 2007
Semesters-In-Review ought to be long detailed accounts of specific achievements and failures. I have one 12 page paper left to do and the semester is over. Gotta be honest, it's not a particularly memorable, or worthy of recording, semester as school goes.
GIS was definitely worth taking and totally doesn't deserve to be a 4 credit class! It'll look good on the resume and I did pick up a few neat tips that I didn't know about before, so that's cool. I've got access to the ESRI training module online until next January, too, which is super.
Southwest Seminar was sometimes tedious, and I won't remember most of the details of the cultures and time periods, but it was very educational in terms of enlightening me to the very real differences in approach between Great Basin and Southwest archaeology. Such a pity we don't do real theory up north. The most important development, I guess, is a healthy appreciation for the importance of community studies. Not surprising given that Jim taught this one. Ultimately, if I had to sum up my feelings towards the class, though, it'd have to be something like "mmmm, Chaco...road trip...mmmm!"
History of Archaeology was the only class I actually needed this semester and I certainly would have had a lot more time to burn had I just stuck to this one and a bunch of thesis credits. Alas! But it was good for me. I really enjoyed this class. A good review of all the basics and some insights that I missed in previous theory-type classes. Jaime is a fabulous lecturer (this statement may be biased since she rarely actually lectured and bought us breakfast several times). I enjoyed the youthful and Oxfordian perspective on things. Made me dream of Cambridge a tidge without any intention of follow-through.
I defended my thesis proposal, too. I'd consider linking it here, but we changed what I'll actually do so thoroughly in the 1 1/2 hours we sat there that it wouldn't do any good. I'm excited by those changes, however, as they've turned the basic content back to my primary interests. I'm not particularly motivated enough to write about them here just now, but I'm sure you'll be subjected to more as the year goes on.
As far as extra-curriculars, I've got quite a lovable boy that I spend a goodly portion of time with these days. As a result, I haven't hung out with friends and such as much, but I consider it a fair trade for now. Work has been like pulling teeth. I've just really never had the time to make hours and it's frustrating and a half. But that's life.
And now, all that's left is the thesis! I'm back on full-time with the Uinta for the summer and probably part of the fall, though that'll be out of the archaeology shop doing recreation house permitting, and I'll probably try to keep putting in some hours for Jim and Dr Clark. My weekends are gonna save my life this summer, but in theory, I'll come out of the end of the federal fiscal year in better financial standing than I've been in all through grad school. Ish. If only we didn't have to deal with money! What junk it really is. Ironic--my thesis will deal with economic status. But not nearly as much as it would have, so it's all good.
Well, that's about it. Anything interesting, I'm sure, will be posted. Check out utaharchaeology.org for details on the up-and-coming Utah Statewide Archaeological Society/Utah Professional Archaeologist Council conference in Orem. I did the graphic design for the logo. We're printed it up on water bottles and they turned out pretty cool, if I do say so. One less thing to get done in the next month!
GIS was definitely worth taking and totally doesn't deserve to be a 4 credit class! It'll look good on the resume and I did pick up a few neat tips that I didn't know about before, so that's cool. I've got access to the ESRI training module online until next January, too, which is super.
Southwest Seminar was sometimes tedious, and I won't remember most of the details of the cultures and time periods, but it was very educational in terms of enlightening me to the very real differences in approach between Great Basin and Southwest archaeology. Such a pity we don't do real theory up north. The most important development, I guess, is a healthy appreciation for the importance of community studies. Not surprising given that Jim taught this one. Ultimately, if I had to sum up my feelings towards the class, though, it'd have to be something like "mmmm, Chaco...road trip...mmmm!"
History of Archaeology was the only class I actually needed this semester and I certainly would have had a lot more time to burn had I just stuck to this one and a bunch of thesis credits. Alas! But it was good for me. I really enjoyed this class. A good review of all the basics and some insights that I missed in previous theory-type classes. Jaime is a fabulous lecturer (this statement may be biased since she rarely actually lectured and bought us breakfast several times). I enjoyed the youthful and Oxfordian perspective on things. Made me dream of Cambridge a tidge without any intention of follow-through.
I defended my thesis proposal, too. I'd consider linking it here, but we changed what I'll actually do so thoroughly in the 1 1/2 hours we sat there that it wouldn't do any good. I'm excited by those changes, however, as they've turned the basic content back to my primary interests. I'm not particularly motivated enough to write about them here just now, but I'm sure you'll be subjected to more as the year goes on.
As far as extra-curriculars, I've got quite a lovable boy that I spend a goodly portion of time with these days. As a result, I haven't hung out with friends and such as much, but I consider it a fair trade for now. Work has been like pulling teeth. I've just really never had the time to make hours and it's frustrating and a half. But that's life.
And now, all that's left is the thesis! I'm back on full-time with the Uinta for the summer and probably part of the fall, though that'll be out of the archaeology shop doing recreation house permitting, and I'll probably try to keep putting in some hours for Jim and Dr Clark. My weekends are gonna save my life this summer, but in theory, I'll come out of the end of the federal fiscal year in better financial standing than I've been in all through grad school. Ish. If only we didn't have to deal with money! What junk it really is. Ironic--my thesis will deal with economic status. But not nearly as much as it would have, so it's all good.
Well, that's about it. Anything interesting, I'm sure, will be posted. Check out utaharchaeology.org for details on the up-and-coming Utah Statewide Archaeological Society/Utah Professional Archaeologist Council conference in Orem. I did the graphic design for the logo. We're printed it up on water bottles and they turned out pretty cool, if I do say so. One less thing to get done in the next month!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
"Daddy, I met a man in Rome..."
So maybe it was my ward instead of Rome, but he really is "wonderful and brilliant". Now don't get me wrong, the final phrase of this Father of the Bride reminisce, "and we're getting married," isn't coming any time soon, but I thought while I'm sitting here twitterpated I might as well blog about it. Hokey much? Ay well!
Well, now I've mentioned it, I guess I have to talk about it: I've been dating this guy for about a month. He's in my ward and is a Statistics major at the Y. Great guy--very level headed and uber-focused on the Gospel, which is really good for me. I met his family Saturday and ended up watching a session of General Conference with them on Sunday. Good people.
We were talking about it today and decided that we're one of those unlikely couples that noone ever would have called and people don't quite understand. That said, we've both liked each other since the fall, so in a way, it was only a matter of time until he got guts enough to ask me out. =)
My favorite thing about him? He's a spiritual giant. Not just an RM or a worthy priesthood holder, or whatever, but an absolute giant. Makes me my very best self when I'm with him and he seems to think I'm worth being with. Crazy but true, so there it is.
Anyway, juvenile to post about? Perhaps, but barring allowing myself to spend the next hour writing in my journal about every silly detail that I'm not foolish enough to bore the general internet audience with, I thought this might be a good way to get things off my chest--having just had lunch with him--so I can hunker down and study until all odd hours of the night so we can hang out together again tomorrow!
Well, now I've mentioned it, I guess I have to talk about it: I've been dating this guy for about a month. He's in my ward and is a Statistics major at the Y. Great guy--very level headed and uber-focused on the Gospel, which is really good for me. I met his family Saturday and ended up watching a session of General Conference with them on Sunday. Good people.
We were talking about it today and decided that we're one of those unlikely couples that noone ever would have called and people don't quite understand. That said, we've both liked each other since the fall, so in a way, it was only a matter of time until he got guts enough to ask me out. =)
My favorite thing about him? He's a spiritual giant. Not just an RM or a worthy priesthood holder, or whatever, but an absolute giant. Makes me my very best self when I'm with him and he seems to think I'm worth being with. Crazy but true, so there it is.
Anyway, juvenile to post about? Perhaps, but barring allowing myself to spend the next hour writing in my journal about every silly detail that I'm not foolish enough to bore the general internet audience with, I thought this might be a good way to get things off my chest--having just had lunch with him--so I can hunker down and study until all odd hours of the night so we can hang out together again tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Time and the SFLC
I think this is a recurring theme for all of us and don't suppose I'm offering any new insight, but isn't it amazing how time flies even as it drags on?
This has probably been one of the longest weeks of my brief life thus far, and it's not even noon on Wednesday. Maybe weeks tend to feel long when you never catch your breath over the weekend before...
All of this dragging on, of course, is also part of the natural progress for the end of a semester. We've got less than 4 weeks left, now, and that means most of the little assignments are over and all the big ones are looming large. My first big deadline is next Monday and don't think for a second I'm not far too aware of how much I've got to do by then. So why isn't the week flying by? One would think I'd be so rushed that I'd be running running running until I suddenly realized it was 11 and I ought to think about catching a few hours of sleep. But instead, time is eeking by. I feel as if I am genuinely living every second with a consciousness of what impact the passing of that second may have on my life. So here I've invested give-or-take 6,000 seconds in contemplation of the passing time because I've become so darned aware of it that I can't help but turn my attention to it. And that, of course, prevents me from doing the things that would allow me to have less stress associated with all these little seconds.
Vicious cycle. But then, what isn't? It's ll just one eternal round of life-as-we-know it.
On an entirely different topic, I've had all sorts of bizarre memory-images of the old Smith Family Living Center at BYU in the last few weeks. I had class there once or twice during my undergrad, but it was knocked down and built over years ago. There's a part of that building that I can't quite picture clearly anymore and it's about driving me crazy. Was it one big room or several small ones? Step down or up? Or maybe it was just another hallway with a few offices... Whatever it was, my mind's eye seems to be suddenly fixating on it and I haven't the foggiest why. See my point? Another vicious cycle. We have so very little control over our own brains, let alone our time...what in the world will be subjected upon us over the course of eternity?
This has probably been one of the longest weeks of my brief life thus far, and it's not even noon on Wednesday. Maybe weeks tend to feel long when you never catch your breath over the weekend before...
All of this dragging on, of course, is also part of the natural progress for the end of a semester. We've got less than 4 weeks left, now, and that means most of the little assignments are over and all the big ones are looming large. My first big deadline is next Monday and don't think for a second I'm not far too aware of how much I've got to do by then. So why isn't the week flying by? One would think I'd be so rushed that I'd be running running running until I suddenly realized it was 11 and I ought to think about catching a few hours of sleep. But instead, time is eeking by. I feel as if I am genuinely living every second with a consciousness of what impact the passing of that second may have on my life. So here I've invested give-or-take 6,000 seconds in contemplation of the passing time because I've become so darned aware of it that I can't help but turn my attention to it. And that, of course, prevents me from doing the things that would allow me to have less stress associated with all these little seconds.
Vicious cycle. But then, what isn't? It's ll just one eternal round of life-as-we-know it.
On an entirely different topic, I've had all sorts of bizarre memory-images of the old Smith Family Living Center at BYU in the last few weeks. I had class there once or twice during my undergrad, but it was knocked down and built over years ago. There's a part of that building that I can't quite picture clearly anymore and it's about driving me crazy. Was it one big room or several small ones? Step down or up? Or maybe it was just another hallway with a few offices... Whatever it was, my mind's eye seems to be suddenly fixating on it and I haven't the foggiest why. See my point? Another vicious cycle. We have so very little control over our own brains, let alone our time...what in the world will be subjected upon us over the course of eternity?