The digital age. Pen & Paper. Gummy Vitamins.

I'm grateful that my class notes and reading notes are all digital. There was a moment of inspiration earlier today and I knew it was from one of my classes... and a simply search turned up the source and bam! suddenly the manuscript is three page longer. Hooray. It was also interesting reading through my class notes again, I wonder how much of that information has retained.

At the same time that I am thankful for the digital age, I do like having pen and paper. Writing down things just helps me organize. My desk is a mess of little notes I've written myself, reminding me to go back to page this and that to add that tidbit and clarify that point. Having notes on my desktop isn't quite the same. But maybe that's how I'm wired. I do like my notebook documenting this journey, where I've written passing thoughts and little insights. Now that would not be the same if it were digital. Right?

And finally, gummy vitamins! I've always been pretty inconsistent in eating my vitamins but when they taste like yummy gummies in shapes of cars? No problem here consuming it. Now my problem is remembering if I've already had some today.

Filtered water. Funny kid quotes. Rest.

Two things thankful from Sunday and one from today. It's been a full year 2013 for me. Adviser wants a draft by Friday which means I've been writing a lot. I wanted to send it out yesterday so I pushed myself hard, maybe a bit too much-- by the end of the day I was exhausted-- physically, mentally, and emotionally. I didn't realize that writing could have such an impact on me. Anyhow taking things a little easier today.

I'm thankful for filtered water. Moving to this city, where water from the tap is... kind of gross tasting, I'm so grateful for water filters. I'm also grateful for my big water bottles, that yes, are quite heavy when thrown in my purse, but quenches my thirst when doing my errands. I remember when we first moved here, because the summer heat was so much, if I forgot my water bottle, I would have to go buy something to drink. Fresh, clean water rocks.

What else did I jot down from Sunday? Oh, right funny kid quotes. Kids are just funny sometimes. I suppose it balances things out from when they're naughty. Anyhow, at church P was explaining to our friend's kid why we do communion. And so he asked the kid, do you have anything to confess? The kid say, Oh, yes, I have a lot. And turns and walks away. I cracked up.

Today I am thankful for rest. And not feeling guilty that I haven't opened Word to write anything. I'll do a bit of work before heading to bed but letting my body and brain rest, was definitely a good plan. Thank you God for making Sabbath and being an example of what it means to rest.

Third Spaces. Full Bellies. Adult Conversations.

Starting the new year strong... I'm thankful for spaces outside of home where I can do work. Today I sat and wrote the rest of chapter 5. There's something about not being home that helps me to write. Anyhow, I'm caving into all my bad habits of writing so that I just write. That means I've eaten lots of chocolate, chewed my way through a pack of gum, and spent money on drinks so I feel like I can stay at a third space for a few hours. We're hosting some friends these few days and I'm so thankful for full bellies. One, I'm glad that the Sunday Roast worked even though I made it on a Friday. Second, little mei mei ended up eating lots of somethings that her belly protrudes. Always a good sign that a kid is full. And to round out my three things of thankful-- adult conversation. Not as sensational as the title would prove, but my friend has a 4 year old and a 1.5 year old, which means that her conversations are about space shuttles, trains, and grapes. So she's thankful to talk with us... adults. I'm grateful to be with her and to contemplate life together.

Deadlines. Visitors. Celebrations.

I met with my adviser last month and she set me a deadline... for one week from today. And that set me into quite a panic. Yet I'm super grateful for it. It forces me to WORK everyday when I wake up. To type frantically when I sit in front of this computer. My breaks of going to the gym feel like a true break versus before without a deadline, my gym goings was my, hey I got something done today at least. So this deadline has been good, even if a little bit stressful. We have some friends coming to visit us tonight! Yay, I'm excited to spend time with them and hang out with their kiddos. Kind of wished I was done writing but they will provide a good balance for me to hang out/write. Finally, I am thankful for times of celebration. Dates in peoples lives are important to me- whether it's someone's birthday or anniversary. Yesterday we went out to celebrate our friend's stroke-survival day. Makes us remember to pause and be thankful that we have this breath. Happy 2013. We'll see how often this gets updated this year :)

Deals. Recipes. APA book.

I know, I'm not good at this anymore. Anyhow, inspired to write (aka I'm procrastinating). This morning I went through five years worth of pictures because Walgreens is printing 8x10 for free, use the code TRULYFREE, thank you slickdeals. I got to relive lots of good memories from Illinois. Free things is good too. I'm grateful too for recipes that work. I lived with an amazing family for two years while in Illinois and the mom makes the most amazing pumpkin chocolate muffins. So I dug up the recipe yesterday because I can get my hands on canned pumpkins again because we're nearing Thanksgiving and made some. Delicious! And finally, as I am procrastinating on this conference paper, I am still doing a bit of work. I was in a near panic because I couldn't find my APA handbook (I thought perhaps it got lost during the move?), but located it just now-- I'm thankful for you, you silly painful annoying book, because you know the order my authors must go in and where the period versus the comma goes. Okay, maybe I'll post before the new year.

Emails. Food. Friends

The power of three, as my friend T.J. would say. I'm getting back to this blogging thing, so friends can follow along and we can stay friends even though we are physically far away. I'm thankful for emails, from friends, but today I'm especially thankful for an email from one institution to move along my research. I'm thankful for food-- the making of and the consumption process. I've been on a kick of making artisan bread (thanks Cam) and have made these onion herb rolls that I'm a fan of. It's nice that this apartment (as compared to our apartment last summer) stays cool enough to actually turn on the oven. And then friends to share the food with-- that's always a bonus. We are starting to meet some new friends which makes me feel like maybe I can start viewing this place as "home" soon.

summer 2010

As a perpetual student, writing not for classes and for pleasure is something I do very rarely of these days. Yet I read the lovely posts from my friends about their babies and adventures of travels and I think to myself, hey I can do that. I can totally let my friends know what's up with me, yet sitting down and writing a blog? Well, that only happens when I suppose to be writing for something else (like today, suppose to be working on that conference paper and my morning is already gone). The bottom line is this: I love the idea of a blog. And perhaps someday I will be better at writing in one.