Thursday, January 31, 2008

OK. So my good friend Kim "tagged" me. Here's what I have, for what it's worth. Now you know me more than you ever wanted to ....

Four Jobs I've Had:

  1. English professor
  2. Book warehouse worker
  3. Payroll/accounts payable clerk
  4. Dump truck driver

Four Places I've Lived:
  1. Houghton, MI (in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula)
  2. Orlando, FL
  3. Bloomington, IN
  4. Mishawaka, IN

Four Movies That I Love:
  1. Escanaba in da Moonlight
  2. Atanarjuat
  3. Never Cry Wolf
  4. Fargo

Four Favorite Foods:
  1. Macaroni and cheese
  2. Kalamata Olives
  3. Hummus
  4. Salmon

Four Weird Things About Me:
  1. I truly believe that there exists a "correct" way to hang a bath towel after use. Two-thirds of the wet towel should be seen on the front hanging over the shower curtain rod and the remaining third should be behind. This configuration allows for maximum air flow that will let the towel dry properly. That way the towel dries completely before the next use and it doesn't end up smelling funky.
  2. Even though all the food you eat does mix in your stomach, it should not mix on your plate. I even like separate piles of spaghetti and sauce on my plate.
  3. I always have to brush my teeth before I get in the shower in the morning - I just have to.
  4. Jeesh ... all that makes me sound really neurotic. Is that the 4th weird thing about me?

Four Favorite TV Shows:
  1. Men in Trees (if it ever comes back on the air)
  2. The Shield
  3. Corner Gas
  4. South Park (I know, it's truly evil, but I can't help myself!)

Four Places I'd Love To Go:
  1. Finland
  2. Mongolia/Nepal
  3. The North Pole (via the "Great Land" Alaska - - I think I'd just stay in AK when the visit was complete)
  4. Morocco

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Simple lists

OK, I haven't gotten to this thing in awhile. Actually, that could be a good thing - "my life is so exciting that I just don't have the time to update blog!" Well, I wish that were true. Unfortunately, it's easy to get caught up in the mundane day-to-day activities that comprise the largest part of all our lives (even if we don't admit it). So, what's been going on? Ah, I'll make a list (see, that way I don't really have to be creative, just write it in a list):
  1. My parents and grandmother came up here from MO for Christmas for a visit. It was great to see them. It had probably been 2+ years since I'd seen my grandmother. Sometimes it really sucks when you move far away from home.
  2. Finally got our truck back from the shop. Thank God for insurance - over $6000 in repair bills. Hopefully it's sound as a pound.
  3. New Year's came and went. Had pizza and stayed in and watched a movie. Not all that exciting, but there's no one I'd rather spend it with more than Chris, so it was all good.
  4. We got ourselves snowshoes for Christmas and took them for a spin up at Cliff Mine. It was wonderful - nothing quite like walking on snow where no one else has been. It's so quiet and peaceful, until, of course, snowmobilers roll by. What fun!
  5. Got word that my dissertation advisor will probably be accepting a position up here and moving at the end of this summer. This will be great because she's a wonderful and very intelligent woman and very nice to work with. We get along and work well together.
  6. Because of this ... I really need to get everything done before she leaves at the end of summer. OMG - - don't expect many updates of this thing over the next few months.
  7. Tried downhill skiing. We really liked it, but my legs hurt for a few days afterward. No wonder skiers really don't have hips!
  8. Signed up for a Yoga class at the university athletic center. It's three mornings a week - - at 6:15am! Yeah, I'm rethinking that one!
  9. Participated in the first of what we hope will become annual Lumijuoksu (snow run) as part of the Heikinpaiva celebrations in Hancock. It was great fun, although it was a bit chilly. At the time of the run the temperature was a balmy 4 degrees! Add 20-25mph winds ..... Chilly enough that I did NOT participate in the Polar Bear dive in the Portage later in the day. Maybe next year!
So, that's been life for the past 1.5 months. Other little things have happened, but, more or less, life goes on as it will. Perhaps I'll get motivated and use this space as a type of mental download during the process of writing my dissertation. Actually, that would be an interesting thing to do in itself - chronicling the trials and tribulations of someone desperately trying to get their entire dissertation written in the next 4 months. Oh God, I don't feel very well.

Ah, and so it begins! Wish me luck and send all the good "smart" thoughts you can!