Deadlines

I work better when I have deadlines - but right now, I think I have a few too many of the darn things!

The biggest one that's looming is that I have to have my major research paper done by the end of the month (sooner would be better). It needs to get to my advisor so that she can read/edit it before August 14, by which date I need a letter saying that I have completed all requirements for my MA degree so that I can be admitted into my Phd program.

More immediately, though, I have committed to read at the Leacock Festival reading on Tuesday night and I really wanted to come up with something new to read! Doesn't seem right to go away for a year to do a master's degree and not have anything new to read - although I do have stories I have never done publicly, so if worse comes to worse .... I might end up taking Stephanie's suggestion and reading "Leaving" - but honestly, I don't know if I could DO that one without choking up. If I don't come up with something new, I'll have to though, won't I? The one thing I will NOT do is a total cop out - I won't read anything that I have done at readings before. Anyway ...we'll see.

I also have several more chapters - and appendices (which no one mentioned) to proofread - and those are all due back to the copy-editor by the 27th. That one is not too onerous though - it's a job that I can do while we're driving to Peterborough and back to look for houses.

The buying a house thing is huge, of course .... especially given that the city we're supposed to be buying a house in is 2.5 hours from home - it does get complicated! We're doing our second round of showings this afternoon, and there is one house that Ross is really, really enthusiastic about - so hopefully it will be perfect and we can just go ahead and make an offer on it while we're there today. Wouldn't that be nice! Won't likely happen that way, but I can dream.

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Just Flitting through my first week off

After several years of year round school, I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself now that I have time off.

I'm figuring it out.

Scrooge and I have walked a lot this week .... expanding my distance, and picking up speed. My back has been really bothering me, especially when I walk, which is a pain - but for now, I'm taking pain killers before I go... but I am also considering going to a chiropracter to see if they might be able to help.

I would rather fix the problem than take pills.

Hubby is too busy with work this time of year to be running me all over to appointments, so I talked to my sister in law... she and her husband both go regularly, so I will try their chiropracter and hopefully book to go at the same time.

Went shopping with a friend yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I bought a new shirt and a dress - both made out of a wonderful cotton that I just love. I also found a pair of dressier shoes that work with my orthotics - I need my orthotics, so that is always a consideration. I paid more for that one pair of shoes than I have EVER paid for shoes - but I am really happy with them. Having to wear ankle high walking shoes for most things is one thing, but it will be nice to have at least one pair that I can wear for dress-up.

I also bought a floppy hat that I really like - except for the fact that it kept blowing off my head today! I guess I should have got one with strings - might have to add some. It is not a big deal for walking, but I would hate to lose it in the lake when I go out fishing. Or, if my back can handle it, just rowing.

My diet is still going well - ate some dry ribs @ Boston Pizza yesterday while we were out that I probably shouldn't have ...was not a happy surprise when I added them to my-calorie-counter!!

But I didn't bother kicking myself too much - just made it a lighter dinner, and back on track today.

I have lost 25lbs so far - I'm sure some of that was water and it will probably slow down some - but I'm proud of my success anyway, and motivated to keep going... I need my drivers license back!

Anyway, other than walking and eating watermelon and celery and cantaloupe and radishes, I've managed to get a good start on organizing my bookshelves. I have also started writing my major research paper even though I am still waiting for feedback from my advisor and from the ethics board at the university. The first section, discussing emerging adults as a market segment, can be done without the research interviews, so might as well get going on it. I am also almost finished reading Stephanie the rocket scientist's latest novel, which some publisher should hurry up and publish.

And now I'm off to go beat up my pork tenderloin for dinner - I want schnitzel ... so I am making schnitzel (with melba toast crumbs cuz I'm allowed melba toast).

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Flitting on Ask Me Anything

In addition to writing my own blogs this week, I am also covering Stephanie the Rocket Scientist's Ask Me Anything blog.... so far I've posted three articles over there, if you're interested:

• Differences between Canadians and Americans
• Generating blog traffic
• Search Engine Optimization - Focus on KEYWORDS

I plan to continue with more articles about search engine optimization - and of course, will also answer any questions asked of me over there as well... so why not stop by and visit me there, too?

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Weekly Update

So far so good! I have been able to meet my goal of posting a daily article on both Flitting on Fiction and Back to School for Grownups... and to drop my daily 300 Entrecards as well.

On Flitting on Fiction, articles include

• today's review of Clive Cussler's Plague Ship (with Jack du Brul)
• articles about Viral Contagion, and Pandemic II
• and pictures of my happy leprechans (aka my grandbabies)

Back to School for Grownups has mostly been about

• my search for housing for next fall
• the grad student residence option
• summer school in Victoria BC, and
• finding something to write about every day.

Have not got to flitting.org....will try to get an update about our ongoing difficulties with TD CanadaTrust up there sometime this weekend, though.

Another new blog that you might be interested is Ask Me Anything, which is Stephanie, the rocket scientist's latest .... well worth a visit.

Also, if you happen to be a grad student ... or might want to be one someday, why not stop by The Grad Cafe? I'm really enjoying the interaction there...and learning a lot about universities in the US in the process, which I think will help me to do a better job of Back to School for Grownups.

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