WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE???
For the third day in a row I've been woken up at 6 a.m. not by my alarm, but by the pitiful yelping of a neighbor's dog. The poor pooch alternates between cries and barks, and because our windows are open we get to hear this serenade for HOURS. It's now 9 a.m., and the noise has finally stopped. Now, I am a morning person and usually am up anyway around that time of day, but I cannot imagine working second or third shift and trying to sleep through that.
TAKE THE DOG INSIDE!!!!
And while I'm irritated, here are some other neighborhood behaviors that drive me absolutely bonkers:
1. Walking in the street. I'm not talking about crossing from one side or another, I am talking about strolling down the street (usually in the center) for blocks and blocks. Sometimes with babies in strollers and toddlers in tow. Accident and tragedy waiting to happen. Why don't the police stop them??
2. Stopping to talk to another driver and blocking the street instead of moving over to the side. This situation happens all the time, and the two miscreants just chat and chat, oblivious to the line of cars behind them waiting to get through. Once, while on my way to a baby shower with my SIL, I crossed a main road and was immediately blocked by two drive-chatters. No one could turn off the main road onto this street, because there was no room behind me. Suddenly a car drove past me ON THE SIDEWALK and pulled over in front of the idiots. Much to my pleasure, a policeman got out of the unmarked car and cited both drivers (after clearing the street). They should do that more often.
3. Standing on the street side of a parked car, driver's side door open, and chatting. Twice now I have passed women doing this, and both times they, seemingly oblivious to oncoming traffic, moved BACKWARDS toward me just as I reached them. Thank God both times I had anticipated such suicidal behavior and slowed to a crawl.
I'd better stop there; but Son could add a ton more about neighbors whose half-dozen or so phones (NOT KIDDING) ring all night long, stereos blasting until 2-3 a.m., etc etc etc.
I hate city life.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Friday, June 23, 2006
CAREERING blues
Today was fun--I drove the 60 miles to work specifically to help my coworker Mary clean the office kitchen. As if I haven't cleaned enough kitchens this month...oh well, it looks nice, it didn't take long, and at least I connected with Eldest Daughter's friend who picked up some dishes ED had left for him.
Let's see if I can get to at least OUTLINE my plans for the CAREER proposal this weekend. So far, I've done a big fat amount of NOTHING on it unless you count thinking and playing with the budget. And the deadlines keep piling up--the ASEE paper is due the same day as CAREER.
This ASEE paper is for a conference in Rio de Janiero. Now, I would need to get a passport, since I don't yet have one, to go to this thing--but I am ambivalent about going at all. Brazil is, I am sure, a perfectly wonderful country and if I were a beach person I would probably be salivating at the thought of lying on the sands of Ipanema. But it's a hefty chunk of change to go; my department won't fund this trip AND the other conferences I absolutely NEED to attend (since I was invited to speak at those); and alas, I am not a beach person. My co-author, who is all excited about this conference, will be sorely disappointed if he is the only one of the three of us to attend but I really don't see how I could swing it on my own.
Son and I went to the hardware store today to price ladders. His job for this summer is to paint our house, and renting an extension ladder is unbelievably expensive. We found a nice 24' ladder at a good price and will probably pick it up when we can borrow my dad's truck to tote it home.
Dad and Mom are off to PA to pick up my Aunt Doris and bring her to the homestead for a short visit. She is doing pretty well, considering Uncle Bill has been gone only a month. It'll be nice to see her.
Today was fun--I drove the 60 miles to work specifically to help my coworker Mary clean the office kitchen. As if I haven't cleaned enough kitchens this month...oh well, it looks nice, it didn't take long, and at least I connected with Eldest Daughter's friend who picked up some dishes ED had left for him.
Let's see if I can get to at least OUTLINE my plans for the CAREER proposal this weekend. So far, I've done a big fat amount of NOTHING on it unless you count thinking and playing with the budget. And the deadlines keep piling up--the ASEE paper is due the same day as CAREER.
This ASEE paper is for a conference in Rio de Janiero. Now, I would need to get a passport, since I don't yet have one, to go to this thing--but I am ambivalent about going at all. Brazil is, I am sure, a perfectly wonderful country and if I were a beach person I would probably be salivating at the thought of lying on the sands of Ipanema. But it's a hefty chunk of change to go; my department won't fund this trip AND the other conferences I absolutely NEED to attend (since I was invited to speak at those); and alas, I am not a beach person. My co-author, who is all excited about this conference, will be sorely disappointed if he is the only one of the three of us to attend but I really don't see how I could swing it on my own.
Son and I went to the hardware store today to price ladders. His job for this summer is to paint our house, and renting an extension ladder is unbelievably expensive. We found a nice 24' ladder at a good price and will probably pick it up when we can borrow my dad's truck to tote it home.
Dad and Mom are off to PA to pick up my Aunt Doris and bring her to the homestead for a short visit. She is doing pretty well, considering Uncle Bill has been gone only a month. It'll be nice to see her.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Something to be thankful for
One of my spouse's colleagues just had his thyroid removed, and woke up from what is usually a fairly straightforward, easy procedure to find he had cancer--and a tracheotomy. I was blessed, because I woke up with a numb finger and that was all. Even though the scar didn't heal quite right and is still causing me irritation, I'm still thankful that mine WAS a straightforward, easy procedure. He is living the nightmare that kept me awake from time to time before my surgery. He's in my prayers. If you want to include him in yours, his name is Paul.
One of my spouse's colleagues just had his thyroid removed, and woke up from what is usually a fairly straightforward, easy procedure to find he had cancer--and a tracheotomy. I was blessed, because I woke up with a numb finger and that was all. Even though the scar didn't heal quite right and is still causing me irritation, I'm still thankful that mine WAS a straightforward, easy procedure. He is living the nightmare that kept me awake from time to time before my surgery. He's in my prayers. If you want to include him in yours, his name is Paul.
Complain, complain, complain
Today's task is to find a textbook for my graduate class. I have been looking for a good text for this class for a year now; the first time I taught it, I used the current book and it was a horrible, horrible textbook. But I can't seem to find The Perfect Textbook: one that is not too expensive, that covers the topics I want to cover, that has good end-of-chapter questions, that doesn't take shots at other methodologies, because I want to present ALL methodologies in this class.
Grrrr. Why is it so hard to find a good textbook? I had a similar problem in the other two classes I am teaching next fall. If it wasn't 1) so difficult to write a text, and 2) worth the time to do the job right, I'd consider writing my own texts.
Don't ask if the to-do list is getting shorter. It's not.
Today's task is to find a textbook for my graduate class. I have been looking for a good text for this class for a year now; the first time I taught it, I used the current book and it was a horrible, horrible textbook. But I can't seem to find The Perfect Textbook: one that is not too expensive, that covers the topics I want to cover, that has good end-of-chapter questions, that doesn't take shots at other methodologies, because I want to present ALL methodologies in this class.
Grrrr. Why is it so hard to find a good textbook? I had a similar problem in the other two classes I am teaching next fall. If it wasn't 1) so difficult to write a text, and 2) worth the time to do the job right, I'd consider writing my own texts.
Don't ask if the to-do list is getting shorter. It's not.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
More CAREER and a Starbucks Moment
Yesterday I met with my director and the Sponsored Research Lady to talk about CAREER. Managed to write the one-page summary and darn it, it sounds pretty good! They were both encouraging and excited, which helps with the confidence issue. The SR Lady and I worked out a preliminary budget -- amazing how fast you can burn through almost half a million dollars!!
The sticky part was, as I suspected, student support. If I totally support ONE--just ONE--graduate student over five years, that amounts to almost a third of the possible award total. So SR Lady had a great idea, asking departments whose students might be interested in working with me if they would consider a matching arrangement. That would net me two students over the five years and still allow for conferences, equipment, software, summer salary. My budget is over by a little bit but I think I can wrestle it into submission.
The next big hurdle is deciding what I want to accomplish over the five year period of the grant. SR Lady must know that DrMom is a procrastinator because she wants to see the draft proposal in 10 days....yikes!
On other fronts, I'm dealing with minor frustration trying to get two colleagues together to discuss the grad curriculum. I get one and not the other, and then one backs out. Playing phone and email tag with two people. Not unlike herding cats. It would be nice if one of the two would ANSWER EMAIL MESSAGES!! Argh!
Eldest Daughter is enjoying her new locale and new job, although she has bumped up against that perennial problem, Budgeting One's Money. Also known by its variant, There Is Never Enough. DrMom has extensive experience with these issues, and has still not overcome them. Winning the lottery would help, but only if one plays.
Off to see former adviser (yet more CAREER stuff, and also some work with one of his students) and a welcome Starbucks Moment with my good friend Leenda. I haven't seen her since last summer, when she was recovering from chemotherapy for breast cancer. She had surgery just before I did last fall. I hope her scar is healed better than mine is!
Yesterday I met with my director and the Sponsored Research Lady to talk about CAREER. Managed to write the one-page summary and darn it, it sounds pretty good! They were both encouraging and excited, which helps with the confidence issue. The SR Lady and I worked out a preliminary budget -- amazing how fast you can burn through almost half a million dollars!!
The sticky part was, as I suspected, student support. If I totally support ONE--just ONE--graduate student over five years, that amounts to almost a third of the possible award total. So SR Lady had a great idea, asking departments whose students might be interested in working with me if they would consider a matching arrangement. That would net me two students over the five years and still allow for conferences, equipment, software, summer salary. My budget is over by a little bit but I think I can wrestle it into submission.
The next big hurdle is deciding what I want to accomplish over the five year period of the grant. SR Lady must know that DrMom is a procrastinator because she wants to see the draft proposal in 10 days....yikes!
On other fronts, I'm dealing with minor frustration trying to get two colleagues together to discuss the grad curriculum. I get one and not the other, and then one backs out. Playing phone and email tag with two people. Not unlike herding cats. It would be nice if one of the two would ANSWER EMAIL MESSAGES!! Argh!
Eldest Daughter is enjoying her new locale and new job, although she has bumped up against that perennial problem, Budgeting One's Money. Also known by its variant, There Is Never Enough. DrMom has extensive experience with these issues, and has still not overcome them. Winning the lottery would help, but only if one plays.
Off to see former adviser (yet more CAREER stuff, and also some work with one of his students) and a welcome Starbucks Moment with my good friend Leenda. I haven't seen her since last summer, when she was recovering from chemotherapy for breast cancer. She had surgery just before I did last fall. I hope her scar is healed better than mine is!
Sunday, June 11, 2006
I am feeling virtuous
Because I finished and submitted my journal review.
We won't mention the CAREER proposal, all those papers I need to write, OR the unfinished kitchen wallpaper project....no, no.
It is so nice to have Son home. Now if Eldest Daughter were here, everything would be perfect. I still miss her enough to get verklempt over it.
Because I finished and submitted my journal review.
We won't mention the CAREER proposal, all those papers I need to write, OR the unfinished kitchen wallpaper project....no, no.
It is so nice to have Son home. Now if Eldest Daughter were here, everything would be perfect. I still miss her enough to get verklempt over it.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Saturday cleaning blitz(krieg)
It's positively embarrassing how messy this house is. I wouldn't invite ANYONE inside, it's so bad. Horrifying.
Yesterday Son and I cleaned all his boxes out of his bedroom so we could set up his futon/bed for the summer. That means all the boxes of his books and things from college are in the hall. How do we manage to accumulate all this clutter? It's getting darned close to gridlock; every room is so full of STUFF that we can't shift things around without major upheaval.
So this morning I have tackled our bedroom, cleaning and throwing away and moving around so we can accommodate Son's extra gear and furniture. At this moment I am taking a tea break and then going back to it, because otherwise I will have nowhere to sleep tonight. My bed is covered with books, books, and more books. And a box of random clothing.
Sometimes I feel like going through the house with a bulldozer.
After cleaning that bedroom, working on CAREER and other academic things will seem like a vacation!
It's positively embarrassing how messy this house is. I wouldn't invite ANYONE inside, it's so bad. Horrifying.
Yesterday Son and I cleaned all his boxes out of his bedroom so we could set up his futon/bed for the summer. That means all the boxes of his books and things from college are in the hall. How do we manage to accumulate all this clutter? It's getting darned close to gridlock; every room is so full of STUFF that we can't shift things around without major upheaval.
So this morning I have tackled our bedroom, cleaning and throwing away and moving around so we can accommodate Son's extra gear and furniture. At this moment I am taking a tea break and then going back to it, because otherwise I will have nowhere to sleep tonight. My bed is covered with books, books, and more books. And a box of random clothing.
Sometimes I feel like going through the house with a bulldozer.
After cleaning that bedroom, working on CAREER and other academic things will seem like a vacation!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
CAREER update
Okay, I am beginning to figure this thing out. Where I want to go, what I want to do, and all the "broader impact" stuff that I can incorporate: an applied data mining SIG, tying in to mentoring female engineering students, etc. etc. So far I've got a bunch of loosely connected notes and timelines, but it's starting to make some coherent sense. There are some fuzzy parts, like recruiting students to help with research (complicated by my status in a multidisciplinary center instead of in a traditional department) but I have an idea that might work.
Since I've been concentrating on CAREER I haven't gotten anything done on the other stuff: the C paper, the CUSUM paper, the CBM survey (hmmmm is there a trend in all those C's?). Time to thrash out a schedule so those don't get lost. And I still need to upload my review of the IEEE paper before the end of this week.
I am also working on a redesign of a graduate-level concentration of courses, with two other people. Getting these guys to meet together is like catching a greased pig. I get one committed to a day and time and the other discovers a forgotten appointment. I've changed the meeting twice now and I am still waiting for one to respond to a time HE suggested! ARGH
On the non-academic front: Eldest Daughter is enjoying her new life in her new town, and I am glad for that. My boy comes home from the Galapagos tonight! Yay!! I have REALLY missed him! Youngest daughter warbled very well last night in a scholarship audition. Cross-eyed cat successfully hacked up a hairball (we celebrate all accomplishments of cross-eyed cat, who is incredibly beloved by the entire family). His mother, ever vigilant, successfully chased an interloper out of our yard.
Congrats to Iraq, the coalition, and my favorite guys, the US armed forces, for getting Zarqawi last night. Good work, all.
PS to Tabitha Grimalkin: Hey! What's up with Edmonton?? Come on, BEAT THOSE 'CANES!!
Okay, I am beginning to figure this thing out. Where I want to go, what I want to do, and all the "broader impact" stuff that I can incorporate: an applied data mining SIG, tying in to mentoring female engineering students, etc. etc. So far I've got a bunch of loosely connected notes and timelines, but it's starting to make some coherent sense. There are some fuzzy parts, like recruiting students to help with research (complicated by my status in a multidisciplinary center instead of in a traditional department) but I have an idea that might work.
Since I've been concentrating on CAREER I haven't gotten anything done on the other stuff: the C paper, the CUSUM paper, the CBM survey (hmmmm is there a trend in all those C's?). Time to thrash out a schedule so those don't get lost. And I still need to upload my review of the IEEE paper before the end of this week.
I am also working on a redesign of a graduate-level concentration of courses, with two other people. Getting these guys to meet together is like catching a greased pig. I get one committed to a day and time and the other discovers a forgotten appointment. I've changed the meeting twice now and I am still waiting for one to respond to a time HE suggested! ARGH
On the non-academic front: Eldest Daughter is enjoying her new life in her new town, and I am glad for that. My boy comes home from the Galapagos tonight! Yay!! I have REALLY missed him! Youngest daughter warbled very well last night in a scholarship audition. Cross-eyed cat successfully hacked up a hairball (we celebrate all accomplishments of cross-eyed cat, who is incredibly beloved by the entire family). His mother, ever vigilant, successfully chased an interloper out of our yard.
Congrats to Iraq, the coalition, and my favorite guys, the US armed forces, for getting Zarqawi last night. Good work, all.
PS to Tabitha Grimalkin: Hey! What's up with Edmonton?? Come on, BEAT THOSE 'CANES!!
Monday, June 05, 2006
Friday, June 02, 2006
Are we done moving yet?
Oh man, what a week.
Son has been moved out of his on-campus apartment and is currently "Somewhere In The Galapagos Islands". He has run through most of his traveling funds and we had to put some in his bank account.
Eldest Daughter is moved OUT of her local apartment and INTO her new digs in Another State Too Very Far Away. DrMom is sad and misses her desperately but will NOT cry over what is an exciting time for Daughter and proof that DrMom and Dad prepared their girl well to fly on her own. Still, DrMom is very jealous of anyone who gets to spend more time with her girl than she does. Moms are like that.
But now that the graduation/moving stuff is over, time to get back to work. My lit survey paper got sent back by the journal because they "don't do survey papers" which means I've got to send it somewhere else. Need to work on two other papers this summer, while I am dealing with incredibly cluttered house and getting ready for fall quarter classes.
On a good note, I got my evals back and they were very good. Yay!
Oh man, what a week.
Son has been moved out of his on-campus apartment and is currently "Somewhere In The Galapagos Islands". He has run through most of his traveling funds and we had to put some in his bank account.
Eldest Daughter is moved OUT of her local apartment and INTO her new digs in Another State Too Very Far Away. DrMom is sad and misses her desperately but will NOT cry over what is an exciting time for Daughter and proof that DrMom and Dad prepared their girl well to fly on her own. Still, DrMom is very jealous of anyone who gets to spend more time with her girl than she does. Moms are like that.
But now that the graduation/moving stuff is over, time to get back to work. My lit survey paper got sent back by the journal because they "don't do survey papers" which means I've got to send it somewhere else. Need to work on two other papers this summer, while I am dealing with incredibly cluttered house and getting ready for fall quarter classes.
On a good note, I got my evals back and they were very good. Yay!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)