I'm in the middle of writing my comprehensive exams for my PhD program. Comps are scary, stressful, and time-consuming. To finish, you live, eat, breath, and sleep comps for 2 full weeks. I'm currently on day 10, and these are the things that my comprehensive exams have made me thankful for.
#1. Food that I don't have to cook.
#2. Underground parking near the Toxicology Centre.
#3. My winter training bike class
#4. Coffee
#5. Crappy weather that makes staying inside for weeks seem like a reward
#6. Candy
#7. Diet Coke
#8. Laptop computers
#9. Sweatpants
#10. Other graduate students to complain with
Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family in the US!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Things I Am Thankful For
#6. Books. I am not sure I would survive the long Saskatchewan winter without books to read. Right now, I am especially excited about reading books all winter long on my new e-reader. Electronic or paper, I am definitely thankful for books.
#7. Bikes. I like bikes. A lot. I rode bikes as a kid, but I didn't own my first 'real bike' until 5 years ago. Now I have 3 bikes. And I'm considering buying another. Some of my best friends in Saskatoon are people I met through biking. If I ever leave Saskatoon, I am going to miss my bike shop more than any other business. I like riding so much that I commute to school all year round, including when it's -30C. I want to ride a century and start bike touring next year. I am always happy when I ride my bikes. Even when I crash. Biking makes life better.
#8. Shoes with a wide toe box. I have duck feet. When I started running, I didn't realize that this was going to be a problem with many shoes. The first time I ran 7 miles (in a pair of shoes I had been training in for weeks), my pinky toes wore through the shoes, popped out of the holes they had created, and I got the most painful blisters I had ever had (at that point....there have been worse since then). So, I went and bought a pair of shoes that fit me better. As all athletes know, the search for the perfect pair of shoes is a never-ending one, but I am still thankful that I can buy shoes with a wide toe box and avoid ever having my toes on the outside of my shoes again.
#9. Peanut butter. I am pretty sure PB is one of the most perfect foods ever. It is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. It goes with sweet or savory foods equally well. You can even eat it straight out of the jar. Chocolate + peanut butter is one of the most heavenly combinations ever. I heart PB.
#10. Mountains. Or even just hills, I guess. Michigan doesn't have much topography, but living in the prairies has made me appreciate that at least MI isn't completely flat. It makes me sad that I have to drive 7 hours from Saskatoon to get to the mountains, but I am thankful that that 7 hour drive puts me in the most beautiful part of the Canadian Rockies.
#7. Bikes. I like bikes. A lot. I rode bikes as a kid, but I didn't own my first 'real bike' until 5 years ago. Now I have 3 bikes. And I'm considering buying another. Some of my best friends in Saskatoon are people I met through biking. If I ever leave Saskatoon, I am going to miss my bike shop more than any other business. I like riding so much that I commute to school all year round, including when it's -30C. I want to ride a century and start bike touring next year. I am always happy when I ride my bikes. Even when I crash. Biking makes life better.
#8. Shoes with a wide toe box. I have duck feet. When I started running, I didn't realize that this was going to be a problem with many shoes. The first time I ran 7 miles (in a pair of shoes I had been training in for weeks), my pinky toes wore through the shoes, popped out of the holes they had created, and I got the most painful blisters I had ever had (at that point....there have been worse since then). So, I went and bought a pair of shoes that fit me better. As all athletes know, the search for the perfect pair of shoes is a never-ending one, but I am still thankful that I can buy shoes with a wide toe box and avoid ever having my toes on the outside of my shoes again.
#9. Peanut butter. I am pretty sure PB is one of the most perfect foods ever. It is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. It goes with sweet or savory foods equally well. You can even eat it straight out of the jar. Chocolate + peanut butter is one of the most heavenly combinations ever. I heart PB.
#10. Mountains. Or even just hills, I guess. Michigan doesn't have much topography, but living in the prairies has made me appreciate that at least MI isn't completely flat. It makes me sad that I have to drive 7 hours from Saskatoon to get to the mountains, but I am thankful that that 7 hour drive puts me in the most beautiful part of the Canadian Rockies.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Things I Am Thankful For
Even though we should probably be doing it all the time, many of us relegate thinking about and appreciating the things we are thankful for to a few select days of the year. While November isn't traditionally the month associated with Thanksgiving in Canada, I thought I would let the closeted American out and do a thankfulness theme this month. I'm shooting for coming up with 3o things I'm thankful for before the end of the month. Since I've got a climbing trip, a conference, and my comprehensives (YIKES!) all going down in November, we'll see if that actually happens.
#1. My family. They are, without a doubt, the most important people in my life. I am thankful that we love each other. I am thankful that we are enough alike to be a big group of best friends in addition to being related to one another. I am thankful we vacation together. I am thankful that my sister is my very best friend. I am thankful that my mom and dad were my parents. I am thankful that my niece is the cutest kid on the planet.
#2. My friends. I am thankful that I have friends all over the world. I am thankful that we'll remain friends no matter how far apart we live or how often we talk (or don't talk). I am thankful to have friends that are pretty darn close to family.
#3. My dog. Those of you that know Niki need no further explanation. I am thankful that Niki is the best dog EVER (even if she annoys the crap out of me sometimes).
#4. Caffeine. Oh caffeine, I wish I weren't so dependent upon you, but I am thankful for your help in waking up in the morning and staying awake when I'm tired. I am extra thankful to have discovered the magical elixir that is the cafe latte.
#5. Powerpoint. My supervisors delight in telling anyone who will listen about the bad old days of giving lectures and presentations before computer-assisted graphics programs. I am thankful that we no longer use overhead and slide projectors. I do wish, however, that 'professional' color schemes included colors other than black, blue, gray, and white.
#1. My family. They are, without a doubt, the most important people in my life. I am thankful that we love each other. I am thankful that we are enough alike to be a big group of best friends in addition to being related to one another. I am thankful we vacation together. I am thankful that my sister is my very best friend. I am thankful that my mom and dad were my parents. I am thankful that my niece is the cutest kid on the planet.
#2. My friends. I am thankful that I have friends all over the world. I am thankful that we'll remain friends no matter how far apart we live or how often we talk (or don't talk). I am thankful to have friends that are pretty darn close to family.
#3. My dog. Those of you that know Niki need no further explanation. I am thankful that Niki is the best dog EVER (even if she annoys the crap out of me sometimes).
#4. Caffeine. Oh caffeine, I wish I weren't so dependent upon you, but I am thankful for your help in waking up in the morning and staying awake when I'm tired. I am extra thankful to have discovered the magical elixir that is the cafe latte.
#5. Powerpoint. My supervisors delight in telling anyone who will listen about the bad old days of giving lectures and presentations before computer-assisted graphics programs. I am thankful that we no longer use overhead and slide projectors. I do wish, however, that 'professional' color schemes included colors other than black, blue, gray, and white.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Not that kind of girl
I just got home from a friend's Halloween party. Everyone else, including E, is continuing the party at a local bar. I really didn't want to go, so I bailed. I feel like I should have stayed. I want to want to do the social thing...but it's hard for me for some reason.
The past couple of months I have been making a concerted effort to go out more. That all kind of fell apart this week. Since last Saturday, I skipped a concert that I was really looking forward to, missed a wrap-up party for my soccer team, and I didn't dress up for Halloween for work on Friday.
Don't get me wrong, I am perfectly happy to be a homebody. I like to be here in my comfort zone. I just feel like it shouldn't be so hard for me to not stay home. I don't know. Maybe it would be easier for me if I had more friends that wanted to do anything other than drink in a noisy, crowded bar. I think I am becoming an old.
Oh dear.
The past couple of months I have been making a concerted effort to go out more. That all kind of fell apart this week. Since last Saturday, I skipped a concert that I was really looking forward to, missed a wrap-up party for my soccer team, and I didn't dress up for Halloween for work on Friday.
Don't get me wrong, I am perfectly happy to be a homebody. I like to be here in my comfort zone. I just feel like it shouldn't be so hard for me to not stay home. I don't know. Maybe it would be easier for me if I had more friends that wanted to do anything other than drink in a noisy, crowded bar. I think I am becoming an old.
Oh dear.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
And So It Begins
I ride my bike to campus every day. All seasons. All weather. It's only 2km, after all.
I made my first snow commute of the season this morning. We got just about enough of the white stuff to cover the ground and make things a little slick. Beside the -10C wind chill that I'm just not used to yet, it wasn't actually all that bad. And then it snowed all day. And the wind blew. And the snow drifted.
I left campus a little late this evening because a bunch of us got post-work drinks for my boss M's 40th birthday. So, it was pretty much dark when I headed home. It was still snowing. The wind was still blowing. The snow was still drifting. The makings of a TERRIBLE commute.
I made it across campus through the 5cm of snow and slush that was everywhere without much problem. As I leave campus on my commute, though, I have to ride across an area of fields (yes, this is right in the middle of the city). This open area creates nasty wind and weather conditions on a regular basis. Today was no exception. The wind happened to be blowing in a direction that drifted snow across the MUP I usually ride on. The bike lanes on the (very icy) road were also drifted shut.
I wound up pushing my bike through snowbanks for most of the rest of my commute.
The joys of winter in Saskatchewan.
I made my first snow commute of the season this morning. We got just about enough of the white stuff to cover the ground and make things a little slick. Beside the -10C wind chill that I'm just not used to yet, it wasn't actually all that bad. And then it snowed all day. And the wind blew. And the snow drifted.
I left campus a little late this evening because a bunch of us got post-work drinks for my boss M's 40th birthday. So, it was pretty much dark when I headed home. It was still snowing. The wind was still blowing. The snow was still drifting. The makings of a TERRIBLE commute.
I made it across campus through the 5cm of snow and slush that was everywhere without much problem. As I leave campus on my commute, though, I have to ride across an area of fields (yes, this is right in the middle of the city). This open area creates nasty wind and weather conditions on a regular basis. Today was no exception. The wind happened to be blowing in a direction that drifted snow across the MUP I usually ride on. The bike lanes on the (very icy) road were also drifted shut.
I wound up pushing my bike through snowbanks for most of the rest of my commute.
The joys of winter in Saskatchewan.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Dental Anxiety
I'm going to the dentist today. I am not looking forward to going to the dentist.
For my whole life, I have had relatively 'good' teeth. I don't really get cavities. I think I had 1, plus 1 in a baby tooth, for my first 29 years. I'm not sure what happened, but my tooth enamel has decided to crap out on me in the last couple of years. This has led to broken/chipped teeth and cavities. It's a real bummer.
At my last checkup, which was admittedly way overdue, the dentist discovered 1 broken tooth (I knew that one was there), 1 chipped tooth (had no idea about that one), and 2 cavities! I'm headed back today to have both the broken teeth fixed and one of the cavities filled. These 3 teeth happen to be in 3 of the 4 different quadrants of my mouth, so I'm not too sure how much anesthetic they'll have to use. Plus, I haven't had ANY dental work outside of cleanings done since I was about 11, so I don't even know what to expect. I'm pretty much terrified!
The cavity that they are not dealing with today just happens to be in a wisdom tooth (I still have all of mine). It was pretty much inevitable that this tooth was going to get a cavity since my gum partially covers it and makes it impossible to clean. So, I get to go to the oral surgeon in December for an extraction. Lucky me. I have avoided wisdom tooth removal thus far because I just didn't want to do it. The dentist offered to fill it for me, but the filling probably would only be a temporary measure, so it seemed like taking the darn thing out was a better idea. I'm definitely not looking forward to that either!
For my whole life, I have had relatively 'good' teeth. I don't really get cavities. I think I had 1, plus 1 in a baby tooth, for my first 29 years. I'm not sure what happened, but my tooth enamel has decided to crap out on me in the last couple of years. This has led to broken/chipped teeth and cavities. It's a real bummer.
At my last checkup, which was admittedly way overdue, the dentist discovered 1 broken tooth (I knew that one was there), 1 chipped tooth (had no idea about that one), and 2 cavities! I'm headed back today to have both the broken teeth fixed and one of the cavities filled. These 3 teeth happen to be in 3 of the 4 different quadrants of my mouth, so I'm not too sure how much anesthetic they'll have to use. Plus, I haven't had ANY dental work outside of cleanings done since I was about 11, so I don't even know what to expect. I'm pretty much terrified!
The cavity that they are not dealing with today just happens to be in a wisdom tooth (I still have all of mine). It was pretty much inevitable that this tooth was going to get a cavity since my gum partially covers it and makes it impossible to clean. So, I get to go to the oral surgeon in December for an extraction. Lucky me. I have avoided wisdom tooth removal thus far because I just didn't want to do it. The dentist offered to fill it for me, but the filling probably would only be a temporary measure, so it seemed like taking the darn thing out was a better idea. I'm definitely not looking forward to that either!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Ready for winter?
There is really nothing that can prepare one for a Saskatchewan winter, but E and I are doing our best to be as prepared as possible this year. We broke down and turned the heat on in the house this week. We already turned it on for a few days during a cold-spell in September, but the weather actually stopped sucking for the rest of the fall, and the heat has been off-again until now. The weather is still quite nice for mid-October, but it's just a little too chilly to go without the furnace on these days.
This will be our fourth winter in this house. While it has some good attributes, the windows are NOT one of them. During the winter, the house always feels cold because of our single-paned, drafty, POS windows. They are bad enough that they routinely freeze from the inside. And the heat bills are atrocious. So, we decided to seal all the crappy windows with plastic this year to see if it helps.
It only took us about 2 hours to seal up 8 windows, and it was actually kind of fun. The plastic is actually shrink-wrap that you stick to the window frame with double-sided tape and then heat-shrink with a hair dryer. It amused us anyway.
We'll see if it makes any difference in comfort in the house or the heating bills!
This will be our fourth winter in this house. While it has some good attributes, the windows are NOT one of them. During the winter, the house always feels cold because of our single-paned, drafty, POS windows. They are bad enough that they routinely freeze from the inside. And the heat bills are atrocious. So, we decided to seal all the crappy windows with plastic this year to see if it helps.
It only took us about 2 hours to seal up 8 windows, and it was actually kind of fun. The plastic is actually shrink-wrap that you stick to the window frame with double-sided tape and then heat-shrink with a hair dryer. It amused us anyway.
We'll see if it makes any difference in comfort in the house or the heating bills!
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