September 5, 2006

The good stuff

I took today off, and so had a nice long 4 day weekend alternately studying for the GRE and worrying about it. The studying paid off, though- a review of basic math I'd forgotten and listening to a vocabulary podcast- as well as the 9 practice tests I took- helped a lot. I had the goal of at least 600 math and 700 verbal, and got 640 math and 700 verbal. Of course, I'll have to wait a couple of weeks for the writing score, I hope I made my goal of 5 there.

Since I took the test this morning, I've spend the afternoon doing absolutely nothing. Geoff and I went and had far too large a lunch, I watched a couple of episodes of "Lois and Clark" (I know, it's horrible, but I can't stop!) and then read for three hours.

Wicket's eye has changed color - there are these weird brown marks that weren't there before. He seems to be fine, though. The vet said she had not seen anything like it in 30 years of practice, but she didn't think it was melanoma because the iris has not changed. I just hope she's right. I read On the Internet (a good place to scare yourself with stuff like this) that if it was melanoma, he'd have to have his eye removed.

For now, though, it seems to be fine, we just need to keep an eye on it.

After just 4 days, it's hard to get back into the daily ritual of work- making my lunch the night before, getting to bed early enough. I've decided that one of my goals in life is to have a 4 day work week (that is, a 32 hour workweek)

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Posted by Karin Dalziel on September 5, 2006 9:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 12, 2006

House Woes

Last night our waste pipe backed up into our basement (yes, that is every bit as disgusting as it sounds) - so last night was spent going to Home Depot and renting a sewer snake (again) which, luckily, did the trick. We still need to clean and disinfect the basement.

Between this, the roof, the electrical mess, and the foundation (I've given up on the idea of a privacy fence, too much else to fix) I'm getting seriously depressed over this house stuff. I don't even know where to start, I can't seem to get estimates (no one ever calls me back) and I don't know who to trust.

Thing is, I know I don't have it that bad. The most I think I'll lose is $40,000 on this house mess- not something we can't recover from after, say 10 years of hard work (sigh) and that's a worst case scenario. I know I have it pretty good. I tell myself this over and over. But I'm just sad, and depressed and I don't know what to do. I've emailed several organizations for help- they all refer me somewhere else that can't help either.

I don't know that I ever want to own a house again.

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Posted by Karin Dalziel on September 12, 2006 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 13, 2006

New feature: Subscribe

I have added a feature so you can now subscribe to my blog and have entries come to you in email format (no more than once per day.) Provided through FeedBlitz.

I'm curious whether anyone will use this.

Just use the handy form on the right hand column.

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Posted by Karin Dalziel on September 13, 2006 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 14, 2006

Donation: noahgrey.com

I've actually had a hard time figuring out a site to donate to this time. I need to pay attention as I surf and keep a list. Many of my most visited sites don't take donations- either they are funded through an institution, or just don't have a link.

I chose noahgrey.com for a donation this pay period. I've been going to this website for a *long* time now. I first found it because I used Noah's software- Greymatter- to manage my first blog. Eventually I switched to movabletype, but I still go to Noah's site to look at the beautiful photography. Right now he is in need of a new printer- I know my $10 won't be a big help, but hopefully it will be some.

Once I pay off my student loans I would like to up my donation amount a little.

I have a couple of Noah's book on my del.icio.us wishlist, and hope to buy a print or two of his one day.

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Posted by Karin Dalziel on September 14, 2006 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 15, 2006

Thankful

It helps to remind myself of what I am thankful of every once in a while:

Geoff - I say it all the time to him, but I can't get over the fact that he is so nice to me. Even when I don't particularly deserve it. His touch can calm me down, a hug from him will cure almost any stress.

Friends - I have a lot of good friends. I guess sometimes I feel like my friends don't "count" because they're Geoff's friends or because I met them through an ex, etc. I don't know where I get such dumb ideas.

My house - I complain, but I really love my house. I think part of the reason I get so upset when things go wrong is that I'm scared of losing my house. I love the location- I can walk , ride my bike, or take the bus to work, and can walk to many restaurants. I love the layout- every room opens onto every other room, no long hallways to go down, and it has a huge main room that serves as a dining/living room. I love just having a house, having room to spread out, being able to make a certain amount of noise (singing, hammering) without worrying that I'm bothering neighbors. I especially love not sharing a ventilation system with heavy smokers.

My pets - they annoy the crap out of me sometimes, but I love 'em.

School - I never would have guessed, even 6 months ago, that I would be going for a Library Science degree. The more I delve into it, though, the more I love it, and the more I am convinced I am doing the right thing. Sometimes you just never know what life will bring.

Work - I pretty much like my job. That in itself is remarkable. But I have found something that I can see myself growing in, and something that offers me opportunity for growth.

Life in general - I like my morning walks to work- a nice time to listen to music and think and dream. Even when I can catch the bus, I usually don't, because the walk is pleasant (especially lately- gorgeous weather.) I like laying around and reading for hours when I get home, or watching anime (just finished a series called "Karin" oddly enough) or making something. I like cooking, sometimes. I like being completely silly, and having Geoff be completely silly right back.

I worry too much, I stress too much, and I know this. I try to stop, but sometimes I just can't help it. However, it's getting better.

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Posted by Karin Dalziel on September 15, 2006 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

September 16, 2006

Research

I decided not to give up on my research blog. I found a nice MT plugin that allows you to add fields- convenient for adding author, publisher, etc, info. (I think this will be my next donation) Here is a sample entry. Eventually I'd like to make name, etc, click able.

Now I need a Firefox plugin that would allow me to save a bunch of entries and then upload them all at once. Sigh. This is still way quicker than the old note card method, though, and I can access it from any computer, and I can tag entries. The idea is to collect everything in one place so I'm not constantly wondering where I put that note about that article I read.

We'll see how useful it is in research.

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Posted by Karin Dalziel on September 16, 2006 10:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 18, 2006

Oh, the places you'll go

I made a quick project page of Google Earth Pics of places I've lived.

OK, Mom and Dad, I need help here- where are some more places?

I have yet to do:

Omaha, Nebraska
Irvine, California (I think?)
Reno, Nevada
Austin, TX (did I ever live there?)

I'm sure I am missing many more.

Funnily enough, I just started reading a book about the philosophy of Place. I've been thinking about my Place entry from a while ago. I hate to say it, but Lincoln is starting to grow on me. Help, it's sucking me in!

The things I like about it have to do with it being small- The fact that I can walk to work, that everything is close, that even though I live near a fairly busy street it's not that busy. I still miss the big city stuff- the museums, the variety. And I REALLY miss scenery that's anything but flat.

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Posted by Karin Dalziel on September 18, 2006 9:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)