Thesis writing

As viciously difficult as doing mathematical research, I think some of the hardest part is looking for and reading articles and then writing introductions to papers. I have been working on an introduction to a paper that I have been writing for a while. It is soooo hard. It sounds like it should be the easiest part, but not for me.

I think I can see the end though. I hope that I'll have it written this weekend...then I move into the actual thesis writing.

New Computer

I have a new computer. It seems neglectful to not blog about this new computer. It is from Dell: Vostro v130. It is super thin and light, which is why I picked out this one. So far it is treating me well. Although I have not toted it around anywhere yet, it certainly appears like it will be much more portable than any other computer I have had. Also, it is not a 10in so the screen is not super time (the screen is 13in).

Have a look:

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/vostro-v130/pd

Fingers crossed that this computer brings good vibes for my thesis.

Busy times

In 2011, I am really hoping to finish my thesis. This is all well and good to say, but I actually have quite a bit of work to do and not a lot of time to do it. So the pressure is on. This pressure is really overwhelming. Neil works well under pressure, actually, sometimes it seems like he only works under pressure. But, the time is now. There are some job postings that sound really exciting, so I have to finish to have a chance at these jobs. Of course, actually getting one of these jobs is a completely different story.

Anyway, that's enough of a break. I have to keep my eye on the prize and get down to work.

End of the year

It is the second last day of the year. With 2010 ending, it is a time for reflection.

This year has flown by. There were many things I had hoped for this year that didn't happen, but it was still an okay year. Neil and I did a lot of travelling, some for pleasure (our trip to Phoenix), most for work-related things (conferences, summer school). I did a lot of work (getting 1 and almost 2 preprints finished) and a lot of teaching. Luck didn't really shine on my family this year, but everyone survived.

Here's hoping that 2011 brings peace, happiness and progress for my family.

Lessons never learned...

I have been fighting a head cold all week. It has been frustrating because I don't really have the time to be sick.

As I sometimes do when I am sick, I take cold medication before bed. I had finished the bottle of pills that I had been taking, so I took something different...without carefully looking at the label. Now it is 4:43 in the morning and I am regretting it. The reason is that certain medications, instead of making me sleepy, just make me loopy and awake. I know the particular drug that does this, and I usually remember to avoid it, but not tonight. Wow...it sucks.

Now, in addition to being behind in my work because I am sick, my sleep schedule is also really messed up.

Well, I am going to try to make the best of a bad situation. I will try to do some work that does not require any heavy mental lifting.

Thesis...uggghhhh

Did you ever had so much to do that you didn't know where to start? Or just so much that you didn't even feel like starting? That is how I feel. I have so much work on my thesis and job applications that I don't even know what on my huge to do list to tackle first.

I probably don't have time to blog.

My plan of attack will be to do the work that makes me least feel like throwing up.

More mice

Neil and I heard mouse noises last night, and Neil set up traps. Cameron found one dead in a trap this morning, but, alas, further mouse noises have led us to believe that they are not done with us yet.

I hate mice. Is there a part of the world that does not have household pests?

Harry Potter

I am going to see a special screening of the new Harry Potter movie tonight. Although I enjoy Harry Potter, I am not a die-hard fan, given that I have not read all the books and I can't even remember what the name of this new movie is.

I'm sure I'll enjoy the movie tonight though...since I get to eat popcorn...I am easy to please.

Yoga fail

Since I am going to be in Halifax this Christmas, I was planning on getting lots of work and going to lots of yoga classes. Unfortunately, I have been let down by assuming yoga was a non-christian type of thing. This is the schedule over Christmas at the place I like to go:

http://theshala.ca/index.php/news/holiday_schedule/

There basically are no yoga classes for the entirety of Christmas. Oh well. I'll have to do yoga at home.

M.I.A.

The lack of blog posts recently have been due to the epic amount of work I have to do. Aside from the obvious thesis work I have job application stuff, finishing a paper from my masters stuff, TA stuff, then add to all of this, the usual dealing with family and cleaning and feeding myself....this makes for a busy Rebecca.

Just writing it makes me stressed out... I am going to try to get some of this work done...

Wish me luck :D

Rainfall warning

Halifax is to receive 25mm of rain overnight and 25mm of rain tomorrow. That's a lot of rain.

Ace of Base

Recently I was able to get my hands on an Ace of Base CD that I then put on my computer. Right now I am listening to their greatest hits. Although definitely dated, the music brings me back to grade 6. Carefree days when, of course, I thought I had the weight of the world on my shoulders (this is a trend that appears to have followed me since I was in grade 4).

Anyway, listening to music from one's childhood can be soothing. I recommend that you listen to something right now, perhaps not Ace of Base unless you liked them in grade 6.

Airporter wait: Live Blogging

8:39pm: I am live blogging my airporter wait. Hopefully it will be a short lived live blog.

What appears to be a large number of child violin players just came through US customs, from Boston, it would seem.

8:41pm: Up until now, there has only been me sitting next to the airporter loading zone. I haven't seem much activity except for a bunch of people just within the last minute. Perhaps the shuttle won't be as empty as it would first appear.

8:43pm: Several Air Canada flights just landed and the baggage area is quite busy. Follow along with the arrivals with me!

http://www.hiaa.ca/schedules/arrivals_ns.html

8:44pm: This live blogging thing is not nearly as exciting as Cameron makes it seem.

8:46pm: I am going to pack up my computer and get ready for the shuttle. I want to get a good seat the live blogging is not really that entertaining. The people watching is entertaining though. I wish the airport was closer so that I could people watch more often. I guess I could people watch at the mall, but the people here are more exciting. Like all the kids with the violin cases.

8:47pm: Going offline.

Conclusions: from now on, I'll leave the live blogging to Cameron and Montifax.

CV and research blurbs

Right now I am starting the job hunt process. This will be long and hard and frustrating. But to even start I have to have a CV and a write up about past, current and proposed future research. Yikers. The research blurb is the hardest for me. There are all sorts of directions that I see this can go. Trying to focus that, write sensibly and somehow attract employers seems like an impossible task.

Fingers crossed that I will have some sort of research blurb epiphany and I'll write something magical.

Unpopular Opinions

I often have the unpopular opinion on particular issues. Generally I keep them to myself, but the benefit of a blog is to mouth off.

Many of the people that I went to high school (and even university with) are school teachers. Most of those who choose to do math have jobs, but most of those that did other things like English and History do not have jobs. They get by on substituting and tutoring. What bothers me is the amount of complaining (mostly on Facebook) about the lack of available substituting and other issues surrounding not being able to get enough work. The reason that this bothers me is THIS IS WHAT THEY SIGN ON FOR!!!!! Everyone knew, when we were starting university, that unless you did math or a science or french as a teachable, there were not any jobs. It was common knowledge 10 years ago. So what did these people think?

When I decided to pursue my degree and this whole academia thing, I knew this meant that I would probably have to live and work somewhere for a few years before getting a position I really want. I knew this, and so I am not upset about it.

Anyway, that is my unpopular opinion for today: substitute teachers should suck it up.

Stay tuned for other unpopular opinions in the future...I am full of them

Work Fail

So today, I got up early, made a lunch and headed into my office to get a full day's work. I was so pleased that I managed to get on the go relatively early. I walked in, got there in just over 20 mins, then discovered that I couldn't get into the building. The security system was malfunctioning. Frustrated, I turned around and came back home. On my way home, I recalled an email about a planned power outage today, which was probably the reason for the system fail.

Anyway, all my plans were then turned around. Thus, I haven't gotten nearly as much done as I wanted and needed to get done.

Now to try to make this a better day!

Yoga update

I am continuing to go to yoga, and I am getting better with a lot of poses, but one pose of the sun salutation eludes me: chaturanga
Other students do not seem to have trouble with it, but I do. I think my lack of any arm strength is the problem. I am going to try to improve this, but in the meantime, it is frustrating that, for a beginner, I can do a lot of the poses, but this starting one I have so much trouble with.

Trip to Arizona

I just returned to Halifax after a trip to Arizona. The reason for the trip was a family wedding in Phoenix, but we also fit in some sight-seeing. We went to the Grand Canyon which was amazing (pictures to come!). We also went to the Desert Botanical Gardens, where the wedding was held. Also, lots of other touring around Phoenix.

It was a great trip. I really liked how sunny and warm it was in Arizona. I liked all the cacti and other desert plants. One thing that I wasn't prepared for was how spread out Phoenix and metro area was. There was no walking anywhere. Everything was also big box stores. That was a little disappointing.

Pictures and more about my trip later...

Phoenix

I am heading to Phoenix tomorrow and have been carefully watching the weather. Apparently, there has been a lot of rain and the weather has gotten cold, but last week, it was 41 degrees. It is hard to pack for such weather.

Fingers crossed I won't freeze or melt.

Hair Cut

On Friday, after my tutorials and after my meeting, I quickly went and got my hair cut. The girl cut a little more off than I thought, although I definitely wanted it short. It is a bizarre feeling to go and get 8 to 10 inches cut off my hair.

I think in the future, I might try and get my hair cut more than once a year. Maybe I'll up it to twice a year.