My Mind

As I sit at school “reading” about “Temporal discretisation errors in non-iterative split-operator approaches to solving chemical reaction/groundwater transport models”, I can’t help but have my mind wander to more interesting avenues of thought.

Part of my mind is occupied by The Environmentalist that is concerned with the arctic drilling, increased world oil consumption, climate change, and the ever increasing array of toxic and eco-toxic contaminants.

Part of my mind is occupied by The 20-Something Single Girl that is concerned with finding the perfect swimsuit, the perfect pair of shoes, and of course, the perfect guy. The Swim suit – 2 piece, halter style top with v-neck top and wide band around the rib-cage to hide my freakishly long body, plain old bikini bottoms that aren’t too low, and have enough material to cover my more self conscious parts. The Shoes – cute, comfy, flats (not thongs, they hurt my feet!) that go with my summer skirt collection. I must finally admit that, no, Teva’s are not appropriate foot attire while wearing a cute summer skirts. The Guy – I could go with the classic cliché of “tall, dark and handsome” but the truth is the only one of those is important to my 5’9” self. Yep, you guessed it, the handsome part :). Seriously, the perfect guy for me – someone who is laid back and can bring me back a notch or two when I get worked up (quite frequently as most of you know), someone who is outdoorsy and adventurous that would be willing to at least try what I’m into doing, someone who is active – not just in the summer, but year round, someone who is kind and caring and knows how to treat a girl right.

The last part of my mind is occupied by The Worrier that is concerned about how she is going to fit everything in during the next day, week, month, and year. Yes, I am already worried about what is happening in a year from now. Today I need to go to the gym, go for a run, get to M&Ms to pick up chicken, get gas, get cat food, and prepare myself for not having a car for the next month. Next week I have my final exam in the class I’m TA-ing, an extra help tutorial, assignments and exams to mark, and field work of another graduate student to help with. Next month I have to get my visa, get my prescriptions filled, be a great best friend and maid of honour, and get myself ready for my vacation – I know, this isn’t supposed to be stressful, but I tend to do things a little different than everyone else. Next year I have to finish my thesis. This time next summer, I’ll be submitting my master’s thesis and preparing for my seminar, thinking of that alone is stressful considering all the work I have left to do.

I think I’m starting to get a little ahead of myself here, so it is the nose back to the grindstone and back to life as a grad student trying not to freak out about my thesis and reading about discretisation errors, operator splitting, and the advection dispersion and reaction equation.

I posted this on EnviroGeek

But I think it is just that important and wanted to get as many of you as possible to see this.

Drilling in the Mackenzie Delta is about to be voted on in the US, and it has the potential of being the worst environemental disaster in years. The Exxon Valdez is nothing compared to what could happen. Not only due to the sensitive arctic environment, but also because of all the unique engineering problems that this arises. Note: This area is a wildlife reserve for the porcipine caribou herd (the largest caribou herd in the world, but is also a bird sanctuary. Very important for the local ecosystem. Also the pipeline through tundra and how animals will cross it has never been fully addressed. The world wildlife fund has started a petition to the prime minister to urge the canadian case to the US (note: with a pipeline, they would have to go through canada to get to the american public). Please at least visit the site to hear what they have to say, and if you agree sign the petition.

WWF Petition

My feet smell like swamp

My shin splints are starting to come back a bit so I figured I'd wear my hiking shoes today to be proactive in this (since my sandals have like NO arch support. So I've got my orthotics in, which I've only been wearing for running lately. It seems to be doing the trick. Unfortunately my hikers also smell like swamp. As in literally a swamp. Some would say "wetland" since that is a more pleasant term, but to describe my feet as smelling like "wetland" doesn't really do justice to how much they stink. I guess it is time to buy a new pair of hikers for every day wear and only where these ones for my outdoor adventures (in swamps, or otherwise).

I've thought more about this single vs. couple debate... I think it is the media that got me thinking this way. And was probably the media that made me forget about it for a while too. Seeing as the tour was on for pretty much the same length of time as I was feeling this way, that is all I was watching on TV. Not really the opportunity to see happy people in love. Comprenez?

On to less interesting stuff. I went swimsuit shopping with EK last night, and they had like NONE left. At least none that fit my "above average" figure. And definitely not in the style I want. I finally worked myself up to buy a new two piece too. (Note: I have one two piece swimsuit - it is 7 years old, and very much out of style). Oh well, I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I'll continue swimming in my speedos and nikes indefinitely.

Oh, and I wish I could write more eloquently. I love reading stuff that is well written, and well, That isn't my work. You know what I mean? Some people just have a really good way with words.

3rd Post of the Day

So lately I've become quite happy about being single. I like having my time to do what I want to do. Not feel like I have to do x because that is what "the guy" is doing. For the past I-don't-know-how-many weekends now I have been busy at least one of the nights and I need me time to relax, unwind, clean, organize, read, etc. Honestly this has been probably the first time in my life I've been really content about being single.

So tonight trying to fill the void in my life that the end of the tour has left me (plus not being able to carry through with my original plans of going to to gym to do weights due to my achey, post immunized arms), I was watching trashy TV again for the first time since before the tour started 3 weeks ago. I had on some show and then when that was over everyones favorite king of trash came on. "Average Joe". I've never been a big average joe fan, well, a fan of any of the reality dating shows (except for blind date, I had a bit of an obsession with that back in 2a :))

Okay, so getting to the point. Half an hour of watching this trash and I'm backing to just wishing I had that someone special back in my life to share life experiences with. What is with that?!? Is it just media that makes girls want this story book love or is it in our genetic code, or is just that time of the month? Why can't we just be happy about being single and stay that way? It's not as if I have any options around me. Everyone I know I either know to well, they are dating someone, or are otherwise unavailable (gay, uninvolved, not a good match, whatever). Nor do I have time to start a relationship right now with leaving for Africa in less than 4 weeks, and Danielle's wedding in just over 3. Man. I need to get back to that place I was 2 hours ago!

Oh and...

For those of you following the saga of my crazy cat (like, literally, crazy). I got her cat grass last week and it is ready for her to eat now. She loves it, and it seems to have really calmed her down a lot. Like she hasn't attacked me since I put it out for her. She is still playful, but in a more manageable way :)

Update.

So I haven't been too talkative lately. I guess I haven't had much to write about really. I had an awesome weekend with the Exaggerator and C-dub up in the Kawarthas. Very nice and relaxing :), but other than that really, not much going on. Mostly tour watching, but now even that is over.

I've talked about HP enough to satiate myself until you guys are done, so I'm not going to post anything about that.

The term at school is winding down which means my TA is almost over. I'm not really sad about it, it ended up being a lot of work. I think because I missed the first 2 weeks of term with field school I kind of hit the ground running and haven't had much time to relax since before field school started. It'll be nice when I finally have a bit of time off in August, but I'm going to feel incredibly guilty than, and not really okay with taking that much time off. I guess that happens. I'm probably using up my final vacation days as a grad student to go to africa, so I don't forsee any trips until I'm done after this one. (unless there be some big reason to take a trip to red deer!).

So that is it for today, basically just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive :)

I'm done

Burger, Niks, and Exaggerator, let me know when you are done :) I have so much to say!

I dream of Harry

Yep, last night I dreamt that I couldn't wait until midnight and went to a book store that was selling it early. It was the weirdest bookstore ever. It sold dinning room furniture that you could test out, in store. Ie. sit down and have a meal. very bizzare.

Getting back to the harry bit, the cover wasn't what it was supposed to be (------>) but had a crude painting of a village in a snow storm. It had some sort of caption on the inside like "Cover Art by:...... age 10, passed away from cancer.

How weird is that. I think I'm confusing my Harry madness with my tour madness (tour... lance... livestrong... cancer). Oh well, just finishing up my assignment from home. I will shortly be printing. Yipee!

I'm almost done!

774 that is. The course from hell that I started on winter day about 6.5 months ago. The end is finally in sight and as long as nothing bad happens, I should be done before the day is through. Yay!

So other than that, not much. We had our Soccer playoff game last night. We lost in penalty shots at the end when we tied 0-0. I'm pretty happy with how we did, I didn't think we would have been able to hold them off with two of the best players on our team seriously injured.

Other news - I sold my old bike yesterday, Blythe's Boy bought it off of me, so that'll help with the finances a bit (and clear up room in my apartment if I decide to move my bike out to the shed. (This is HIGHLY unlikely though!).

One last thing I guess. Marathon Training started this week, and my body already feels like an old woman. I've run 26 km, had two soccer things (one practice, one game), and a spinning class in the last three days, and it has really wiped me out. Maybe I'm not meant to be a marathoner? I'll keep up the effort for now, and make my decision after I get back from africa.

Peterborough triathlon :)

This morning, we biked to the race from C-dubs house. About 5 km, there was a half ironman going on to, so we correctly guessed that parking would be a b*tch so it was a smart decision. We set up our transition and watched the half ironmaners start. Impressive.

My goals - Finish I was *hoping against all hopes* to get 1:30, but thought that was a bit of a pipe dream. I knew I could do the swim in less than 15:00, and the run in < 30:00, but the bike was a bit of an unknown. I'd have to ride in 45:00 and fit the transition times in there somewhere.

The swim 750 m- I did pretty much as expected, coming out of the water in about 13:30, but there was a nice longish job into the transition so my official time was 14:48 8/19 in my age group, but I know one of those people passed me on the jog into the transition, so I'm going to say 7/19, so there First transition felt like I was taking forever, but it was really only 1:35, so that was pretty good.

The bike 20 K - Now this is where I usually have the most trouble. I have never really thought of myself as a cyclist, It is definitely tough for me, in the first 1-2 km I was getting passed everywhere by men, but I figure they were all in the same wave as me, but I'm just a better swimmer . After that it kind of slowed down a bit. I still hadn't seen any other women, and then the miracle of all miracles happened. I passed a girl. On a road bike. In my age group. Go me! I got passed by a few girls in my group, but they were mostly older women, on fancy shmancy bikes. There was this one girl who I played cat an mouse with the entire bike, and she finished just ahead of me, I clicked out of my pedals too early! Bike time 41:12 yep, that is 29.1 km/hour 18.2 mph and... 7/19 in age. same as on the swim!!! T2-1:27 (Oh, and on the whole way back there was a brutal head wind!)

The Run 5K - So onto the run. I was a little nervous due to my last minute bike purchase I wasn't able to practice any bricks (bike then run) on my new bike. I thought I was running slower than molasses, it just wasn't going well. I was getting passed all over the place and took great condolence from the fact that they all looked to be in pretty good shape. I had to double check my watch at the first km marker, was I really running that fast? At about half way, I realized, I was getting my 1:30 even if I had to walk a bit, but I was feeling so much better, I was able to pick up the pace a bit, and passed the girl from the bike one last time, no looking back finished the run in 26:22 10/19 in age. Over all time, 1:25:21 and 8/19 in age group. I'm a mid packer :D (I typically finish tris like 2nd or 3rd last in age).

Started walking out on the run course and C-dub caught up, she was just starting the run, so I ran/walked with her for another 5k. I was proud of her!

Remotivated :)

Well, after a good month of unmotivated work, I'm finally back on track. I worked for a good two hours on my assignment this afternoon and I have a good idea of what I have to do to finish. I'll be staying at school late tomorrow and going in on Sunday when I get back to the loo. Hopefully I'll be done by the end of Monday.

I had a meeting with my supervisor and he sufficiently scared me into getting a crack on things! I have so much work to do on my thesis!!!

Who can read? a short rant.

Apparently not the jokers that were swimming in the pool this morning! I was swimming away in the fast lane, minding my own business. I know I'm not the fastest swimmer, but I definitely belong in the fast lane as long as the ex-varsity swimmers aren't there.

So I'm doing a set of 200 breast and I get to the end of the pool, and there were two people standing across the end blocking my way for the turn, I swim around them and keep going. My next set was legs only, and they finally start swimming. I always do 8 lengths of legs when I go, 1 flutter, 1 whip, 1 flutter, 1 dophin, and then repeat. So these people who are swimming in the FAST lane (which is clearly marked) start doing their front crawl, except, I'm going faster than them doing my dophin and whip kicks, wtf? do these people not know how to read?

Granted the fast lane wasn't busy, but neither was the slow lane. After I was finished my planned work out, I did 2 x 50 fast to show my annoyance. It got rid of them in a hurry though, I should have done it way sooner!!!

Rogers is Evil

I've been at home now for over 3 hours waiting for the rogers person to show up and its a no show. I call to see what is going on, apparently there is an appointment booked for NEXT monday at 2-5, wtf??? That is definitely not what I was told yesterday, so I let the guy have an earful. And bitched that I was missing 3 hours of work today and I would have to miss another 3 tomorrow for them to come. (I didn't let him in on the fact that I am home sick or that I'm a grad stude though :)) I'm pissed off. I have an appointment at 4 and wanted to pick up my bike before then. The dude is calling the service department to see if they can get someone out here before I have to leave, but I'm still not impressed >:(. Let me just say this. I'm taking full advantage of the free digital receiver and $3/month for OLN for the 2 month trial period and then sending it all back!

May I introduce...

My new bike :D

The Fuji Aloha
http://www.fujibikes.com/2005/bikes.asp?id=21
I got a great deal on last years model (yellow replaced with red) and it was $500 off :)

I'm still feeling a little crappy this morning, I have a brutal headache because of how dehydrated I am. I have to be home from 11-2 when the cable guy comes to hook up my OLN (tour watching!), so I think i'm just going to head into school and make sure I have enough stuff to keep me busy today at home. I'm not sure how productive I'm going to be in my current state, but you never know. I'm attempting to eat breakfast this morning - plain white toast and gingerale. Oooh, healthy! ;)

Ugh

My weekend

Thursday - drove home and got fitted for My Maid of Honour Dress for D's Wedding
Friday - Woke up feeling unwell tried my run, but had to bag it at 3.5 cause I didn't feel well. Decided to try camping trip anyways. By the time we reached our campsite (interior - backcountry) I was doubled over vomiting. Decided to stick it out the night and was feeling much better in the morning.
Saturday - Canoed the Barron Canyon. I'll try to post pictures later this week - it was gorgeous
Sunday - Drove home to bville had a shower and dinner then carried on to wloo.

Today - I'm feeling unwell again :( I feel hot and gross, but I'm not sure why. Hopefully it'll pass, I'm going to try to go to school and get some work done, but I may end up at home later today if that isn't going to well. I don't know what is with me? No one I know has the stomache flu so maybe it is something I ate? but what? I had some milk that I suspect may have gone bad on Thursday morning, but I wouldn't still be ill from that now?

Okay, so I need to continue getting ready for school. Laters.