I forgot to mention my AWESOME new computer. We have spent much of the afternoon getting acquainted, and I am hooked. From the aesthetics of the backlit keyboard and plum purple exterior, to the way the keys feel under my fingers, I am loving it. I feel like I do when I get new running shoes... like suddenly I will be able to fly. So, it's a good omen. Suddenly my dissertation will write itself, right?
Maybe not, but at least I am off on a good foot with my relationship with my new laptop! That has to bode well. Anything to make my work more enjoyable. It's also an important step in me cutting the cord between myself and my employer. I am getting my own feet (and my own equipment) under me! Go PMP.
Showing posts with label computer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label computer. Show all posts
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
So what. I am a rock star.
TMH likes to sing this song to me sometimes. It's inspiring. He changes the lyrics. "So what... I am a punkin' (he alternates PMP, punkin [not sure where that came from, and not to be confused with pumpkin], and lones [from pantalones] most frequently) I got my punk moves." Yep, that's me. I got my punk moves.
This week was interesting. I made minor progress on my dissertation- one more faculty interview- but that was a major relief because it was with a department that I was worried about cooperating. I am STILL waiting for access to student data. Every couple of days I get an email from the woman asking me another question, and every time I think I might be about to get the data. And then I don't. She confessed the last time that she was new to all of this. I was hoping to have it by the end of last week so I could start setting up student interviews now, but I still don't have it. Maybe tomorrow... I can't lose another week.
I am doing better at staying calm, though. I am doing all I can do right now. I just have to take it day by day and adjust accordingly. Because it was a relatively slow dissertation week I took the opportunity to do other things to plan ahead for the coming storm. I started cleaning out my apartment and taking stock of everything to keep and get rid of... yikes! I also researched and ordered myself a new computer. I'll have to give my work computer back all too soon and I need to get my "dissertation laptop" up and running. I am very excited for it to come. I took advantage of some deep student discounts... it should be a very nice machine. Most importantly, it will be plum purple!
So, online shopping was a big activity this week. Computers, dresses (for weddings- we have SO many coming up), baby gifts, apartments. It's been a huge stressor that we still don't have a place lined up. Yesterday TMH found a great place, and someone came in right after him and put money down (while he was on the phone with me confirming that we should get it!) We were so disappointed... but then today he saw another place that was even better, and it looks like we are going to get it. Of course it's not official yet, but I am super optimistic. This place sounds amazing. 2 bed, 2 bath, working fireplace, new appliances, washer/dryer in unit, NO cat rent, in a great location. Character and new stuff at the same time... can it be? So maybe we can have it all. I can't wait for it to be official! It will be an exciting first step in starting our lives together. We're not kidding ourselves; it's going to be a bit of a transition! An exciting transition, though.
So, let's hope for a good week ahead. I will do a dance of joy when I get my hands on this student data, and it WILL happen. And when our apartment is confirmed...and we can start really planning. On the weekend TMH will be here and we'll get to have a fun Easter with his family. I am excited to see his little niece again. I am well-suited to being Aunt PMP. And so I say "so what" to everything else!
This week was interesting. I made minor progress on my dissertation- one more faculty interview- but that was a major relief because it was with a department that I was worried about cooperating. I am STILL waiting for access to student data. Every couple of days I get an email from the woman asking me another question, and every time I think I might be about to get the data. And then I don't. She confessed the last time that she was new to all of this. I was hoping to have it by the end of last week so I could start setting up student interviews now, but I still don't have it. Maybe tomorrow... I can't lose another week.
I am doing better at staying calm, though. I am doing all I can do right now. I just have to take it day by day and adjust accordingly. Because it was a relatively slow dissertation week I took the opportunity to do other things to plan ahead for the coming storm. I started cleaning out my apartment and taking stock of everything to keep and get rid of... yikes! I also researched and ordered myself a new computer. I'll have to give my work computer back all too soon and I need to get my "dissertation laptop" up and running. I am very excited for it to come. I took advantage of some deep student discounts... it should be a very nice machine. Most importantly, it will be plum purple!
So, online shopping was a big activity this week. Computers, dresses (for weddings- we have SO many coming up), baby gifts, apartments. It's been a huge stressor that we still don't have a place lined up. Yesterday TMH found a great place, and someone came in right after him and put money down (while he was on the phone with me confirming that we should get it!) We were so disappointed... but then today he saw another place that was even better, and it looks like we are going to get it. Of course it's not official yet, but I am super optimistic. This place sounds amazing. 2 bed, 2 bath, working fireplace, new appliances, washer/dryer in unit, NO cat rent, in a great location. Character and new stuff at the same time... can it be? So maybe we can have it all. I can't wait for it to be official! It will be an exciting first step in starting our lives together. We're not kidding ourselves; it's going to be a bit of a transition! An exciting transition, though.
So, let's hope for a good week ahead. I will do a dance of joy when I get my hands on this student data, and it WILL happen. And when our apartment is confirmed...and we can start really planning. On the weekend TMH will be here and we'll get to have a fun Easter with his family. I am excited to see his little niece again. I am well-suited to being Aunt PMP. And so I say "so what" to everything else!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A Brand New Day
I love Van Morrison. I kept his words in my mind all the way up the hill this morning, repeating them like my mantra. Somehow, it did the trick.
I bet you won't be surprised when I tell you it's been a shitty week. The days that followed the previous two posts were quite long, stressful and frustrating... I would have been better off going back to bed, really. It was basically just a series of unfortunate events. On their own each would have been manageable, but there was really one too many... and one too major: my computer died. DIED. Like damage to the mother board dead. It's my work computer, so my employers have to deal with it, but really it's my only computer. If you give a grad student a computer you would expect her to use it for everything, right? (I know I'm spoiled. I was hoping to avoid buying one until the next stage of my life became clear. We'll see how that works out for me. And, in my defense, it makes sense for me to use one computer for everything, since the parts of my life are so hectic and overlapping). So, it is so dead that the tech people told my boss they have to get me a new system. I don't know what she is going to do, since I am technically a TA now and I had a good computer from when I was a lecturer. I mean, they have to get me something, right? At the moment I am working on a temporary laptop, but I don't have any of my stuff. ANY OF MY WORK. My computer is like my security blanket, you know? Again, it's lucky it's a work computer because all of my work should be backed up on the university system, and should be able to be restored once I have a new system, should being the operative word. I don't think I need to tell you how stressful it is, not really being certain that I will get any of it back. Also, I don't think I need to explain how difficult it is to do your work when you don't have any of your work. That was yesterday's drama. On top of that, I have been working way more hours than I am supposed to. Things have generally been quite stressful...I'm constantly keyed up, and I wake up in a panic. Thank goodness I am finally picking up my mouth guard tomorrow. Surprise, surprise, my teeth hurt in the mornings now.
So, now for the flip side. Today was a MUCH better day. A brand new day. I woke up with a mind to shift my perspective. I just have to trust that my computer stuff will work out. I told my boss I was working too much (this was a huge breakthrough for me) and she lightened the load for the rest of the week (the major excitement is that I don't have to go to the staff meeting) and told me not to worry- she's concerned because I never complain, and I knew she was getting concerned anyway. TMH just sent me flowers (a gorgeous purple and red PMP bouquet!), and I got two cards and another Valentine's Day package (my mom sent me yummy homemade cookies)! And, most importantly, TMH is coming to visit this weekend. YAY!
Ah, and for those of you interested in weather updates, it warmed up dramatically, enough to rain, and then it proceeded to rain and snow and sleet and ice and such, just like the other week. I guess it was what you might call a wintry mix, which sounds way more exciting than it actually is. It's pretty disgusting out now, because it's all freezing over, so we'll have lots of crunchy, crusty slush, but I don't care. See, even the weather was no match for my "brand new day" attitude. Let's see how long I can keep it up...
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
I bet you won't be surprised when I tell you it's been a shitty week. The days that followed the previous two posts were quite long, stressful and frustrating... I would have been better off going back to bed, really. It was basically just a series of unfortunate events. On their own each would have been manageable, but there was really one too many... and one too major: my computer died. DIED. Like damage to the mother board dead. It's my work computer, so my employers have to deal with it, but really it's my only computer. If you give a grad student a computer you would expect her to use it for everything, right? (I know I'm spoiled. I was hoping to avoid buying one until the next stage of my life became clear. We'll see how that works out for me. And, in my defense, it makes sense for me to use one computer for everything, since the parts of my life are so hectic and overlapping). So, it is so dead that the tech people told my boss they have to get me a new system. I don't know what she is going to do, since I am technically a TA now and I had a good computer from when I was a lecturer. I mean, they have to get me something, right? At the moment I am working on a temporary laptop, but I don't have any of my stuff. ANY OF MY WORK. My computer is like my security blanket, you know? Again, it's lucky it's a work computer because all of my work should be backed up on the university system, and should be able to be restored once I have a new system, should being the operative word. I don't think I need to tell you how stressful it is, not really being certain that I will get any of it back. Also, I don't think I need to explain how difficult it is to do your work when you don't have any of your work. That was yesterday's drama. On top of that, I have been working way more hours than I am supposed to. Things have generally been quite stressful...I'm constantly keyed up, and I wake up in a panic. Thank goodness I am finally picking up my mouth guard tomorrow. Surprise, surprise, my teeth hurt in the mornings now.
So, now for the flip side. Today was a MUCH better day. A brand new day. I woke up with a mind to shift my perspective. I just have to trust that my computer stuff will work out. I told my boss I was working too much (this was a huge breakthrough for me) and she lightened the load for the rest of the week (the major excitement is that I don't have to go to the staff meeting) and told me not to worry- she's concerned because I never complain, and I knew she was getting concerned anyway. TMH just sent me flowers (a gorgeous purple and red PMP bouquet!), and I got two cards and another Valentine's Day package (my mom sent me yummy homemade cookies)! And, most importantly, TMH is coming to visit this weekend. YAY!
Ah, and for those of you interested in weather updates, it warmed up dramatically, enough to rain, and then it proceeded to rain and snow and sleet and ice and such, just like the other week. I guess it was what you might call a wintry mix, which sounds way more exciting than it actually is. It's pretty disgusting out now, because it's all freezing over, so we'll have lots of crunchy, crusty slush, but I don't care. See, even the weather was no match for my "brand new day" attitude. Let's see how long I can keep it up...
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
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