Apologies for the lack of posting in the past few weeks. I wouldn't say I've been particularly busy, just that I haven't thought to write anything here recently. I have class starting in a little over a week (my last semester of graduate school, assuming all goes according to plan), so I'm not sure how frequently I will be posting through the end of the year, but I will try to get something up at least once in a while.
The funny thing is, I often have good ideas for posts when I'm somewhere where writing one isn't possible (at work, on the bus, etc). I guess I need to do a better job of capturing those thoughts and expanding on them when I'm at home where I can write.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Back
My plane landed an hour ago, so I haven't been back too long yet, but I thought I should post anyway just to check in.
I had a great time in Vegas, and it's provided me with a lot of blog post fodder that will keep me occupied for a while (not just about what I did on the trip, but general observations and ruminations as well). Plus, I still want to write up a recap of the Minnesota Blogger Conference from a week ago, but that will be on my other blog. So, yeah, lots to do.
I had a great time in Vegas, and it's provided me with a lot of blog post fodder that will keep me occupied for a while (not just about what I did on the trip, but general observations and ruminations as well). Plus, I still want to write up a recap of the Minnesota Blogger Conference from a week ago, but that will be on my other blog. So, yeah, lots to do.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Hello New Visitors!
Just wanted to say hello quick to anyone visiting the blog for the first time, either because of the Minnesota Blogger Conference or for other reasons. I know this blog needs work, but I'm glad you stopped by, and I look forward to meeting you and reading your blogs as well.
(cross-posted at Hired Minds, my blog about contract and temporary work and life)
(cross-posted at Hired Minds, my blog about contract and temporary work and life)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Vacation, All I Ever Wanted?
A week from Tuesday, assuming nothing changes between now and then, I will get on a plane and fly to Las Vegas for a few night's stay at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino. I should be excited about this, but lately, I'm not.
I planned this trip much earlier this year, after wanting to go somewhere due to not having been out of town all of last year and only escaping for a couple of brief times (one or two nights) this year. I'd been to Vegas before, and knew I liked it and can have a good time there for cheap, so I booked the trip. However, due to a couple of different reasons, my enthusiasm has waned. For one, this isn't the best time to be going out of town, and for another, I would like to go someplace I haven't been before.
However, at the same time, there are reasons why I should still go. For one, I paid for the bulk of the trip long ago and can't recoup the costs at this point, due to it being a package, and don't expect to spend a lot of money once I'm there -- I'm not a gambler and I don't have expensive tastes. For another, I'm not sure when I will have another chance to go on a vacation (I have tentative plans for next year, but they require the chips to fall right, pardon the metaphor), so I want to take advantage of this when I can. Finally, I don't do a good enough job of doing things for myself and just letting go and relaxing. I really think the trip will do me some good and give me a much-needed chance to clear my head.
No, the timing isn't great, but you can't live your life always waiting for the perfect time to do something. There's times when you just need to plow ahead and do it, and deal with whatever comes of it.
I planned this trip much earlier this year, after wanting to go somewhere due to not having been out of town all of last year and only escaping for a couple of brief times (one or two nights) this year. I'd been to Vegas before, and knew I liked it and can have a good time there for cheap, so I booked the trip. However, due to a couple of different reasons, my enthusiasm has waned. For one, this isn't the best time to be going out of town, and for another, I would like to go someplace I haven't been before.
However, at the same time, there are reasons why I should still go. For one, I paid for the bulk of the trip long ago and can't recoup the costs at this point, due to it being a package, and don't expect to spend a lot of money once I'm there -- I'm not a gambler and I don't have expensive tastes. For another, I'm not sure when I will have another chance to go on a vacation (I have tentative plans for next year, but they require the chips to fall right, pardon the metaphor), so I want to take advantage of this when I can. Finally, I don't do a good enough job of doing things for myself and just letting go and relaxing. I really think the trip will do me some good and give me a much-needed chance to clear my head.
No, the timing isn't great, but you can't live your life always waiting for the perfect time to do something. There's times when you just need to plow ahead and do it, and deal with whatever comes of it.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Why I Like Fall
In my last post, I mentioned that fall was my favorite season. Here's why:
-- My birthday is at the end of October. Reason enough right there, really.
-- Cooler weather. I don't mind warm weather as much as I used to, but my tolerance for it is limited, so I welcome the days where I can turn off the AC and open the windows, especially in my bedroom at night.
-- The leaves changing color. I love the reds, golds, and even the browns of the fall leaves, whether on trees or on the ground.
-- Football. I'm watching a Vikings preseason game as I write this. Skol Vikings!
-- Apples. Plus everything made using them.
-- Halloween. I've started to get back into it after not really caring about it for a long time. It's one of the best holidays.
-- Going back to school. That was more when I was younger (though I am taking classes later this fall), but I still get excited about school supplies for some reason.
If there was someplace on Earth that had an eternal fall, I would move there.
-- My birthday is at the end of October. Reason enough right there, really.
-- Cooler weather. I don't mind warm weather as much as I used to, but my tolerance for it is limited, so I welcome the days where I can turn off the AC and open the windows, especially in my bedroom at night.
-- The leaves changing color. I love the reds, golds, and even the browns of the fall leaves, whether on trees or on the ground.
-- Football. I'm watching a Vikings preseason game as I write this. Skol Vikings!
-- Apples. Plus everything made using them.
-- Halloween. I've started to get back into it after not really caring about it for a long time. It's one of the best holidays.
-- Going back to school. That was more when I was younger (though I am taking classes later this fall), but I still get excited about school supplies for some reason.
If there was someplace on Earth that had an eternal fall, I would move there.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Hello, September
September is only a few hours away, which means Summer is just about over too. Technically, I know that the season has a few more weeks until the Equinox, but I never consider that to be the true end of Summer. For me, that's always Labor Day. Growing up, school always started on the day after Labor Day, since in Minnesota schools cannot legally start before then because the tourism industry wants families to still take vacations in late August (that really is the reason). Plus, it is the last day of the State Fair, which is another psychological end point.
I can already see some signs of the changing season. A few trees are in the early stages of changing color from green to red and gold, and there are grasshoppers jumping around when I go hiking on the weekends. Plus, it gets dark much earlier at night then it seemed it did only a couple of weeks ago. Not much in the way of cooler weather yet -- it hit ninety outside today -- but hopefully that will be here soon as well. It is one reason of many why Fall is my favorite season.
Actually, that would make for a good post, so you can expect to see that in the near future.
I can already see some signs of the changing season. A few trees are in the early stages of changing color from green to red and gold, and there are grasshoppers jumping around when I go hiking on the weekends. Plus, it gets dark much earlier at night then it seemed it did only a couple of weeks ago. Not much in the way of cooler weather yet -- it hit ninety outside today -- but hopefully that will be here soon as well. It is one reason of many why Fall is my favorite season.
Actually, that would make for a good post, so you can expect to see that in the near future.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Procrastination
Well, the concert was awesome, first of all. I may post about it later on, since it will be a longer one if I do. But I'm putting it off for the time being, just like I unfortunately put off way too many things.
Really, I was even putting off writing this post. I knew though that I should probably get it out while I could, though, especially since I was tired from a long hike in the Minnesota River Valley this morning and wasn't sure how much energy I would have tonight. And just now, between the last sentence and this one, I took a ten minute break to start dinner and get something to drink.
Procrastination obviously affects a lot of people, and it seems to be worse for people who -- like me -- are also prone to being distracted unless we're really, really into whatever it is that we are doing. Fortunately, I find that there are ways to compensate for this. Deadlines are one good way, of course, as I discussed about a week ago on my other blog, but I don't want to retread that ground here too much.
The best way for me is just to figure out the most important task at any given time, and work on that exclusively until it is done, then the next task, then the next one. Even big projects can be tackled in this way, since a project is nothing but a bunch of small tasks put together. You don't have to build the whole house at once. If focusing on putting up a shelf -- or even just pounding in one nail -- is what it takes to get it built, then that's what it takes.
Now if you'll excuse me, there is a really cool website I have to look at before I hit "publish"...
Really, I was even putting off writing this post. I knew though that I should probably get it out while I could, though, especially since I was tired from a long hike in the Minnesota River Valley this morning and wasn't sure how much energy I would have tonight. And just now, between the last sentence and this one, I took a ten minute break to start dinner and get something to drink.
Procrastination obviously affects a lot of people, and it seems to be worse for people who -- like me -- are also prone to being distracted unless we're really, really into whatever it is that we are doing. Fortunately, I find that there are ways to compensate for this. Deadlines are one good way, of course, as I discussed about a week ago on my other blog, but I don't want to retread that ground here too much.
The best way for me is just to figure out the most important task at any given time, and work on that exclusively until it is done, then the next task, then the next one. Even big projects can be tackled in this way, since a project is nothing but a bunch of small tasks put together. You don't have to build the whole house at once. If focusing on putting up a shelf -- or even just pounding in one nail -- is what it takes to get it built, then that's what it takes.
Now if you'll excuse me, there is a really cool website I have to look at before I hit "publish"...
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