Into the grind

Three courses are different from one. Yes, that's obvious, but I always worked full time and took a course simultaneously. The trick is keeping them separate. Work and a course were completely different. Right now I have two courses that the readings for each can apply to the other, and this theoretically can be a good thing. Until, of course, everyone is discussing the week's readings and I am unable to recall which readings I am SUPPOSED to be talking about. I do seem to have breadth though, if not depth!

Grad student woes

I realized in the first week that my progressive lenses are not fully sufficient for the fine print. I read about 100 pages a week, and I was getting headaches. Capitulating to the inevitable, I have purchased reading only glasses.

Wow.

I think I've been missing a lot. I think I will be able to read faster. I think the headaches will go away and I think I will be able to think!

Memory

I just found out last week that a good friend from Bethany college died in August. Rick was 50 and we were good friends 30 years ago. He was such an amazing guy - full of curiosity and possessing a crisp intelligence that often left me feeling behind the eight-ball although he never used his sharpness to lift himself higher than others.

Rick was a photographer and one day we went to the Saskatoon conservatory and he took photos of me - and one remains my favourite to this day. I always felt that Rick the friend reached through his camera, and I've been in favour of a friendly photographer ever since. While photos are technically all about physics and chemistry (light/film), I sometimes can see that the photo captured a more ephemeral essence of truth.

Even though Rick and Barb were more "annual letter" friends, there has always been a comfort in knowing that they were there. I miss his presence very much.

Panic

So soon! My printing is lost - I sent it to the basement laser printer. Alex says he didn't take it. Maybe Jocelyn? I have to go to my research assistant work, there's a meeting for the studentship group (they are paying me to study - I gotta go!), I need to start getting Brian's mom organized to move, I haven't done enough reading for my courses and aaack. There's more, but I'm not sure I can even say what it is. 2.5 weeks into school and my brain is turning into mushhhf jeksnfkk ld...

Procrastination - the curse of the student

So, I thought, it would be good to track what happens this year. "I should create a blog so I don't forget."

That was what I thought in August. Today is September 16 and I was going to sleep in a bit because of a miserable night, but I had to wake up to call for a physio appointment (nothing till next week - sob) and by then I was mostly awake, although still decaffeinated.

The gift of a year in school is such a surprise. While every September I would indulge in a wee fantasy of being a full time student with the opportunity to learn great new things and engage in interesting conversations (I was never foolish enough to yearn after the assignments and deadlines!), it was a pipe dream at best.

But as most of the interesting opportunities arise, this one came to me in a rush. June 10: no job past September 30 this year. Recover balance, June 15 check to see if the wee studentship I was going to use to cover those odds and ends (to be fair, I've been working full time and taking one course a semester for years) could convert into a full time studentship. Early July, yes, indeed it is possible. But can I indeed get the courses I need to complete my MSc in Health Promotion Studies by April 2010? Substitute courses became available in both semesters. Whoa.

July 22 - I'm going to school kids! I left town for work July 26 straight out to vacation July 31 returning home August 16. Last 2 weeks of work and then: "I should create a blog so I don't forget."