(no subject)
I sold my car --- for less than it is worth BUT I sold it to a very nice graduate student couple who are VERY excited to be getting a nice vehicle for a good price --- it will replace their old beat up van. The official transaction has not yet occured but it will occur later today.
I do feel a little more empowered by this experience despite the slight financial loss because I took care of business myself and I got all of the proper documents in order (bill of sale forms, interprovincial safety check, car repairs) in order to sell the car privately rather than sit with my tail between my legs while a smarmy car dealer takes advantage of me.
In other news, I am anxiously trying to work out a statement of interest for SSHRC and organize my references and all of the detail-y stuff. I am also researching universities in order to figure out where I want to apply for my PhD: so far, U of Alberta, McMaster, Queen's, York, and possibly UBC and/or Western. Al--what do you have to say about Western?!
The funny thing about all of this is that even though I have all of the time in the world (meaning I can devote many hours a day to writing this statement of interest) I seem to be slacking more than I should and it's getting me all anxious. I am having a hard time balancing all of the little details, practical details of moving, selling the car, putting stuff in storage etc., while also trying to think abstractly and practically about the whole statement and the application process.
But people in this field have this kinda shit to worry about all of the time so I guess I better get used to this multi-tasking.
There was a slightly unsettling report on the news the other day about a doctor working on "memory" at UCLA and according to his research multi-tasking is an accelerated phenomenon in our society (emailing, talking on the phone, etc) and it is one which is not making us any smarter. According to him, the multi-tasking lifestyle actually diminishes our capacity to retain information in our long term memory and we don't learn effectively like we used to. I suppose you could argue that multi-tasking sharpens your skills and your ability to compartmentalize information efficiently and effectively but who gives a crap if you can't retain anything?
It's funny because it seems that being a graduate student is all about multi-tasking and yet we have to register all kinds of information (from administrative dates, council meetings, to dissertation research, to candidacy exam material to whatever) in long-term fashion. WTF?!
So...getting rid of the car is a stress off my shoulders. Now I can focus on moving and storage. and school.
I'm moving in with Theo for the month of October.
I'm moving in with Lisa in for the months of November and December.
Who knows what then.
I guess I am writing this to feel organized even though I'm not.
peace.
I do feel a little more empowered by this experience despite the slight financial loss because I took care of business myself and I got all of the proper documents in order (bill of sale forms, interprovincial safety check, car repairs) in order to sell the car privately rather than sit with my tail between my legs while a smarmy car dealer takes advantage of me.
In other news, I am anxiously trying to work out a statement of interest for SSHRC and organize my references and all of the detail-y stuff. I am also researching universities in order to figure out where I want to apply for my PhD: so far, U of Alberta, McMaster, Queen's, York, and possibly UBC and/or Western. Al--what do you have to say about Western?!
The funny thing about all of this is that even though I have all of the time in the world (meaning I can devote many hours a day to writing this statement of interest) I seem to be slacking more than I should and it's getting me all anxious. I am having a hard time balancing all of the little details, practical details of moving, selling the car, putting stuff in storage etc., while also trying to think abstractly and practically about the whole statement and the application process.
But people in this field have this kinda shit to worry about all of the time so I guess I better get used to this multi-tasking.
There was a slightly unsettling report on the news the other day about a doctor working on "memory" at UCLA and according to his research multi-tasking is an accelerated phenomenon in our society (emailing, talking on the phone, etc) and it is one which is not making us any smarter. According to him, the multi-tasking lifestyle actually diminishes our capacity to retain information in our long term memory and we don't learn effectively like we used to. I suppose you could argue that multi-tasking sharpens your skills and your ability to compartmentalize information efficiently and effectively but who gives a crap if you can't retain anything?
It's funny because it seems that being a graduate student is all about multi-tasking and yet we have to register all kinds of information (from administrative dates, council meetings, to dissertation research, to candidacy exam material to whatever) in long-term fashion. WTF?!
So...getting rid of the car is a stress off my shoulders. Now I can focus on moving and storage. and school.
I'm moving in with Theo for the month of October.
I'm moving in with Lisa in for the months of November and December.
Who knows what then.
I guess I am writing this to feel organized even though I'm not.
peace.