enigma of the absolute
(Post title is mostly because I am in love with that song. vivien529 knows why, I suspect.)
I may have been quiet recently, but I'm still around. :) Life has been rather busy in a combination of really insane ways -- both fun and not so fun, and I'm trying to keep abreast of everything as it comes along, that's all.
* * * * *
Spent the holiday weekend on a roadtrip with vivien529, ending at minor_blue's house, where we hung out with her and zarahemla and talked fandom and just spent time with friends who I had not seen in quite some time. We didn't even feel compelled to look for touristy stuff to do, which was fine with me -- I haven't had a vacation so calm in ages, actually, and I really enjoyed it. *hugs everyone involved from across the distance between*
Oh, and in the process, I managed to get some more new reading done, finally. Sandman again -- A Game of You, Brief Lives, and most of Fables and Reflections. Book review to follow in a day or so. (Preview: I am delighted with this, with all of it, and cannot express my love for the series strongly enough.) I expect to finish the run soon, possibly this weekend.
* * * * *
Class continues to be a bright and shining point in my life. Last night, there was a group exercise in which we were presented with a set of data describing a "single, unusual event in the 20th century" and asked to figure out what we could about what had happened, considering all sorts of aspects and explanations. (Data included numbers of people exposed, as well as death v. survival rates for those involved, broken down by gender, socioeconomic status, and adult v. child.) Small groups again, with presentation to the class as a whole at the end of things.
It is rapidly becoming apparent to me that not only do I really enjoy this, but I may even be good at it. This whole exercise was like solving a puzzle, or a mystery, but one with real-life meaning, and I was fascinated by the process. I also managed to point out to the group a couple of key points from the information we were given... including the actual solution. Yes, friends, I came up with the solution to the mystery! (The event? The sinking of the Titanic. The data were from the passenger rolls.) *dances in delight*
It also doesn't hurt that the professor wandered by at an appropriate point in time to hear as I made a specific observation, which he then confirmed was a key and significant finding. *glee* I found it interesting, as well, that when time came for the group to present, he looked at me to do so, automatically assuming I was the leader. (I had the chance to do the presentation again, actually, but had given it to someone else in the group instead -- teamwork, you know.) This can only bode well. So, yes. I will continue to work and study there, and have high hopes for the future. I also have a lot of reading to do in the next few weeks.
* * * * *
There are some negative stressors around, as well, and I'll touch on them quickly for the sake of completeness. Work remains as I have previously described, and the tension in my department is rising. I don't feel comfortable talking about it in a public forum, but here's hoping that balance can be reached soon, before something drastic and awful happens. (T-115.) I have a board meeting tonight, in which I am up for re-election. I don't know if I want to win or not, actually, but I guess I'll find out soon. My sister called with a report that due to the major hurricane-inspired storm, they have discovered that the roof in their new house leaks. Everywhere. I am loaning them the funds to cover repairs until they can sell the old apartment, but there is apparently much family drama involved in this situation. Sigh. I am Switzerland in this, and I have every intention of remaining so.
Finally -- I know that a few of you are having a rough time at present. My thoughts are with you all. *hugs*
Back to work now, as my email strains under the burden of receiving 100+ delayed comment notifications... gee, thanks, LJ! *headdesk*
I may have been quiet recently, but I'm still around. :) Life has been rather busy in a combination of really insane ways -- both fun and not so fun, and I'm trying to keep abreast of everything as it comes along, that's all.
* * * * *
Spent the holiday weekend on a roadtrip with vivien529, ending at minor_blue's house, where we hung out with her and zarahemla and talked fandom and just spent time with friends who I had not seen in quite some time. We didn't even feel compelled to look for touristy stuff to do, which was fine with me -- I haven't had a vacation so calm in ages, actually, and I really enjoyed it. *hugs everyone involved from across the distance between*
Oh, and in the process, I managed to get some more new reading done, finally. Sandman again -- A Game of You, Brief Lives, and most of Fables and Reflections. Book review to follow in a day or so. (Preview: I am delighted with this, with all of it, and cannot express my love for the series strongly enough.) I expect to finish the run soon, possibly this weekend.
* * * * *
Class continues to be a bright and shining point in my life. Last night, there was a group exercise in which we were presented with a set of data describing a "single, unusual event in the 20th century" and asked to figure out what we could about what had happened, considering all sorts of aspects and explanations. (Data included numbers of people exposed, as well as death v. survival rates for those involved, broken down by gender, socioeconomic status, and adult v. child.) Small groups again, with presentation to the class as a whole at the end of things.
It is rapidly becoming apparent to me that not only do I really enjoy this, but I may even be good at it. This whole exercise was like solving a puzzle, or a mystery, but one with real-life meaning, and I was fascinated by the process. I also managed to point out to the group a couple of key points from the information we were given... including the actual solution. Yes, friends, I came up with the solution to the mystery! (The event? The sinking of the Titanic. The data were from the passenger rolls.) *dances in delight*
It also doesn't hurt that the professor wandered by at an appropriate point in time to hear as I made a specific observation, which he then confirmed was a key and significant finding. *glee* I found it interesting, as well, that when time came for the group to present, he looked at me to do so, automatically assuming I was the leader. (I had the chance to do the presentation again, actually, but had given it to someone else in the group instead -- teamwork, you know.) This can only bode well. So, yes. I will continue to work and study there, and have high hopes for the future. I also have a lot of reading to do in the next few weeks.
* * * * *
There are some negative stressors around, as well, and I'll touch on them quickly for the sake of completeness. Work remains as I have previously described, and the tension in my department is rising. I don't feel comfortable talking about it in a public forum, but here's hoping that balance can be reached soon, before something drastic and awful happens. (T-115.) I have a board meeting tonight, in which I am up for re-election. I don't know if I want to win or not, actually, but I guess I'll find out soon. My sister called with a report that due to the major hurricane-inspired storm, they have discovered that the roof in their new house leaks. Everywhere. I am loaning them the funds to cover repairs until they can sell the old apartment, but there is apparently much family drama involved in this situation. Sigh. I am Switzerland in this, and I have every intention of remaining so.
Finally -- I know that a few of you are having a rough time at present. My thoughts are with you all. *hugs*
Back to work now, as my email strains under the burden of receiving 100+ delayed comment notifications... gee, thanks, LJ! *headdesk*