term end in sight!

oh God, will i ever master the devil that is Modern Symbolic Logic? Just when I think I’ve got it pretty good, it springs an impossible question at me. Anyway – the only way I can survive it is by studying systematically. I’m on 6.3 right now and the final is on Tuesday (there are 7 units in total, but I for sure don’t know all my stuff for unit 5 or unit 7). My room is an utter mess, and I haven’t relaxed (save for the bouts of web surfing) in the last 3 weeks… After logic final is my Presocratics and Plato final… so yeah.

And i agreed to work through the holidays—so I won’t be getting much of a breather at all. People ask me why I work this much, I’ve not saving $ for anything in particular (heck, I window shop a ton, but I never actually spend this money. But i think I might treat myself this Xmas, a nice bag, nothing above $500 though)

My eating habits? Terrible – it’s all according to my study and work schedule. Yesterday I was running late to work (I was in a meeting at school till 1:30pm). I had an omelette sandwich in the morning but NOTHING else until 8pm at night. That’s DANGEROUS, but what could I have done? Told my student to wait while I grab some food?

But there are many things that are keeping my spirits up! I cannot wait to go back to the Frida show again, and ugh—just so many iTunesU videos that patiently await meeeee…

 

geeeezer

apologies, apologies, apologies!

I am in hiding here (in the form of that cunning, manipulative beast that is procrastination) from the wrath of my linguistic anthropology paper. The dear thing is due in 2 days and I’ve got its shadow pinned down.  But the trouble is it keeps trying to escape and I’ve having a hard time pining down my final paragraphs…

I have been working myself to the bone lately and i worry for my health. I have been drinking way too much coffee but I don’t know how else to stay afloat. I have to juggle school, work, family (to a very small extend – my parents have been very understanding of my inability to relax) and friends (those bitches who are done with their midterms while I have 2 more and a paper due!).

So the only ting I can sacrifice is from myself: SLEEP

My bank account is suffering too. I’m eating out and buying coffee every single day because I just have no time nor patience to make any at home. In fact, I only have skim milk in the fridge, which when mixed in coffee, tastes like water. Eughh!

But, all in all, I am very happy – which is the most important thing. My life is full of delightful, delightful preoccupations and I’d rather be exhausted and happy than bored and well rested!

I shall resurface soon, i promise~~

 

 

GET – SET – GO

Goodmorning, my lovelies!

I am dead exhausted, even at 9am in the morning. I got home from school at around 9pm last night and spent the better half of the night scanning PLAOT,  HUME, MILLS, and BORGES, which is all good and swell, but means that I had to refine my notes (I am in the habit of doing this, completing the half sentences and etc) close to midnight. And this means that i have to do my readings in this morning. Right now, if i am to be precise.

I am not a morning person, i can often seem like one because i force myself to be sociable (the effects of coffee, i assure you) and quite productive – but really, I am a true night owl. I didn’t even realize it was midnight last night until I got a reminder on my ipad about the readings.

So yes, I finally finished reading Meno (the correct translation, I was a fool and read the Gutenberg one) and I am heading into the Norton Anthology of Shakespeare (beauuuuutiful book, too highly priced for my student bank account – i scrambled and got a copy from the library) to reread A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I am indecently excited about reading the norton edition because of all the fabulous intros and contextual material and all that great stuff you don’t find in cheap editions.

I can safely say that I have been eating like a junkie lately – fries and rice and meat and some more fries. I’ve given up trying to bring food to campus because my backpack is hurting quite enough already without the addition of microwavable goods. It doesn’t bode well for my savings nor for my health – so I am going to arrange to have lunch with a friend who’s working in the city. She’ll have scouted places with good food – hopefully.

Astonishingly, i’m still on my first mug of coffee, though it’s gone cold now – i shall nuke it and return to my studies.

ugly

cramps.

I ran out of my prescribed pills and have to settle for Midol.

I didn’t end up doing 3 hours on my readings last night – more like 90min. But I’ve got a good grasp of the middle section of Meno, and I’ll make some notes tonight – after I drown myself in soup.

UPDATE: no soup at home. had steamed salmon instead. feeling like shit

lacing up

going on an artificial-sugar-free diet until my birthday.  wish me luck!

PS – this does not include the sugar for my coffee. I am ambitious, not suicidal.

renew

 

I completely revitalized my room the other day. I re-established all the wiring, etc and it’s such a relief! I have a total pet peeve for tangles of wires (confusing! dangerous!) and with the mounting number of devices I have plugged in, i just couldn’t avoid the problem any longer. So yeah – it’s all good now.

I just have to tackle my closet and those boxes of old papers and readings (dating back to high school, oh man). I am quite sentimental, and for some reason, want to be able to look at those sheets in 30 years time and feel all wobbly and nostalgic. BLAH – be gone.

My whole body is aching because i resumed my serious fitness regime a couple of days ago. I was planning to go for a swim this morning but had to deal with some unpleasant issues – and gah, i’d solved it by 10am but was no longer in the mood.

I have also begun cracking my fall readings – starting with Plato‘s “MENO”. It isn’t dry work, but it’s the trickle that starts the flood. Wish me luck~~

 

Catching up

Rereading Bertrand Russel’s incomparable “history of western philosophy”:
There are so many beautifully phrased passages in this. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed it the first time around.

On the last page of the pre-Socrates chapter (following the rising status of alcohol ). Russel quotes “the most balanced” view “But there can be no doubt, that to the Greeks, the phenomonon of ecstasy suggests that the Soul was something more than a feeble double of the self, that it a only when ‘out of body’ that it could show us true nature… ”

I haven’t got the book on me right now so this quotation is disjointed…

I also caught the first couple of episodes in Buffy, Season 6. The majority of the season is a meandering mess, but my God, it starts so well! It is the only time I can stand the Spuffy relationship, and this is coming from an ex-Spuffy shipper! Also, Sarah Michelle Gellar had really good hair!

Um, what else… The Olympics!! I am a mad fan of the games and I watch almost everything. I always loved the swimming competitions, but since I’ve learnt to stay alp float in the water myself, I am enjoying the races even more! It is also such a great way to improve my own techniques, watching the true pros at it.

AMC has their MOB WEEK on right now and I’ve already seen The Godfather I & II. Is it strange that i am always amazed at how brilliant Brando is on screen? It is such a shame that he was replaces in II. De NIro is great, no doubt – but still.

I am still on a wacky schedule for the next few days. But once everything is settled, I’ll push out those drafts.

autonomy

 

My days are kind of out of control right now. I’m so used to having a set daily schedule so I’m a little bit out of sorts. But it’s all OK for now. Gearing into the Olympic season. Everyday, I am collecting small victories. For instance, this past week, I learnt how to swim! I can do a couple laps now! Granted, the pool lane is only 25m long, but considering I needed the help of a foam noodles a fortnight ago, this is a big deal! Also, learning NOT TO DROWN is exhausting! My legs and arms are groaning right now. I also try to get 45min of mixed training (mostly aerobics and weights) before bed) so yeah, I hope i don’t get bulky just in time for the summer.

I’ve been rereading Bertrand Russel‘s “History of Western Philosophy” during breakfast (instead of the paper – because it lacks the dreadful staining ink). It’s fun to look at all the WTF notes-to-self I wrote in the margins. Oh, incase anyone’s wondering, i’ve been having a sinful amount of coffee every morning. Who says no to refills?

I finally got my glasses done! I brought my prescription with me in case i come across a pair a like. They are really cute! I might post a photo later~ Um, what else, i got my Bamboo stylus! It gets the job done, so i can’t complain. Though if I did have the guts, I’d splurge on a professional one with precision point instead of the standardized rubber round tip.

I’ve been sampling a variety of beers and wine. I got bored stuck inside the room because I currently don’t have access to a car. I quite like Riesling right now – it’s a bit sweeter so it’s gentler on my palate. Ohhh, and I had Prim’s ice tea. it’s great! So refreshing with a little punch!

I don’t have cable at home, so i’m making the most of the channels here. I’m back to being addicted to Iron Chef America, NatGeo and Animal Planet and whatever channel has Friends on repeat. The first 3 have the most perfect pick up lines “Heart Open, Empty Stomach”, “Follow Your Instincts” and “Surprisingly Human”. GAhhhh…

I’m going order wings and other fast food grub for dinner whilst I watch super fit athletes walking around. until then, it’s I have a couple more revisions to do.

 

 

GUAC and SHAKE

Simple Guacamole:

ingredients

chop everything up finely (I strain my tomatoes – that’s the leftover liquid in the back)

core these babies

mix it all up with salt and pepper (and lemon juice) to taste!

Very Berry Pineapple Fro-Yo Shake

main ingredients

the strawberries were a last minute decision. why not go all out?

dump everything in the mixer (except for the frozen yogurt – i don’t like mine too smooth)

all ready!

PS. I’ve decided to do weekly food experiment posts instead of publishing an entry every time I make something.

warmed over

I’m feeling slightly nauseated. It’s the summer heat, or rather, spring is being particularly rowdy this afternoon. I think I might be the only person i know who doesn’t love summer. I hate the sweat, the BO, the sticky sunscreen (I have both the lotion for the face and neck, as well as the spray kind for the arms and legs) the tan lines from sandals and top straps, the sunburn on my shoulders, the constant need to shave my legs, the fact that it’s usually freezing in the office but sweltering outside (meaning my outfit is complicated by necessity). I’m also more conscious of my body, because I’ll have to wear skirts and shorts and tank-tops that expose it all.

But I also love popsicles, ice drinks and the myriad of activities that summer brings.

Anyway, I suppose I’ll go for a run once the sun calms down.