Academic:
I'm not doing enough work. I need to do more reading, get some books in prep for my dissertation, prep for my tutorials properly, and make sure to attend all my lectures. I need to set up another meeting with my tutor to set the terms of my project and the methods I'll be using. I also must catch up on what I have missed to date, and begin printing out the web-published handouts before each lecture.
Social:
This I'm pretty satisfied with, considering my fiscal restraints. I probably do go overboard here though, and often don't spend enough time with all those I call friend. I haven't spoken to too many good peaopl in too long. Get out the phonebook, make a few calls, see how people are doing. And I am also making a concerted effort to reduce my drinking. No more than 3 times a week, and never in an attempt to combat my mood. That is, if I don't feel like partying or drinking, I shouldn't. It only leads to dark thoughts.
Romance:
The eternal disappointment. Reducing drinking and brooding will hopefully serve to prevent my mind unravelling the hard-fought gains made over the past year and a half where I have begun to actually consider myself somewhat attractive. My demotivation and apathy serve to sometimes make it seem like no woman appeals, for various reasons, but in fact there are several interesting ladies who I *am* interested in. I have made attempts to talk to one in particular more often, but what shall come of it remains to be seen. I must remember not to think long-term, and be willing to take risks. Life is a learning experience and I should not deny myself so.
Financial:
I have, basically, negative funds. Yet still I spend. As of next month I am going to set a strict budget that I will stick to. Monitoring my finances must come eventually and it is best to start now. There are many demands on my wallet, and some are more important than others. Learn patience.
Mental:
Old habits die hard. I do walk with my head up more now though, my eyes no longer turned from the sun. I'm getting back to that easygoing attitude I had once, despite the emotional spikes the romantic side engenders. I still fall into funks though, where I just sit on the internet all day. This is a problem of willpower and motivation. I should put my motivations down on paper, make some plans, say some thanks. Keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Physical:
Better than it once was, and not bad as such, but the exercises I practiced before I cam back to leeds have fallen by the wayside. These need to be picked up, dusted off, and resumed. I like being in a reasonably respectable level of fitness and never want to turn to fat. Also, I'm going to make attempts to eat better and also learn to cook, for more reasons than one. It's a good skill, it's cheaper generally speaking, and it's a way to keep myself off the computer.
Extra-curricular:
I read, some. Typically though it is 'fluff', things that amuse me. I seem to have little strength for anything emotionally involving in times like these. Same goes for film. Most of my culture is webcomics, internet folly, and the endless absorption of music. The music and gigs make me happy, distract me, guide me, soundtrack me. I need to write more, too. I'm going to e-mail the editor of the Student Paper to see how they take submissions this year. Get my act together.
In summation, some things change, some things stay the same. For better or worse, and in the latter's case I will do my best to alter it. I *will*. I have a brain, I must use it. I must not fall, or shame my parents, and I cannot do that.
In other news, my mum finished chemotherapy on Tuesday and is doing fine. It's her 60th birthday next weekend, it will be fun. Kaz is being kind enough to keep me company while I'd down for it. She'll also be with me most of next week as she and Hori come up to visit me, Rose, and Daryl. It will be a lot of fun I'm sure.
I have 3 gigs in the next week. 65daysofstatic, Alexisonfire, and Minus the Bear. I'm looking forward to them all. I've also bought tickets for Clap Your hands Say Yeah!, Of Montreal, Milburn, and Architecture in Helsinki. I'm a lucky guy.
I'm not going to put the long-postponed Gratitude review up just yet, as it still needs writing. Soon, though.
I also forgot the detail from my little trip to LVS the other week. It was the Thursday after I first saw Becky again and I dropped by on the lunch break. Becky gave me the grand tour of the changes that had come in, like the new recording studio and the impressive 6th form room. I saw Kenny, Mrs Farthing, Mrs Wren, Lewis, and a few other people from the younger years who I was amazed to find still remembered me. It was lovely. Also bumped into Lewis' younger sister who said some very nice things to me. If you're reading this now, hiya!
I went out with Viv yesterday to see Howl's Moving Castle, the new Studio Ghible film. Due to us seeing it at indie cinema par excellence we saw it in Japanese with subtitles, which pleased me greatly. It's as beautiful, heartwarming, and gentle as any other Miyazaki film, although if I were to aim one criticism at it it is that the ending culminates rather neatly and quickly. Nonetheless, I was spellbound throughout. The entire studio is so gifted, I am always awed by them.
I also finished reading 'Thud!', the new Discworld book. Again, reliably entertaining, further fleshing out the wonderful Watch. I especially was taken with his perfect capturing and communication of the fear a father can have over the safety of his children. I won't quote extensively, but...:
"He had a lot of nightmares about Young Sam. The involved empty cots, and darkness."
Something about it just hit me in a certain way. The attitudes Pratchett puts forward in Vimes regarding fatherhood are also wonderful, a textbook set of reasons. Still one of my favourite authors.
I think I'll leave this rambling entry there.
I'm not doing enough work. I need to do more reading, get some books in prep for my dissertation, prep for my tutorials properly, and make sure to attend all my lectures. I need to set up another meeting with my tutor to set the terms of my project and the methods I'll be using. I also must catch up on what I have missed to date, and begin printing out the web-published handouts before each lecture.
Social:
This I'm pretty satisfied with, considering my fiscal restraints. I probably do go overboard here though, and often don't spend enough time with all those I call friend. I haven't spoken to too many good peaopl in too long. Get out the phonebook, make a few calls, see how people are doing. And I am also making a concerted effort to reduce my drinking. No more than 3 times a week, and never in an attempt to combat my mood. That is, if I don't feel like partying or drinking, I shouldn't. It only leads to dark thoughts.
Romance:
The eternal disappointment. Reducing drinking and brooding will hopefully serve to prevent my mind unravelling the hard-fought gains made over the past year and a half where I have begun to actually consider myself somewhat attractive. My demotivation and apathy serve to sometimes make it seem like no woman appeals, for various reasons, but in fact there are several interesting ladies who I *am* interested in. I have made attempts to talk to one in particular more often, but what shall come of it remains to be seen. I must remember not to think long-term, and be willing to take risks. Life is a learning experience and I should not deny myself so.
Financial:
I have, basically, negative funds. Yet still I spend. As of next month I am going to set a strict budget that I will stick to. Monitoring my finances must come eventually and it is best to start now. There are many demands on my wallet, and some are more important than others. Learn patience.
Mental:
Old habits die hard. I do walk with my head up more now though, my eyes no longer turned from the sun. I'm getting back to that easygoing attitude I had once, despite the emotional spikes the romantic side engenders. I still fall into funks though, where I just sit on the internet all day. This is a problem of willpower and motivation. I should put my motivations down on paper, make some plans, say some thanks. Keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Physical:
Better than it once was, and not bad as such, but the exercises I practiced before I cam back to leeds have fallen by the wayside. These need to be picked up, dusted off, and resumed. I like being in a reasonably respectable level of fitness and never want to turn to fat. Also, I'm going to make attempts to eat better and also learn to cook, for more reasons than one. It's a good skill, it's cheaper generally speaking, and it's a way to keep myself off the computer.
Extra-curricular:
I read, some. Typically though it is 'fluff', things that amuse me. I seem to have little strength for anything emotionally involving in times like these. Same goes for film. Most of my culture is webcomics, internet folly, and the endless absorption of music. The music and gigs make me happy, distract me, guide me, soundtrack me. I need to write more, too. I'm going to e-mail the editor of the Student Paper to see how they take submissions this year. Get my act together.
In summation, some things change, some things stay the same. For better or worse, and in the latter's case I will do my best to alter it. I *will*. I have a brain, I must use it. I must not fall, or shame my parents, and I cannot do that.
In other news, my mum finished chemotherapy on Tuesday and is doing fine. It's her 60th birthday next weekend, it will be fun. Kaz is being kind enough to keep me company while I'd down for it. She'll also be with me most of next week as she and Hori come up to visit me, Rose, and Daryl. It will be a lot of fun I'm sure.
I have 3 gigs in the next week. 65daysofstatic, Alexisonfire, and Minus the Bear. I'm looking forward to them all. I've also bought tickets for Clap Your hands Say Yeah!, Of Montreal, Milburn, and Architecture in Helsinki. I'm a lucky guy.
I'm not going to put the long-postponed Gratitude review up just yet, as it still needs writing. Soon, though.
I also forgot the detail from my little trip to LVS the other week. It was the Thursday after I first saw Becky again and I dropped by on the lunch break. Becky gave me the grand tour of the changes that had come in, like the new recording studio and the impressive 6th form room. I saw Kenny, Mrs Farthing, Mrs Wren, Lewis, and a few other people from the younger years who I was amazed to find still remembered me. It was lovely. Also bumped into Lewis' younger sister who said some very nice things to me. If you're reading this now, hiya!
I went out with Viv yesterday to see Howl's Moving Castle, the new Studio Ghible film. Due to us seeing it at indie cinema par excellence we saw it in Japanese with subtitles, which pleased me greatly. It's as beautiful, heartwarming, and gentle as any other Miyazaki film, although if I were to aim one criticism at it it is that the ending culminates rather neatly and quickly. Nonetheless, I was spellbound throughout. The entire studio is so gifted, I am always awed by them.
I also finished reading 'Thud!', the new Discworld book. Again, reliably entertaining, further fleshing out the wonderful Watch. I especially was taken with his perfect capturing and communication of the fear a father can have over the safety of his children. I won't quote extensively, but...:
"He had a lot of nightmares about Young Sam. The involved empty cots, and darkness."
Something about it just hit me in a certain way. The attitudes Pratchett puts forward in Vimes regarding fatherhood are also wonderful, a textbook set of reasons. Still one of my favourite authors.
I think I'll leave this rambling entry there.