Today was a little bit of a disappointment. I was planning on meeting with a professor about my job search this afternoon, but she ended up having to leave town. It sounds like I'll be able to meet with her on Wednesday instead. So I guess things could be quite a bit worse. I'm just eager to get going on things. What did I do instead? I cleaned (24). Actually, a lot of the 'cleaning' involved me transferring my cd collection from jewel cases to those books of sleeves. I worked on it for a looooong time and I'm only through e. So, tomorrow should be fun finishing that.
I wrote quite a bit today (2), but it's starting to feel like I've gone in the wrong direction with the main character. So I may have to backtrack or even start over on my most recent project. But I'll look at it again over the next couple of days to see where it stands.
Yeah, it was a boring day from the perspective of anyone else but me. Maybe on days like this I should write about something other than my day and then just do a little list of my accomplishments toward the end. Well, it's not too late to do part of that.
10, 13, 16, 17. treadmill, yogalates, diet
21. I actually sent an email to Piwok yesterday, and she responded today. So that's a start toward getting back in touch with her.
I'm grateful for twinsissy, who today pointed me toward some reviews of the headache book/diet that I'm now on that were very encouraging. It seems this approach worked for a lot of people. I'm also grateful (and hopeful) for whatever this cause is that z-man is going to tell me about (20).
Showing posts with label 24. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 24. Show all posts
Monday, February 12, 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
On not becoming a professional poker player. . .
So today my dad decided to take me to one of the casinos near the lake to check out the poker room. As it turns out, casinos are really really depressing. The place (and every other casino I've ever been to) was dark and smoky, and nobody was smiling. People were sitting at slot machines, collapsing their spines, drooping their shoulders, dumping coin after coin into noise factories, and frowning. Frowning while playing a game. One guy had just hit what seemed like a substantial jackpot on his machine, and he just scooped his winnings into a little plastic cup, scowling the whole while as if hitting such a big payout weren't the reason he sat down to play in the first place. The whole place was just so damned gloomy that my dad and I decided to just get something to eat at the restaurant and leave. By the way, if you don't think I'm serious about eliminating all migraine triggers from my diet, you should know that I told the waitress to hold the gravy (16) on my mashed potatoes. Hold the gravy. If that isn't serious, I just don't know what is.
So, this whole experience at the casino made me give up on the idea of ever really giving poker a serious shot as a profession. Why would I want to spend a lot of time in a place where people are miserable and I'm unable to do anything to cheer them up? I already had other reasons for not wanting to play poker seriously. This last one just pushed me over the top. First off, I wouldn't really want that kind of lifestyle. Crazy hours. No real security. Questionable company. Who needs that? Also, I sometimes have a moral issue with playing poker. If poker is indeed a game that favors players with skill, and if I am indeed a player with skill, is it right for me to use that skill to take money from people who don't have that skill? Isn't that kind of like a scam? I know that bad players know the risk when they sit down at a table. But I'm not sure if they really believe in the risk. I think a bad player probably sits down to a table convinced that something good will come out of the session. Isn't that how con artists work? Don't they take advantage of people's hope for something better. . . But I still enjoy the challenge of poker, the thrill of figuring out an opponent, the agony of not figuring out an opponent. It can be quite rewarding. . . The last of the reasons that I shouldn't be a professional poker player is that it doesn't really create any good or service. Isn't that what money is supposed to be exchanged for? If I win a big pot, what does the loser get in exchange for the money he just gave up? I think maybe I would rather spend my time trying to make something of use than trying to take something of use. . . I'll probably still play from time-to-time. I just won't pretend like I'm doing anything more than playing a game. . . Does this mean I should cross out number 1?
I felt really good after running this morning (17). It reminded me of a stupid little joke I half remember from when I was a kid:
Person 1: Why do you keep hitting yourself with that hammer?
Person 2: Because it will feel so good when I stop.
I know I haven't been back at the running for very long, but it feels like I'm already getting to the point where the run itself isn't as excruciating and the feeling afterwards is pretty amazing. Like I'm powerful, substantial. So I just have to keep that feeling in mind on the days when the running part is a struggle.
10. 13. 16. 17. Yogalates
24. cleaned
I'm grateful for Little Miss Sunshine and all the people who recommended that I see it (20). All the characters are so flawed and beautiful and. . . I should stop before I go spoiling things for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.
So, this whole experience at the casino made me give up on the idea of ever really giving poker a serious shot as a profession. Why would I want to spend a lot of time in a place where people are miserable and I'm unable to do anything to cheer them up? I already had other reasons for not wanting to play poker seriously. This last one just pushed me over the top. First off, I wouldn't really want that kind of lifestyle. Crazy hours. No real security. Questionable company. Who needs that? Also, I sometimes have a moral issue with playing poker. If poker is indeed a game that favors players with skill, and if I am indeed a player with skill, is it right for me to use that skill to take money from people who don't have that skill? Isn't that kind of like a scam? I know that bad players know the risk when they sit down at a table. But I'm not sure if they really believe in the risk. I think a bad player probably sits down to a table convinced that something good will come out of the session. Isn't that how con artists work? Don't they take advantage of people's hope for something better. . . But I still enjoy the challenge of poker, the thrill of figuring out an opponent, the agony of not figuring out an opponent. It can be quite rewarding. . . The last of the reasons that I shouldn't be a professional poker player is that it doesn't really create any good or service. Isn't that what money is supposed to be exchanged for? If I win a big pot, what does the loser get in exchange for the money he just gave up? I think maybe I would rather spend my time trying to make something of use than trying to take something of use. . . I'll probably still play from time-to-time. I just won't pretend like I'm doing anything more than playing a game. . . Does this mean I should cross out number 1?
I felt really good after running this morning (17). It reminded me of a stupid little joke I half remember from when I was a kid:
Person 1: Why do you keep hitting yourself with that hammer?
Person 2: Because it will feel so good when I stop.
I know I haven't been back at the running for very long, but it feels like I'm already getting to the point where the run itself isn't as excruciating and the feeling afterwards is pretty amazing. Like I'm powerful, substantial. So I just have to keep that feeling in mind on the days when the running part is a struggle.
10. 13. 16. 17. Yogalates
24. cleaned
I'm grateful for Little Miss Sunshine and all the people who recommended that I see it (20). All the characters are so flawed and beautiful and. . . I should stop before I go spoiling things for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.
Friday, February 9, 2007
moron
I've gone over some of my previous posts, and I realize that the next item on The List should involve working in transitional sentences on this blog. But I've decided against that. Instead, the next item on The List is
26. Stop pacing. It doesn't do anything good for anyone involved.
I finished the big headache book today and started working on The 1-2-3 Program (16). The book was a lot of redundant filler, and the program itself boils down to eliminating "easy fixes (painkillers)," avoiding all foods that are known to be triggers (not just the ones I think are triggers for me), and if that doesn't do it, getting a prescription for preventive medication. So I've started working on steps 1 and 2, and I just have to say, I'm really going to miss chocolate. . . and coffee. . . and peanut butter. . . and bananas and cheese and flavored chips and hot dogs and virtually all frozen dinners and. . . It's going to take some getting used to.
Let me just start this section by telling everyone that I am a moron. A really really big moron. Today I got in touch with some of my professors from when I was in college and asked if they would give me a reference and if they had any suggestions for my job search (12). Well the first response I got was from crazyactivistprofessor (20) who said that he would be more than willing to refer me and also that he doesn't really hear about job opportunities, but he does hear about a lot of internships and that might be a good way to go for me because a lot of internships end up leading to jobs. Which is cool because his internships are usually with the government and non-profit organizations. So that could be a path toward a career that I would actually feel good about. Then, I got a response from coolfriendlyfirstnameprofessor (20), and she said that not only would she let me put her down as someone to call, she would start writing me a letter of reference right away. She also said that she was always getting tons of notices about writing jobs and that I should stop in her office sometime to talk about it. Plus, one of the other professors from the department has lots of good resources for finding even more writing jobs. So that would be cool, because a writing job. . . um. . . I want a writing job. . . heh. . . how's that for writing? . . So how does this make me a moron? Well, if I had gotten in touch with these nice folks as soon as I decided I wasn't going to become certified as a teacher, I would probably have a job right now. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I am The King. . .
10. 13. 16. 17. two miles treadmill. yogalates
24. clean, clean, clean
2. write, stare at the screen, write, stare at the screen, write, stare, stare, write, stare, write, write
I want to end today by thanking the folks that read this blog, lurkers and commenters alike (20). Sometimes I feel myself starting to burrow into the earth of procrastination and think, "Hey, people are actually taking the time to read your blog. What will you say to them?" So, thanks.
26. Stop pacing. It doesn't do anything good for anyone involved.
I finished the big headache book today and started working on The 1-2-3 Program (16). The book was a lot of redundant filler, and the program itself boils down to eliminating "easy fixes (painkillers)," avoiding all foods that are known to be triggers (not just the ones I think are triggers for me), and if that doesn't do it, getting a prescription for preventive medication. So I've started working on steps 1 and 2, and I just have to say, I'm really going to miss chocolate. . . and coffee. . . and peanut butter. . . and bananas and cheese and flavored chips and hot dogs and virtually all frozen dinners and. . . It's going to take some getting used to.
Let me just start this section by telling everyone that I am a moron. A really really big moron. Today I got in touch with some of my professors from when I was in college and asked if they would give me a reference and if they had any suggestions for my job search (12). Well the first response I got was from crazyactivistprofessor (20) who said that he would be more than willing to refer me and also that he doesn't really hear about job opportunities, but he does hear about a lot of internships and that might be a good way to go for me because a lot of internships end up leading to jobs. Which is cool because his internships are usually with the government and non-profit organizations. So that could be a path toward a career that I would actually feel good about. Then, I got a response from coolfriendlyfirstnameprofessor (20), and she said that not only would she let me put her down as someone to call, she would start writing me a letter of reference right away. She also said that she was always getting tons of notices about writing jobs and that I should stop in her office sometime to talk about it. Plus, one of the other professors from the department has lots of good resources for finding even more writing jobs. So that would be cool, because a writing job. . . um. . . I want a writing job. . . heh. . . how's that for writing? . . So how does this make me a moron? Well, if I had gotten in touch with these nice folks as soon as I decided I wasn't going to become certified as a teacher, I would probably have a job right now. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I am The King. . .
10. 13. 16. 17. two miles treadmill. yogalates
24. clean, clean, clean
2. write, stare at the screen, write, stare at the screen, write, stare, stare, write, stare, write, write
I want to end today by thanking the folks that read this blog, lurkers and commenters alike (20). Sometimes I feel myself starting to burrow into the earth of procrastination and think, "Hey, people are actually taking the time to read your blog. What will you say to them?" So, thanks.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
flour storm
I'll start with a quick thanks to z-man (20). I haven't had a chance to go over the html tutorial site all that much, but it seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. Instead of boring you all with some of the more ho-hum details of The List, I'm going to just do a quick driveby of some of the drier stuff and then move on to the meat of today.
2. I wrote for two to three hours today. I also ordered a couple single issues of literary journals so I can become more familiar with the marketplace.
10. 13. 16. 17. two miles on the treadmill. more yogalates (Downward dog? More like downward bitch. That shit is hard.)
24. The cleaning continues.
12. Called about a job.
So, my mom showed me how to make chicken and dumplings today (19). That's one of those foods that just makes me warm and squishy inside because it was one of those big deal meals growing up. "Mom's making dumplings? Sweet! I'm skipping lunch." But the preparation of the meal in this instance was perhaps a bit lacking. Okay, so to make the dumplings, you mix up some flour and salt and pepper in the mixer. Then you add Crisco to the mix. Here's where it gets fun. I dumped the first glob of Crisco into the bowl and it immediately attached itself to the mixer, creating a rotating paddle perfectly designed for spraying flour all over the kitchen. So, my mom steps in and says, "No, you need to turn the mixer down first." So we did that. And then, once the Crisco was blended in, she said we could turn the mixer up again. Poof. More flour. More mess. Everywhere. Everywhere. Everywhere.
I've made some serious progress in my reading of Heal Your Headache (16). The author, David Bucholz, M.D., claims that everyone is prone to migraine, that what is commonly referred to as a migraine (severe headache with vomiting, dizziness, photophobia, etc.) is an extreme case of what everyone deals with. Bucholz says that we all have a migraine mechanism that, when triggered, causes headaches, dizziness, nausea, stiff necks, bloody noses, sweating, chills, visual disturbances, congestion, inner-ear issues, tension, and so much more. If he's right and his system works, it would be pretty awesome for me because I've suffered quite a few of those symptoms. His system seems to be a long term one. So I'll let you know if it works for me after I've been at it for a while.
I'm grateful for the sweet old lady who lives next door. She always says and does the nicest things (20).
2. I wrote for two to three hours today. I also ordered a couple single issues of literary journals so I can become more familiar with the marketplace.
10. 13. 16. 17. two miles on the treadmill. more yogalates (Downward dog? More like downward bitch. That shit is hard.)
24. The cleaning continues.
12. Called about a job.
So, my mom showed me how to make chicken and dumplings today (19). That's one of those foods that just makes me warm and squishy inside because it was one of those big deal meals growing up. "Mom's making dumplings? Sweet! I'm skipping lunch." But the preparation of the meal in this instance was perhaps a bit lacking. Okay, so to make the dumplings, you mix up some flour and salt and pepper in the mixer. Then you add Crisco to the mix. Here's where it gets fun. I dumped the first glob of Crisco into the bowl and it immediately attached itself to the mixer, creating a rotating paddle perfectly designed for spraying flour all over the kitchen. So, my mom steps in and says, "No, you need to turn the mixer down first." So we did that. And then, once the Crisco was blended in, she said we could turn the mixer up again. Poof. More flour. More mess. Everywhere. Everywhere. Everywhere.
I've made some serious progress in my reading of Heal Your Headache (16). The author, David Bucholz, M.D., claims that everyone is prone to migraine, that what is commonly referred to as a migraine (severe headache with vomiting, dizziness, photophobia, etc.) is an extreme case of what everyone deals with. Bucholz says that we all have a migraine mechanism that, when triggered, causes headaches, dizziness, nausea, stiff necks, bloody noses, sweating, chills, visual disturbances, congestion, inner-ear issues, tension, and so much more. If he's right and his system works, it would be pretty awesome for me because I've suffered quite a few of those symptoms. His system seems to be a long term one. So I'll let you know if it works for me after I've been at it for a while.
I'm grateful for the sweet old lady who lives next door. She always says and does the nicest things (20).
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
dust, yogalates, & wil wheaton
So, today I had a hard time getting started, but I did eventually get a fair amount done. The day began with me having to stop my time on the treadmill (17) a bit early due to flaming calves. But I did get my new yoga/pilates dvd today, and I gave that a spin (10, 13, 16, 17). It was actually really good for me. Only having done one of the sections on the dvd, I felt an immediate easing of a lot of my tension. So, thanks again piwok.
Most of my endeavours for the day involved the following addition to The List:
24. Clean stuff up.
The literary among you may try to make the fact that I'm cleaning my space into something symbolic of me cleaning my life, but I wish you wouldn't. The dust was pretty bad though. My throat got pretty sore. But it's getting better in here, almost livable.
I want to give a big thanks to IME (20) for pointing me to Wil Wheaton's blog. It's very good. I love his unabashed geekiness and the way he was lobbying for George Tekai to be cast in a broader variety of roles. Speaking of blogs, I need to cross number 3 off the list. But before I can do that, number 25 must be completed as well.
25. Look up HTML tags to update this blog.
I'll finish up with another thing I'm grateful for: chicken noodle soup (20).
Most of my endeavours for the day involved the following addition to The List:
24. Clean stuff up.
The literary among you may try to make the fact that I'm cleaning my space into something symbolic of me cleaning my life, but I wish you wouldn't. The dust was pretty bad though. My throat got pretty sore. But it's getting better in here, almost livable.
I want to give a big thanks to IME (20) for pointing me to Wil Wheaton's blog. It's very good. I love his unabashed geekiness and the way he was lobbying for George Tekai to be cast in a broader variety of roles. Speaking of blogs, I need to cross number 3 off the list. But before I can do that, number 25 must be completed as well.
25. Look up HTML tags to update this blog.
I'll finish up with another thing I'm grateful for: chicken noodle soup (20).
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