Aug 272014
 

1. I am grateful that today passed successfully surpassing even my high expectations.

2. I am grateful that I was granted money back on a scam that I fell for…long and silly story, but no harm no foul. πŸ˜‰

3. I am sooooo grateful that tomorrow is the end of the week so that I can do some PhD work!

 

It was a gooooood day. My colleague and good friend and co-teacher and co-coordinator, T and I ran our first big meeting for the course we are leading. The meeting went well and everyone seemed fairly pleased with what we had to offer. Even my ex-bf and staunch critic gave us a huge thanks, compliments and led a round of applause. That’s HUGE! So, we are both feeling pret-ty good about things now. πŸ™‚ Phew, too!!!

So, now that is done with. Tomorrow I have to meet my supervisor to talk about the drama at the end of last term and what’s coming up next. I need to remember to stay gracious and humble through it all. It was my fault and so I need to own up to that without falling under the temptation of making excuses or laying blame…even IF blame can be laid. πŸ˜›

Overall, things are quite good. I’m feeling pretty happy these days, which is helping me to return focus on that little ol’ dissertation thingy. Speaking of…!

More to come,

~T

Aug 262014
 

1. I am gratefulΒ that the week is half over! πŸ˜› It has been nothing but go-go-go since Sunday….

2. I am grateful that my bf is back and that I also had the chance to miss him. It’s not that I was taking him for granted by any means, but usually I am the one who is traveling and though I miss him then it is not the same as being the one left in normal life. So, I was glad to get a different perspective and to also realize that he really is an important part of my life.

3. I am grateful to have a wonderful working relationship with my friend and colleague, T, since we have really needed to be on the same page so far this week. So far so goooooood! πŸ˜€

Phew! What a crazy first three days of work. It’s been nearly back-to-back meetings on top of trying to catch up with friends/colleagues on top of normal life on top of my PhD! [Yeah, don’t ask me how well that’s going at the moment! :|]

In any case, I am hoping [HOPING] it will slow down after tomorrow and then I can settle into class routine and finish this stinking dissertation because at the moment I might freak out!!!!! πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€ πŸ˜€ [crazy faces]

Break over.

More to come,

~T

Aug 242014
 

Okay, I skipped yesterday, but it is part of my gratitude for today! πŸ˜‰

1. I am grateful for the ability/need to take a full day off from studying or worrying about studying. It was much needed. Yesterday, I contemplated reading or writing a little, but then decided I was going to take the full day. It was worth it to just read my leisure book, go for a long massage and facial and just in general relax at home on my own. πŸ˜€

2. I am grateful for a really lovely group of colleagues. Since I am writing this at the end of my first day back at work, I thought I’d add it to today rather than save it for tomorrow. I do truly work with some nice people, so when I complain about the job, I need to keep this in mind.

3. I am grateful for the fact that M is returning tomorrow morning!!! I can’t wait to see him – it’s only been four days, but like a silly schoolgirl, I’m SUPER excited! πŸ˜‰ <3

So, all in all life is good. I am going to try to write at least a paragraph on my Analysis chapter and then relax before another busy day begins. πŸ˜€

More to come,

~T

Aug 232014
 

On our second day, we decided to do the Big Bus Tour so that we could see the city and get our bearings.

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23-Jun-2014 12:32, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.2, 4.12mm, ISO 40
 
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23-Jun-2014 12:36, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.2, 4.12mm, 0.007 sec, ISO 32
 

We started out on the Red Line, but that line offers a live commentary on the city and my mom had a bit of trouble with the accents. So, we switched to the Blue Line, which has the recorded commentary. πŸ˜‰ Although it is a hop-on hop-off tour, we just stayed on for the full loop, which was about 3.5 hours. Mom was a bit jet lagged, and it was easy to get the full picture.

2nd Day bus tour of London
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2nd Day bus tour of London23-Jun-2014 10:08, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.4, 2.15mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50
 
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Harrods
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Harrods23-Jun-2014 10:50, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.2, 4.12mm, ISO 40
 
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23-Jun-2014 12:42, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.2, 4.12mm, ISO 40
 
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23-Jun-2014 13:25, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
 
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23-Jun-2014 13:27, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.2, 4.12mm, ISO 32
 

After completing the loop, we decided to ride a bit around again to see Big Ben and the Parliament building. This fulfilled my 8-yr-old dream! It was a very impressive sight and even better than the pyramids! πŸ˜€

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23-Jun-2014 14:09, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.2, 4.12mm, ISO 40
 
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23-Jun-2014 13:58, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.2, 4.12mm, ISO 40
 
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23-Jun-2014 20:01, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100
 

Our Bus Tour ticket included a river boat cruise, so we went back in the evening and cruised the river Thames where we also got to see the Tower Bridge in full. It was a full and tiring day, but all good!

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23-Jun-2014 17:53, Apple iPhone 5s, 2.2, 4.12mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
 
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Aug 222014
 

Today, I have written:

1. I am grateful for the company of my two cats, even though they also drive me crazy!

kitties

 

2. I am grateful for the time and ability to go out last night to see David Blaine’s illusionist show with friends. It was also my first outing with D without her dad (my bf)! πŸ˜€

db1

David Blaine holding his breath under water at 3minutes and 16seconds.

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David Blaine holding his breath under water at 8minutes and 31seconds.

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David Blaine holding his breath under water for 10minutes and 3seconds. Crazy!!!

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Me and D!

3. I am grateful for the Internet and all that it allows me to do! [post on blogs, keep up with friends, surf for useless info, etc.!]

πŸ˜€

Aug 212014
 

So, motivation is still a challenge. I am forcing myself to stay home and try to get some work done. So far, I’ve done a good job of procrastinating and taking care of ‘other’ things. However, I think, I think I am moving in the right direction….

First, I realized that I need to focus on positives and train my brain to associate working at home with results. I also need to focus on positives to stay motivated. To help with that, I have decided to join the trend of daily writing three things I am grateful for every day. While I won’t post it on FB daily, I will try it here as part of my continuing attempt to post regularly here too! πŸ˜‰

Without further ado:

1. I am grateful for my loving and nearly ‘perfect’ boyfriend. <3 [He’s away for a few days, but am so glad to have found such a lovely man.]

2. I am grateful for a decent job that allows me holidays to enjoy/travel/relax. πŸ˜‰ [Even though I don’t always like it, it is a job that offers me the lifestyle I like.]

3. I am grateful for all of my friends – near and far. πŸ˜€ [Without them, I would not be able to survive this crazy expat life!]

With that said, my procrastination is over. Four hours left until I go out tonight, so I definitely want to make at least a bit of progress today! Wish me luck!!!

More to come,

~T

Aug 202014
 

I thought to myself this morning that one of the reasons that I am not so motivated to do the PhD on most days is because I want to live in the future. The future is when the degree is done and I have nothing weighing on my mind – that IΒ should be doing something, but am not. It’s been over five years of me doing this silly thing and so I am ready to be done with it. Of course, that means I gotta get my s*** together and buckle down until it gets done, right?!

Once it’s done then I won’t have a sense of living in the future and can enjoy theΒ NOW. πŸ˜€

More to come,

-T

 Posted by at 09:46
Aug 192014
 

Yesterday I stared on the computer and contemplated the fact that I really do NOT need this PhD. Yes, I am nearly finished and all that, but I was really in a bad mindset. So, I took the day ‘off’. I attempted a bit before I went to meet a friend for lunch and though I had good intentions after lunch, especially after J said I could do it, I decided to say ‘f*** it!’ instead for the day.

However, not to have a day completely wasted – it’s not in my brain power πŸ˜› – I did manage to take care of a few other things that I needed to get done such as renewing my car registration. Now, there are some things in this country that are actually quite good in terms of updating processes. This is one of them. I was in and out of the registration building within an hour! This is a miracle. So, that made me happy. Afterwards, I went to the grocery store and considered buying two pairs of shoes that I really do not need and then managed to walk away! Now that’s progress! hahah! πŸ˜€

Anyway, although my apartment is free and mine again, I think that I really do need to head out to the cafe. I need to get a lot more done and it just doesn’t seem to happen at home…. So, wish me luck!!! πŸ˜€

More to come,

~T

Aug 182014
 

It has been gnawing at me as to why I am irritated with the people staying with me – or rather the husband. He’s lovely – no doubt. Yet, each time he talks to me I feel annoyance. This morning, it dawned on me or at least became a little bit clearer:

*I am not good with meaningless conversation. I do not like to talk about the weather, especially when I live or experienced the exact same weather. Yes, I know it’s hot and humid here…. I do not like to be told the obvious – I can see for myself that today is clear, but yesterday was sandy from the storm. These kinds of conversations have no value to me and yet I realize that they are part of life. I need to switch my brain to appreciate this more as there must be something in it if 90% of the people in the world have these kinds of conversations…, right?

*I am not good with different levels of what I call ‘respectful’. For example, you are staying in my home for free. I have offered for you to ‘make yourself’ at home by using my water or drinking my “above-average-priced” coffee. If you see that you have finished my water and I told you that there will be no more water until the day you leave (7 days later!), then if I were you, I would have bought some bottles of water to contribute to the home’s water supply. Or, if you decide to have coffee two or three times a day and notice that my full container of pods has diminished to half within four days, if I were you, I would find out how to replace your coffee pods. Now, I know, people aren’t me and if I don’t want stuff to be used then I shouldn’t offer or open my home. However, it’s not that I don’t want it used – it’s that I want there to be respect for the fact that you are staying in my home for free and consuming my things for free – everything has a cost – and you have no concern for the consumption of my things FOR FREE! I’m paying the air conditioner for your cooling. I’m paying the water bill for your cleansing. I’m paying for the water for your drinking. I’m paying for the coffee for your enjoyment. You are receiving all of this for FREE for seven days!!!!!! Don’t you think you should stop and think about how to give back forΒ what you have received?

Maybe they will to someone else and I will just never know what my giving has contributed to some greater good. However, at the moment, all I feel stress about it and am looking forward to having my space again.

That’s the end of my selfish ranting. I shouldn’t be so, but it’s my current perspective and state of mind, unfortunately…. :*(

More positive stuff to come,

~T πŸ˜›

 Posted by at 09:54
Aug 172014
 

It was a nice weekend and I even managed to get a bit of work done – never enough – and relax too! πŸ˜€

Now, it’s time to get back to it. Need another chapter out in the next couple of days and have to just settle in to it. Will be heading off to a cafe soon for that! πŸ˜‰

For the past week I’ve had CSers staying with me. They are a nice older couple from Torun, Poland. The husband speaks pretty good English and the wife hardly speaks a word, though she seems to understand quite a bit. For the most part, they are fairly easy to have around and I’m sure it is nice for them to be able to stay in a ‘home’ rather than a hotel where they can cook and all that jazz. It’s not a big deal to have them here and yet I am finding myself more and more annoyed by their presence. WHY?!

Small things are irritating me like: *they finished my water bottle in about four days that would have taken me another week to finish and they have yet to buy more to replace it; *the man talks to me about seemingly trivial things while it is quite apparent that I am in the middle of working or doing something else; *they are around most of the day; *etc. etc.

In the grand scheme of things, none of this should bother me. Maybe I’m stressed about other things or maybe I am just getting old and set in my ways?! I am hoping it’s the former rather than the latter. M suggested that perhaps I should limit the time that CSers can stay rather than allowing such a long stay. I think this is a practical solution to avoiding future angst as I don’t want to stop having CSers, but I find it a bit tiring to have people I don’t know in my home for so long….<sigh>

It’s a good challenge for my introverted and anti-social personality. 😐

Anyway, they are gone tomorrow and then I shall take a little break from the sharing of my home for a bit – until after I submit my dissertation and school is in full swing. That way, I can avoid at least that stressor. πŸ™‚

More to come,

~T

 Posted by at 10:44
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