I figure that I am able to do five things reasonably well. This is an arbitrary figure, based on nothing more than it being an nice round number. But I figure it's a good starting point.
I also, however, figure that I have a limited attention span and am easily excited by novelty. I'm always looking for that next project, that next thing to learn; I easily forget the last thing I was interested in and I rarely get far enough into anything to develop any sort of expertise (the arbitrary number assigned to that by those in the know is ten years, btw). I am, as my friend Mike Daisey would say, a dilettante. I would say that I've got a mad case of ADHD and a library card.
So I am attempting to simplify my life. Because at this point, I have a few things in the works that I *have* to be focusing on, namely school. However, at this point, I am engaged in or trying to engage in the following:
- School (this has eleventy different subsections, including each class I'm taking, working on a poster presentation, working on a lit review for my dissertation, and trying to be "more involved" at school)
- Knitting
- Gardening
- Fitness (including an upcoming triathlon, half marathon, and regular yoga)
- Reading about the history of Key West
- Reading about how to stay within budget and eliminate debt (sigh)
- Current events
- My relationship
- Daily life (groceries, bills, cooking, cleaning the house, showering, sleeping)
- Trying to go vegan(ish)
- Trying to be more social / outgoing
- Television (shut up. I "only" watch Biggest Loser, Life, 30 Rock, How I met your mother, and Big Bang theory. yes, this translates into television 4 nights per week, and a total of 4.5 hours per week).
- Blogging
Okay. So let's pick 5. I sort of have to pick My Relationship, School, and Daily life. That leaves....let's say gardening, and reading. But I still need to incorporate fitness.
Sigh. I've tried weeding things out of daily life, and most often it's basic hygiene that suffers. Which doesn't help my relationship. So, we're going to have to drop the social/outgoing stuff (good), drop television, drop keeping up with current events (this means you Internet). Sigh. I still want to blog more regularly, and yes I am trying to go vegan(ish). Ugh, it's all just too much. Calgon take me away (but there's simply no time for that).
Oh yeah, I forgot. I also going to be starting work part time for a treatment agency, and I've been working for Evan's business on the side.
Screw it.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Hurray again!
I got into the health psychology specialization track! Woot!
This means that I'll focus my dissertation and clinical work (and hopefully internship) on work in a medical setting and psychology as it relates to health conditions (and how your physical health conditions affect your mental health). I'll also get to focus on stress disorders, psychoimmunology, somatoform disorders, and particular health conditions. As I've said before, I'm hoping to work specifically with behavior change as it relates to and impacts health (obesity, addiction, etc.) I'm getting more and more into pediatric obesity. Fascinating literature.
So I found out that I won't be doing my initial practicum working with homeless LGBT youth. Instead, I'll be primarily working with vets at a local health clinic that's attached to my school. I'm just as happy about this - I love working with vets. I volunteered at the VA a few years ago, and though it was primarily research, I got some good exposure to the population.
I'm out in Sun River this weekend with "the girls." Totally couldn't afford it, don't have time for it, but eBoy made me go because he thinks I need to make friends and get out of the house more. So what am I doing? Sitting upstairs studying while they all chillax in the hot tub. Oh well. At least I'm out of the house. And central oregon is beautiful, so life could be a lot worse.
This means that I'll focus my dissertation and clinical work (and hopefully internship) on work in a medical setting and psychology as it relates to health conditions (and how your physical health conditions affect your mental health). I'll also get to focus on stress disorders, psychoimmunology, somatoform disorders, and particular health conditions. As I've said before, I'm hoping to work specifically with behavior change as it relates to and impacts health (obesity, addiction, etc.) I'm getting more and more into pediatric obesity. Fascinating literature.
So I found out that I won't be doing my initial practicum working with homeless LGBT youth. Instead, I'll be primarily working with vets at a local health clinic that's attached to my school. I'm just as happy about this - I love working with vets. I volunteered at the VA a few years ago, and though it was primarily research, I got some good exposure to the population.
I'm out in Sun River this weekend with "the girls." Totally couldn't afford it, don't have time for it, but eBoy made me go because he thinks I need to make friends and get out of the house more. So what am I doing? Sitting upstairs studying while they all chillax in the hot tub. Oh well. At least I'm out of the house. And central oregon is beautiful, so life could be a lot worse.
Friday, March 06, 2009
in which I take the high road...
Dear Dr. ________________,
I have decided to withdraw from the Disability Seminar. I would like to thank you for raising my awareness of this important area of diversity and I plan to continue my studies in this area independently.
Unfortunately, due to recent personal experiences, I am unable to engage in a discussion implicitly comparing selective abortion to eugenics in a professional, objective, and unemotional manner. I would urge the class to consider that selective abortion is a very difficult personal decision that individuals and families struggle with and it is not one made lightly nor lived with easily. I believe it is simplistic, self-righteous, and irresponsible to liken a systematic, state-driven extermination or sterilization of a group of people to a difficult choice made by families that must judge what is best for them based on their health, finances, relationships, and ability to care for a special needs child. It seems that the class may need to consider that it is not our place to stand in judgment, but instead to consider how such an impossible decision can be made and what they might do should they ever be faced with it (or how they will interact with clients that are facing or have faced such a decision). I believe that, as professionals, it is our place to learn and model empathy, rather than make blanket value judgments.
Again, I would like to emphasize that my decision to withdraw from the class is not due to my disagreement with the viewpoints presented, but rather my inability at this time to engage objectively and professionally in this particular discussion.
Thank you,
drM, M.A.
p.s. Kiss my ass
I have decided to withdraw from the Disability Seminar. I would like to thank you for raising my awareness of this important area of diversity and I plan to continue my studies in this area independently.
Unfortunately, due to recent personal experiences, I am unable to engage in a discussion implicitly comparing selective abortion to eugenics in a professional, objective, and unemotional manner. I would urge the class to consider that selective abortion is a very difficult personal decision that individuals and families struggle with and it is not one made lightly nor lived with easily. I believe it is simplistic, self-righteous, and irresponsible to liken a systematic, state-driven extermination or sterilization of a group of people to a difficult choice made by families that must judge what is best for them based on their health, finances, relationships, and ability to care for a special needs child. It seems that the class may need to consider that it is not our place to stand in judgment, but instead to consider how such an impossible decision can be made and what they might do should they ever be faced with it (or how they will interact with clients that are facing or have faced such a decision). I believe that, as professionals, it is our place to learn and model empathy, rather than make blanket value judgments.
Again, I would like to emphasize that my decision to withdraw from the class is not due to my disagreement with the viewpoints presented, but rather my inability at this time to engage objectively and professionally in this particular discussion.
Thank you,
drM, M.A.
p.s. Kiss my ass
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Sigh, Again......just fucking sigh.
So I'm taking a seminar on Disability in America, I dunno. I thought it would be good for a health psychologist to have some fucking familiarity with it all. And the first couple of nights I was getting a weird vibe from the professor, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
The readings for this week were on eugenics and nazis and that sort of thing. And the conversation wound its way around this and that, and finally, after listening to a bunch of 20-somethings make a bunch of self-righteous statements about prenatal genetic testing, I said, wait a minute. Back up. Are you saying that someone that terminates a pregnancy due to massive congenital birth defects or genetic problems is practicing eugenics?
To which they all nodded their heads in unison.
You're comparing them to Nazis?
More agreement.
You're comparing a mother who has to terminate her pregnancy due to these genetic defects to the political policy that exterminated jews, gays, the disabled, and pretty much most of Poland.
At which point the professor, smugly I might add, said well there's a big difference between having an abortion because you're just not ready for a child at that point in your life and having one just because you don't want that kind of kid.
At which point I decided to drop the class.
I'm sorry, but do people not even GET what sort of terrible and awful and painful decision that is? Do they really think it's like deciding that you don't want Jamocha Almond Fudge because you just don't want that kind of ice cream? Do they really fucking think that it's a decision made out of convenience, with an eye towards what's going to be easier? Oh gee, I think I'll have an abortion this morning and later on, we can stop by Ikea and return the crib - maybe pick up a new duvet cover while we're there!
Everbody's got their little agenda, don't they? I fucking hate people. I really fucking hate people sometimes.
The readings for this week were on eugenics and nazis and that sort of thing. And the conversation wound its way around this and that, and finally, after listening to a bunch of 20-somethings make a bunch of self-righteous statements about prenatal genetic testing, I said, wait a minute. Back up. Are you saying that someone that terminates a pregnancy due to massive congenital birth defects or genetic problems is practicing eugenics?
To which they all nodded their heads in unison.
You're comparing them to Nazis?
More agreement.
You're comparing a mother who has to terminate her pregnancy due to these genetic defects to the political policy that exterminated jews, gays, the disabled, and pretty much most of Poland.
At which point the professor, smugly I might add, said well there's a big difference between having an abortion because you're just not ready for a child at that point in your life and having one just because you don't want that kind of kid.
At which point I decided to drop the class.
I'm sorry, but do people not even GET what sort of terrible and awful and painful decision that is? Do they really think it's like deciding that you don't want Jamocha Almond Fudge because you just don't want that kind of ice cream? Do they really fucking think that it's a decision made out of convenience, with an eye towards what's going to be easier? Oh gee, I think I'll have an abortion this morning and later on, we can stop by Ikea and return the crib - maybe pick up a new duvet cover while we're there!
Everbody's got their little agenda, don't they? I fucking hate people. I really fucking hate people sometimes.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
My workout today.
I've had 3 days of health. A little off last night because we had some indian food from Trader Joe's (high in fat and sodium) since I'm also trying to give up sleeping pills, I had 2.5 hours sleep the night before, so then I didn't really feel like cooking. It all just ties in together. I didn't drink enough water yesterday either, so I felt really hungry. Which reminds me, I need to down a few ounces before bed.
So, I thought I'd blog my workout because you're just so interested. One of the things I started doing in November was journaling what I did at the gym. I guess it sort of helps me keep track of how I'm improving, but mostly it saves me from having to think about what I'm doing while I'm in the middle of it all. I just follow what I set down for myself before hand. I do a circuit workout. So it's divided into four circuits, with 3 exercises in each circuit. I repeat each circuit 3 times before I move on to the next one. I do my best not to rest at all during this. The advantage is that it keeps my heart rate up and gives me good variety. Focusing today on the front of my body (pecs and quads). Also trying to do triathlon training. Just 10 minutes of each right now. I'm in a six week build up phase before the real training begins. So...
10 min warmup walk on treadmill @ ~3.5, 5% incline. Waving my arms around like a nut.
1. Squats w 5 lb dumbbells. x 15
Cable chest press @ 15 lbs x 15
Jump rope 1 minute
2. 45 degree leg press. No weights. x 12 (my ass is beginning to hurt)
Military shoulder press @ 8 lbs x 15 (a little easy - 10 pounds next time)
Jump rope 1 minute
3. Side lifts with ankle weights (this is a torturous pilates exercise my trainer has me do. It sucks) 2 lbs x 15, front and back. It's fucking hard.
Anterior shoulder raise @ 5lbs, 8 lbs, 5 lbs x 15. (8 lbs was a leetle too heavy!)
Hammer curls @ 5bls, 8 lbs, 8lbs x 15
4. Bridge on an exercise ball, with dumbbell raise, followed by hip lifts, with bicep curls. 10 pound dumbbells, 10 x 2. Fucking hard also. Someone's not walking tomorrow I fear.
Cardio:
10 minute run walk (1 lap walking, 2 laps running. 13 laps total)
10 minute spin bike (1 min easy, 1 min med, 1 min hard). CARDI2THEFUCKIN'O.
10 lap swim. (I think it's a 25 yard pool, so it's a 500. Which, considering that I haven't swum competitively in 20 years, is pretty good!)
So that was an ass kicking workout. I need to add in more core. But it's only for a day when I have a lot of time to spend at the gym. Tomorrow I will just do some walking and take a yoga class.
So, I thought I'd blog my workout because you're just so interested. One of the things I started doing in November was journaling what I did at the gym. I guess it sort of helps me keep track of how I'm improving, but mostly it saves me from having to think about what I'm doing while I'm in the middle of it all. I just follow what I set down for myself before hand. I do a circuit workout. So it's divided into four circuits, with 3 exercises in each circuit. I repeat each circuit 3 times before I move on to the next one. I do my best not to rest at all during this. The advantage is that it keeps my heart rate up and gives me good variety. Focusing today on the front of my body (pecs and quads). Also trying to do triathlon training. Just 10 minutes of each right now. I'm in a six week build up phase before the real training begins. So...
10 min warmup walk on treadmill @ ~3.5, 5% incline. Waving my arms around like a nut.
1. Squats w 5 lb dumbbells. x 15
Cable chest press @ 15 lbs x 15
Jump rope 1 minute
2. 45 degree leg press. No weights. x 12 (my ass is beginning to hurt)
Military shoulder press @ 8 lbs x 15 (a little easy - 10 pounds next time)
Jump rope 1 minute
3. Side lifts with ankle weights (this is a torturous pilates exercise my trainer has me do. It sucks) 2 lbs x 15, front and back. It's fucking hard.
Anterior shoulder raise @ 5lbs, 8 lbs, 5 lbs x 15. (8 lbs was a leetle too heavy!)
Hammer curls @ 5bls, 8 lbs, 8lbs x 15
4. Bridge on an exercise ball, with dumbbell raise, followed by hip lifts, with bicep curls. 10 pound dumbbells, 10 x 2. Fucking hard also. Someone's not walking tomorrow I fear.
Cardio:
10 minute run walk (1 lap walking, 2 laps running. 13 laps total)
10 minute spin bike (1 min easy, 1 min med, 1 min hard). CARDI2THEFUCKIN'O.
10 lap swim. (I think it's a 25 yard pool, so it's a 500. Which, considering that I haven't swum competitively in 20 years, is pretty good!)
So that was an ass kicking workout. I need to add in more core. But it's only for a day when I have a lot of time to spend at the gym. Tomorrow I will just do some walking and take a yoga class.
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