Neferkatie

Like a normal adult... or something

2010-08-24T21:29:00.000-05:00

So, I've been doing some thinking. Maybe it's time I tried treating this "grad school" thing like a job. 9-5 style. If I'm efficient I believe it'll give me enough time to get everything done (and if not, of course, adjustments will be made). I think most of my problem is lack of sustained focus, and telling myself I can just do it later. (Who doesn't face these challenges?)

Anyway for this coming semester, I am intending to try something new to me. I know other people have suggested it before (not least of all over at ProfHacker), but this are the guidelines I've drawn up for myself in a very rough draft.

I'm posting them here because some of you might find it interesting, but moreover, I want feedback-- what am I missing? Tips? Tricks? Thoughts?

Graduate School as a 9-5 Job

Expectations

Get to the library no later than 9 or 9:15 every morning, or early morning classes on time.
Bring lunch almost every day. Now we have a fridge in Gilman. Bring water bottle/coffee mug. Good for the budget too. (I just bought the cutest bento box...)
Leave the library no later than 5 or 5:15.
Develop a system and stick to it to manage procrastination and off-task noodling.
Keep a comprehensive to-do list. Use springpad, add deadlines.
Keep a calendar.
Schedule in some break times.
Keep a timesheet? (Spreadsheet?)
Find a good place to work.
Keep tabs on work efficiently, Take notes.
Add readings and research materials to Zotero ASAP.
Find out which classes have papers and try to get them in/started before leaving at the end of the term.
Make sure notes will be helpful when you review them two years later (ahem).
turn off distractions while working. limit them to break time or evenings/weekends.

Rewards

Keep netflix subscription. Actually watch things.
eat and cook real food
sleep on schedule and enough
have real weekends
go to New Haven, enjoy when AJ visits
watch football
papers done on time!?!
form good habits for comps/abd
drink with dinner!

Now your turn please.

Eco-chic?

2010-08-04T15:55:00.000-05:00

So, since the project 365 ended, I've been relishing the freedom to not have to photograph and blog about every single day, especially with days as boring as I've been having recently. But at least for the moment, I'd like to blog about a few changes I made in my every day routine recently.

After reading this article by a friend from school, I decided to check out my household products here: I did not like what I found. The lack of regulations or labeling requirements on these products is perplexing. If I get to know what I eat, why can't I know what I put on my underarms every day? Or what I clean my kitchen counter with? Want to know more? Look here.

So, I decided it was time to experiment a little bit.

I've also gone "no 'poo", which I think sounds gross but it really isn't. I've been washing my hair just as much, but now with baking soda and water instead of shampoo that's full of untested chemicals, many of which are endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, carcinogens, or reproductive inhibitors. Scary stuff.

For the same reasons, I decided to see what I could do about my deodorant. My old antiperspirants are full of aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, among other chemicals which do other un-fun things. So I am currently using a powder of 1 part baking soda to 6 parts cornstarch which has been working pretty well, and I'm going to experiment making my own stick deodorant with coconut oil.

The plan is once I run out of my "organic" soap*, to switch to handmade soaps which use natural ingredients like olive oil instead of chemicals.

I've been using more vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice as household cleaners, and I've vowed not to buy any more normal bleaches or chemical cleaners.

Now, this isn't just about being "green" or "organic" or "hippie" or anything else. It's a combination of not wanting to get myself exposed to more risk factors than I have to be, not wanting to contribute to the huge amount of processing and plastics that go into (and out of) these products, and even saving a little money by spending a minute or two more doing these things myself. Plus, when I can, I can keep putting money into the local economy, if say, I splurged on a bar of local handmade soap at the farmer's market.

I'm also not going to give up on some things. I like laundry detergent, for example. But can I choose more efficient laundry detergent, which works well in cold water and comes in a recycled bottle? When I can, I will.

Anyway, I thought I'd share those thoughts with you. Doing something similar? Think I'm right? Think I'm wrong? Want to know how it's going? Let me know!

*Because of the lack of regulation for personal care products, companies are allowed to use words like "organic" and "natural" without actually meeting any standards for the product or labeling the package with the ingredients inside.

Project 365: Day 365

2010-07-20T11:14:00.004-05:00

Hard to believe this is it!! What a year. I'm really glad I took so many photos (at least when I had a camera to take them...) I managed to preserve a lot of memories and good times, mixed in with a bunch of average life and some snapshots of random things in my environment.
There was sometimes a mentality of "oh! I'll save that for later, I already got my photo for today." I never quite managed to shake that, though I did try, after a few times the earlier photo wasn't as good, or as clear as I'd hoped it would be. I've learned to carry my camera with me at all time (Be Prepared, as I learned in Girl Scouts), which has been great. I've managed to get a lot of impromptu things, and capture snapshots that wouldn't exist otherwise.
I also hope I've entertained you this year-and-some with my photos. I never claimed to be a professional or artistic photographer, and thanks for enduring my blurry, shaky, poorly composed, or outright boring work. I think I did get a bit better with photos this year, though the improvement could have been greater.
As for the future, I think I'll keep blogging when and if I feel like it. Don't go away, keep me in your blog feeds or whatever, but I'm not going to promise another year's worth of posts!

The large pit right next to the NES study room, complete with very noisy machines, lots of dirt, and hot humid sweltering air. Perfect environment for trying to get papers written!

Project 365: Day 364

2010-07-19T11:14:00.001-05:00

DROID X!

Project 365: Day 363

2010-07-18T11:13:00.002-05:00

Picking the perfect plum.

Project 365: Day 362

2010-07-17T11:13:00.011-05:00

For best effect, open each photo in a new tab to see the whole thing.

The view of "Pickett's Charge", one of the most famous parts of the battle of Gettysburg. Looking at this vista, you can really get a sense for the scale of the Civil War, as well as the multitude of moments when the observer looking back can't say anything but "Dear God, why?"

The view from Little Round Top.

Project 365: Day 361

2010-07-16T16:57:00.002-05:00

The huntress lies in wait for her prey (me).

Project 365: Day 360

2010-07-15T16:57:00.001-05:00

Oh look! It's a cat in a bag. :-D

Project 365: Day 359

2010-07-14T16:57:00.001-05:00

They say a photo is worth 1,000 words. This one sure is!

Project 365: Day 358

2010-07-13T16:56:00.002-05:00

A scene from clicker training.

Project 365: Day 357

2010-07-12T16:56:00.001-05:00

Project 365: Day 356

2010-07-11T16:55:00.001-05:00

Dr. Cleo will see you now.

Project 365: Day 355

2010-07-10T16:55:00.001-05:00

So much legroom!! Wow.

Project 365: Day 354

2010-07-09T16:42:00.002-05:00

Project 365: Day 353

2010-07-08T16:41:00.006-05:00

Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Day at Wrigley Field! It was awesome, we got to play on the field, run the bases, explore the clubhouse, sit in the dugout and the press box!

Project 365: Day 352

2010-07-07T16:41:00.001-05:00

Project 365: Day 351

2010-07-06T16:53:00.000-05:00

A few of the Coke caps AJ's been brining me from work! Yay!

Project 365: Day 350

2010-07-05T14:35:00.004-05:00

AJ and I joined the National Aquarium. Fun!

Project 365: Day 349

2010-07-04T14:35:00.001-05:00

Apologies for the blurriness. Hope the amusement makes up for it! We had a very American 4th-- eating a lot of foreign food, shopping, and watching some fireworks from the football stadium.

Project 365: Day 348

2010-07-03T14:35:00.001-05:00

AJ went riding. I got this awesome photo of him. Bwahahah.

Project 365: Day 347

2010-07-02T14:34:00.003-05:00

Cleocatra likes to sleep with her paw thrown over her face to keep out the light. It's incredibly similar to what AJ does when he falls asleep....

Project 365: Day 353

2010-07-01T18:17:00.000-05:00

Cleocatra adjusting to her new digs.

Project 365: Day 352

2010-06-30T18:13:00.002-05:00

Getting ready to adopt!

Project 365: Day 351

2010-06-29T18:12:00.004-05:00

And just in case you couldn't tell:

Keep it classy, Baltimore.

Project 365: Day 350

2010-06-28T18:12:00.003-05:00

The beautiful old mansion on the grounds of the MDSPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), where I am adopting a kitty!

Project 365: Day 349

2010-06-27T18:11:00.007-05:00

We went to AVAM, which was awesome.

Can you find my boyfriend?

And me next to what I consider to be a model of the egg of creation.

Project 365: Day 348

2010-06-26T18:10:00.001-05:00

AJ made me pancakes. They were good, even though they were healthy. (AJ made them, I said that already!)

Project 365: Day 347

2010-06-25T18:10:00.001-05:00

A local car, covered in stickers!

Project 365: Day 346

2010-06-24T18:40:00.000-05:00

Gilman looks so pretty now!

Project 365: Day 345

2010-06-23T09:28:00.003-05:00

How long does a list of rules in a bathroom need to be? I would posit a whole lot shorter than these; unless you're there for the long-haul, who's going to read them all?

Project 365: Day 344

2010-06-22T09:27:00.003-05:00

Watching the Orioles lose to the Marlins.

Project 365: Day 343

2010-06-21T09:28:00.004-05:00

It's possible I brought back some... friends... from Egypt. Ugh.

Project 365: Day 342

2010-06-20T09:26:00.002-05:00

Sunday brunch.

Project 365: Day 341

2010-06-19T09:26:00.001-05:00

Summer cleaning. :-D

Project 365: Day 340

2010-06-18T09:26:00.002-05:00

Workday lunch remnants.

Project 365: Day 339

2010-06-17T20:17:00.000-05:00

Our first haul of CSA produce! It was largely greens (spinach, beet greens, kale, chard, lettuce, red lettuce, some other kind of lettuce) and beets and onions. For my first CSA recipe, see my cooking blog!

Project 365: Day 338

2010-06-16T20:18:00.000-05:00

I'm going to cheat. Today's photos sucked. So I'm putting up one from tomorrow. Apologies.

Upholstery cleaning: the way to make used furniture rather more palatable!

Project 365: Day 337

2010-06-15T20:52:00.000-05:00

mm, homemade baba ganoush! It was good, but it needed a bit of adjustment, so when I figure that out I will post it on the recipe blog.

Project 365: Day 336

2010-06-14T20:22:00.002-05:00

Project 365: Day 335

2010-06-13T20:22:00.004-05:00

We went to Wildlife Safari, an awesome drive-through zoo/safari experience in Oregon near AJ's house.

Bears!!! They were so close to us, and so incredibly cute. I wanted to take one home with me, but AJ said we weren't ready yet. Boo.

Project 365: Day 334

2010-06-12T20:21:00.003-05:00

The Riggs clan, assembled for the memorial service of Bonnie Riggs.

Project 365: Day 333

2010-06-11T20:21:00.004-05:00

Project 365: Day 332

2010-06-10T20:21:00.000-05:00

A stormy evening sky over Roseburg.

Project 365: Day 331

2010-06-09T20:20:00.001-05:00

Look what they've done to D1!

Project 365: Day 330

2010-06-08T20:20:00.003-05:00

I really should have made a tag for photos of AJ being silly. To be perfectly fair, most of them are at my explicit urging, but still... it is his face.

Project 365: Day 329

2010-06-07T15:43:00.004-05:00

Project 365: Day 328

2010-06-06T15:43:00.001-05:00

Using the new camel teapot!

Project 365: Day 327

2010-06-05T15:42:00.002-05:00

I finally made it home. Yikes.

Project 365: Day 326

2010-06-04T15:42:00.004-05:00

One awesome thing about Egypt: when a family goes on the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, they paint their house with awesome murals like these. The plane (or boat, train, camel -- yes seriously) represents the means of transit they used to get there. I especially loved this plane, since it has "Egypt Air" on it in English, and though you can't see it, the Egypt Air Horus logo on the tail of the plane.

Project 365: Day 325

2010-06-03T15:01:00.000-05:00

Luxor Temple is amazing, not only as an ancient monument, but also as a testament to the power of a holy place. There is evidence for some kind of temple there well into ancient history. When Egypt became a Christian country, the shrine of the temple was painted over and was converted to a church. Now parts of both church and original reliefs are beautifully preserved in some places:

Once Egypt converted to Islam, and the percentage of Christians shrank, the Church fell into disrepair. The sands eventually reclaimed the lower levels of the temple and the church, and a mosque was built on top, into the highest levels of the temple's columned hall.

Now, after a restoration of the mosque after a fire a few years ago, the mosque is open to (the respectful) public, where you can see the amazing co-existence of ancient and modern religion. In so many ways, very little at all has changed. For example, in the niche above, which points toward Mecca, the niche is framed by Re (the sun god) on the left side of the photo and Amun on the right. Somehow, this divinity, the presence of spiritual energy in the place, managed to transcend time and a vast gulf in religious thought.

This is an architrave showing Ramses II offering obelisks for the temple, which would have stood in front of the 1st Pylon of Luxor temple. It is absolutely incredible to be practically at eye level with these huge reliefs, meant to be seen from the floor so many meters below.

And at least here, for now, there isn't a problem. The mosque is good, a peaceful place respectful of Allah and the temple around it. Alhamdulillah.

Project 365: Day 324

2010-06-02T14:42:00.002-05:00

So many great signs in this country. :-)

Project 365: Day 323

2010-06-01T10:54:00.001-05:00

As our "final", we were given something of a scavenger hunt in Karnak temple. We were meant to be looking for what appeared to be feet covering in scales, leaves, or ears of grain...

It turned out to be webbed feet. Can you see that? No? Well, believe me, Duck-man, or Swamp-Man, or Hdd is there. It's the webbed feet in the top left part of the photo, in the boat.
That was a challenge indeed....

And later that evening we had our end of season dinner, with a really lovely view!

Project 365: Day 322

2010-05-31T10:47:00.002-05:00

Project 365: Day 321

2010-05-30T06:14:00.002-05:00

Mango ice cream (for me, foreground) and the ladies at the Oasis.

Project 365: Day 320

2010-05-29T09:30:00.007-05:00

Third stop: Marsa Alam!

Project 365: Day 319

2010-05-28T09:29:00.006-05:00

First stop: Edfu

Second Stop: Khanayis

Project 365: Day 318

2010-05-27T09:25:00.000-05:00

We usually don't get weather here, but this was the view out the window at work today...

For comparison, here is a normal day:

Project 365: Day 317

2010-05-26T19:12:00.001-05:00

In short, McDelivery is awesome and the best idea ever.

The front of the scooter has a baby refrigerator, and the back is the heat box. Genius.

Project 365: Day 316

2010-05-25T09:19:00.000-05:00

This is usually parked outside our building:

Project 365: Day 315

2010-05-24T13:57:00.001-05:00

Waiting for the ferry to cross to West Bank this morning.

Project 365: Day 314

2010-05-24T13:52:00.000-05:00

I've been moved to a new room, one hopefully free of the insect infestation of the last one. It's quite similar to the last one, except that now I have this lovely piece of quintessential Egyptian decor.

And these lovely accessories:

At last count there were upwards of 50 bites from some mystery assailant, perhaps bedbugs or fleas, covering my skin. Gotta love developing countries!

Project 365: Day 313

2010-05-22T11:34:00.003-05:00

My first coffee in Egypt was actually an expresso, served in this delightful china:

The review: good by Egyptian standards. Not amazing by American. But I was very grateful! I love tea, but I miss my coffee, especially in the morning.

Project 365: Day 312

2010-05-21T06:05:00.012-05:00

Today we went to Dendara (map here-- look just north of Luxor). It's a sweet Ptolemaic and Roman temple to the goddess Hathor, and I had a very hard time choosing photos for this post. There are more on facebook. :-) The SCA has been cleaning the reliefs, and the results are just gorgeous. We were all incredibly impressed.

We also went down into the Crypts, which were really small rooms used to store ritual items. The passageway was really small and the rooms were narrow, so it really was a bit like Tales from the Crypt!

I also made a friend, who gave me flowers. Well, basil. Which I put in my hat.

Project 365: Day 311

2010-05-20T14:36:00.000-05:00

Part of the Procession Geographique on the Chappelle Rouge! We finally saw the tricky thing in person, and wow! What a building/collection of blocks.

Project 365: Day 310

2010-05-19T13:41:00.000-05:00

This morning, the gate to the dig house was closed and locked, and the man with the key was still asleep (we assume). So, we found another way in... which involved a lengthy hike through reeds, tall grass, and the occasional camel thorn. (If you don't know, camel thorn is among the most evil plants in existence. Argh.)

Project 365: Day 309

2010-05-18T20:29:00.000-05:00

Me and my giant Fresh Lemon Juice at the Oasis Cafe. Mmmmmm, fresh lemon juice! So delicious. So refreshing.

Project 365: Day 308

2010-05-17T10:26:00.003-05:00

The view west from the flat where we've been working sometimes.

Project 365: Day 307

2010-05-16T19:29:00.002-05:00

Tonight, we felt like being stupid Americans, so we went to the Luxor McDonalds. This is the 3rd floor seating area, where you can look at the awesome mural on the right and the real Luxor temple on the left, while eating your burger and American sized fries and drinks.

Project 365: Day 306

2010-05-15T08:11:00.006-05:00

One of the blocks from the Mut Precinct, which was heavily damaged by Atenist hackers (see the damage in the upper right). The whole face of the stone was removed, at least several cm deep. Then this new image was put on top probably during the Ramesside period.

And this is sunset over the Nile from the Steigenberger Nile Palace. I like this photo because it sort of demonstrates the insane power of the sun and its force in the sky. It was something like 110 degrees here today, and the sun feels like it is about 6 feet from your head at all times.

Project 365: Day 305

2010-05-14T08:11:00.003-05:00

Medamud.

Project 365: Day 304

2010-05-13T16:10:00.006-05:00

The view from our living room terrace.

And the amazing floor show at the Steigenburger. Whoa.

Project 365: Day 303

2010-05-12T08:07:00.004-05:00

Finally, EGYPT! It took 6 airports and nearly 36 hours of continuous travel time, several miles of sprints, and 5 hours of airplane sleep to get here, but here we are indeed.

And the view from the terrace at dinner, looking out over the Nile and the East Bank at dusk.

Project 365: Day 302

2010-05-11T15:05:00.000-05:00

Lunch in Paris.

Project 365: Day 301

2010-05-10T20:02:00.003-05:00

Trying again... waiting at Dulles for our flight-- we got there at 3:30 for our 7 pm flight, only to have it take off after 11pm... and to miss our connection in Paris... again.

This man slept there for about as long as I was conscious. Which was a long time.

As a side note: Flying Air France is super once you're on the plane. But their customer service leaves much to be desired on the ground. They left me on hold for ever (actually as long as I'd wait on the phone), and only have one song. The service is slow and unpredictable and not recommended. But in the air, the plane was in good shape, the food was good, the wine was good, the movie selection was fantastic, etc.

Project 365: Day 300!

2010-05-09T23:50:00.000-05:00

Wow, hard to believe there have been 300 pictures up here already. Thanks for sticking around this long if you're still here!
Today we were supposed to leave for Egypt, but we didn't. Stupid ash cloud! They said we were going to miss our connection to Cairo in Paris, so we went home to try again. But not before waiting in this line for many hours...

Project 365: Day 299

2010-05-08T14:39:00.002-05:00

Project 365: Day 298

2010-05-07T14:39:00.003-05:00

Holy Frijoles happy hour special. Woo!

Project 365: Day 297

2010-05-06T14:39:00.002-05:00

Project 365: Day 296

2010-05-05T14:38:00.001-05:00

Can you guess the source of our moving boxes?

Project 365: Day 295

2010-05-04T17:49:00.002-05:00

Project 365: Day 294

2010-05-03T17:49:00.004-05:00

Our couch is so awesome.

Project 365: Day 294

2010-05-02T17:48:00.003-05:00

Dad was taking pictures of the new neighborhood...

Project 365: Day 293

2010-05-01T17:43:00.001-05:00

Moving "the BEAST".

Project 365: Day 292

2010-04-30T17:45:00.000-05:00

Building furniture in the new place.

Project 365: Day 291

2010-04-29T14:28:00.001-05:00

Mint green tea. Perfection.

Project 365: Day 290

2010-04-28T14:27:00.001-05:00

New place!

Project 365: Day 289

2010-04-27T14:26:00.002-05:00

I feel old, and apparently the AARP got that memo.

Project 365: Day 288

2010-04-26T14:26:00.001-05:00

The best omelette ever: Oaxacan roast pork!!!! So much yum. I will figure out a way to duplicate this.

(Lynn: any ideas?)

Project 365: Day 287

2010-04-25T14:25:00.004-05:00

On Sunday, I escaped up to Sonoma, which was pretty much the best thing ever. We visited some wineries, which were incredible. The scenery was amazing. The weather was perfect. The food was incredible. I am in love.

Project 365: Day 286

2010-04-24T14:25:00.001-05:00

My favorite talk title of the whole conference. :-D

Project 365: Day 285

2010-04-23T14:25:00.006-05:00

The Museum reception in Oakland, with me showing off our meticulously constructed pyramid, complete with Sphinx, sound and light stage + bleachers, barrier wall and guard house.

And the amazing farmer's market that appeared as if by magic outside our window that morning. <3 fresh produce. mmmmmmm. And California bubble tea (ok, boba).

Project 365: Day 284

2010-04-22T14:24:00.003-05:00

The view of the Rockies out the windows of the plane to ARCE in Oakland.

Project 365: Day 283

2010-04-21T18:49:00.005-05:00

Erin, Terrence and I went shopping today, and Erin bought a mattress at this maybe less than picturesque spot. But it was hilarious and fun. :-D

Project 365: Day 282

2010-04-20T18:48:00.004-05:00

I was out shopping at about lunchtime, and a hole magically opened up in traffic. It pointed to Five Guys, and since I had never been to Five Guys but had heard so much about it, I decided it was the Food Gods attempting to tell me to "jump on that." So I did, and boy, was it delicious.

Project 365: Day 281

2010-04-19T18:48:00.003-05:00

So, I'm kinda getting ready to move... yeah.

Project 365: Day 280

2010-04-18T18:48:00.002-05:00

JHU Egyptology at Princeton.

Project 365: Day 279

2010-04-17T18:52:00.000-05:00

Thai Red Curry salmon! Delicious. For recipe, see my other blog.

Project 365: Day 278

2010-04-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

Go Hawks! :-D They might have lost today, but we'll still get 'em.

Project 365: Day 277

2010-04-15T19:07:00.004-05:00

The Sculpture Garden at the BMA.

Project 365: Day 276

2010-04-14T19:07:00.002-05:00

Star, sitting on my shoes. I'm going to miss her when I move.