31 January 2023

The month is almost over. I will review what ensured, and think about what I want to do for February.

To Do for February

Chats. Touch base with Jeffrey and Rachel
Travel. High Sierra Camps. Enter Phantom Ranch Lottery? Consider Arizona.
Medical. Pursue neuropathy; get next PSA test; pursue chest discomfort.
Writing. Block out time to write. Consider K Carmody Writing workshop.
Exercise. Ramp up aerobic and strength/stretching
Technology. Set up new computers. Experiment with server or NAS.
Decluttering. Talk to CS about ‘Got Junk.’ Take load of books to M&Q; discard old media.
Recipes. Try something new. See if the Carrot Soup with Miso recipe can be adapted into a faux tomato sauce. Try miso soup and/or seaweed salad.

Learning. It has been a little strange without the structure of taking a course at the University, but not in a bad way. It feels like I have considerably more time; but I am not having difficulty filling it. In part, I think, it is due to the reading dyads I am involved in, and my note-taking and summarizing practices around that: it as though I am taking 3 light courses with regular assignments and homework.
I have also succeeded in sticking with a Coursera course — today, or perhaps tomorrow, I should complete the first course in the Swift sequence. This was pretty easy, although I find the instructor a bit annoying and also a bit careless, but I’ve found that it works to schedule the time to do it on my calendar. I did the free version, which keeps assignments and reading locked up, but this was straightforward enough that I don’t think I needed it.
I also took an online course from Jim Wilson on the Geology of the Gunflint Trail — which I need to listen to once more and complete my notes on – and signed up for an in situ course in Grand Maris in June

Exercise. Weatherwise, the month was a bit weird. More often than not, it was either too warm — meaning it was either slushy or frozen slush outside, or too cold, meaning below the teens. Both of these circumstances make it difficult to impossible to get outside to exercise. I’ve only done about 7 runs this month. It’s enough to keep me in shape, but I hope I can mange over a dozen for February. I am also keeping with the strength/stretching regime, but am pretty sporadic with that too and I think did about 13 — and I do not have the excuse of the weather. I will shoot for 16 for February, which is four times a week.

Writing. I’ve not done much on the writing front aside from the notes I do in parallel with the reading. There was a small stub on droplet condensation, and some reflections on perthetic textures in feldspars. Perhaps I should schedule a block for writing time (right now, the blocks are for either writing or doing whatever course I’m doing).
…Just after I finished writing this, there was an offer of a (paid) monthly workshop by the person who taught last fall’s essay course; I’ve written for more detail about what the model is… this could be something that would work well for me.

Social. Pleasant chats are proceeding like usual, except that neither Rachel nor Jeffrey have contacted me to resume. I should reach out to both of them, although in Rachel’s case I have to say that I am not eager to return to Smellosophy.
Went to Botticelli exhibit at MIA with KMS, New Standards at Dakota with K&C, and brunch at Spoon and Stable with K&C
We’ve had nice dinners with Ulland circle, K&C, S&K, and C&T. KMS has spoken of wanting to entertain some of the new faculty; and we also have, at various points, entertained the idea of having more than two people for dinner at once…

Miscellaney

Medical. I did get the EMG done, though I will have to wait until my primary physician returns in late February to find out what the report says. I also have a very minor but lingering discomfort in my chest that I should get looked into. Also need to get next PSA test.
De-cluttering. Gave away a bit more stuff to the Epilepsy Foundation. It would be nice to make more progress in February: perhaps eject a bunch of books and other forms of media from the basement.
Technology. I do have the wireless situation sorted out, and two new computers ordered. I’d like to try getting some sort of server or NAS available on our home network. Decide on whether to switch to digital newspapers.
Travel. I should think more about what (or if) I want to do re hiking in Arizona. In February I will hear about the High Sierra Camp lottery, hopefully with a positive result. Think about entering Phantom Ranch Lottery.
Reading. In addition to dyadic reading, I read A Monstrous Regiment, by Terry Pratchett, which I didn’t care for, and Clean Sweep, which is OK enough that I may try the next one.
Recipes. Made a good Carrot Soup with Miso recipe, and a not-worth-repeating Halibut with Mushrooms.

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