a small experiment

As an experiment, I want to try updating here for a few days (in addition to or instead of the main site, depending how much I have to say). I do like the ability to have a conversation here, but I may just not be writing on topics to spark one. For anyone who doesn't want to see much blather from here, you might want to unfriend or unfilter accordingly.

Second: we've just heard that a friend in Arizona (the guy who runs the lake we rowed on there) was in a bad accident. Lots of damage, critical but stable condition. I am extremely grateful to the people who let us know; of course we can't do anything and couldn't if we were there, but it somehow feels a little better to now than if we'd found out later on. I have no reason to think good thoughts from across the world do a gnat's whisker of good - but no proof they don't, and at least my email can let him know one more person (two more, in fact) cares.

And the main entry. I've been a bad, bad girl (so has Ted, except for the girl part). What with his bad cold and my minor one and moving and all, we haven't done a thing designated formally as exercise since moving here just over two weeks ago. Also, what I thought was a bunion has now migrated - rather the bunion bump's still there but now I have pain in the middle of the ball of my foot, and up one calf. It hurts when I walk, and once I have a visa -> alien residence permit -> medical insurance card I will be seeing a doctor.

What we have been doing is lots of walking, and lots of heavy lifting of cases of water and all the other stuff we've bought for our apartment. It counts, but not enough. We bought ten coupons for the gym down the street, which isn't great on free-weights but has lots of machines, and there is a small gym downstairs in our office building (barbells, treadills, exercise bikes. Neither one has an erg, is the problem.

Both have very nice pools, so I probably should start swimming. The problems with that are that I need a swimcap first, and haven't been able to find one. Goggles might be good, too, though not necessary unless I'm wearing contacts. Also, to me a pool is a place to have fun, not to work out. I spent my summers as a kid more or less submerged, but didn't really have any proper training, so I'm great at handstands and flips, not so good at the basic strokes.

Mostly, we just need to get started again. Even before we left, we weren't working out as much as we should, and we had no excuse there (until our stuff was packed). It's relatively easy to maintain an exercise program, much harder to start or resume one.

As step one, today I brought a Swiss ball to the office, to use as a chair. One advantage to being among non-native English speakers: several hours in and no stupid 'on the ball' puns.

a possibility

Hmmm. I could do a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management from Drexel University. It's a good sound school; I'm familiar with it from growing up in Philadelphia and because it's literally across the street from my undergrad alma mater. All classes are online and no residency is required these days (though if it were, Philly is one city where I always have free housing). Of the four courses required, two would be fun, and two would probably not be fun but would be useful. If I hated it, I think I could get through four courses through sheer bloody-minded determination, and if I liked it I'd be a quarter of the way toward an M.S. If I did continue, a much higher percentage of the courses would be fun, because I'd have completed some of the less-fun ones and because I get to choose electives. And who knows, maybe it will turn out that I like Finance. It could happen.

What I really want is a Linguistics program on that level, but no one (reputable) seems to offer one. But if this isn't my first choice, it's one that would be interesting and (unlike the Linguistics) useful at work. I can swing the tuition, and might even be able to get some assistance toward it from work. I tihnk I owuld like to study something again. I still want a Linguistics degee somewhere down the line, but I've no objection to piling on degrees. I want to be Story Musgrave when I grow up.