Should have raced Michaux

I'm researching medical leave right now....  I think I'll have to apply tomorrow so I have some quick research to do. It seems like a good idea for the summer anyway as it will save me a hunk of money over the next few months. We shall see if I can pull it all together in less than 18 hours.

I had my interview today.... turns out I'm horrible at disguising my radical left-of-left sympathies. The 'a-political' group asked me not only about my preference of health care systems, but also about my position regarding undocumented immigration. Related? No. Bigots? I think maybe. I felt written off within the first 10 minutes. All in all I definitely should have gone out to Michaux. 

With (huge) exception to the interview, my day was pretty stellar. I had my first juego de futbol with team Holandia. Those ladies are rocking and we absolutely dominated. I think the final score was 11-0. It was awesome and I'm super excited about the rest of the season. I also had a delicious dinner with Ms. Tracy and managed to send in my final term paper for 882. Just a few more things to finish up, but nothing too pressing at the moment.


7 4 student papers to grade
23 student assessments to complete
70+ final exams to grade
a Union AGM
2 Arbitration decisions to write

1 term paper
2 presentations
1 guest lecture
1 PhD proposal (extension granted)
3 overdue summaries (abandoned)
Canadian Taxes
American Taxes

michaux maximus and the ordering of things

i have an interview for a grant on sunday april 29th.
the interview conflicts in a serious way with my plans to race all three events in the 'race michaux' series... i'm a little bummed. actually i'm really bummed. i was looking forward to the suffering. 

this means i'll really have to do my best to charm the pants off of the interviewers and the granting party.... missing the race and not getting the grant would be the worst of both worlds... 

in the mean time i'll keep chugging away at this paper on scale-fixing and local food.

making progress

7 4 student papers to grade
23 student assessments to complete
70+ final exams to grade
a Union AGM
2 Arbitration decisions to write

1 term paper
2 presentations
1 guest lecture
1 PhD proposal
3 overdue summaries
Canadian Taxes
American Taxes

And a bit of humor:
After a successful 901 AGM last night, the union folk headed out to the bar in celebration of a great first year and to welcome the 2012/2013 executive. Trying to make the most of my time, I had a few student papers out on table so that I could make the occasional note between sips of cider. One drink turned into three, and as the undergraduate population flooded into the bar, it was clear that my exit time had come.
I made my way home and then, about an hour later, realized that I had left a handful of student papers behind. I zipped down the hill on my bike and (despite the bar being absolutely packed with terrible karaoke singers and wasted undergrads celebrating the end of term) I luckily found the essays on the table where I had left them.
It was a close call to say the least!

two weeks to 'til PA

Less than two weeks before I'll be back in PA.

Despite my best intentions, my winter training fell mostly on its face.
I learned how to rock climb, played a fair amount of squash, did a yin yoga teacher training course, and I can now do consecutive sets of 15 push-ups (it doesn't sound like much, but it is a great improvement from no push-ups). Unfortunately, none of this has made me any faster on a bike.  I probably haven't hit my max heart rate in months. The most optimistic moment was the one week of glorious weather in mid-March when I actually did ride my bike outside... but the warm weather was fleeting and it has snowed more than once since.

The Mid Atlantic series updates and race reports are coming in and I'm preparing to eat dust in a serious way upon my return. I had originally thought about trying for the Michaux Trail Cup, but I'd rather not desecrate the TBR name in my inaugural dawning of the team jersey. Instead I'm holding out for the Maximus (at least it isn't a MASS event, right?!).

Anyone familiar with the Michaux Series probably thinks I'm off my rocker, but I hear the races are epic and I want to do all three. Before the Maximus I'll be commuting 40 miles a day by bike two or three times a week and I'll have time for some long more technical rides after work every other day of the week.... weather permitting, of course. Granted, two weeks will hardly make up for my loss, but I guess I'll have to start somehow.


In the mean time, work has my plate rather full:
7 student papers to grade
23 student assessments to complete
70+ final exams to grade
a Union AGM
and 2 Arbitration decisions to write

oh.... and of course my own list of school and not-so-school related things:
1 term paper
2 presentations
1 guest lecture
1 PhD proposal
3 overdue summaries
Canadian Taxes
American Taxes
there must be more..... 


Two weeks 'til PA.
I can't wait.