and one fine morning…
Archive for February, 2008
just relaxed and paying attention
Feb 18th
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/ Thanks to Barry for this one. Hilarious. Ronnie, get a load of #69. I am pretty sure it was made specifically for you.
I have been thinking more and more about “Mathematics is its own barrier to entry.” I think it’s funny, but I also think that it’s pretty true.
I rejoined facebook. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. More or less, my opinion on it has changed. My feeling now is similar to my feelings about fraternities as an undergrad: if it’s an element of your life, that’s fine, but if it is your life, that’s not fine. In other words, use facebook or other online junk, e.g. this blog, for a purpose, but don’t attempt to define much about yourself through it. This is not to say that I felt like I was doing so in the past.
I don’t remember who it was that turned me on to the idea… but the basic concept is that you should get to know people through interacting with them because then you have a context for your knowledge. For example, if I learn that Carlin practices yoga meditation, I’ll learn it in conversation where it has a context, or through a friend, where it also has a context. If I read it on a blog or facebook, then it feels a little bit less contextualized, as if I am doing research on him or something. I feel that meaning is lost in that process.
School is going well. I’m loving it. I feel that I’m at the peak of my productivity, concentration, and organization right now, and continuing to improve.
I finished The Journey to the East which was very interesting. I have comments on it, but this is not the place. Now, a study of Being Peace on DC’s recommendation. Reading before bed is really nice.
ice like winnipeg
Feb 10th
I finished the USCSA ski season today. Talk about a learning experience… I find it very interesting to throw myself into something that I’m not only bad at, but something where I have pretty much no chance of being at the top of the game. So many other things in life, I feel that if I really work hard, I can make them happen satisfactorily, but ski racing is a bit different. I’m making progress, but most of it is cerebral and attitude-related. I am finding that my performance then is directly related to these advances, and less about rote memorization of how to race.
Teaching is going really well. I’m having a lot of fun this semester just slayin’ it in the classroom. I feel much more confident compared to last semester, and I think that shows in my teaching. Additionally, my preparation has been much better this time around.
My mood this semester reminds me a lot of Barry. I have been spending a lot of time in the early morning out in the sun, skiing. I think that this has had an immensely positive impact on my mood. It doesn’t even feel like winter to me. The combination of that with the exercise has me feeling confident and upbeat most of the time.