School Schedule

I've met all the class requirements I need for graduation in my programs except for a GIS course I'm taking in the Spring. I have to be full time to get financial aid, so I chose a few other classes that sounded interesting. Full time is 12 credits and most classes are 3. However, I also need a single credit of senior portfolio as a capstone for my anthropology major; thus, I'm at 13 credits.

Well, I was at 13 credits. I'd been playing with the idea of swapping one of the academic classes out for two single credit HESM (Health, Exercise, and Sports Management) classes. It would reduce the amount of work I have to do this semester on top of the research and preparation for my conferences in April. So tonight, I swapped Gender and Society (which does sound really interesting, but which I suspect I'd be happier just doing the readings from if I really want to) for two HESM classes.

I thought *really* hard about taking scuba diving. I've always wanted to learn to scuba dive. I feel like it's about as close to unaided flight as a human being can get. But I don't know how much swimming skill is a prerequisite, and I can't swim for shit. Plus, I'm vain, but I'm worried about frequent indoor pool use damaging my hair.

So instead, I first enrolled in Pilates and Fitness Yoga (one class). I've been feeling like stretching would be good for me, so I'm going to learn how to do that and more. Second, appropriately for my state of mind lately, I enrolled in Relaxation. The description states:

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with the necessary knowledge and the ability to recognize stressors and their effects on one’s life, as well as the implementation of various relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques including deep breathing, meditation, imagery and progressive relaxation are among those covered in the course.

That sounds pretty good.

And even better, that removes my only Friday class except for senior portfolio, whose time and date are subject to change at our first meeting anyway.

(In case you're interested, the other classes I'm going to be in are:
*Advanced GIS Applications (this completes my GIS certificate)
*Geography in Land Use Planning (very applicable to my future study)
*Historiography and Historians, because what's not to like about meta-analysis of history and historical perspective? This is a 300 level class and may be a lot of work, but I'm excited about it and I really like the professor.

In Which I have an Underwear Epiphany

I'm writing about having bought a style of underwear that's new to me and the amazing realization that different types of undergarments are, in fact, functionally different! Which probably seems obvious to a lot of people, but I guess no one ever really explained that to me. Anyway, behind the cut, I'm talking about new underpants, specifically how they differ in terms of support and shaping. I also talk a bit about jeans and fit and cut and wash and things. Pass on by if that's not your thing. Otherwise, look ( behind the cut. )

Ok, I'm *really* going to start on my taxes now!

Taxes, School, Vaguely Embarrassed Dog is Vaguely Embarrassed

I finally had a productive day! It's been a while.

I got federal and state taxes done. I filled out my Badgercare (Medicaid health coverage) renewal info and updated incorrect info they had about me. I walked over to the local drug store to buy envelopes to put the aforementioned things in. I ordered the one and only textbook I'll need for the upcoming semester.

Do you do silly, vaguely embarrassing, things when nobody else is around? I was in my room, alone upstairs, getting some work done, and feeling relaxed and positive. I played a couple of They Might Be Giants albums because I know the lyrics so well by heart that singing along occupies little enough attention that I could work on filling out tax forms at the same time. By the end of the first album though, I was feeling happy with myself, and when I got up to put away some papers, I started dancing around a little. And then, since it was their John Henry album, a track with some distorted electric guitar came on and I decided to be even sillier and take my hair down and unselfconsciously headbang in front of my mirror.

My flying hair caught my water bottle that I'd just filled to the top with cold water, knocking it over on my desk and spilling water all over the edge of the desk and the floor. Whee! Fortunately it only got on one piece of paper, but I had to find a couple of washcloths to wipe up the mess and then set a fan on high in front of one of my speakers where the water had flowed between the two cardboard bricks it sits on. I felt a bit silly after that.