calculations revisited

As I worked on the summary of results for my final chapter, I realized that I'd never actually finished the calculations for the whiteschist. Since whiteschists have been taken as an indicator of high pressure metamorphism since the 1970's it was rather important to go back and fill in that gap. Fortunately, this time when I went to work with those numbers, everything fell into place, and, at long last, I've got numbers for pressure and temperature assigned to that sample. Now that that is done (and it took all weekend), I need to resume writing of the final chapter. I wonder if I'll discover any other glaring gaps in my data, or if that was the last of them...

In other news, back on Thursday I took a couple of hours off and went to see the latest Star Trek movie, and loved every second of it! I was quite pleased with how well they managed to match most of the actors to the characters such that I could believe that it really was the individual I knew and loved, if somewhat younger than I'd ever seen them before. Granted, it helps that I rarely see movies or watch TV, because all of the actors were new to me--I understand that some people found it difficult to cope with a couple of the choices because they already knew those actors from elsewhere. I also very much enjoyed the story and watching it unfold. One of my friends replied to my Facebook status update about seeing the film with surprise that I actually went to the theater and saw a movie. I countered that I do see movies now and again, when they make a particularly tempting one. In recent years I've seen all of the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and Star Wars movies that have come out. However, I think that is all I've seen. I think I've also seen about four or five movies on the small screen at people's homes in the past few years, but just now I can't remember more than one of them, and then don't recall the title, but it involved a woman who used to be a star...

I still can't tell from here if I'm going to achieve the goal of thesis printed, bound, and submitted at the end of the month. I think I can do it, but these extra diversions doing calculations that should have been done ages ago are worrisome. However, if it doesn't happen, it won't be because I've been goofing off. Proof positive that I've been working more hours than normal: today on a lark I decided to set up cells in the spreadsheet which tracks the number of hours I spend each day doing various categories of things--this time the new cells answers the questions "how many more hours a week do I spend sleeping than I spend doing uni work". For most of the last year that number has been 20 to 25 more hours a week spent sleeping than doing uni work. This month I'm only getting five hours a week more of sleep than of uni work! Speaking of which--I think it is time for yoga, mediation, and sleep! I've already done my 1000 words of reading for the day...

calculations revisited

As I worked on the summary of results for my final chapter, I realized that I'd never actually finished the calculations for the whiteschist. Since whiteschists have been taken as an indicator of high pressure metamorphism since the 1970's it was rather important to go back and fill in that gap. Fortunately, this time when I went to work with those numbers, everything fell into place, and, at long last, I've got numbers for pressure and temperature assigned to that sample. Now that that is done (and it took all weekend), I need to resume writing of the final chapter. I wonder if I'll discover any other glaring gaps in my data, or if that was the last of them...

In other news, back on Thursday I took a couple of hours off and went to see the latest Star Trek movie, and loved every second of it! I was quite pleased with how well they managed to match most of the actors to the characters such that I could believe that it really was the individual I knew and loved, if somewhat younger than I'd ever seen them before. Granted, it helps that I rarely see movies or watch TV, because all of the actors were new to me--I understand that some people found it difficult to cope with a couple of the choices because they already knew those actors from elsewhere. I also very much enjoyed the story and watching it unfold. One of my friends replied to my Facebook status update about seeing the film with surprise that I actually went to the theater and saw a movie. I countered that I do see movies now and again, when they make a particularly tempting one. In recent years I've seen all of the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and Star Wars movies that have come out. However, I think that is all I've seen. I think I've also seen about four or five movies on the small screen at people's homes in the past few years, but just now I can't remember more than one of them, and then don't recall the title, but it involved a woman who used to be a star...

I still can't tell from here if I'm going to achieve the goal of thesis printed, bound, and submitted at the end of the month. I think I can do it, but these extra diversions doing calculations that should have been done ages ago are worrisome. However, if it doesn't happen, it won't be because I've been goofing off. Proof positive that I've been working more hours than normal: today on a lark I decided to set up cells in the spreadsheet which tracks the number of hours I spend each day doing various categories of things--this time the new cells answers the questions "how many more hours a week do I spend sleeping than I spend doing uni work". For most of the last year that number has been 20 to 25 more hours a week spent sleeping than doing uni work. This month I'm only getting five hours a week more of sleep than of uni work! Speaking of which--I think it is time for yoga, mediation, and sleep! I've already done my 1000 words of reading for the day...

thinking about travel plans

I just received back a copy of my employment contract, signed by the rector of the university. Now that I have this vital document I can *finally* turn in my visa application. Other paperwork which must accompany the visa application includes proof of travel insurance and a list of my travel plans. Therefore it is time to think about making bookings for travel.

My goal is to submit the thesis by the end of May, so I'm thinking of leaving myself a few days in June in Tassie to finish up any last-minute things thereafter (this all assumes, of course, that I achieve this goal, and there is no reason to think that I won't). There are many people I want to see, located all over the planet. I won't have time to visit them all before I need to arrive in Italy. However, I will try to see as many as I can.

If you want me to come visit you on my way to Italy, please let me know ASAP (and remind me of where you are located if there is any chance I don't know). At the moment the tentative thoughts are:

leave Australia Thursday 4 June 2009, fly to Seattle Washington, spend 3-4 days there, then head south to Portland, Oregon for three days (possibly include side trip to Eugene from there?), then morning Friday 12 June fly to the Bay Area and spend the weekend at Kingdom A&S and perhaps stay in the area through Monday as well, to try to see as many folk as possible. Then head to Colorado for a couple of days, and then fly to Northshield for Bardic Madness before heading on to Wisconsin to visit friends and Family for a couple of days, then fly to Italy from there (from Chicago? New York?) on Wednesday 24 June.


This would be a whirl-wind of a trip, and misses out on important geographical areas, but I don't think the time would permit any more stops, and has an advantage of being progressive, more or less. What do people think? Is this crazy? Do-able? How about missing June Crown in favour of an event I've never attended in another Kingdom, in part because it is geographically "on the way", and in part because I've got a friend in that Kingdom I've not met yet, and, in part because it is a bardic-themed event. Will I be able to see everyone at West Kingdom A&S, or am I going to miss out on something terribly important if I don't go to June Crown? Certainly doing the cross country trip in stages as outlined above would make for the best travel experiance--no leg of the journey so long as to difficult.

How about people hosting me in each location? Who has time/energy to fetch me from airports or return me to them after the visit. Who has room at their home and would like the extra time with me by having me as a guest rather than just meeting up with me while I'm in town? How about A&S, I gather from the web page that it is a camping event? Anyone have room & spare gear in their camp for a visitor travelling with no camping gear? I don't eat much, and am good at setting up and tearing down camp...

Yes, I do want to get to Alaska too, but there isn't time on this pass. However, there is talk of sending be back to Tassie in August or September for some additional training on Monazite dating, so I'm hoping to arrange that trip such that I can attend Perg on the way there or back, and have a couple of other days to see other friends and family...

If anyone has any information that would suggest a completely different set of travel plans (e.g. an event or occasion I wouldn't want to miss in a different location than those listed above, or at a different time than I'd planned to be in that area), please let me know ASAP. Nothing is set in stone yet, and for the right reason(s) I'm happy to play with the schedule...

thinking about travel plans

I just received back a copy of my employment contract, signed by the rector of the university. Now that I have this vital document I can *finally* turn in my visa application. Other paperwork which must accompany the visa application includes proof of travel insurance and a list of my travel plans. Therefore it is time to think about making bookings for travel.

My goal is to submit the thesis by the end of May, so I'm thinking of leaving myself a few days in June in Tassie to finish up any last-minute things thereafter (this all assumes, of course, that I achieve this goal, and there is no reason to think that I won't). There are many people I want to see, located all over the planet. I won't have time to visit them all before I need to arrive in Italy. However, I will try to see as many as I can.

If you want me to come visit you on my way to Italy, please let me know ASAP (and remind me of where you are located if there is any chance I don't know). At the moment the tentative thoughts are:

leave Australia Thursday 4 June 2009, fly to Seattle Washington, spend 3-4 days there, then head south to Portland, Oregon for three days (possibly include side trip to Eugene from there?), then morning Friday 12 June fly to the Bay Area and spend the weekend at Kingdom A&S and perhaps stay in the area through Monday as well, to try to see as many folk as possible. Then head to Colorado for a couple of days, and then fly to Northshield for Bardic Madness before heading on to Wisconsin to visit friends and Family for a couple of days, then fly to Italy from there (from Chicago? New York?) on Wednesday 24 June.


This would be a whirl-wind of a trip, and misses out on important geographical areas, but I don't think the time would permit any more stops, and has an advantage of being progressive, more or less. What do people think? Is this crazy? Do-able? How about missing June Crown in favour of an event I've never attended in another Kingdom, in part because it is geographically "on the way", and in part because I've got a friend in that Kingdom I've not met yet, and, in part because it is a bardic-themed event. Will I be able to see everyone at West Kingdom A&S, or am I going to miss out on something terribly important if I don't go to June Crown? Certainly doing the cross country trip in stages as outlined above would make for the best travel experiance--no leg of the journey so long as to difficult.

How about people hosting me in each location? Who has time/energy to fetch me from airports or return me to them after the visit. Who has room at their home and would like the extra time with me by having me as a guest rather than just meeting up with me while I'm in town? How about A&S, I gather from the web page that it is a camping event? Anyone have room & spare gear in their camp for a visitor travelling with no camping gear? I don't eat much, and am good at setting up and tearing down camp...

Yes, I do want to get to Alaska too, but there isn't time on this pass. However, there is talk of sending be back to Tassie in August or September for some additional training on Monazite dating, so I'm hoping to arrange that trip such that I can attend Perg on the way there or back, and have a couple of other days to see other friends and family...

If anyone has any information that would suggest a completely different set of travel plans (e.g. an event or occasion I wouldn't want to miss in a different location than those listed above, or at a different time than I'd planned to be in that area), please let me know ASAP. Nothing is set in stone yet, and for the right reason(s) I'm happy to play with the schedule...