So. My blog. Yes, it sort of has died again but revived it will be. Loads of things to chat about, or simply journal as who am I kidding, I'm the only one who reads this stuff...ha! :)
Firstly, my weight loss program. I had my 6 month check-in a couple days ago and over the last 6 months I have lost a total of 30lbs, one shirt size and 3 pant sizes. Things are looking pretty good. Chatting with the specialist folks I asked if I can stay in the program I'm on for another 6 months, checking-in with them every 2 months after which possibly revisiting the notion of surgery if I "plateau" so to speak or am not as successful. I am quite happy with my weight loss and if I can lose another 30lbs over the next 6 months, that would be wonderful! It has not always been easy though but with the progress I have seen, I'm optimistic I can keep things going in the direction that they are supposed to be going.
Secondly, school. Things have been kind of at a stand still. However, I'm in the frame of mind that it's kind of a now or perhaps, my goodness, never time. Daryl and I have been working on refining an idea over the last 4 months and I have been doing some background writing and I think things are shaping up to be something very worthwhile. My official date to be completed is April 2012 but I see an extension, just one, that will take me into the summer, completing, hopefully, August 2012.
I have also begun looking for academic positions which, to me right now is strange as there is still loads of work to do, but most of these are looking for September 2012 and beyond start dates so it does make sense. I am looking everywhere but particularly interested in those locales where I can build upon the work I am doing in human-computer interaction.
Thirdly, Winter 2012 is going to be a hectic time not only for my research but also life in general. I am teaching CS 100 again (yay!) and I am working over at Luther College as well, tinkering around with their website some more.
Finally, Christmas!! This year is kind of a new experience for me but I am looking forward to the next couple weeks: family time and even a road trip to Banff is in there!! Looking back, it's been a good year for me, full of new experiences indeed :)
So with that, look for my annual "album of the year" post to be up over the next couple weeks; I have about 60 or so albums to dwinddle down into a top 10. Oh my indeed!
...and with all of that, Merry Christmas! -tMac