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Non-alcoholic drinks for the silly season
As a non-drinker, it’s nice to have alternative party drinks that are a bit more exciting than the usual soft drink options. These drinks also provide an enticing alternative for alcohol drinkers who are usually bored by the non-alcoholic options. You might want to consider some of the following if you’re hosting people over the holidays.
Defeating writing distractions
PhD students have quite a bit more flexibility in their working day. Sometimes, too much flexibility. What makes it worse is that there are so many sources of distraction around me. I easily use it as an excuse to delay writing my thesis chapters. There’s making sure I am on top of current events and can spend an hour just reading the morning news. Then there’s finding out what people are saying about the news so I can possibly spend another hour on Twitter. Then there is reading journal articles in my field, answering emails, grabbing a coffee with other PhD students, checking and rearranging my calendar, and so on and so forth. By the end of it all, I would have wasted several hours and not have really written a single word.
A rant about stealing Santa
If you’re not aware, ‘Stealing Santa’ is a version of kris kringle gifting, where you buy a present (it could be for a particular person or not), and then people have the option of stealing / swapping another person’s present for their own. I was first introduced to the concept by The Office (US version), where a thoughtfully gifted teapot almost doesn’t end up in the right hands and everyone else fights over an iPod.
My 200th post
I was wondering just how many blog posts I’ve written. I’ve done the math a few times now, and it turns out that this is my 200th post.
Christmas: you either love it or you hate it
In my experience, Christmas (if you celebrate it) is one of those things that you either love or you hate. Personally, I love it. I’m deeply passionate about all things Christmas: the food, the movies, the decorations (consumerism wins again), and the time spent with friends and family. It’s something that I look forward to every year, and when it’s over, I fall into a brief state of depression. That’s how much I love Christmas.
[Read more about Christmas: you either love it or you hate it]
A blocked ear
This might not seem like that big of a deal (it’s really not), but my right ear is currently blocked. I’m assuming it is blocked by a build-up of wax (yum, I know), and that with the help of some ear drops I should be back to full function hearing very soon.
I always get hungry at 11am
My morning is going well. I’m a couple of hours into whatever I am doing, and I am getting stuff done. I should be able to fit in another couple of hours of study or work before I have a lunch break. Then a wave of hunger hits me.I’m suddenly starving and wishing it was lunchtime already. I’m daydreaming dizzily about getting a plate of hot noodles. It’s becoming difficult to focus on my work. I might have to give in and eat my packed lunch early.
Story of an entire life
My grandfather (Pa) died three years ago, and his memoirs were recently published for his family and friends to read.
Don't forget to have a break
I often don’t get to actually have a break in the holidays. This is because I fill up all my time doing little things that don’t really feel like a break at all.
In praise of: The Amazing Race Australia
I love Channel 10’s The Amazing Race Australia. It airs twice a week, on Monday and Tuesday nights, and is must see TV for me.
