Feverish Dreams

I don't normally get sick, and in fact, don't let myself get sick, who has time for that?  Unfortunately for me, however, this week brought on a case of the common cold.  Monday I could  feel that maybe I was getting something, but I hoped that a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) would stave it off.  No such luck.  Tuesday, I had a cough.  Wednesday, I was all sorts of congested (I will spare you all the rest of those details.).  I went to bed last night at 9 pm hoping that between lots of pineapple, vitamin c, orange juice, and sleep I'd be able to overcome this blasted illness in three days.  I turned out my light, and settled in for what I was hoping would be a glorious night of 8 hours of sleep.  Somewhere between the hours of 10:45 and 12:00 am I awoke with dead arms.  No good.  I also found myself feeling quite warm.  Strange - I never get feeling that warm at night in the winter months.  I didn't think much of it.  I settled back in, hoping to enjoy the rest of my night sound asleep.  2 a.m. arrived filled with what can only be attributed to fever-induced dreams.  I don't usually remember what I dream about.  But in a two hour span, I somehow conjured up a mixture of Remote Sensing, sewing, and Arabic into one big, creepy dream.  I'm currently working on a project in my Remote Sensing class that involves using a remotely sensed image (which you can see above, which I have geometrically and radiometrically corrected, as well as subset).  These images, for you novice remote sensing friends, come with several different bands in the electromagnetic spectrum, generally red, green, and blue bands, near-infrared (NIR) as well as others (thermal, infrared, panchromatic, etc), depending on the sensor.  In my dream, these bands were the blankets on my bed, and they were sewn layered together in the duvet I'm making, and I was thinking of all the new Arabic words that I had been studying for a vocab quiz (brain, liver, milk, water, you know, useful stuff when you're sewing a remotely sensed duvet cover....)(got the best score on that quiz than any other, I'll have you know....).  It was slightly creepy, and I felt like I was being smothered by these data bands.  bleck. I hope that my duvet doesn't come out looking like a remote sensing image.

Pair #36

If you know me at all, you've likely noticed I wear argyle quite often.  And, you've probably also noted that if I'm wearing socks, I'm wearing argyle socks. (unless I'm wearing athletic shoes in which case I am most definitely NOT wearing argyle socks, because that would be fashion faux pas #127, wearing argyle socks with athletic shoes.)  Well.  Today, thanks to my favorite store and also my awesome mom, I added to my argyle sock collection.

It must be understood that if you are going to be "Little Miss Argyle Socks" than you need to have a lot of argyle socks.  We're not talking about a few pairs...no, no, no.  We're talking about "a pair for every day and every outfit."  When I (sub)titled this, I literally meant, a pair for every day and every outfit.  This means that you have to have  A LOT of socks, and A LOT of color combinations.  Last week, out of curiosity, I counted my socks.  35 pairs of lovely argyle socks.

Now, don't judge me and think to yourself, "Man, she went out and bought that many socks?"  Argyle socks aren't cheap, especially if you're as picky about them as I am.  The argyle pattern itself has to span the entire sock, not just be a single ring around the top of the sock.  The colors cannot be gross, they must coordinate.  And, if at all possible, the same combination of colors cannot be a repeat of a pair I already own (yes, I am so familiar with my socks that if I look at a pair in a store, I know if I have something like it).  So, to answer the question, no, I did not go and buy 35 pairs of socks last week.  No, I've been collecting them for 7 years now.  I got my first three pair of argyle socks for my 18th birthday (the same birthday I got my first pair of JCrew pants, mind you (which I still own and wear); yes, it was a memorable birthday).  I still have all three pair.  So, over the years, I will buy a pair here, and a pair there. (Every once in awhile, GAP will have "3 for $18" sales, so I stock up when I can, birthdays are also fabulous times for a few new pair).  I wonder if there's a world record for such a collection?

Running, hobbies, school. In one word: LIFE

I realized recently that I don't update this "blog" very often. I also realized that this may be because my readership is slight. I think I realized this after watching the movie "Julie and Julia". Interestingly enough, it was actually inspiring in some ways for me. I contemplated for about 5 minutes doing something similar, except maybe with a dessert cookbook (some recipes in a full-on cookbook can be..well..strange....). That idea was dismissed after realizing that I would eat way too many sweets and that my body, as well as those of my parents might not fully appreciate the extra fat. (Our taste buds sure would though!) The other problem with such a scheme is my free time comes in waves - sometimes I feel like I have nothing going on, and others, I feel like there is not enough time in the world to accomplish everything that I need/want to. (this is usually a result of procrastination....)

Last post, I said I would be graduating in April. Well. Let me make an addendum to that. Let's make that August. Yes, August. Remember how I was going to graduate in December? Oh, yes, that's right. That was two months ago. Yesterday, I just registered for Spring/Summer classes. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll be a university student for the rest of my life. But, I want to take these classes, and know they'll be worthwhile in the end...it's just the process of not moving on with life that is killing me.

I think I need a new hobby. I started thinking about this yesterday. Early on when I started this whole blog deal, I told about my swimming. Wasn't that fabulous? I sure thought so! (Still do.) My dedication to the sport is waning this semester, unfortunately. The pool has been overly crowded which elimintates the enjoyment factor for me. I used to crave it and hated when I didn't get it in my day. If I didn't swim a mile, I'd work for it the next day. I felt so accomplished. Now, I'm lucky if I hit half a mile. I hit my plateau. Lately, I've been working on running. I started out with a more than 9 minute mile. After straining tendons and waiting two months for my foot to heal, I made a come back. I brought my mile down to 8:49, then 8:32, and this week hit 8:12. It was amazing. It was hard. It burned. It was totally worth it. I'll keep setting goals to bring it even lower (er...faster?) but then what? I will only be able to go so far. Yes, I'll be able to add distance and keep the time down, but then what? As I walked off the track yesterday morning, I decided I need something more. But what? I already have all the exercise my body can take in my routine. I have a job. I have classes (with subsequent homework). I teach primary. I drive (yes, I actually enjoy driving...weird, I know). I've started baking again.

Part of me wants to redesign my bedroom; make a duvet and new curtains. Part of me wants to take up photography. Part of me wants to really master my Arabic skills. Part of me wants to read more. What to do? I feel like I need fulfillment. Validation. Enjoyment. Distraction.

Suggestions? Anyone?