Meditative Weather

It seems like it's been warm and brilliantly sunny for weeks now. I find it so funny that Seattle has literally just TWO weather settings--overcast, dreary, and constantly drizzling, or bright, warm, and blindingly sunny--and just switches between them twice a year. It's April? Whoop, time for sun. It's October? Whoop, time for rain. April again? Whoop.

And this beautiful weather is actually quite terrible, because who wants to be doing work on days like this? Who would want to stay inside? But we must, we must, because stuff actually does have to get done once in a while.

This quarter has definitely been a lot more laid-back than the previous two. The homework sets are slightly lighter, the exams are lower-pressure (they don't matter for the master's review!), and overall I find myself with a lot more time. Which is nice for two reasons: I can actually get things done that slightly resemble research, and I can start really taking part in activities that fulfill me.

For research, I'm starting to work with a computational condensed matter group. Whether or not there's a future for me in the group is still kind of up in the air; the professor is emeritus, and although he has no plans to stop doing research, I've been trying to use my Deanna-Troi-level empathic senses (heh) to feel out how likely it is that members of his group will leave...the jury's still out.

For fulfilling activities, I've started working out a lot more. I've also figured out the long-elusive secret to running: run from work.

Running in the morning never happens. It never does. Not ever. And once I get home from work, the last thing I want to do is put on running clothes and go back outside. So instead, I bring my running clothes and shoes to work, and tell myself I have to go run before I can go home. It's worked like a dream so far. Is this a "life hack"? Would Buzzfeed want to talk to me about this? pls let me know.