Starting New Habits

I don't usually go through the trouble of New Year's Resolutions. At least, I don't publicize them. However, in my head, I usually make some decisions about ways to change my life.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am recommitting to dietary changes: I'm cutting out sugar, white flour, and processed foods. I am also trying to only have one diet pepsi each day. I have been doing okay in this regard - cutting down on what I consume although I will admit that I haven't entirely cut out sugar yet.

I also decided to start running/jogging again. I started that today. My goal is to run 3 times a week, about 20-30 minutes. I walked half the way today. I could feel it in my thighs and in my right calf.

Plus, my goal is to spend as much time as possible in my Humanities Center office. I have already finished a couple of shorter writing projects and today, I figured out my plan of attack for my book manuscript. I have a contract with OSU Press to compile a set of essays that I've already published on King Island. My goal is to have the finished manuscript by April 1. I also have a few chapters completed.

I must say that I really like this (new to me) office that I get to use. We're in an older brick building; my office is the size of a bedroom. I have an L-shaped desk, another filing cabinet, a book shelf, a side table, office chair, and easy chair, plus a couple of lamps. My windows face southeast, so when we had sunny weather a couple of days ago, I had nice sunlight trickling in my window from outside. I like it because the office is fairly empty - I don't have all the stuff I've accummulated in my regular office. Somehow, the lack of clutter and files is like free my mental space to make room for these writing projects. I chatted about this with the Director and he mentioned that when he used his office, he only brought in the books he needed for writing and that it felt "liberating".

Exactly. I understood what he meant. It's like I can forget all the other stuff that I usually need to attend to. Liberating is very cool.

In other words, I've had a good few days already. Now, if the satellite tumors would behave and respond to the Herceptin/Abraxane combo, things will be peachy keen!

Work and Birthday News

I am close to concluding my participation in a project that I have been a part of for two years (the "Alaska Native View of Statehood").  I interviewed 24 Inupit and Yupiit elders who were alive when Alaska became a state. 

I wrote my summary of the Inupiat interviews last fall and finally got enough Yupiit interviews this spring.  I decided to just include the Yupiit interviews into my summary and I added info from archival and literature research.

My chapter summary as well as a 1000-word essay on the "Future of Inupiat and Yupiit' was due on Monday.

I got the 1000-word essay completed and sent in on Monday.  Then, I worked for 8 hours Monday afternoon and evening (from 4pm to 1am with a break for dinner) and then worked for 6 hours on Tuesday (from about 4pm to 10:30pm with a break for dinner).  I had appointments on Monday and Tuesday mornings (Herceptin for three hours and then errands on Monday and then an 8:50am, 10am, 11:15am, and noon on Tuesday).  I turned in my chapter on Tuesday evening.

And, it was accepted.  Now it just needs some editing . . .

Last week, I found out that OSU Press accepted my book proposal.  I met with the Acquisitions Editor to talk about my contract on Wednesday.  I'll be able to look over the draft while I'm away.  My plan is to finish the whole manuscript by next April 1, 2010.  I have a Center for the Humanities Fellowship in Winter Term that should help me write the two new chapters I need (intro and conclusion).

Wednesday also happened to be my 46th birthday.  So, I met with the editor, then a friend/colleague drove over from Bend, and we had lunch and brainstormed some ideas for new projects.  I think we might have something interesting and doable . . . now to sell the idea! 

Wednesday evening, my family went out to dinner. My folks gave me a Tom Robbins book, my friend/colleague gave me a very pretty bracelet with images of skulls, and my sister gave me a sign that said, "The beach soothes my soul" and a turtle necklace. Oh, and a colleague bought my lunch on Tuesday.  Plus, I had almost 50 well wishes on Facebook - that was fun!  Thank you for the gifts, everyone!  And thank you to everyone who wished me well for my birthday!  My favorites were the ones that said, "and many more to come".  Yep, that's my intention.

So, all in all, a good day.  No complaints!