Thread Drift

[Owlie]

I hate writing personal statements/statements of purpose for grad school applications. I hate trying to write "I'm awesome; you should let me in" things. I'm terrible at selling myself. Bikes--sure. Science, no problem. But I keep trying to come up with reasons why I want to go to grad school and I can't get anything beyond "I want a PhD and a career in research." I have no idea what I actually want to do my research on, just a list of things I'd like to avoid, and I'd be happy doing almost anything that isn't on that list. The only things I can actually talk about in any degree of detail are my undergrad research project (and that's fuzzy just because of distance) and my master's thesis, nothing from which has been published yet so I need to keep it kind of vague. Aptitude for graduate study? I've been bashing my head against a wall with my project and I haven't quit yet?

This whole process is soul-sucking. And I haven't even gotten to the personal history statement.

[Crankin]

I was just up in my loft, stretching after a run and I happened to glance at one of the photos up on the bulletin board I have up there. It's a picture of my son and 3 others receiving the Principal's Award for community service in 2001. Guess who is standing next to him?
Evie Stevens.
I figured I would share this here, since no one else I know would appreciate it!

[Catrin]

It just dawned on me this morning that I've a goal for my 80th birthday - assuming I am around that long. I want to be that 80 year old woman who is still riding, lifting heavy things and setting them down again (even if I've got to scale the weight back by then), get out hiking, geocaching or whatever else happens to strike my fancy by then! Basically a earth-bound version of the old woman who goes sky-diving (I HATE heights).

[Crankin]

Me, too.
Sometimes I feel like the whole world is against us aging this way.

[Catrin]

Me, too.
Sometimes I feel like the whole world is against us aging this way.

I've said this to a few people recently, about my vision of me as an 80 year old. Outside of my trainer the other two looked at me like they think I am nuts. That is ok We have to get active and stay that way to carry it into our later years, and it is encouraging to me that there have been women who started much later than I. Age will come as long as life continues and it is up to us to decide how to face it. Granted, not all of that is for us to control, but we do have to decide how to face it. Accidents and/or genetics sometimes have their role to play but even then - our fitness level has some impact on how well we weather such things - or not. In the end however, it isn't about adding years to our lives, but "life to our years" (lifted from a motivational saying on Facebook). THAT is how I feel about my riding and other fitness activities. At some point it became fun and a part of me.

Ok, that is enough philosophy for the evening, time to read for a bit before bed.

[indysteel]

Sigh. I hate bathing suits. I appreciate that I can now try them on in the privacy of my own home (thanks, Athleta), but they rank up there with jeans in inducing self loathing. Why did I suggest Hawaii as our next big vacation. And, yes, I realize that I should not complain.....

[Dogmama]

I'm beyond excited. Going to a three day dog training seminar in San Fran next weekend. Learning things like chaining behaviors, introducing a puppy to a reactive dog household and strategic reinforcement delivery.

I've been teaching obedience at a local facility & the majority of my dogs are from shelters. They come in with all kinds of issues and sad stories. After six weeks, their tails are wagging, their eyes are bright and they have a new found confidence. I take no credit - it's the owners who work with them. But it's still incredibly rewarding (pun intended.)

BTW, I don't teach the jerk & puke method. We use food, toys and lots of praise. It takes longer but it's SO worth it.