======= Date Modified 18 Feb 2010 16:47:57 =======
Hi Yellow, good question. Now I've had the pancakes, some abstinanece is in order. It looks like swimming for me, I've meant to go all this week, but it's just soooo coooooold outside, I walk to the pool, about 2 miles and I just can't face it at the moment, don't even want to stand at the bus stop! So, yeah, it looks like excercise for me at the moment...

======= Date Modified 18 Feb 2010 15:51:08 =======
Hello again, another tu'penth worth from me: Both of my severely dysfunctional ex-boyfrends commented on my weight, as in saying needed to lose some (it wasn't for health reasons), and for them it was the first, subtle, stab in a long line of verbal put downs, which eventually developed into much worse behaviour. The weight comments made me feel really crappy and not like losing weight at all, it almost made me feel like putting more on, in an act of defiance.

I put weight on when I was with a lovely, nice boyfriend and when I moaned about it he just said 'Well you're still doin' it for me, phwoarr!'. And I take this as a barometer of good, non-wierd conduct.   

Hi MK, if you're ill, you're ill, so I wouldn't worry about not meeting targets, it's more important to get better and feel well again. Good luck with the sup meeting later.

I've done 6 tomatoes so far today and am just abou to tuck into lunch - beef stir fry - while watching looe women. But, as Arnie says: 'I'll be back...'

Cheeky b*****d at 8 stone you are practically wasting away! Go and eat some pies... Unless you are only 3 foot tall, that is. Tell him to do one.

Good morning MK and KC! Today, I am starting my re-draft of my thesis outline - which is a 10,0000 word, plus, document (blimey, how did that happen??). Right so I have no clear aims for the day, apart from completing 10 tomatoes, and being disciplined and getting straight back tot wok after lunch and loose women. had a lovely day of nothing yesterday, with lots of sleep in it, so, should, in theory, be raring to go today. Oh, And I'd liek to get the first re-draft done by the end of Friday, so I can have another look at it on Sunday, before sending it that evening.

So! Aim for today:

Complete at least 10 tomatoes. Have done one already, while reading through the outline as it stands.

Hey Moomin, sending you good vibes. You'll be fab, from what I've seen around here everyong feels that way before their viva, so you'll rock'em.

I think Wally could be right, I felt embarassed about my lasr abstract and that doesn't help the old confidence when presenting/networking. Also, a poorly constructed abstract can make you pare harder to write: you can end up trying to fit your paper around a not to well thoought out framework, or presenting apaper which doesn't match the abstract - a bit annoying for the audience, I think.

Hey Wally, have a great time, Glasgow is one of my favourite places. They have a great independent cinema there, if you have the time. It's an art deco building with a mosaic on the reception floor, stunning.

http://www.gft.org.uk/content/default.asp


Glasgow School of Art is well worth a look too, and it's close by.


Enjoy your tea bags!

======= Date Modified 17 Feb 2010 17:34:03 =======
Hi Keep Calm, I feel similarly, but I teach at new unis and did my undergrad at a top 5, on the top course for my subject (over 10 years ago, if that makes any difference) and I reckon there's about 10% discrepancy in grades, could it be that? Also, I think too much of marking is arbitrary, especially in none exact subjects, and I have been quite shocked by some of the grades I've seen handed out to undergrads. It's usually permanent staff that shock me in this way: One got a first without proper citation and referencing; anther a high 2:2 without any citation at all - although she gained extra marks for sobbing and playing the victim in the module leader's office. Beats me, I just get on with it now - just get what you can out of the job and hang the rest.

These adyas I do them very quickly in about an hour. For the last one, I only remembered the deadline with 45 mins to spare and I wrote it off the top of my head- it was accepted, but I felt embarrassed about the writing, I could have made a much better job of it with more time - especially if I'd left time for re-drafts.

Just my memories, fabulous memories; although as soon as I'd posted it, that connection did come to mind! Maybe I could make have a side line and make some PG cash!

Hi all, I continued my pancake fest last night, consuming an undisclosable number in total (about 5 or 6, I think). They were delicious. There's something about lemon and sugar together on those glorious flippies: The tart lemon with sweet sugar and the fine, sharp sugary grains, cool with lemon juice against the soft, warm dough hmmmmmmm...

I had melon only for breakfast, so am trying to convince myself that the feast is ok. Stir fry for lunch too and then a swim later, if my tomatoing goes well enough. 

Small mindedness

======= Date Modified 17 Feb 2010 00:19:59 =======
hhmmmm, Wal, yes, I agree abouut Juno, terrible. I think I really dis-like it because it's been sold as independent, cool or intelligent - a social issues movie, and it just scratches the surface in a really annoying way, although Juno's relationship with the mid-life crisis bloke is very interestingly put together. I really dis-like little miss sunshine for the similar reasons.

Don't worry, we'll let your review Rocky 3 million when the time comes, Wal. I've never seen a Rocky movie - although maybe I did once, at school during one of those school end of term jollies, but I was probably annoying and disruptive all the way through it, in protest.

Teek, I feel for you, the know it all sing a long types are even worse than plain old rowdy kids.

Oh I saw Pretty Woman at the weekend, on DVD with Pizza, chocolate and lots of red wine. We saw two other films too, but Pretty Woman really made me think, and maybe it would be a good one to write about later on.

20 years ago I hated it, but saw it many time because two members of my posse loved it - many Sunday afternoons/nights were spent waiting for it to end. But this time I quite liked it, I am trying to decide how I feel about Robert's character and how she conducts herself - her insistance on sexual agency at all times. She is adamant about who she sleeps with and when - and seems only to haves sex with men she fancies, when she wants to, not just when her clients want to. And I started to see her as being almost the opposite of what her character seems, superficially, to be. Yes, her character is part of a collective of sex workers, but she still finds clients on the streets, getting into unchecked cars, and going to unknown destinations - she is no belle de jour. But this doesn't add up with her attitude towards clients and potential clients, as my friend said to me on Saturday 'what's the difference between what Robert's character does and what Carry from sex and the city does? Not that much really, she sleeps with men she fancies, when she wants to, the only difference being that Robert's character gets paid. It's making me think that perhaps prostitution was used as a way to frame sexual liberation and agency in this film. True sexual freedom and agency in female characters was rare at this time, as I remember - for me, Bassinger in 91/2 weeks, was not her own woman, but more a spectacle for her partner and the audience. Perhaps that's why women like PW so much, because Robert's character makes such a song and dance about her own agency, her autonomous control over her sexuality - she gets very passionate about that, and she's clearly very into Gere's character. I think I will see it again one day.