I have finally dig my way through a pile of double-marking and I'm mighty proud of myself.

I even did a substantial amount of reading today, I've managed a quick yoga practice and laundry.

I think I'll go for a short walk to the shops just to let some oxygen ventilate my brain and... I think I shall finally do some writing.

New Year, New List, oh, Long list.

I have a pile of books to read that grows every day, the only way to minimise is to start reading, preferably in an organised manner.

Gerard Genette - Narrative Discourse is the priority.

Yesterday, it suddenly struck me that whatever I read will have to reread at some point. This is a simple yet annoying truth.

On the positive side: each time I reread stuff, I understand it more or differently, so I guess it's worth it.

There are things to read, things to write, things to mark and things to reread. Oh, joy!

I've just came back home from a Jazz Carol concert which I was part of. It feels amazing to be able to sing and perform again. Reading or writing does not get that kind of thrill. It feels good!

I had to miss fjm 's party, and I am extremely sorry, because her parties are always full of great people and great food. I hope all of you that happened to be there today had fun!

Unfortunately, this was the only date available for the concert, and I think this will be a beginning of some longer musical co-operation. We're thinking about preparing another concert based on Eve Cassidy and Holy Cole Trio material - if we can make it, that is.

Oh, what joy! It even makes me to want to mark essays tomorrow.

The world is still beautiful!

I'm in my first marking season, and I'm suddenly very conscious of the fact that I'm actually judging somebody else's work.

Oh, dear!

On the positive side: the weather is magical, as long as I'm at home, I'm fine. I think I may even venture into the garden tomorrow to build an igloo. Hopefully the snow stays good for that.

I think I'm finally fairly healthy. Apart from regular headaches I feel good. Sinuses clear. Occasional running nose is the usual flavour of the season - at least it's not pollen!

The reading list for this month is looong! As soon as I finish marking I shall focus on my chapter, which I have been avoiding for the past week or so. Which is it to be? That is the question!

May it be better than the previous one!!!

I've been completely away from my computer for the past few days, the main reason for it is my brother. He came on Wed for Christmas and he's staying with us till 30th.

Christmas Eve was really fun, P. brought loads of various pierogi and traditional carp made by our father. We had beetroot soup with wild mushrooms, white cabbage with mushrooms and a variety of herring. No meat though, the CE is traditionally fishy in Polish culture. And lots of cakes, too.

We've eaten, we've sung, we've unpacked a pyramid of presents and played Dungeons& Dragons afterwards. K. bought a special set for P's arrival.

I'm especially happy with my presents this year- K. organised a little treasure hunt for me with clues all around the house- it was fun!

On of the presents was tickets to 'Nation' on 29th Dec, so we're going all three of us, jupi!

It's first Christmas without Mum, but somehow it feels she's here with us. My brother and I have finally some family fun time, and we usually get it only once a year with me living in UK now, so I intend to enjoy it while it lasts.

No computer, no books, just Christmas!!!

I've just finished my first short story.
1670 words without the initial poem
1782 words with the poem

Since Tuesday I've spent my days in BL working through my chapter - slowly but steadily ticking my daily targets.
Today I didn't write the chapter, I made notes and read books.#

But I did write something. I'm so excited with my creative writing class, that as soon as the idea hit me, and that happened yesterday, I've started writing.

Today I was still very much excited, so I kept writing.
I've written 1123 words and I'm still writing.

It's so much fun, unbelievable!

I nearly fell a asleep today in BL while working on Kubla Khan.
But I did my 300 words.

567 words of thesis
154 fiction ideas
11 min yoga
28 pages of thesis reading done
6 pages of creative writing reader read (on a train)
2 quiz ideas as a warm-up for teaching
1 laundry basket (mostly K's shirts)

I really enjoy creative writing classes that I have on Mondays. And today I've discovered that switching into a creative writing mode- that is me thinking about short story ideas- helps a lot with my thesis reading and writing. After a few minutes of me looking through various plot ideas in my head I simply sprung into action. The keyboard was on fire, and I went over my day target.

Thumbs up for crative processes!

It's mid  week and I feel that I'm cheating on writing again.

Weekend was as usual not as I've planned- Saturday was all spring cleaning, by the time I had a minute for my computer I was literally exhausted. Sunday was fairly relaxed until I've developed a migraine accompanied by strained stomach.

Monday was lovely in terms of reading and classes. Met a very nice people at the creative writing class and wrote a bit - but that doesn't count, because it does not add to my thesis. Bugger.

Yesterday I was traveling a lot by train, again, so I've read articles that I have to discuss with my students, and that made me feel a bit accomplished, because now I'm two weeks ahead with reading and I can prepare questions for them. I also sorted out my payroll, which means I'm getting paid. And I've read three chapters of Goblin Market. And I've read fjm 's comments about my chapter, to master a plan of action, and ordered books in BL which are probably waiting for me now.

But still no proper writing done. I did work, just not write, and I feel guilty. Grrr...

So off to BL now to study stuff on Kubla Khan and dreams.

Target for today: 300 words

Usually, I try to make weekend a time for rest and pleasure, but that can never work out, as I have piles of cleaning, washing, ironing, and me nagging K. to do housework with me - if I don't do it simultaneously with him- it will not be done.

This weekend I've decided I have to do also my daily portion of writing, so I don't wake up Monday morning feeling guilty and not-so-keen on writing.

Also I have to prepare for Monday classes, and write a funding proposal.

And there is the whole flat to be cleaned... I am awaiting the day when I can afford a cleaner...

But for now, books are the priority.

So off to housework then!

1 hour of singing lessons for my friend
1 hour a chat with her
300 words before lunch
10 min yoga practice
3 chapters of Goblin Market
An Introduction to CUP
300 words before dinner
Finished reading Wild Magic

It's coming!!!

Jazz, World and Contemporary Music • London Jazz Festival

1. I've nearly finished reading the book I've started yesterday...that's fast for me, even though it's just 350pages.

2.I've written my outline and dig through my library; I've added books to endnote that I've forgotten to ad ages ago.

3.There are still mice in the house, this night was the fourth in the row - we get a surprise in the trap every morning! And there are at least four cats in my garden! Tomorrow I'm taking my landlord's cat for a walk around my kitchen.

4.I'm going all curly tomorrow. Hairdresser appointment set, those of you who've seen me, I have permanently straight hair and I curl them whenever I can to add volume. But I don't have time to curl them recently, and it takes ages, so I'm getting myself a perm- not the 80s style, hopefully the Rubens angelic, or at least 20's style. Time for change...of hairstyle!

18. Moon Dance by S. P. Somtow

I'm not a horror genre person. I was sceptical before reading this. It so happened that I watched Twilight and True Blood in one week.
And I suddenly felt like a werewolf epic.

This is an adult epic fantasy with a good pace, intriguing characters and a well-structured plot.
I used to watch western movies with my dad when I was little, and so I have a sentiment for the wild wild west. It's thoroughly entertaining, and I, personally, could sleep afterwards, which means it's scary and disturbing, but still managable - the news channels provide scarier images every day. Although, it was published in 1989, so I assume that at the time of the publication it was a more disturbing read.

( Read more... )

Accepted paper.
I'm going...

I wrote a proposal - 500 words.
I dutifully sat in BL and did my reading and writing.
And I'm a mouse-hunter.

A few days ago K. told me that we have a mouse somewhere in the area of our kitchen bin. He heard some sounds at the night which then repeated next day. I didn't believe him. I didn't hear any mouse sounds, just the bin liner rustling when something falls down the bin.

I'm used to that kind house sounds ans K. has been staying at home recently being generally sick, so I just thought - it's slightly getting into his head...
And guess what happened?

I came from BL, had a snack, and while K. was in the bathroom I've heard rustling. And then again. Curious, I went in the direction of the bin expecting nothing out of ordinary...and then I saw it. A little mouse munching in the middle of the rubbish bin!

I didn't scream, because I'm not an 'eek there's a mouse' person. I was genuinely shocked for two reasons.
First, there really was a mouse in our house.
Second, K. was right and I didn't believe him. That doesn't happen very often.

The mouse is gone now due to collective effort.
We had a laugh, because the whole situation seems so bizarre.
Next time K. hears rustling sounds, I'll help him look for any unwanted visitors.*

*We live on ground floor and often have a terrace door opened-I just hope this is the way mousy got in.