(no subject)

I went for dim sum this morning with MasseyPrincess, thoughtfreely, and another friend. Dim sum tends to be a bit of a challenge for me since I don't particularly care for seafood, but there were a surprising number of non-seafood dishes available today, which made me happy. Afterwards, we wandered through Chinatown for a bit and I managed to find some jellies to buy. The jellies are exciting both because they're difficult to find and because, unlike the kind I usually buy that have bits of coconut in the middle, these ones have bits of fruit matching their flavour. It was a lovely break from the week of stress, but now I'm back working on the scholarship application that was due three days ago. (I do have a bit of an excuse in that I lost the password to my account and couldn't get hold of the help desk until Saturday, so I wasn't able to print it off.) Forunately, no one was going to look at them over the weekend, so I think I'll be fine as long as I have it in tomorrow morning. But of course, that means another late night. I think the problem is that I have no enthusiasm for the subject I'm trying to write about. But then, these days, I can't seem to summon enthusiasm for much. Certainly not for any potential research project. I'm not sure if it's depression, exhaustion, burnout, a sign that I'm looking at the wrong fields, or an indication that I don't belong in graduate school. Whatever it is, it worries me a little. I want that enthusiasm back! No worries, though--I'm not doing to drop out. At least not yet. I need to get through my current crisis before I can make any decisions about my future; I don't think I'm in any frame of mind to do it now.


(Oh, hey, slice_yoink's show last Wednesday was excellent! I highly recommend it to anyone in the area.)

(no subject)

I made salmon with a Dijon-maple sauce for supper tonight. It turned out quite well, unlike the couscous-crusted salmon I made two days ago that was only so-so. I really didn't like fish when I was a kid, but I'm developing a taste for it as I get older (although spread liberally with guilt over the depleted fish stocks).

I told thoughtfreely recently that I've never tried cod. As a native Newfoundlander, he was completely shocked and immediately offered to cook up a cod dinner for me one day so that I could try it. I have to admit that I'm a tad suspicious about whether this offer was actually made for my sake. In the midst of our discussion, he casually mentioned that he'd have to cook it at my place because his partner (also a Newfoundlander) hates the smell. But hey, it still sounds like a win-win situation. And since MasseyPrincess also hates the smell, she can hang out at thoughtfreely's place.

I finally got my scholarship applications in. I have zero interest in the topic I wrote about, but at least it's done. I still need letters of recommendation, though. I fear I haven't used my first year here wisely--I don't have connections with faculty who might be inclined to vouch for me. I asked my nominal supervisor (who is very pleasant but barely knows me) to write a letter since it's more or less expected that the doctoral supervisor say something. He's agreed to do it, but wants me to send him a draft of a letter which he can use for the basis of his letter. I have absolutely no idea what to include in such a letter, so I'm putting off writing it. I'll have to think of something tomorrow, though. Hopefully this won't be repeated next year.

I should be working now, but I only got about four hours of sleep last night, so I'm too tired to be efficient. Plus, I really really don't feel like working. I think I'll go to bed early tonight and hope tomorrow is better. But first, "Monday Report." Right now they have Pierre Burton demonstrating the proper way to roll a joint. Hilarious!