27 May 2013

Long, lazy weekend

Last week was my first week at my new lab and it was utterly exhausting due to the highly impractical orientation process where you have to go through several steps before getting badge access to the building (which means after going to the restroom you are locked out until someone comes by).  I'm hoping to have free reign to the bathroom and beyond sometime tomorrow.

Having a long weekend was definitely appreciated and I had serious plans for this weekend too.  But I ended up doing almost nothing at all, I cannot remember the last time I was this lazy and lax on my goals.

I did manage to do some homework for an online class I've been taking, because I have something highly embarrassing to admit...


I've never taken a formal physics class before.  I've read books about physics, I've met physicists (including Neil Degrasse Tyson, the "sexiest astrophysicist"), but never actually took a class.

A few months ago I came across Coursera, which is a website offering full, free courses from top universities from around the world.  They are really well done too, you have assignments and lectures, and even receive a grade at the end.  It is an amazing resource allowing me to take a physics course from Georgia Tech!

While I was learning the secrets of the universe, kitty stared at me wondering when I'll ever get around to planting an herb garden, and then she ate some bugs.


I have gotten a little bit of knitting done, but I just have too many projects to focus on right now!  You may recall that I've been knitting Skew, but that plan has changed somewhat.  I finished the first sock and absolutely hated it, so I ripped it all out and started with a different pattern Charybdis.


Isn't the yarn so pretty and colorful?

So, that's some of my lazy weekend, what have you been up to?

21 comments:

  1. really poor form they haven't gotten you access. surely they could have at least given you a temporary card!

    I smiled at your 'embarassing' admission!

    Love those lazy weekends, I think they are very important for stress levels!

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  2. And by lazy weekend, you mean a productive weekend for the rest of us. It sounds like you've accomplished quite a bit.

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  3. My weekend was also MUCH lazier than I'd originally intended. I may have been a little too lazy, and might have trouble getting myself out of bed bright and early tomorrow.

    That's a shame about the lacking orientation process. It's funny how the people who plan those types of things tend to overlook basic things like "what if our newbies need to use the restroom?"

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  4. The yarn has a lovely combination of colors.

    Here's hoping you get a badge with access to the bathroom in the near future.

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  5. Lazy weekends are a good thing but It looks to me like miss kitty was the only one lazing about( I might add she looks very dignified in that pose too).....you on the other hand seem to have accomplished quite a bit. :-) I applaud your quest for learning. I think Coursera is a wonderful learning tool for people. There was a piece about it on the news a while back. What a wonderful opportunity for people to take courses for free.

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  6. There is nothing like a good lazy weekend:)

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  7. This is going to sound terrible...I am so glad you hated Skew! I thought it was just me. While gone a few weeks ago, I took it along for my travelling knitting. First one done and it was AWFUL!!!!! What yarn is that? Looks a little like Mini Mochi. I am a firm believer in you get done what you really need to get done and sometimes a lazy weekend is just what the doctor ordered.

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  8. Lazy weekends are a wonderful thing aren't they? I, myself, don't have many of them. I always plan way too much stuff to do to ever get it all finished. I am learning after shoulder surgery that it doesn't all have to get done (but I plan it anyway).

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  9. If it makes you feel any better I have never taken a formal Bio Class. I skipped it in high school and didn't need it in college. Oops...I did take more than my fair share of physics though. perhaps I will check out the like above.

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  10. I had an equally, if not more, lax weekend. I momentarily felt remorse over not accomplishing anything noteworthy; mostly, I basked in the glory of doing nothing. It was a nice change of pace. Here's hoping you (we) have productive weeks and free-reign of the restroom.

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  11. Kitty looks lovely as always. I have been wanting to knit those socks for awhile, so I can't wait to see them. As for classes, everyone needs a break! You know me and how often I take them haha. I hope you get your lab stuff figured out, I'd hate to see you locked out!

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  12. Yup, I had a pretty lazy long weekend, too, with a little bit of knitting, a little bit of reading, and a little bit of baking. Hmmm, can I have another one like this again soon?

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  13. That yarn is gorgeous :) Sounds like a good long weekend to me :)

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  14. That yarn is so pretty! The colors are wonderful.

    I am having a hard time imagining a world where not having taken physics is an embarrassing admission! :) Of the many things I have to be embarrassed off, that one has never crossed my mind.

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  15. Never taking Physics is probably better than taking it in high school and remembering nothing but how we shot arrows at each other and skidded Hot Wheels down the hallway.... :) I can't wait to see Charybdis! Also a fabulous looking pattern! Pat that kitty for us.

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  16. OMG thank you for sharing that Coursera site, it's like Craftsy for 'important' things!

    I also found this page, which is where MIT offers course materials for free:
    http://ocw.mit.edu/help/get-started-with-ocw/

    And my friend works for edX, which is a partnership between Harvard and MIT that offers online classes:
    https://www.edx.org/

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  17. Hopefully it'll all settle down soon - and fingers crossed for the socks and the herb garden :)

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  18. Oh boy! Bathroom access is super important for me! I hope you earn badge status soon.
    I am queen of super lazy. We were home all weekend. I lounged in my pjs and didn't want to put on any make up or get dressed. First time I heard of a cat eating bugs? LOL!

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    Replies
    1. Oh and I had half a glass of a 2007 French vintage each night!

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  19. Ummm ... I have never taken physics either! I skipped it in high school, since I was taking so much calculus and it seemed like calculus applied to moving objects ... thanks for sharing that web site! If I ever feel inferior due to my lack of physics education I can use it to "catch up" ... ha! :-D

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  20. Hi, I came across your blog looking to learn about spinning yarn and now I am enrolled in two courses in Coursera. Thank you so much for blogging about it!

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