enjoy the first quarter of 2008 by having one new and fulfilling experience in January, February, and March

took my first lesson. i like the mental and physical discipline i think learning this practice will help develop. the concentration and patience to move my body as a unit is something i can achieve when exercising, but i like the mindfulness tai chi requires (and fosters) and look forward to being able to apply this to the other aspects of my life as well.

the introduction to this practice is new, but i hope the fulfilling part grows as i learn and practice.

it was my first talk, and it went quite well! the subject was on a study i had addressed over 1.5 years ago, so i wasnt the most technical of all presentations, but im proud i did it. and props to my partner as well (although shes not on this site, otherwise id tell you all to cheer her).

but didnt quite make it. gave almost a pint, and then freaked. but it was a new experience, and im happy to have tried it. i will again in about a year, but at least i know now how i react.

its the week of my spring break, and i had no plans. and opportunity to hitch a ride to the bay state came up, so i took it.

ive never been to boston before, so thats new. never took a ride from someone in the us when we were going to different final destinations, also new.

boston is a nice, friendly city, easy to get around, plenty to do, fulfilling. seeing my (almost) sister in law – and even helped her with her first wedding dress fitting, also fulfilling. this has been a great end to this month.

just with my naked eye, but ive never consciously looked at/watched for it before. the sky where i was was completely clear; it was lovely. and strange – the moon itself was still brighter than i expected, but the near zero light it cast left the environment darker than i expected.

i normally worry about what other people think when and how i contact them, but im so over that. i just call or email whoever whenever and in whatever manner i feel like it. its quite liberating, and i would like to keep this up throughout my life – not worry what other people think about how i go about doing things with them. usually, its a positive response, or at least has been recently, so its a good lesson learned.

i played when i was younger, and do love the game. theres not a spot for me on the team this season; i just played as an alternate in an adult rec league, but it was alot of fun. i do enjoy exercise alot, but this was a nice way to meet some people and have healthy downtime.

i gave my very first presentation at a professional conference! it was a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the lsa in chicago.

i was so nervous and stressed about it for a month or so, and really over prepared, but it went very well. i can have confidence in my ability to accomplish at least another poster in the future, and it has given me a good stepping stone for more ambitious (or visible) project presentations for the future.