Kwarizmi

I’ve got a brace of books, lots of enthusiasm and an opportunity to teach what I learn. Goes nicely into my file.

1) continue with my M.Ed from Framingham, 33% done at this time
2) sign up for the weekend program for the M.S. Mathematics Education in Saltillo, about an hour’s drive away.
3) Finish M.Ed in June 2008. Quit job, start hunting for a scholarship and overseas program while I work on my M.S. thesis.
3) Finish M.S. in December 2008.
4) Start Ph.D or E.D in the spring of 2009.

The Warhammer armies are gone except for the Space Marines (too much hassle to sell). The magazines are gone. The RAM is gone.

I’m about 500 dollars wealthier. It’s Paypal funny money, so I can’t spend it other than online and on rather frivolous things. Any suggestions?

The main obstacle between me and this goal is rent.

I pay 3500 pesos in rent, which is about 28-29% of my take-home income. This is long-term unacceptable. I either need to increase my income enough to bring this percentage down to 20% or so, or seriously consider buying a house.

Buying a house gives me all sorts of willies. I’m uncertain about the future, starting about 2010. I want to spend some time (2-3 years, possibly as soon as next year) out of town or possibly abroad working and/or earning an graduate degree. So going in for a 15+ year mortgage, which my buying power would probably convert into some itty-bitty place out in the boonies, is an unpleasant thought.

I must think about this further. Get some advice from my parents.

Part of getting my house fixed up is making a place for my calligraphy. I’m thinking a corner of the living room. Plenty of natural light, quiet and out of the way.

I want to become proficient in the major calligraphic styles of the Latin alphabets, then move on to Japanese and Arabic calligraphy.

I don’t think I’ll do anything about this one till next school year. Local colleges are somewhat particular about master’s degrees and experience: this year will be my third year teaching and hopefully I’ll be a third of the way into my M.A. That’ll get my foot in the door of an decent college.

On a school day, the alarm usually sounds at 5:50 or thereabouts. I need to be out of the house at 7:10-7:15 tops. That gives me 80 minutes to shower, shave face and head, dress and break fast. Of course, me being me, I spend a lot of time listening to music, reading email or browsing news sites at this hour.

I’m going to try phasing that time suck out. The alarm will sound at 5:20. I’ll stretch and do calisthenics for 10 minutes then shower immediately. Sit down to meditate at about 5:55 with an eggtimer (remember to buy one!). I’ll then continue my routine at around 6:30. Plenty of time.

• Marines
• Empire
• Tau
• Ork

• Tau
• Brettonia
• Empire
• Large stack of White Dwarf mags

• A gig of RAM
• Some Maxim mags
• An autographed concert shirt
• Old PC games

My target is to save at least one sixth of my income for this coming year. I will invest that money in getting a degree or some other long-term goal.

Beginning in August, I’ll be writing down my totals. One sixth of my current income is about 2100 pesos.