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Saturday, September 6th, 2008
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11:37 am
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Connor recently brought home Wii Fit and eagerly set it up in our tiny living room, so I've taken the opportunity to begin an exercise regimen.
I have to applaud the creators... some might argue that the appeal of Wii Fit stems from the game's ability to make exercising fun through the use of colorful avatars, perky music, and engaging activities. I would argue that the real enjoyment of Wii Fit comes from mankind's inherent love of competition.
Whether I'm competing against Connor (yes, the game allows you to compare your scores against the scores of other people registered on that particular Wii), or against the game itself in order to earn Fit Credits (a cleverly designed in-game currency that can be used to unlock further, advanced activities), I feel an urge to adhere to the program and to push myself to improve.
Thus far, it seems to be working. I've lost 4.3 lbs. Not a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but sizable enough given I took it off within a span of a few days. I've managed to accomplish that degree of weight loss in the past, but not without some fairly severe dietary restrictions. I suspect 30 minutes of solid exercise a day might be the better choice.
Any other Wii Fit users out there that have stories to share?
current mood:  energetic
current music: Wii Fit
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| Sunday, August 31st, 2008
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9:19 am
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A brief update:
All is well. My move to Michigan is now complete and I'm firmly immured in the ever-tightening death grip of graduate school.
My classes are all fairly interesting, however the unmitigated quantity of reading I need to complete each week is going to kill me. I'll be crushed beneath the overwhelming mass of articles and textbook chapters I need to choke down each night. I used to think I enjoyed reading, but 400 pages of technical material over the course of five days is, in a word, excruciating. Is it normal to spend 5 or 6 hours a day with my nose buried in a mound of paper, ignoring the existence of the outside world? We haven't even begun class papers and projects yet. Hell, thus far I haven't even had to act as a TA or a research assistant in order to earn my keep.
But this is what I want to do with my life, right?
I've settled into my on-campus apartment.
The upside: It came with a washer and dryer in the unit!
The downside: It came with undisguised cinder block walls and wall-to-wall linoleum flooring.
It's an unabashedly ugly little living hole, but Connor's mother has been going to great lengths in terms of making it relatively cozy: curtains, rugs, matching lamps, even a tea kettle. I don't know what I would have done (or would continue to do, for that matter) without her kindness, generosity, and good sense. She's been amazing.
Social life hasn't picked up much, but it's only been a week, so I can't be too hard on myself for failing to have made lifelong friends with the locals. I've attended the first meeting of several on-campus organizations (Mount Pleasant Gaming Association, CMU Anime Screening Society, and the Open Grove Society). Ideally, a few of my new acquaintances will blossom into casual friendships soon. I'm not quite ready to relegate myself to the most common Mount Pleasant pastime: boozing it up at one of the twenty local bars.
In any case, there isn't much more to report, despite my months of silence. I'll try to post a little more now that my living situation has become a tad more settled. We'll see if my workload allows for it.
Ah, let me finish this post with a request: For those of you attended (or are currently attending graduate school), how did you get through it? How did you manage the reading, the papers, the projects, and your various other duties as a graduate student without ripping your hair out in the throws of a nervous breakdown? I'd love to hear any anecdotes or advice you may have to share.
ETA: It would seem that I've forgotten to write anything about Connor and myself, and that a few (though certainly not all) of you might be a bit miffed at my unwitting reticence. I assure you that my oversight was due only to the fact that things are wonderful between the he and I. We're swiftly approaching our second anniversary, and I can safely proclaim that I adore him as much as I ever did. Connor is, for all rights and purposes, a wonderful, loving, inspiring individual, and I'm delighted to have him in my life! In that regard, I have been truly fortunate. For the sake of maintaining some privacy, lets leave it at that.
current mood:  busy
current music: The soft hum of computer fans
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