Busy Bee

It's summertime, time to catch up on things (fun and work) I haven't been able to do during the semester. Relax a bit. But it seems that ever since summer started I've been running around trying to cram in enough fun and work to make up for what I wasn't able to fit in during the school year because of quals, the big conference, and my advisor. I started a one month unlimited yoga pass at a local studio for the month of June. I've been trying so hard to balance yoga, work, research, fun, friends, family, etc. that I just miss the lazy days when I would just lounge about the house watching episode after episode on Netflix or go to a friend's house and just hang out. I mean I suppose I can just NOT go to yoga, but I also really like it, it's calming and relaxing. I guess just a lot happened this week and this weekend, I had a lot of parties and events to go to for various birthdays and prior obligations as well as family "issues" that come up. And then there are all the friends who want to hang out more this summer for various reasons. On top of all that I finally heard back regarding a couple projects I had been working and I was asked to give a guest lecture later in the month/early next month. So I've just really been feeling the pressure to make time for everything that now I'm just completely exhausted. And there's still yoga to go to tonight and revisions to finish for tomorrow and more revisions to finish for Tuesday. I have noticed that I've been feeling more stressed since I've started slacking on my schedule and list making. I should start that up again tonight for this coming week.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

I recently went to a Buddhist center with a friend just to check it out and get a better understanding of Buddhism. I have always liked Eastern teachings and Buddhist philosophy but I wanted a deeper understanding. I'm not sure this community center was the right thing for me though... the people seemed too fanatical and said a couple of things I didn't agree with: 1) other sects are "wrong" 2) and people in the "wrong" sects need to be converted. I have never thought that anyone should force their beliefs on others. I don't believe religion is for everyone. We each have our own way of dealing with difficulties in life and for some religion is the best way to deal with problems.

Series left to watch

In no particular order.

UPDATE:
Archer
Bones (from Season 3)
Angel (from season 2)
Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood
True Blood (from season 4)
The Office
Blood
Bleach
Death Note
Big Bang Theory (from season 4)
Weeds
Lie to Me
Arrested Development
Dr. Who
Psych
In Plain Sight
Breaking Bad
Hung (from season 2)
Modern Family

Things I like to do...when not working on my research

Jogging
Hiking
Going for walks
Tennis
Picnics
Museums (pretty much any kind)
Movies
Playing video games
Watching Netflix instant watch
Cooking
Seeing friends

New TV Schedule!

Now keep in mind, I don't necessarily watch all of these shows in a given week.

Monday
90210 8-9 PM CW
Gossip Girl 9-10 PM CW
Hawaii Five-0 10-11 PM CBS

Tuesday
Life Unexpected 9-10 PM CW

Thursday
Vampire Diaries 8-9 PM CW
Nikita 9-10 PM CW

Friday
Supernatural (aka The Dean Show) 9-10 PM CW

Sunday
The Simpsons 8-8:30 PM Fox
Family Guy 9-9:30 PM Fox
American Dad 9:30-10 PM Fox

Random list #3: Places to see during the holidays

DWP light festival
Zoo
Observatory
Ice skating
Huntington Library
LACMA
Getty Villa
Homes with Christmas lights
Science Center
Natural History Museum

Random list #2: Books on my bookshelf that I have yet to read/finish reading

The Histories by Herodotus
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson
In the Land of Invented Languages by Arika Okrent
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
War and Peace by Lev Tolstoy
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
The Divine Comedy by Dante
The Prince by Machiavelli
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty