In General
Relaxing evenings, getting up early, time in the gym and at the pool, some sort of nature time maybe, except that I will not try to pretend I enjoy Louisiana nature if I do not. I will not force anything but I do want to see natural water every and I remind myself that here in Maringouin we do have rivers, if not seas.
Part I – Up to the LSAT, and outside work and play, and preparation for the October 1 LSAT
Until LSAT time Devote a limited, but consistent number of hours every week toward finishing work on the house. Convince painter to finish painting even though I cannot pay him yet. Remind him that the sooner the bedroom is painted, the sooner I can rent it out, the sooner I can pay him off. Clean yard. Take pictures, advertise, make money.
After the LSAT set up consulting business, get business cards, make website, advertise. With the time now being used for LSAT preparation, work up various business and foundation oriented resumés, as well as resumés oriented toward administrative jobs.
The LSAT has to be taken in Baton Rouge, which is of course right next to Maringouin. Afterwards, go somewhere to put a punto final on this semester. I dream of Gulf beaches despite the Corexit. Perhaps I should go to the mountains of Arkansas.These are both ambitious projects but perhaps instead I should plan an actual road trip to each.
Decide where to take the LSAT. For urban escapes this summer I now have both New Orleans and Houston but I think I should plan a beach weekend despite the Corexit. I think I should use my kayak, and I would like to go somewhere mountain like, perhaps Arkansas; I would need a camping group and I am not sure how to arrange this but I will work on it.
For the LSAT study in a certain cafe, on a regular schedule, then take it. Then, having established this regular schedule, adapt it for academic work. Work that in with a workout, home maintenance and recreational / cultural schedule, and fit academic work into the rest of the time. (Yes, I know that means I am putting my actually paid job last and not first this summer. However, I think that putting myself first for the first time in about twenty years is actually a way of also putting my paid job first.)
Part II – General rules and policies
1. Spend money by burning gasoline. Be out of town at least for the day, at least once a week. Resting well, this is possible, even though some of the drives to research sites are long.
2. Work at least part of most days spent in town in the office. Get out of house and out of own head; fill office with friendly vibrations.
3. Work at least part of most days in my LSAT cafe.
4. Find a beach. The oil spill has made things more difficult but I really think I must find a beach and go to it regularly.
5. Prepare all classes really well. I tend not to prepare classes very much ahead any more, because schedules get changed at the last minute anyway. I have also been lectured all my life about how if I spend time on teaching, I will be fired. But it is stressful to do things at the last minute and it does not save time, so I am going against standard advice on this.
Part III – Schedule
Work on a regular schedule. I am a flexible person and spontaneous but I still like somewhat regular schedules, as they are meditative. I am Mayan and I live in Maringouin, an Afro-Mediterranean culture where time is fluid; I am not this rigid but I still like to control my time. In Reeducation, however, that was considered sinful and I rescinded from myself this gift; I would like it back.
Originally I was to have been gone all summer, in a research and writing paradise, and this would have been easy since I would have had no car, lots of public transportation, and no housework.
I treat myself much better in foreign countries than I do here. Here, at a psychic level I feel I am in the power of Americans who will tell me I am not suffering enough, that this is hurting them, and that one way or another whatever I am doing is surely wrong.
This summer and indeed, from now on I will pretend I am in a foreign country. I am sure this will be excellent practice for life.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 