february humdrum

Nearly the end of February now, and to be honest it's been the best February in quite a few years (though the standard is very, very low).

I spent a fantastic weekend out in Castleisland in Kerry (stayed at a friend's home, visited Crag caves and the Pantomime, and won the Senior I doubles final).

Made it through the 19th, with the unexpected help of a few good friends from badminton.

Last weekend nine of us from badminton won the Irish Juniors Division II up in Galway (spent Friday night playing cards in Ennis at my teammate's home, had good times in Saturday out in Galway, came home exhausted Sunday).

The view from Ciara's backyard overlooking Ballyallia lake near Ennis in Co. Clare

This week I wrote my third paper (domestic violence and the public/private divide)--didn't sleep more than ten minutes Wednesday, the result of which was that I passed out on Thursday and slept about 13 hours.

And of course I've been working. I have to get a bike. Walking this much (1.5 hours to/from work, plus another hour if I have class) is making my knees twinge. Which then means I can't go running at the gym, which in turn means I'm less in shape than I'd prefer to be for badminton.

Not much news at the moment really. Just kinda getting on with life, but I've a lot to look forward to in March and April. My favourite thing for the moment? The days are getting longer. More light = happier Jessica! I much prefer walking home at sunset rather than in the dark.

a new year, and some new stuff

I broke my rule of posting within every calendar month. Maybe I'll make up for it with two February entries. Maybe not. Anyway, what I've been up to....

I had lots of visitors over the holidays, which was heartening. Arad was here, of course. Fiona (from summer camps) hopped over for four days, during which time the three of us trekked out to Galway. And just after Arad left, Erin (my friend who studied abroad with me here) came to visit for a week.

Academically, I turned in another paper--this one on intersexuality and how it affects our understanding of sex and gender. I've also met with my thesis advisor and begun the process of starting to work on a lit review. At least theoretically I've started.

Having spent my holidays sick (thanks to Arad, who was actually worse off than me), I've since been getting back into shape. Lots of running at the gym, lots of rowing, jump-roping, squats, abs. It's been good; I feel much better than I did at the beginning of January. I also competed in the Senior I competition, and the finals for it are on Sunday. I had fitness testing for my sports scholarship, so now that's done and over with, thankfully.

Most excitingly, however, I got a job!!! I was rather desperate for one, and it's nigh impossible to find anything in this economic climate. I'll be working with children in a playzone, minding them and setting up birthday parties. Nothing challenging, but still fun! I really wanted to do something with kids, so I'm pretty happy about this.

Also, it snowed in Cork several times this week. That is VERY unusual. It is also VERY cold. Hence the picture of me, cold.