My Life at March 2009
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March 31, 2009(Tuesday)
I hope that my students think that I am a good teacher; it is because I am very careful and patience in explaining to the students about the math model that we are learning now. And the students seem to appreciate. Hope that by the end of this semester I would have great evaluation, which will be very important for my job search.
March 30, 2009(Monday)
I was working on the dissertation proposal today. During afternoon nap, Cailyn was sleeping on top of my chest for 45 mins. This is a very sweet moment. Then I did some vacuuming today.
March 29, 2009(Sunday)
After church tonight, we went to Barnes and Noble bookstore to read some comic and played with Cailyn. Starting a few days ago, Cailyn only needs one longer afternoon nap instead of two naps.
March 28, 2009(Saturday)
I had a four hours meeting with the deacon/Pastoral search committee this afternoon. We are discussing about the problem with this pastor and we decided to have a probation period. Personally I do not agree with those concerns, but I still have to obey with others.
After these four hours of meeting, I lead the couple fellowship. This time we are sharing some photo memories, how we meet one another and also the thing that the spouse attract you initially. There are kids running around making noises, and the room is quite hot. However relatively this is a good sharing. I also played guitar when leading song; last time I played guitar was about 1.5 years ago!
March 27, 2009(Friday)
I went to school to meet a potential new PhD student at our school. Then I helped the church friend Melody (who left for HK already) to do some house cleaning. The house is in a pretty messy shape! Then at night I had the pastoral search committee meeting. Still some issues need to figure out before hiring the pastor. This process is dragging for a while and I hope to get it over with ASAP.
March 26, 2009(Thursday)
I had meeting with professor about dissertation. Then after class, I went to donate blood. Last time I donated was almost two years ago; but this is the 6 time I donate in US, and around 10 or 11 times in my life. This time is relatively fast and not as pain. Each time I donate I can save up to three lives!
March 25, 2009(Wednesday)
This morning I drove church friend Melody to shuttle bus station because she will return HK for good. We picked her up about 3 years ago when she first came to IU and helped her to move house for 4 times. We hope to spread the gospel to her and now we have spread the seed and let's see what God will do in the future.
March 24, 2009(Tuesday)
Another very normal day. I finish the tax return and also started to teach some tough Math modeling (which is only very elementary from my perspective) to the undergrad.
March 23, 2009(Monday)
I had a good workout today; and I am also working on the course that I am teaching. I am still having no idea for the third essay of my dissertation.
March 22, 2009(Sunday)
After Sunday worship, the Macedonia group had committee meeting at our house; at night Jacky had dinner with us and explained some concern about the fellowship.
March 21, 2009(Saturday)
I had a long basketball (3 hours) section today. I played not only with church people but people in the gym as well. Full court and half court. By the end of the day, even I feel exhausted! However, this is a good time to do more exercise.
March 20, 2009(Friday)
I played some brief basketball today; furthermore I am preparing presentation for my second essay of the dissertation, because I still haven't come up with the idea of the third essay. So I am buying time to do something else.
March 19, 2009(Thursday)
I went to drive our friend Melody to take a driving test; she passed it before but since she did not bring all her document last time, she need to take the test again. And for the rest of today, I was working on the presentation for the second essay of my dissertation. I need to present this during the dissertation proposal defense, plus during two conferences during October/November, plus during campus visit interview next year (if any). Therefore, this is probably the most influential presentation that I would ever have in my career. Furthermore, I am stuck with finding a topic for my third essay. Therefore it is good to utilize the time to work on my second essay.
March 18, 2009(Wednesday)
I brought the car to fix the motor of the driver side's window. It costs $230 and we are glad that we get that fixed such that we can open/close the window!
At night we went to have dinner with Jason/Anna. They are the mandarin undergrad group leaders and also the worship team leaders. We had great time having dinner together and also sharing about our burden in church. This is one of the very few times that I am sharing, rather than talking about "church business".
March 17, 2009(Tuesday)
I originally planned to go to gym to work out. I don't want to run outside because it is too relaxing/enjoying! Running inside the gym is much tougher and requires much more mental concentration! However, the weather is so nice today that I ended up enjoy the weather outside and ran for about 57 mins! At that time I continue to think about the dissertation and I found that the idea I have (Sourcing-dependent demand) is getting me to no where. Therefore, I will abandon this idea, and think of something else.
At night, we went to have dinner with Macedonia group people. After we had baby, it is quite rare that we go outside to eat with church friends.
March 16, 2009(Monday)
I spent most of today thinking/brainstorming for my dissertation. Still no thought yet. It gets more frustrating now!
In the middle of the day, I tried to change environment hoping that this can stimulate me thinking. Therefore, I walk slowly to school. Normally I walk fast; but today I pay attention to the trees, birds in this environment. Then I thought for a while at school. However, I still haven't got any good result yet. I wonder when I will have that idea.
March 15, 2009(Sunday)
The weather outside is pretty nice; sunshine with around 15 degree, and feels like 20 degree when under the sun. Therefore, I took this opportunity to go out for a run, and thinking about the third essay of my dissertation. I think of another way; however, after trying it out, it is another way that is not working. I will continue to find more ways until I find one that works.
At night we went to Abby for dinner and then went to bookstore to read some comics.
March 14, 2009(Saturday)
I went out to play basketball in the afternoon. Spring break is coming up so there are very few people at the gym. We don't have to wait!
At night Nicky/Joyce with their baby Matthew came to have dinner with us. We all watched Matthew and Cailyn played. Still remember several years before we sat down and joked about stuff, or talks about fellowship. Now it is watching kids play! Time flies!
March 13, 2009(Friday)
I had meeting with professor today and have decided the dissertation committee. I am hoping to defend my proposal next month. Dissertation is not the most important thing, because it is publishing paper that is more important. Dissertation is using what I have written, so that does not require much additional work.
At night is an evangelical meeting by Pastor Chang, who we plan to hire. It turns out decent. Hope that we can bring more people to Christ.
March 12, 2009(Thursday)
I spent most of today thinking and seeking the third essay of my dissertation. Still no luck! Throughout these several weeks, I was thinking about this quote, by Thomas A. Edison (The person that invented light bulb): "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work".
In these few days Cailyn starts to walk; and she can now walk pretty good (around 20+ steps) when we hold her hand. She will definitely be able to walk by summer!
March 11, 2009(Wednesday)
I went to have a good workout today. Then at night we went to Border bookstore to read comic. I am also working on my dissertation proposal (which basically is just the combination of the two papers that I wrote). I still have no good idea about my third essay.
March 10, 2009(Tuesday)
I had a meeting with professor about my current paper and also the next paper that I am going to work on. I am still struggling with the next idea but hopefully I will have that in a month.
I am teaching today. Next week is spring break and the students told me that most of the classes are canceled this Thursday. Therefore, I am going to cancel my class this Thursday too! They are happy and so am I!
At night we invited Kenneth to our house for dinner. I have done with discipleship Jacky and Kenneth will be the next one.
March 09, 2009(Monday)
This morning a deacon phoned me about the pastoral hiring process for 20 mins. Therefore, it made me 5 mins late to school! There is supposed to have a dissertation proposal by one of the classmates. I originally planned to go. But I was 5 mins late and they have already started. The door seems to be locked and it is located on the back of the speaker. Therefore it would be very odd to entering into the room with everyone looking at me. Therefore I skipped the workshop. However my professor sent me an email afterward asking me why I was not there. I explained the situation to him and I hope that it will be fine.
March 08, 2009(Sunday)
There is a church's general assembly after Sunday Worship. I explained to them about the responsibilities of various deacons and also discussing about hiring a new pastor. It is an hour long but glad that things are settled. I am also elected to be the worship deacon in the coming year.
March 07, 2009(Saturday)
Today is a long day for deacon board meeting. The pastor that we are interviewing came to Bloomington; so we had lunch with him and had a meeting with him. The purpose of the meeting today is to evaluate the deacon of the past year (our fiscal year is from May 1 - April 30). There are supposedly 9 people supposed to be here, but 4 of them couldn't make it in the last minute. Nevertheless we had some good evaluation.
After eating some stool-softener, Cailyn has better pooh now. She is also more willing to drink milk. Thanks God!
March 06, 2009(Friday)
During these couple of days, the temperature is getting to mid-teens. Therefore, today I went out for a 55-mins jog, the first time after the past winter. During that time I am able to have some productive thinking about research ideas. However, when I tried it out afterward, it does not work. Lately I have tried various ideas and none of that work. I must learn from Edison (the person that invent light bulb), because he tried a lot of material for developing light bulb and most of them fails. He told himself that, at least he knows which way does not work. I now know more and more ways that does not work too! At least, now I have some general direction to my research (e.g. outsource, pricing, inspection).
March 05, 2009(Thursday)
Same as the last few days, Cailyn had problem eating and poohing. We fed her 3 meals (usually 4 meals) today but still she does not drink milk today! She still eats solid food, but not drinking milk. Probably because she is teething.
For the class that I am teaching, today I started to introduce some of the analytical model that I did in my research. That makes my preparation much easier.
March 04, 2009(Wednesday)
Cailyn is a great girl, except that she doesn't like to eat, hence does not pooh. Her digestive system makes us really worry about her. She just doesn't want to eat! And she just can't pooh!!!
March 03, 2009(Tuesday)
Today is square-root day (3/3/09).
Cailyn had several pooh today. Hopefully she has cleared what she missed in the last few days. On the other hand, she skipped one bottle of milk today and she may not have sufficient fluid. Therefore she may have problem again tomorrow or the day after.
March 02, 2009(Monday)
We went to pediatrician to check Cailyn for a while. Then we also went to Kroger and walked around.
March 01, 2009(Sunday)
Cailyn had trouble poohing for three days; after lots of struggle and support, she finally able to have some decent pooh.