As far as my reading goes, I read one book while I was in PA, and then I started re-reading The Hobbit. I’m about 1/3 of the way through that. Then I’ve got to decide if I want to stick with Tolkien through the whole trilogy, or if I want to take a break and read something I haven’t read yet. I have a bunch of options for new reads, so I’ll probably go with that. I bought a few books last year that I haven’t read yet, and I received a bunch of new books as birthday presents this year from friends. How will I choose?!

As for my current math endeavors, I have completely typed up all definitions and theorems (and some other helpful things) out of my year’s worth of undergraduate algebra notes. I was going to move to my year’s worth of grad notes next, but I think I might take a little bit of a break from that and do some basic statistics, Calculus 1 & 2, and Linear Algebra review this weekend. Next week I’ll start working in the math tutoring center. I only have to work 5 weeks this summer – during the first summer session here. Those are the four classes that are being held that students may come in with questions about that I don’t completely remember, so I need to make sure I get caught up so that I can do my job well. Then I’ll get back to typing up graduate algebra notes. I’ve already pulled the PDFs that our professor posted online this year. Once I’m done typing my in-class notes, I’m going to read the PDFs and work through the (homework) exercises he gives in them. Then (or, more likely concurrently, not first this-then that) I’ll work through the problems on the old qualifying exams. So much to do – so little time! I’m actually glad I only have to work 5 weeks and not all 10 weeks of summer sessions.

Finally, my last major endeavor this summer (besides reading and math-ing) is getting in shape. I hope to lose some weight without altering my diet too much. I’m lazy in that I don’t want to change what I eat, but I’m willing to put forth physical effort, so I hope that may pay off. We shall see…

Starting last Sunday I was gearing up in my attempts at these goals, but as of Wednesday (two days ago) I got pretty serious about it. Hopefully my motivation lasts. It’s already dreadfully hot here in Texas (I’m not complaining – I love it – I’m simply stating a fact). While I don’t mind the heat, the fact that I still don’t have a car really is going to wear on my will over time to leave the house and walk places when it’s 90-100 degrees outside.

When I was home there was some family drama cooking up, so hopefully that doesn’t flare up and throw me off track at all. Not that there’s a lot I can do from 1,300 miles away, but I can get distracted by worrying about it. In general, I’m not nearly as much of a worrying person as I used to be, but I am still protective of my siblings.

And now a random thought, brought on by re-reading my rant above about catching up on Bones this summer. 6 of the 7 TV shows I watch with some regularity got renewed for next season! (Mad Love got cancelled, and I’m including Bones in the count of 7.) Unfortunately, they’re all on the schedule for Thursday nights overlapping during the same 2 hour period (except Parenthood, which is on Tuesdays). So Hulu is going to have to be my best friend on Fridays next fall or I’m going to have to invest in a TV… and cable… and a DVR… a DVR that records 3 things at once (or records two while I watch one).

Well, anyway, it’s about bedtime so I can get up and do all this again tomorrow. Here’s to a summer of monotonous productivity!