Sunday January 1, 2006 7:20 am Ballina NSW

Morning Musings

7:20 am January 1 is always a good time to establish a few priorities for the coming year. Let's see what I can come up with.

• Technology. [6 hrs/wk] To convert these files over to an XML/CSS approach. This is still a few weeks off, but it is definitely within reach. I have the software (both Stylus Studio and Dreamweaver 8 appear to be able to do this, although I think that Stylus Studio is more powerful).
• Exercise. [6 hrs/wk] I really need to firm up my stomach muscles. This involves nothing more than establishing a daily routine of abdominal crunches and bicycle exercises. Plus daily walks, which is already a habit. [1 hr/day for 6 days]
• Mathematics. [10 hrs/wk] I am enjoying the books I have on mathematics but I need to focus on the two primary topics of calculus and number theory. I also need to make sure that I spend an average of 10 hours a week on this. That is not a lot: only 2 hours a day for 5 days.
• Drawing. [6 hrs/wk] This is my new activity for the year. Like the preceding three activities, this requires a commitment to action. [3 2 hr sessions/wk]
• Literature. [7 hrs/wk] The intent is to spend at least an hour each day reading literature.

The total of semi-scheduled activities is now 35 hours/wk. That seems a bit high. Let's see what that looks like in a weekly timetable.

This still seems feasible. There is lots of white space for unscheduled activities and for making-up for missed scheduled sessions.

Today is a Sunday. That means 3 hours allocated to planned activities: 2 hours for Drawing and 1 for Literature. Already I am going to have to move my Drawing to a different "square". I view the entire grid as consisting of colored squares that can be moved around, so long as the totals are met by the end of the week.

Another item is Food. I would like to focus on at least one new recipe each week. I have added one block for that.

But Monday we drive to Brisbane to pick up Gayle, so that will mean moving the Math and Tech activities to other days, which could include today.

I have a fresh cup of coffee in hand and am about to make a fruit salad for breakfast. 8:30 am

10:25 am Now to begin a Mathematics session on calculus. This will begin with a review of my Mathematics web site (Math05) I finished this session at 1:45 PM.

I still have two more activites tentatively scheduled for today: Literature and Art.

9:30 PM Evening Reflections A very good day. I am delighted with the Mathematics as well as with getting the site set up for the coming year. We are just back from an hour walk along the Richmond river. The wind has been strong all day, and it is still strong this evening. Although it was a hot day, the wind from the north was quite cool and a pleasant relief.

I failed to get to the Drawing activity today but did extra work with Mathematics and Literature. We leave early tomorrow morning for Brisbane to pick up Gayle at 10 am. I'm not sure what we will do after we get together.