Priorities

So your thesis is all over and done with - congratulations!

I've been working on my thesis for longer than I expected, mostly because of work-related reasons, and I never thought I'd still be a student at the age of 28 years. But life is sometimes unexpected that way and I've benefited enormously from having gained several years of professional experience (even in my own field), so I couldn't really say I have any huge regrets.

I graduated at the age of 30 (almost 31), got married when I was 33 and had a first child when I was almost 36. And I don't consider myself too old for anything yet. So you have absolutely no rush. ; )

I must say that I really respect people who are are not fool enought to lose their mental and physical health when trying to please everyone by going to every party and occasion they are invited to. It's perfectly okay to say no. Especially in these circles, where most people do have 40-50 friends and there are lots of things going on almost every weekend.

Even if you didn't have so many duties as you have, it's quite reasonable to make some choices and leave things out of your schedule. I am going to do excatly the same this autumn and winter. There are zillions of interesting things happening, but I have to say no to most of them. Not that I'd want to go and meet my friends. All of them. It's just impossible to attend every party without losing my (and Aure's)health and sanity(and money).

I think it's just polite and sensible to say no when needs be.
Go you! : )

Thank you!

Considering my great-gran had turned 95 before she died, I'd say I have plenty of time to do all sorts of interesting things - which means that the only thing I might really have to worry about at some point is the baby business. And as you said, there's no hurry yet :)

Now, however, I really need to wrap things up at the university so that I don't have that hanging over my head indefinitely and, more importantly, so that the results of my research will finally be available to parties interested. I'll be at linblad's party on Saturday, provided that my cold doesn't get worse, but otherwise I'm going to have to budget my so-called free time rather carefully in the near future.

Apua, nyt _minä_ sain syyllisyydentuntoja saadessani nauttia seurastasi tulevana viikonloppuna. No, suhtaudun järjettömiin tuntemuksiini kaikella niiden vaatimalla vakavuudella :)

Vuonna 1999 (sanoiko joku Finncon?) tein laskelman siitä, paljonko aikaa tarvitisin, jos haluaisin hoitaa kaikki sitoumukseni kunnolla. Eli työ, yhdistykset, ehkä jopa muutama tuokio parisuhteelle ja niin pois päin. Päädyin lopputulokseen, että aika riittäisi mainiosti, mikäli nukkuisin 4-5 tuntia yössä ja käyttäisin viikossa työpäivien ulkopuolella yhteensä 2 tuntia ruoanlaittoon, syömiseen ja henkilökohtaiseen hygieniaan.

No, joku voi tietysti sanoa, että tilaisuus olisi ollut loistava mahdollisuus laihtua (ja alkaa haista), mutta päätin kuitenkin tehdä muita päätöksiä. Elämä oli sen jälkeen onnellisempaa. Valitettavasti yhdestä burn outista en oppinut, joskin loppuvuoden 2003 romahdus ei kokonaan johtunut itsestäni, vaikkakin olin kyllä vetänyt riskimarginaalin turhan pieneksi. Mutta kumarran siis maahan asti jokaiselle, joka kykenee tekemään nämä päätökset ennen lepakoiden saapumista tapuliin.

Ja kun kerran puhun suoraan, kysyn myös suoraan: miten se minun keskeneräinen korsettini? Sano vain ei, niin tiedän ryhtyä tosimielellä metsästämään kaupallista viininpunaista tai sopivaa violetinsävyistä vaatekappaletta. Mutta ihan siis että tiedä, missä mennään.

Ja kiva nähdä lauantaina!

Asiaan liittyen käväisin jokirannassa julkaisemassa erään vanhan ajatusleikkini.

http://jokiranta.blogspot.com/2005/09/anonyymien-suoritusaddiktien.html

Olen itse asiassa tiukan hammastenkiristyksen kautta saanut tuota korsettiprojektia etenemään. Ongelma on enää se, mistä kiskaista kaksi vuorokautta, joiden aikana voisi täysin häiritsemättä tehdä vain ja ainoastaan sitä korsettia, jotta sen saisi vihdoin valmiiksi...

*hugs* Good luck!

Good luck! See you on other side!

Hope you get through. But, say, will you celebrate the boys' 1st birthday on 25th(?) September? You should need a break by then, and we could arrange a small tea party at your place on the weekend, if you don't mind that. That would take care of most of the cat-lovers' social commitments, as well. Tell me what you think. I would offer my place, but for certain reasons I think it's way too small for this occasion.

Could you be able to find a chance for that, or should we wait for December, the anniversary?

Excellent idea - but perhaps a week or so later, when Otto has arrived? That way we can celebrate both Sandels' and Vänskä's birthday and Otto's arrival, plus everyone gets to see Otto and Otto gets used to people.

Of course. A great idea!