Thirty Eight

Most birthdays do not bother me. This one, I feel old.

I suspect it is because I have too many metaphorical balls in the air. The next few weeks are very busy. The class I’m teaching is finishing up next week. I think I am as ecstatic about this as the students.  Heading out of town next week for a business trip: nine grants to review for NIH. Given that the funding line is at less than 10% in most institutes and there are 144 grants in my study section this cycle, this means that it is likely that NONE of the grants I will review will be funded. I am so grateful that my own grant will not go back up for renewal and review until late 2008 or early 2009.

When I get back I’ve agreed to help a friend write a business plan for a subsidiary company he is planning to launch in the UK. That should be incredibly fun if time consuming. I need to interview a few potential summer interns/student researchers for my laboratory. This is something that I have professionally avoided as much as possible. I cannot express how much I value those people who have in the past or continue to provide mentorship to me. I have just never felt ready to actually be someone’s mentor. It’s time (even though I still do not feel completely ready).

It’s also time to start a new round of Body for Life. My exercise schedule has fallen off to 3-4 days a week and I’m feeling soft. My clothes still fit and the scale has not moved much but it’s time to rededicate to a rigorous schedule. I’ve signed up to enter Round 3 which means I need to begin before April 3rd. I’ll likely officially start again on April 1. That way I’ll finish up the MBA about half-way through the 12 week cycle and have some extra time during those last 6 weeks to try to make a dramatic transformation. I love the allure & possibility of winning prizes and money for simply adopting a healthy lifestyle (and promoting/using EAS products!).

4 Comments on “Thirty Eight

  1. Belated happy birthday!
    Busy can be good, but remember to take time for yourself (something I frequently forget to do myself)

  2. Happy Birthday Cathy! I understand completely about certain birthdays feeling “old.” It has nothing to do with the age, it’s more of what’s going on in your life at the moment. Congratulaions on entering round 3 of BFL! Nothing like an official challenge to get things moving again!

  3. Thanks Mel & Irene.
    Mel I definitely need to take some time for me. Egad. Starting up BFL again will actually provide that. It’s 100% for me.
    Irene you’ve nailed my feeling exactly. It’s not the number. I’m just feeling tired/burnt out on many things. It makes me feel OLD.
    It’s looking like April 1 for the real BFL commitment. I want to do it right which means I need a bit more time in my schedule than I have at the moment.
    Anyway, thanks again. 🙂