This week’s main accomplishment was the compilation of my first draft,
which is currently being reviewed by my supervisor. While waiting for
his comments, I’m reading tons of research papers so that I can expand
my review of related literature. My research paper got accepted to
CASCON 2007. I’ll need to edit it down to four pages and include my
updates resultes. We’ll probably schedule my defense for early
September at the latest. I think we’ll manage it. It feels doable now.

I’ve mailed my application for an extension of my study permit. I’m
not too worried about getting denied. I think I have a good case for
it, and it would be silly to cancel my studies *now.* <laugh>

I’ve moved to Dreamhost for both web and mail hosting, so my
outgoing e-mail should properly reflect my e-mail address:
sacha@sachachua.com .

Personally, it’s been an eventful week. My mom called me, concerned
about a doctor’s visit that turned up on my TODO list. It was actually
just a chat with the doctor, as I wanted to ask about some things I’d
read about. Understandably concerned because of the lack of detail on
my blog, my mom called me up and we talked for around two hours about
various issues.

One of the main issues is that I don’t keep in touch with my family
enough. I almost never initiate conversations. My family is half a
world away and I don’t keep instant messaging on (interruptions are
evil!), so we don’t have that many opportunities to “run into” each
other or do things together. I need to figure out what kind of
relationship I have and want to have with my family. Close and happy
beats distant and stressed, for sure.

Fortunately, my mom and I have practiced enough emotion-fu to be able
to make progress even during emotionally-charged conversations. One
thing that will make her happier is if I start the conversation more
often. Let’s try maybe two weeks of putting a secret family-related
task on my TODO list…

Next week: Update review of related literature.

Random Emacs symbol: gnus-agent-read-servers – Function: Read the alist of covered servers.