I'm about to head into the office. I managed to accomplish my reading/note-taking goal yesterday, and if I finish ch. 3 today I'll be almost done. Yesterday I realized that one major issue is the order of the chapters -- actually, I knew that already, but I figured out how to fix it quite easily.
I think I might take a plant. (Uh, that's not supposed to be a metaphor.)
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
In-between Land
How exactly did I get here?
Being ABD for this long - three years, now - seems to being having consequences in other areas of my life.
I am Liminal Chick.
Some of it is obviously direct: I adjunct because I have no final degree (and because moving around for one-year contracts, as some of my friends do, is less possible when you have a partner who also needs to work). My "office space" is shared with five other people, all adjuncts, and it's not the most welcoming space.
Because we're not settled as to place - because we adjunct, because we're both ABD - we have a nice but temporary apartment. Don't get me wrong: I feel incredibly lucky that we have the place we have, but I would eventually like a house. With a yard. And a garden.
And, of course, there's the lack of savings. I have some money put aside right now, but it's all earmarked for this semester... my lighter schedule = lighter paychecks.
One thing is unrelated to the ABD status, but got me thinking about in-between states: I'm squarely between a size 10 and 12 right now. 10 is slightly too small, 12 is slightly too big. This means 12's with belts -- not the most flattering fashion look. I have one pair of pants that apparently defies conventional sizing (10's that fit perfectly) and they look fantastic on me. However, the zipper de-tracked the other day and I can't seem to fix it.
In baby blue text news, my goal for the day is to read and outline chapter two.
I am unsure whether I should be making changes as I see necessary, or whether I should really concentrate on outlining (and thus, reading) the entire thing in a short span of time. I think that the full read-through is the most important, right now.
Being ABD for this long - three years, now - seems to being having consequences in other areas of my life.
I am Liminal Chick.
Some of it is obviously direct: I adjunct because I have no final degree (and because moving around for one-year contracts, as some of my friends do, is less possible when you have a partner who also needs to work). My "office space" is shared with five other people, all adjuncts, and it's not the most welcoming space.
Because we're not settled as to place - because we adjunct, because we're both ABD - we have a nice but temporary apartment. Don't get me wrong: I feel incredibly lucky that we have the place we have, but I would eventually like a house. With a yard. And a garden.
And, of course, there's the lack of savings. I have some money put aside right now, but it's all earmarked for this semester... my lighter schedule = lighter paychecks.
One thing is unrelated to the ABD status, but got me thinking about in-between states: I'm squarely between a size 10 and 12 right now. 10 is slightly too small, 12 is slightly too big. This means 12's with belts -- not the most flattering fashion look. I have one pair of pants that apparently defies conventional sizing (10's that fit perfectly) and they look fantastic on me. However, the zipper de-tracked the other day and I can't seem to fix it.
In baby blue text news, my goal for the day is to read and outline chapter two.
I am unsure whether I should be making changes as I see necessary, or whether I should really concentrate on outlining (and thus, reading) the entire thing in a short span of time. I think that the full read-through is the most important, right now.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Yes, I'm still sick.
Don't you love starting the new semester with a hacking cough? I'm put in mind of my smoking days.
I worked on my dissertation today.
I say that in unreadable baby blue letters because I don't want to jinx it, and for some reason the smaller letters I wanted to use won't work, and this still makes me feel better.
When I worked on it yesterday, I realized that I'm a bit lost... I've never used outlines and - with as long as this project has been going on - I've lost track of some things. Today, my goal was to reread chapter one and outline it in some detail.
The goal for the next several days is to do this to the other chapters. I will (hopefully) then be reacquainted with the ~100 pages I have already written, and able to finish the last chapter. Soon.
On edit: I seem to have broken my font sizes.
I worked on my dissertation today.
I say that in unreadable baby blue letters because I don't want to jinx it, and for some reason the smaller letters I wanted to use won't work, and this still makes me feel better.
When I worked on it yesterday, I realized that I'm a bit lost... I've never used outlines and - with as long as this project has been going on - I've lost track of some things. Today, my goal was to reread chapter one and outline it in some detail.
The goal for the next several days is to do this to the other chapters. I will (hopefully) then be reacquainted with the ~100 pages I have already written, and able to finish the last chapter. Soon.
On edit: I seem to have broken my font sizes.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Hmmm
This is supposed to be the "class" meme. I have huge issues with it, but obviously I'm doing it anyway.
1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college Well, it wasn't in the states, but I suppose it was the equivalent of an AA.
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers. This I'm supposed to know?
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18 That was a bad idea.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs Undergrad, yes, but I also went to a state school...
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house Most of the time...
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child Part of the time...
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family I'm not clear on this one. I was aware heating was expensive and that my dad had fixed the thermostat so that it didn't go above 65... does that count?
So, gentle reader, what "class" do I get?
My parents are both college-educated, but they were the first generation in their respective families to go to college. When I was born - I'm the youngest of three - my father had finally finished his PhD, and had secured a TT job. Obviously that drastically changed the income level in our family.
Still, through all of grade school and junior high I was wearing mostly hand-me-downs and we certainly didn't have extra spending money. I assume that most of their income went to buying the house, as that was important to my parents.
Also, we traveled because my mother's family is quite spread-out. She didn't visit home for almost 15 years after moving to the U.S., and I was lucky enough to be the one who "couldn't be left home" when she finally did go.
So: I had books, and I traveled (although we certainly didn't stay in hotels). No TV in my room, no cruises - cruises are the mark of something? - no new car, and I started working when I was 15.
Uh, if this is really a meme about "class," wouldn't the age you got your first job be somewhat more relevant than "original art" in your house?
1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college Well, it wasn't in the states, but I suppose it was the equivalent of an AA.
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers. This I'm supposed to know?
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18 That was a bad idea.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs Undergrad, yes, but I also went to a state school...
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house Most of the time...
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child Part of the time...
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family I'm not clear on this one. I was aware heating was expensive and that my dad had fixed the thermostat so that it didn't go above 65... does that count?
So, gentle reader, what "class" do I get?
My parents are both college-educated, but they were the first generation in their respective families to go to college. When I was born - I'm the youngest of three - my father had finally finished his PhD, and had secured a TT job. Obviously that drastically changed the income level in our family.
Still, through all of grade school and junior high I was wearing mostly hand-me-downs and we certainly didn't have extra spending money. I assume that most of their income went to buying the house, as that was important to my parents.
Also, we traveled because my mother's family is quite spread-out. She didn't visit home for almost 15 years after moving to the U.S., and I was lucky enough to be the one who "couldn't be left home" when she finally did go.
So: I had books, and I traveled (although we certainly didn't stay in hotels). No TV in my room, no cruises - cruises are the mark of something? - no new car, and I started working when I was 15.
Uh, if this is really a meme about "class," wouldn't the age you got your first job be somewhat more relevant than "original art" in your house?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Haven't blogged for quite awhile. Started a post yesterday, but tossed it for all kinds of reasons.
I've been rather sick the last week. Yes, it happens. Today is annoying me, however: I've been feeling better, yet hearing from multiple fronts that I "seem worse." For someone with anxiety disorder that's practically guaranteeing a stellar freak out, and I'm trying to stop that from happening.
The issue? I have a cough. No temperature, no sore throat, no headache. Not coughing up anything with odd colors or tastes (sorry to be graphic, but I've had pneumonia and bronchitis enough to know what to... look... for). For about two days it was a bad chest-type cough, but in the last two days it has eased up.
I think I need another couple days of rest, and many hot showers. My husband seems to think I should have gone to the doctor already -- this from a guy who hasn't been to a doctor in five years.
I can take nice, deep breaths without feeling the slightest need to cough. My sinuses are (now) completely clear, although I'm guessing that's where this started.
Am I not allowed to have a normal illness without it being doctor-worthy?
Please?
I've been rather sick the last week. Yes, it happens. Today is annoying me, however: I've been feeling better, yet hearing from multiple fronts that I "seem worse." For someone with anxiety disorder that's practically guaranteeing a stellar freak out, and I'm trying to stop that from happening.
The issue? I have a cough. No temperature, no sore throat, no headache. Not coughing up anything with odd colors or tastes (sorry to be graphic, but I've had pneumonia and bronchitis enough to know what to... look... for). For about two days it was a bad chest-type cough, but in the last two days it has eased up.
I think I need another couple days of rest, and many hot showers. My husband seems to think I should have gone to the doctor already -- this from a guy who hasn't been to a doctor in five years.
I can take nice, deep breaths without feeling the slightest need to cough. My sinuses are (now) completely clear, although I'm guessing that's where this started.
Am I not allowed to have a normal illness without it being doctor-worthy?
Please?
Thursday, November 15, 2007
This? is that day.
Yes, this is that day. It's the day, every year, when I realize that I leave for Big Damn Conference in less than 24 hours, and that I am nowhere close to prepared for anything.
I have not packed.
I have not tried on half my "conference" clothes to see if they fit.
I have not timed my paper to see exactly how long it is.
I have not finished the stack of grading on my desk.
I have not had a haircut in six months.
At the same time, because of the timing of this conference, there is an immense sense of freedom. After all, I have over a week off... no classes, very few commitments, and a lot of pumpkin pie and good wine on the way.
Still, you would think I'd go into Big Damn Conference pre-day a little more organized, wouldn't you? So that, when I stumble out of bed at 4:30am tomorrow to be on time for our 6am flight, I'm not frantically OCD'ing over everything?
As a matter of fact, today started out worse than most BDCpd's. For the first time in years, I forgot to set my alarm. It was only a sheer lack of balance on the part of my cat that woke me up in time to make it to class, and that's NOT the way to start a day... no, sharp and grabbing claws in your face are generally a bad thing.
Now, I sit at my desk knowing full well that I need to get off my ass and pack, or go buy stockings, or do something useful. Yet, I seem to have hit the very same wall that I do when I know I have 40 papers to grade: big, brick, possibly with razor wire at the top.
I have not packed.
I have not tried on half my "conference" clothes to see if they fit.
I have not timed my paper to see exactly how long it is.
I have not finished the stack of grading on my desk.
I have not had a haircut in six months.
At the same time, because of the timing of this conference, there is an immense sense of freedom. After all, I have over a week off... no classes, very few commitments, and a lot of pumpkin pie and good wine on the way.
Still, you would think I'd go into Big Damn Conference pre-day a little more organized, wouldn't you? So that, when I stumble out of bed at 4:30am tomorrow to be on time for our 6am flight, I'm not frantically OCD'ing over everything?
As a matter of fact, today started out worse than most BDCpd's. For the first time in years, I forgot to set my alarm. It was only a sheer lack of balance on the part of my cat that woke me up in time to make it to class, and that's NOT the way to start a day... no, sharp and grabbing claws in your face are generally a bad thing.
Now, I sit at my desk knowing full well that I need to get off my ass and pack, or go buy stockings, or do something useful. Yet, I seem to have hit the very same wall that I do when I know I have 40 papers to grade: big, brick, possibly with razor wire at the top.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
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