Where I'm vanishing to for the next four months
This is a rare public post, because it's that important that you all know what I am undertaking right now.
I am sitting at the dining room table at my parents' place on Cape Cod. Spread out before me are somewhere between twenty and thirty journal articles that I need to skim and digest into a data table before Monday.
And this is just the beginning. However, it's the beginning of the end.
I am going to be defending in April. Application for graduation is due in mid-February and I have two sections due to my committee on February 4th and 10th. If those sections are drafted by then, I will have enough done to ensure a full draft by the end of March. I am feeling, finally, motivated. There are a LOT of other things waiting for me on the other side of graduation, and I'm finally ready to seize those opportunities.
The challenge is that I am also working full time 40 hours a week, 45 minutes from my house.
I have mapped out January's schedule and it looks something like this: 40 hours of work a week, 7.5 hours of commute a week, and somewhere around 35 hours of thesis work a week, divided between weeknights after work and weekends. I get one weekend evening off a week, either Friday or Saturday, but not both. I've scheduled in time for Zumba and going to the gym, and grocery shopping will happen on Fridays on the way home from work. It's crunch month, to absolutely ensure that I get the two sections drafted by February. I don't know what February will look like, but I am going to plan that month's schedule when I evaluate my progress at the end of January. I suspect, however, that February and March will look very much like January. April will be a mad dash to put figure together for my talk and write my talk, as well as preparing for my trip to California to defend.
What does this mean for you, my friends and loved ones?
1) I cannot commit to any plans that require me to be there no matter what. I will probably have to make plans and then break them, or just not make plans at all.
2) I will turn down 90% of all social invitations. That DOES NOT mean don't invite me! It just means I will be flattered, and send you a nice note, and then decline the invitation. It's only until May...then I can come to your party.
3) I cannot take on standing obligations to others right now. From now until the end of May, I am the number one priority person in my life. This is what I need your understanding on the most. I know that I am normally highly reliable, dependable, and on time. I am the person who helps in a pinch and fills in when needed. I LOVE being that person. But until mid-May, I cannot be that person for anyone but myself. I am married to my work (both kinds) until then. I have NOT forgotten you, any of you, and any flakiness, absent-mindedness, or rudeness I might accidentally display is ACCIDENTAL. I apologize in advance, and beg your compassion.
4) If you see me, or we hang out, DO NOT ASK ME HOW THE THESIS IS GOING. Please ask me about my job, or my house, or my family, or ANYTHING BUT MY THESIS. I will be using my few social hours each week to decompress and relax.
5) On the weekends, I will be trying to work out of the house, either at a coffee shop or at the Tufts Library, which is a public facility because it's a government repository. Quiet, encouraging, working company is welcome! Do you want to have a weekend work party at your house because you have a project to finish or your own work to do? Great! I'll come over, we'll both put headphones or some music on, and work. Bonus if you're a grad student too.
6) If you see me, or we hang out, I would love hugs. LOVE THEM. I'm not dating right now and I don't have a housemate (by choice). I don't get much day to day physical contact with other humans. I miss it and I need it.
I think that's it for now...soon this will all be over and then there will be some sort of RIDICULOUS graduation party that will possibly involve fire and ritual and there will most definitely be a cake and I shall be wearing a god damn ball gown and possibly my regalia if they let me buy it.
Thank you all in advance for your support all along, and most of all as we're in this last stretch.
Reports and/or rants as events warrant!
<3
BPC
I am sitting at the dining room table at my parents' place on Cape Cod. Spread out before me are somewhere between twenty and thirty journal articles that I need to skim and digest into a data table before Monday.
And this is just the beginning. However, it's the beginning of the end.
I am going to be defending in April. Application for graduation is due in mid-February and I have two sections due to my committee on February 4th and 10th. If those sections are drafted by then, I will have enough done to ensure a full draft by the end of March. I am feeling, finally, motivated. There are a LOT of other things waiting for me on the other side of graduation, and I'm finally ready to seize those opportunities.
The challenge is that I am also working full time 40 hours a week, 45 minutes from my house.
I have mapped out January's schedule and it looks something like this: 40 hours of work a week, 7.5 hours of commute a week, and somewhere around 35 hours of thesis work a week, divided between weeknights after work and weekends. I get one weekend evening off a week, either Friday or Saturday, but not both. I've scheduled in time for Zumba and going to the gym, and grocery shopping will happen on Fridays on the way home from work. It's crunch month, to absolutely ensure that I get the two sections drafted by February. I don't know what February will look like, but I am going to plan that month's schedule when I evaluate my progress at the end of January. I suspect, however, that February and March will look very much like January. April will be a mad dash to put figure together for my talk and write my talk, as well as preparing for my trip to California to defend.
What does this mean for you, my friends and loved ones?
1) I cannot commit to any plans that require me to be there no matter what. I will probably have to make plans and then break them, or just not make plans at all.
2) I will turn down 90% of all social invitations. That DOES NOT mean don't invite me! It just means I will be flattered, and send you a nice note, and then decline the invitation. It's only until May...then I can come to your party.
3) I cannot take on standing obligations to others right now. From now until the end of May, I am the number one priority person in my life. This is what I need your understanding on the most. I know that I am normally highly reliable, dependable, and on time. I am the person who helps in a pinch and fills in when needed. I LOVE being that person. But until mid-May, I cannot be that person for anyone but myself. I am married to my work (both kinds) until then. I have NOT forgotten you, any of you, and any flakiness, absent-mindedness, or rudeness I might accidentally display is ACCIDENTAL. I apologize in advance, and beg your compassion.
4) If you see me, or we hang out, DO NOT ASK ME HOW THE THESIS IS GOING. Please ask me about my job, or my house, or my family, or ANYTHING BUT MY THESIS. I will be using my few social hours each week to decompress and relax.
5) On the weekends, I will be trying to work out of the house, either at a coffee shop or at the Tufts Library, which is a public facility because it's a government repository. Quiet, encouraging, working company is welcome! Do you want to have a weekend work party at your house because you have a project to finish or your own work to do? Great! I'll come over, we'll both put headphones or some music on, and work. Bonus if you're a grad student too.
6) If you see me, or we hang out, I would love hugs. LOVE THEM. I'm not dating right now and I don't have a housemate (by choice). I don't get much day to day physical contact with other humans. I miss it and I need it.
I think that's it for now...soon this will all be over and then there will be some sort of RIDICULOUS graduation party that will possibly involve fire and ritual and there will most definitely be a cake and I shall be wearing a god damn ball gown and possibly my regalia if they let me buy it.
Thank you all in advance for your support all along, and most of all as we're in this last stretch.
Reports and/or rants as events warrant!
<3
BPC