Posted by barb on Jan 17, 2008 in
Random Thoughts,
Thesis/Grad Life Sometime in November I got the notice that I’d be added to the general pool and that would last from Jan ’08 to Dec ’09 – nearly 2 years. Of course, being a student was not on the the list of excuses for getting out, so I sent in my information and giggled to Andrew that it would be just my luck to be summoned in early ’08.
Heh.
I totally wish I was kidding.
Of course, I’m going to try sending a letter explaining my current situation and hopefully the fact that I will be about 5 weeks from defending my PhD will be enough of an excuse to postpone my service.
But still, I really didn’t need one more thing added to my to-do list. I’m using most of my writing energy up just getting this thesis churned out, and now you want me to come up with a professional yet impassioned letter?
Tags: grad life
Posted by barb on Jan 13, 2008 in
Random Thoughts,
Thesis/Grad Life Most people know that I’m writing my PhD thesis now, so I frequently get asked how it’s going. I always have to gauge how to answer that question.
The truth? “It’s going very badly, I have unhelpful and unresponsive advisors, I’m behind on the one deadline they finally gave me, and I have no idea what I’m actually going to do with the piles of data that I have. Thanks for asking.” Most people don’t want to know the truth.
A lie? “It’s going great. I have two chapters in really good shape and a third one on it’s way.” Okay, other than the “great” part, that’s not really a lie. Honestly, I think this is the answer I give most people who don’t know me very well. I have a bad feeling that this is what my advisors thing.
Something in-between? “Well, I’ve been struggling here and there, and I’m working on it nearly every waking moment, but it seems to be coming along.” I suppose this one isn’t actually a lie either.
The problem is that when I’m asked this question, I really just want to break down crying. Even with an end in site (ostensibly 5 months, but I have a feeling that it’s going to slip to the summer), I just feel completely overwhelmed. I really am working nearly every waking moment on this thing, whether it’s active writing or compiling data for tables or putting together figures that I may or may not want to use.
I do have one chapter pretty much done (with one more round of comments from my advisors expected on Wednesday). I have the first draft of another chapter in my advisors’ hands right now, and another one is supposed to have been finished last week. That last one is based on a paper, so it shouldn’t be too hard to write, but I’ve been sick since Wednesday, and my head has not been up to any complex thinking, like trying to write.
The problem is that I have at least 3 more chapters to write – a couple on results, some kind of a conclusion and looking to the future, and the introduction. These are the hardest chapters, and I need to actually play more with my data before I know what I can even say in my results.
I seem to be on a 2-week cycle where I work really hard for 2 weeks, and then break down for a day. Fortunately, I have Andrew to see me through my breakdowns. He patiently lets me cry and scream and pout, and then makes me take a break from my thesis, either at the movies or playing “Lego Star Wars”.
I often wonder what my experience would have been like with advisors who actually wanted to chat with me about my research, and who would meet with me more than every 2-3 months. Would I feel less bitter about the process of science? Would I be excited to see what my data would tell us? Would I actually apply to a couple of post-doctoral research positions? Would this final writing push be just a little less stressful?
The truth is that this is the hand I was dealt. I decided to finish this thesis, so I need to just shut up and do it.
How’s the thesis going?
It’s coming along.
[cross-posted at Galaxy Girl]
Tags: grad life
Posted by barb on Jan 11, 2008 in
Random Thoughts,
Thesis/Grad Life Does it go without saying that right now, when I’m already behind making my deadline for one of my thesis chapters, is not a good time to be sick? Again.
Gah!!!!!!!!!!
Tags: health
Posted by barb on Dec 26, 2007 in
Random Thoughts I got this silly little droid for Christmas – just the tension relief a stressed-out, thesis-writing, crazy-woman needs right now.
What fun things did you get?
Tags: geekery, video
Posted by barb on Dec 24, 2007 in
Pictures,
Random Thoughts Andrew and I went out to the National Christmas tree in front of the White House yesterday with Stef and Doug. (After seeing the magnificently funny “One Man Star Wars Trilogy” at the Wooly Mammoth Theatre (minus Andrew for that – he would not have appreciated it at all).)
While at the Christmas tree, I caught this picture of the Moon and Mars near the tree:
Hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday – and may Santa bring everything you’re wishing for.
Tags: christmas
Posted by barb on Dec 22, 2007 in
Crafty Me,
Pictures I decided to sign up for the Holiday Ornament Swap hosted by freshly blended and cake & pie this year. I clearly didn’t have the time to hand-make 8-10 ornaments this year, what with writing my PhD thesis, but that didn’t stop me. I started just before Thanksgiving and got them out in early December.
I’m so glad I signed up! Every couple of days I go out to my mailbox and find a package with another really cute, hand-crafted ornament from the women in my group. Here’s what I’ve received so far (I think I’m missing one):
Ornament from Katy:
From Jen:
More below the fold…
Read more…
Tags: christmas
Posted by barb on Dec 21, 2007 in
Around DC,
Pictures 
We went to the National Zoo last night to check out the ZooLights event.
I primarily wanted to go to see the lights, but there were also a bunch of family-oriented activities going on all evening. Sadly, the marshmallow roasting was cancelled for the evening (not sure why), but they had cookie decorating and several of the buildings were open (small mammals, big apes and reptile discovery).
It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but it was exactly what was advertised, so I wasn’t disappointed. There were bunches of lights displays, all in the shapes of different zoo animals. A few of the displays “moved”, like a soaring eagle landing on a nest and a leaping frog.
Naturally there was also a gift shop open – I found a very cute pair of giraffe slippers for myself (I didn’t have any shopping left to do for anyone else, so naturally I *had* to get something for me).
I’m not sure we’d go every year, but it certainly was fun the one time. Maybe in a couple years we’ll try again…assuming we still live in the area.
All of my pictures from the event are in this Flickr set.
Tags: zoo
Posted by barb on Dec 7, 2007 in
Pictures,
Random Thoughts Sweetie needed more help than the pictures in my hotel room. In my previous post, the top-left picture had a brick building with the Harvard crest on it, and the top-right picture had the MIT dome (I think). So where am I? Cambridge, Mass.
Here’s another cool picture that I snapped last night in Harvard Square:
And now I’m on my way home….Yay!
Tags: trip report
Posted by barb on Dec 6, 2007 in
Pictures,
Random Thoughts AGAIN.
Let’s see if we can guess where Barb is based on the art in her hotel room:
Tags: trip report
Posted by barb on Nov 8, 2007 in
Random Thoughts …I’m an idiot.
I know I’ve said it before, and some of you already believe me. But for those of you who still have faith that I’m not an idiot, please give it up. I am. I have proof.
What’s the latest proof, you ask? Let me set it up a little first.
As most readers know, I’m a grad student. I’m hoping to defend my thesis in March of next year, so a mere five months from now. That means that I’m in the intensive writing stage, in addition to trying to finish up the data analysis. On top of that, I have a half-time real job which sucks up as much time as I let it. Then, there’s my recent travel schedule: in August I was in MN for fun, in September I went to Chicago for a meting, October I was in Huntsville for a meeting. I’m writing this entry from Denver, where I have a meeting. Coming up I’ve got Austin in January (though, I’m trying to get out of this on), possibly Chicago in February for fun, New York in March to run a workshop, LA in April for a meeting, and St. Louis in June for a meeting.
Did you get that? Of the last 6 months in 2007, I will have traveled during four of those months. And of the first 6 months of 2008, I will be traveling at worst 5 of them, and at best 3. While finishing my PhD. And working part-time. And trying to keep myself sane with a small semblance of a personal life.
Here’s where the “me being an idiot” comes in. I agreed to another trip. In December.
Sigh.
Tags: grad life