Dissin' Myself
This summer I'm renewing efforts to complete my doctoral dissertation and subsequently turn myself into a doctor of philosophy, PhD that is. First thing I have to do is take my qualifying exams (also called comprehensive exams at some schools) before I can even begin submitting diss chapters, though I have three articles already that I think I can turn into chapters.
My overriding perception is this: this is hard work, so hard in fact that I've had to come to my office on campus several days a week just to do the reading and writing required to prepare for my exams. At home, it's just too easy to avoid it, there are so many other things that seem to call out for my attention: my husband, who is newly retired; my dog, who thinks I live for no other reason but to entertain him; my bike, who is just dying to be ridden (remember the episode of Friends where Ross tells Phoebe that her bike will die if she doesn't learn to ride it?); and of course there's that crud that lives in the little crevice between the edge of the counter and the cooktop--if that doesn't require my attention, I don't know what does. Also, there's my relatively new hobby of digital scrapbooking, which my brother calls a dissertation-avoidance ritual. But again, there are all those photos crying out to be scrapbooked, or at least named and organized. And of course they're very handy, residing on the same computer where I go to check email, type my reading notes--so close, I can feel their pull even now.
So what the heck am I doing starting this new thing called a blog? What do I think: that I need yet another drain on my time and energy?
Hardly. But I do think this will be useful way for me to
1. Ventilate about the joys and sorrows of the exam/diss process;
2. Record the stumbling blocks and hopefully be able to see some progress as recorded here;
3. Share my photos;
4. Do another thing I love doing: voicing my opinion.
And, oh yes, since I'm also a teacher, I'll also occasionally be sharing the joy (and frustration) of that activity.
So, welcome aboard, and stand by!
My overriding perception is this: this is hard work, so hard in fact that I've had to come to my office on campus several days a week just to do the reading and writing required to prepare for my exams. At home, it's just too easy to avoid it, there are so many other things that seem to call out for my attention: my husband, who is newly retired; my dog, who thinks I live for no other reason but to entertain him; my bike, who is just dying to be ridden (remember the episode of Friends where Ross tells Phoebe that her bike will die if she doesn't learn to ride it?); and of course there's that crud that lives in the little crevice between the edge of the counter and the cooktop--if that doesn't require my attention, I don't know what does. Also, there's my relatively new hobby of digital scrapbooking, which my brother calls a dissertation-avoidance ritual. But again, there are all those photos crying out to be scrapbooked, or at least named and organized. And of course they're very handy, residing on the same computer where I go to check email, type my reading notes--so close, I can feel their pull even now.
So what the heck am I doing starting this new thing called a blog? What do I think: that I need yet another drain on my time and energy?
Hardly. But I do think this will be useful way for me to
1. Ventilate about the joys and sorrows of the exam/diss process;
2. Record the stumbling blocks and hopefully be able to see some progress as recorded here;
3. Share my photos;
4. Do another thing I love doing: voicing my opinion.
And, oh yes, since I'm also a teacher, I'll also occasionally be sharing the joy (and frustration) of that activity.
So, welcome aboard, and stand by!
posted by Judyy at 2:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home