Back to the trenches

[truepenny]

So, as y'all have probably noticed, I haven't been talking about my dissertation much in the last three months.

This is because I have been capital-A Avoiding it, as one would avoid an ill-tempered dragon whose treasure is a fake-gilt and cardboard Easter egg.

However.

Mélusine is finished, out of my hands, and safely in New York. The second book (which at the moment is titled Kekropia, although that may change) is due May 1, 2005, so while I've got a deadline, it's not exactly a pressing one.

Nothing else I'm working on is, at the moment, for anyone but me.

I've told many people, including my director, my committee, my family, and my long-suffering and beloved spouse, that I would finish my dissertation this semester. Get the Ph.D. and move the fuck on.

It still sounds like a good plan, except for the tedious and terrifying part where I have to do the work.

This is how low I have sunk, Gentle Readers: I haven't even read my committee's comments.

This post is to keep myself honest. I've designated February as Get-The-Dis-Finished Month (and may possibly annex March as well), and if all y'all know that, too, it may actually spur me to *shudder* start work.

Or at least it will encourage me to feel guilty if I don't.

Comments

[larryhammer]

Sympathies. I dropped out with a masters in part to avoid that stage. Which isn't very encouraging, is it. Um.

Kekropia is an intriguing title, I must say.

---L.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

rah! rah! rah!

Sis! Boom! Bah!

*\o/* *\o/* *\o/* *\o/* *\o/* *\o/*

Let me know when it's time to sit on you and keep shoving pens into your hand. I'm there.

[libskrat]

Get that dis done or I won't let you come to my Oscars party. :P

Did that help?

Re:

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Actually, yes.

It at least makes me feel better about the whole silly thing.

[maureenkspeller.livejournal.com]

I hadn't been wanting to ask, just in case you were either truffling away at it and didn't want questions, or else as above. I'm sorry it is as above but equally, I can quite understand your needing to back off for a while; now is a good time to hurl yourself at it and get that thing done. Ra ra and all that.

[heresluck]

If you want a standing weekly date/progress report, I promise to be less intimdating than your committee, and will reward you with cake and apricot twists and such.

Re:

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

That would probably be helpful, even though I don't want to admit it.

Mostly I just want to scream and hide under the bed, but I'm hoping I'll get past that phase soon.

[rliz.livejournal.com]

<cheerleads>

[kate_nepveu]

Kekropia

Is this (also?) a place name?

Re:

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Yes.

Re:

[larryhammer]

Ah — I'm buried deeply enough in obscure Greek mythology, I assumed it was a reference to the founder of Athens. <voice class="RosanneRosannadanna">Ne-ver-mind!</voice>

---L.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I know how awful the end is, and how much your progress can slow as you get close. But I also know that if I can do it, anyone can do it.

I'll be pulling for you.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I have sent three emails recently that may not have gone through.

Bleh.

[daquela.livejournal.com]

Kekrops as in this (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/cecrops.html)?

Re:

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

Via the villainess of Sir Philip Sidney's New Arcadia, yes. (He named her Cecropia from Cecrops, and I just played fast and loose with the transliteration from Greek.)

But just as the first book has nothing to do with the Melusine legend, the second book has nothing to do with either Cecrops or Cecropia. It's just the way I come up with names.

[calanthe-b.livejournal.com]

I've designated February as Get-The-Dis-Finished Month (and may possibly annex March as well), and if all y'all know that, too, it may actually spur me to *shudder* start work.

Just to let you know it's possible--I got my reports back last week and the verdict was pass with minor amendments. You'll get there too. Soon!

Reading reports is horrendous; I do sympathise. I had to have a friend to hold my hand while I opened, read and cringed...

[vass]

Go on. Slay that dragon. It'll improve the area so much.

Do you know, I can't read ajhalluk's Dissipation and Despair without thinking of your Dis points.

BTW, I'm looking forward to the book very much.

[oracne.livejournal.com]

February is a good month for such as that, because February generally sucks anyway. Good luck.

[larryhammer]

For your dissertation-ensnared amusement: The Lord of the Rings as an allegory of getting a Ph.D.

---L.