Hi all.
As my brother Peeg once said, "Its go time. Its now or never. A penny saved is a penny earned, and well, I'll be damned if I'm gonna loose a penny!"
These are the last two weeks of the semester, a veritable boiling furnace of work in which little sleep is had an much coffee imbibed. But you know what? I'm actually ready. I want to be done with all of this for awhile (i.e., Christmas break) and so I embrace the furnce, grimacing somewhat from the burn, but ready to hold on nonetheless.
The fact that I got to see so much family and eat so much food has helped. Over thanksgiving I saw family and friends, including Mr. Liam during his first birthday party, and it was very refreshing. Over the break Will hurt his ankle saving several children from a burning orphanage**, and I hope he is feeling better. That was bad, but the resulting trip to the drugstore produced several small transformers. I got Optimus Prime. He is, after all, the protector of all universal freedom.
So I really appreciate everyone's encouragement after the last post. I have felt like a bit of a whiner lately, and would like to say, "hey thanks" for everyone for listening. I know that I've had doubts about this over the last few years, as all graduate students do, but its time to do something about it. I've felt strongly about this since Grandpa's death in March, and no I can take the break to really make some plans. Thanks for allowing me my whine and cheese.
In other news, my new car ROX. She is not yet named, though Glove is in the front running (the character from yellow submarine). I hope to post pictures soon so everyone can offer suggestions, but for now just know that she's a dark blue 2006 Corolla 4-door stick. All input is most welcome.
I hope everyone is well!
Peace,
Joe
things i've noticed, things others have noticed for me, and things i hope to notice later.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
When this happens to a light bulb, you just replace it.
Burnt. Out.
How do you know when you are really burnt out? With a light bulb, you can just shake it to see if the filament is broken.
With me, I just see how long it takes me to read a single page of one of my more dry articles. The other day it took me nearly an hour to read 2 pages.
Crakle, crakle. Thats the sound of my motivation being burnt away.
You see, this semester I have defended my thesis, am working on my PhD comps, am a member of three labs (all with active research projects), am taking a full complement of classes, and am again dealing with stupid car problems.
Oh wait. Did I mention that? Yeah, well I bought a new car the other day. Its a 2006 Corolla. Lets just say I will never drive a Saturn again. If you'd like more details, please let me know. I think I may have exhausted that discussion topic last year, the last time a Saturn I owned basically blew up.
Anyway, I am doing all of these things, and the worst part is that I almost don't care about any of it right now. Whine Whine Whine. Should I have some cheese with my whine? Perhaps. Here we go:
The second worst part is that I feel extremely unappreciated in my own department. The third is that I am afraid this may not be the career for me. I have run into so much of the ugly underbelly of academia this semester it has me thinking I am not fit to be an academic. This may or may not be a good thing. But I'll tell you this: I'm tired of pouring my heart and mind out over issues that won't affect anyone for at least 10 years. I miss using my hands to fix things, and I still have that insatiable medical itch that I've had since I was small. I know I'm burnt out right now, but I've said these things before. So here's a question to those of you who know me: do you see me as an academic, doing esoteric research for the rest of my life in some very small office where I never cut my hair? Because that is starting to scare me. I want to help people. And I don't think I'm patient enough to do it where I'm so removed from, well, actual people. I want to get back into shape, too. I want to help people, be in shape, and do something that has a direct impact on the world.
So I've started gathering inforamtion in UAB's doctorate in physical therapy, with a specialization in stroke rehabilitation. Since its a doctorate, I'd still get to teach and do research, but mostly I'd help people. Hands on. And you don't get much more hands on than P.T. And that profession requires me to be in shape (lifting people and the like). So please tell me what you think.
I am now done with my whine. And cheese.
If you read all of this, thanks. And I'm sorry, too. This was not the most slap-happy installment of this blog. But to liven it up, here's a joke:
There are two hot dogs in a frying pan.
The first hot dog turns to the second and says, "Whew! It sure is hot in here."
The second looks at the first and screams, "Oh my god! Its a talking hot dog!"
I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe
How do you know when you are really burnt out? With a light bulb, you can just shake it to see if the filament is broken.
With me, I just see how long it takes me to read a single page of one of my more dry articles. The other day it took me nearly an hour to read 2 pages.
Crakle, crakle. Thats the sound of my motivation being burnt away.
You see, this semester I have defended my thesis, am working on my PhD comps, am a member of three labs (all with active research projects), am taking a full complement of classes, and am again dealing with stupid car problems.
Oh wait. Did I mention that? Yeah, well I bought a new car the other day. Its a 2006 Corolla. Lets just say I will never drive a Saturn again. If you'd like more details, please let me know. I think I may have exhausted that discussion topic last year, the last time a Saturn I owned basically blew up.
Anyway, I am doing all of these things, and the worst part is that I almost don't care about any of it right now. Whine Whine Whine. Should I have some cheese with my whine? Perhaps. Here we go:
The second worst part is that I feel extremely unappreciated in my own department. The third is that I am afraid this may not be the career for me. I have run into so much of the ugly underbelly of academia this semester it has me thinking I am not fit to be an academic. This may or may not be a good thing. But I'll tell you this: I'm tired of pouring my heart and mind out over issues that won't affect anyone for at least 10 years. I miss using my hands to fix things, and I still have that insatiable medical itch that I've had since I was small. I know I'm burnt out right now, but I've said these things before. So here's a question to those of you who know me: do you see me as an academic, doing esoteric research for the rest of my life in some very small office where I never cut my hair? Because that is starting to scare me. I want to help people. And I don't think I'm patient enough to do it where I'm so removed from, well, actual people. I want to get back into shape, too. I want to help people, be in shape, and do something that has a direct impact on the world.
So I've started gathering inforamtion in UAB's doctorate in physical therapy, with a specialization in stroke rehabilitation. Since its a doctorate, I'd still get to teach and do research, but mostly I'd help people. Hands on. And you don't get much more hands on than P.T. And that profession requires me to be in shape (lifting people and the like). So please tell me what you think.
I am now done with my whine. And cheese.
If you read all of this, thanks. And I'm sorry, too. This was not the most slap-happy installment of this blog. But to liven it up, here's a joke:
There are two hot dogs in a frying pan.
The first hot dog turns to the second and says, "Whew! It sure is hot in here."
The second looks at the first and screams, "Oh my god! Its a talking hot dog!"
I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe
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