Crash, Burn, Recover

Last Wednesday my computer finally crashed. I had anticipated it (because my computer was 5 years old), but it still was horrific.

Because I was trying to back up pretty regularly, I only lost 2 weeks of work. Unfortunately, I was pretty busy during those 2 weeks, so I lost a whole bunch of data and documents and a seminar. The seminar I was supposed to give the following day.

I spent 3 hours on the phone with Dell customer service (in a foreign country) and I hate them now and will never buy a Dell again (despite having a Dell for 10 years and actually liking the computers). Customer service is so important ... why be rude?

Anyway .. I then spent 5 hours re-making my seminar powerpoint with Ry's computer and my external hard drive. I was ready for it, but, thankfully it was cancelled due to snow. So, I have a bit more time to make it so much better.

I was pretty upset for a couple of days, but have now accepted what I lost and have moved on!

I have a new computer now. Thank goodness. RyGuy bought it for me as an early graduation gift. He is the best!! I supposed I have to graduate for sure now ....

It's a pretty Toshiba. I named it Beluga.

Too much to do!

I enjoyed a wonderful birthday weekend with Ry & friends (pictures to follow if I ever find my camera cord).

But now I am realizing how much work I must get done!!!!!!!!

Ideally, I will get a draft of my dissertation to my committee by March 1st!

To do that, I need to:

• watch 14 hours of video for Chapter 3
• get all data from Chapter 3 to statistician (crazy hard stats need to be done)
• re-write Chapter 3
• watch 30 hours of video for Chapter 5
• analyze all data for Chapter 5
• write ALL of Chapter 5
• write Chapter 1 (intro)
• write Chapter 6 (conclusions)
• make dissertation look pretty

Oh, and I have to give a stupid departmental seminar this week ... which has taken up too much of my time.

Wish me luck!

Too much?

Is it too much that I backup my computer (i.e. dissertation work) and lock the backup hard drive in the fire proof safe?

(PS -- Thanks Mom & Dad, for the the fire proof safe!)

More fabulous advisor track-change comments

I write:

"Based on [X] and [Y], we predicted that [Z would happen]"

He highlights above sentence and comments (and this is a direct quote):

"you must explain why we are predicting…"


Sigh.

Censor-less

Lately I have felt really annoyed at work. When I walk into the building, I just feel anxiety (and I am not an anxious person). I try to avoid many people and just hide in my office or the lab.

When I am forced to interact with people, my annoyance is multiplied. Throughout my life, I have been annoyed by people who "don't get it", but I can usually be quietly annoyed. And then just complain about it later to someone who shares my view of the world. But I am finding it more difficult to not let things get to me and just sit quietly.

This week, at 2 different meetings, it was impossible for me to just sit and smile. At the first, large meeting, I was called on and said something a bit snarky. Not too rude, but not something I would normally ever say out loud. Especially at a large meeting.

Then, at a lab meeting, I totally snapped at a lab mate. This lab mate has become my least favorite person over the last 18 months, and she said a few things that rubbed me the wrong way. So I snapped at her. In a very sarcastic and condescending tone.

I immediately felt bad and apologized.

I felt bad because of the way I reacted. It was mean and I did not like that I have gotten to the point where I feel that it is OK to maliciously snap at people. Especially this girl, because she is so pathetic, and does not "get it" at all. I feel like I kicked a slow puppy dog.

Of course, I really believed everything I said. I just don't like that I have lost all ability to censor myself.

I think that this is definitely a sign that I need to move on!!

All aboard!

Yep, all of my committee members are officially on the "May 2010 Graduation Train"!! Woo woo!

Now I just need to keep chugging along!

Mandatory Meeting of the Minds

I thought I would take a moment to complain.

This evening, I am required to go to a "mandatory" meeting for all of the grad students in my department. The topic of the meeting is "professional development".

Here are a few reasons why I'd like to complain about this (here, on a blog, rather than to the grad advisor in charge, whose signature I need in a few weeks) :

• It's until 7pm, and I have an hour drive home.
• The woman in charge of the whole thing is hardly the model of professionalism.
• The students that actually need help with the whole grad school thing don't realize it and will not take this seriously.
• Perhaps too little, too late.
• How is it "madatory", if there are no consequences for not attending?

Thanks, I feel better now.

2010 already? It's gonna be a CRAZY year!

I haven't blogged since LAST year!

While I haven't been updating my goals, I have been working very hard towards them.

Ry & I spent a very nice holiday with his family and then traveled to Buffalo for a week to hang out with my family (maybe, someday, I will get around to some photos on here). We spent time with the niece & nephew, hung out with family and friends, and even managed to do a few things for the wedding (officially less than a year now!!!!)!

As soon as we got back home, I went into crazy work mode, preparing for a BIG committee meeting. While there was an opportunity for it to be an amazing success, it did end pretty well. But resulted in lots of work that I need to do NOW, NOW, NOW! If I want to graduate in May ...

While freaking out about graduation, I am still waiting to hear about a job. I have applied to a few dozen places now and am just hoping to hear SOMETHING at some point! I will soon start looking in to other types of work!

So the next few months will be busy, busy, busy, with a dissertation, finding a job and getting ready for the wedding!

Good thing I like to be busy!