Bittersweet

So, yesterday I handed in my completely formatted, beautifully printed on 25% cotton acid-free recycled paper thesis, complete with abstract and no typesize larger than 12 point (my previous book publishing experience bit me a little on that one, since thesis formatting guidelines are still stuck in the age of the typewriter). If I hadn't checked in on the web one more time before leaving the house, it would have been a completely uncomplicated, joyous moment.

Instead, I found out that one of my online heroes, Leslie Harpold, died unexpectedly over the weekend. We'd only ever exchanged a couple of emails, but I loved her anyway. I spent most of yesterday afternoon and evening doing a virtual wake, looking at every memorial and reading every published word of hers I could find.

This morning, I'm drinking coffee from the honorary mug which I received upon turning in the thesis. It's very thoughtfully designed: on the facing side, it's got the school's emblem, and on the side facing away from me, it states "I just turned in my thesis - time to relax!" So, the mug reminds everyone who sits across from me that I did something cool, while reminding me of my dear old alma mater, just in case I might like to give some money someday. 

In honor of Leslie, I'll be giving a little money to Modest Needs, instead.

posted by: schoolsmelt at 06:30 | link | comments (2) |

School Smelt, M.S.

Hooray!

And now, on to the diss.

posted by: schoolsmelt at 14:40 | link | comments |

A. 34 hours

Q. What is the longest consecutive amount of time smelt can stay awake before the wheels come completely off and she crashes spectacularly?

So, yesterday I turned in my thesis. It's not accepted yet, and there are two citations that I need to dig out that I couldn't find in time, but yeah. It's in.

The writing allnighter was something I haven't done in years (if ever), and it was suprisingly enjoyable. I didn't feel stressed out or self-recriminatory while I was doing it, just really really focused. I wanted to finish, this was my deadline and no one else's, and if I perhaps underestimated the time it would take, no problem. My choice.

I was feeling pretty self-satisfied about how well I was doing with the whole not-having-slept thing, excepting a couple of extremely chatty moments when I couldn't shut myself up, and  perhaps a mite of peevish behavior over this or that small thing or other (sorry mr. s.), but overall I was functioning at a decent level. It had also been an exciting day on other fronts: a good friend defended her dissertation today, and another friend is leaving the university and had a surprise party, so there was plenty to keep me up and occupied. Until I got home. I had about 15-20 minutes before I stumbled to bed, read for about a minute, and crashed. Here's to soft landings.

posted by: schoolsmelt at 04:00 | link | comments (1) |