Didn't get as much done yesterday as I had planned or as I should have.Well...people take months to write the damn thing and here I am trying to finish it in a week. Wasn't really realistic, was it?
In other news, today was spent by taking another exam..My written driving test. I barely passed. One more wrong answer and I would have had to take the exam again. there were 36 questions and you needed 30 correct to pass. I got exactly 30!
My other rant today is about the inefficient and useless banking services in the US. They ply you with cards and leaflets but in terms of services they are terrible.
Firstly, it takes them 5 working days to make an international bank draft! HSBC Uk - 5 hours.
Secondly, their currency exchange counter has no board/screen/information about exchange rates. They assume that you don't care what rate they offer as you will have to take it or else they experience great pleasure in making you wait in a line for 15 minutes simply to ask them the exchange rate for the pound. Remarkable.
Oh..sorry, what really annoyed me was that they could take up to 3 working days to change my dollars into Indian Rupees. Three days, you cannot be serious!
To top everything off, I keep getting calls from Bank of America requesting me to purchase their fantastic life insurance offer. Bah, Take a hike, Vamoose, In your dreams are all choice phrases that come to mind.
Friday, May 16
Useless day.
I woke up early. Spent the morning doing PH250C. The whole afternoon was spent in mental masturbation as I tried to get over my Ch.5 stumbling block. Afternoon and evening whizzed by as no writing got done.
Its 5am and all I have to show for staying up close to 21 hours is:
1. Introduction to Ch.5
2. Jump over stumbling block.
Will spend the next three hours before I hit the bed on finishing all the figures for Ch.5 and 6.
I also think I have wound myself up so tight about getting this done by Tuesday that my body is experiencing some weird symptoms, i.e. I might be ill without actually being ill.
today, for the first time in my conscious memory (pre-senile dementia affected) , I was unable to finish a chocolate Brownie. I couldn't take more than two small bits of it before I began to feel nauseated and sick. It was my stomach revolting against any thing heavy...
Scary. Can you imagine me not being able to eat sweets and chocolate? I don't think I could live like that - might just be easier to commit suicide and go to Cadbury's heaven.
I woke up early. Spent the morning doing PH250C. The whole afternoon was spent in mental masturbation as I tried to get over my Ch.5 stumbling block. Afternoon and evening whizzed by as no writing got done.
Its 5am and all I have to show for staying up close to 21 hours is:
1. Introduction to Ch.5
2. Jump over stumbling block.
Will spend the next three hours before I hit the bed on finishing all the figures for Ch.5 and 6.
I also think I have wound myself up so tight about getting this done by Tuesday that my body is experiencing some weird symptoms, i.e. I might be ill without actually being ill.
today, for the first time in my conscious memory (pre-senile dementia affected) , I was unable to finish a chocolate Brownie. I couldn't take more than two small bits of it before I began to feel nauseated and sick. It was my stomach revolting against any thing heavy...
Scary. Can you imagine me not being able to eat sweets and chocolate? I don't think I could live like that - might just be easier to commit suicide and go to Cadbury's heaven.
Thursday, May 15
POA for today
I have a new reader..JM who is going to keep track of me from the land of the Amazon and favelas.
Anyway, didn't do much work yesterday except to write a draft of Ch4. discussion. I think I have it sorted except that I want to make it interesting and have lots of ideas for which I need to find papers that can back it up.
Its noon already and I have achieved a little bit. Finished my PH250C Final exam and subletting my apartment.
To do today:
1. Write Ch4 discussion final
2. Sort out figures of Ch5. (stumbling block needs to be hopped over)
3. Write up results and introduction of Ch5
4. Write up methods chapter (cut and paste mainly from transfer report and journal articles)
Its an all nighter today because tomorrow is packing and socialising day. The last time I moved, I had a wee bit of help from Mother and Little One. Any chance you want to fly out for two days to help me with packing again?
ok..now that I have spent five minutes procrastinating with this post, its back to Adeno/MVA.
Anyway, didn't do much work yesterday except to write a draft of Ch4. discussion. I think I have it sorted except that I want to make it interesting and have lots of ideas for which I need to find papers that can back it up.
Its noon already and I have achieved a little bit. Finished my PH250C Final exam and subletting my apartment.
To do today:
1. Write Ch4 discussion final
2. Sort out figures of Ch5. (stumbling block needs to be hopped over)
3. Write up results and introduction of Ch5
4. Write up methods chapter (cut and paste mainly from transfer report and journal articles)
Its an all nighter today because tomorrow is packing and socialising day. The last time I moved, I had a wee bit of help from Mother and Little One. Any chance you want to fly out for two days to help me with packing again?
ok..now that I have spent five minutes procrastinating with this post, its back to Adeno/MVA.
Tuesday, May 13
am never going to finish....
Am totally depressed about writing this damn thesis. Have spent the whole of yesterday and today thinking about my stumbling block in chapter 5.
Having decided that I needed to have some concrete productivity, starting working on chapter 4 instead. I have been at work for the last 3 hours, only to have written my introduction.... 4 paragraphs (although annotated).
I hate this!! Am going back to being a doctor. No one cares whether you can write anything. Just need to learn how to scribble. Life was so much easier as a doctor, 18 hour days...no pressure...just needed to remember to give the right medicine.
(Sigh) I miss those days!
Having decided that I needed to have some concrete productivity, starting working on chapter 4 instead. I have been at work for the last 3 hours, only to have written my introduction.... 4 paragraphs (although annotated).
I hate this!! Am going back to being a doctor. No one cares whether you can write anything. Just need to learn how to scribble. Life was so much easier as a doctor, 18 hour days...no pressure...just needed to remember to give the right medicine.
(Sigh) I miss those days!
Wednesday, May 7
Bad week in the office
Doesn't seem like I am going to get any thesis stuff done till Friday. Have to finish off these two papers for classes I am taking.
Thankfully, they are both extremely useful as its the study proposal for the study I am doing this summer. I have realised that I still hate writing, although I loved planning the project.
Anyway, back to deciding on a budget!
Have 10 days from Saturday onwards for thesis writing. I reckon I can get a first draft done in 10 days? LA what thinks you???
Thankfully, they are both extremely useful as its the study proposal for the study I am doing this summer. I have realised that I still hate writing, although I loved planning the project.
Anyway, back to deciding on a budget!
Have 10 days from Saturday onwards for thesis writing. I reckon I can get a first draft done in 10 days? LA what thinks you???
Tuesday, May 6
Life can go on now!
Heard back from the BMJ, they are sending the article out for external review. Phew! Now I really can't do anything about it for the next couple of months so there is absolutely no point worrying about it.
Now, its either going to be rejected outright or be accepted with changes. Fingers crossed.
the day begins and writing starts.
Now, its either going to be rejected outright or be accepted with changes. Fingers crossed.
the day begins and writing starts.
Bad Day in the office
The day so far has been completely unproductive. Only thing I have done is finish homework for two of my courses. Tried taking a nap but landed up watching Kitchen Confidential which is a TV series, presumably based on chef Anthony Bourdain's book. The first season is over so am still catching up with the story.
I really seem unable to stop myself from watching any cooking related entertainment. I have even watched the terribly mushy romcom "No Reservations" with Catherine Zeta-Jones, which was such a let down after the delightful "Ratatouille".
Anyway, no thesis writing today. Its my study protocol for today. First draft today, final tomorrow, presentation day after, send to MGIMS on Thursday.
Damn,Damn.. Damn, Damn! (as 'enry 'iggins might curse)
I really seem unable to stop myself from watching any cooking related entertainment. I have even watched the terribly mushy romcom "No Reservations" with Catherine Zeta-Jones, which was such a let down after the delightful "Ratatouille".
Anyway, no thesis writing today. Its my study protocol for today. First draft today, final tomorrow, presentation day after, send to MGIMS on Thursday.
Damn,Damn.. Damn, Damn! (as 'enry 'iggins might curse)
Monday, May 5
The Scriver is back
Hello Thesis well-wishers,
I am back! Just finished writing 2000 words today. Most of it was gibberish that needs to be edited but at least I can edit from a base. I know, the most difficult part has been the first draft. I have found that I am a better editor than a writer. Seems that being a critic is easy, even if its my own stuff.
Anyway, half way through Chapter 5. tomorrow, will finish it although it might take longer than I think because I need to analyse my data a little.
So far so good. Decided to take a break and stop for today.Am now off to do two pieces of overdue homework, make a poster and edit someone else's paper! hah..that's never going to take as long as my 2000 words!
Keep those encouragements and dire warnings coming and read the blog to keep abreast of my progress!
Till tomorrow..
I am back! Just finished writing 2000 words today. Most of it was gibberish that needs to be edited but at least I can edit from a base. I know, the most difficult part has been the first draft. I have found that I am a better editor than a writer. Seems that being a critic is easy, even if its my own stuff.
Anyway, half way through Chapter 5. tomorrow, will finish it although it might take longer than I think because I need to analyse my data a little.
So far so good. Decided to take a break and stop for today.Am now off to do two pieces of overdue homework, make a poster and edit someone else's paper! hah..that's never going to take as long as my 2000 words!
Keep those encouragements and dire warnings coming and read the blog to keep abreast of my progress!
Till tomorrow..
Sunday, May 4
Westerns
I have always blamed my uncle and his stash of Louis L'amour books for my love of westerns and the west. I just assumed that everyone had heard about Louis L'amour and he was the best and only writer of the West. Seems very much like I thought he was God! Only, now that I am in California, which is as west as you can get, I have come to the realisation that there are other out there who also write westerns and about the wild west.
I have scoured the Berkeley public library for a few and got my hands on two writers this week.
One was Zane Grey who claims to have lived the lives of the people he writes about. I tried reading a paperback with his legendary short stories. It was about romance, relationships and stuff in the West. Terrible. I don't read westerns to learn about love, angst and relationships. I read westerns to read about MEN! of course, where there are men, there must be women, lust, love, feelings and all that mush. But, the plots of all good westerns are simple.
Man against the elements, or his enemies saving himself, or his family, friends or chance acquaintances along the way. Nothing else. Most importantly, he must remember that he is always going to die in the harsh country and his every move must be to prevent it.
Anyway, Zane Grey is going to be given one more shot and then its over.
The second author I read was Ed Gorman. He was far better. He does write about the modern west and his language is unable to disguise that he wrote the book about twenty years ago. He uses "F&*&" which I doubt was used at that time in the west. There were better ways to curse someone. Also, he often falters into language and makes historical mistakes in both his language and often the setting. I believe he writes his book with a modern plot set in the West, which is probably not the best way to write.
He at least gets a pleasurable second chance. The book was decent even if it was like a detective novel.
LL is still the best and now back to optimisation of dose of vaccination regimes.
I have scoured the Berkeley public library for a few and got my hands on two writers this week.
One was Zane Grey who claims to have lived the lives of the people he writes about. I tried reading a paperback with his legendary short stories. It was about romance, relationships and stuff in the West. Terrible. I don't read westerns to learn about love, angst and relationships. I read westerns to read about MEN! of course, where there are men, there must be women, lust, love, feelings and all that mush. But, the plots of all good westerns are simple.
Man against the elements, or his enemies saving himself, or his family, friends or chance acquaintances along the way. Nothing else. Most importantly, he must remember that he is always going to die in the harsh country and his every move must be to prevent it.
Anyway, Zane Grey is going to be given one more shot and then its over.
The second author I read was Ed Gorman. He was far better. He does write about the modern west and his language is unable to disguise that he wrote the book about twenty years ago. He uses "F&*&" which I doubt was used at that time in the west. There were better ways to curse someone. Also, he often falters into language and makes historical mistakes in both his language and often the setting. I believe he writes his book with a modern plot set in the West, which is probably not the best way to write.
He at least gets a pleasurable second chance. The book was decent even if it was like a detective novel.
LL is still the best and now back to optimisation of dose of vaccination regimes.
Saturday, May 3
My thoughts on writing
Am off to Au Coquelet, the cafe 20 metres down the road from my place to spend some isolated time writing. I have soooo much writing to do, that I don't even know where to start.
I realise my problem with writing. It usually has to do with not having something fixed in my head. I realise that I can write a lot quickly when I know exactly what it is that I want to write about or my ultimate message and the writing style required of me.
Take for example, this post. There is no particular writing style I need to adhere to except my own. I know exactly what I am writing about which allows me to write these rants in double quick time.
My research proposal on the other hand is taking hours. I know what I want to do roughly. I don't know the exact details and I have no clue about the writing style.
My thesis is a different matter altogether. I don't know what to write about or the manner in which to write it, which basically leaves me thoroughly bored!
Anyway, there are many who read this blog who wish me well by often trying to kick my butt..and I shall repay their well measured shots by finishing this damn writing by the end of May.
Off..now..for coffee, tea and my computer.
I realise my problem with writing. It usually has to do with not having something fixed in my head. I realise that I can write a lot quickly when I know exactly what it is that I want to write about or my ultimate message and the writing style required of me.
Take for example, this post. There is no particular writing style I need to adhere to except my own. I know exactly what I am writing about which allows me to write these rants in double quick time.
My research proposal on the other hand is taking hours. I know what I want to do roughly. I don't know the exact details and I have no clue about the writing style.
My thesis is a different matter altogether. I don't know what to write about or the manner in which to write it, which basically leaves me thoroughly bored!
Anyway, there are many who read this blog who wish me well by often trying to kick my butt..and I shall repay their well measured shots by finishing this damn writing by the end of May.
Off..now..for coffee, tea and my computer.
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