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Saturday, September 20, 2008

working or not....

I worked in my new office yesterday. I have a room in the library where I can leave my stuff and not have to clean up.... yesterday was my first day to use it. I got so into my work that I was late to pick up the boy at school.

I am not working today, instead I am trying to make up some lost sleep. I went back to bed and napped, oh the heavenly delightful nap. The boys are doing some small projects around the house, which would have made for great working time but ... did I mention the beauty of a good nap.

In other good news. I have two folks who actually volunteered to read and edit some of my work. I am in a book club with some lovely ladies, two of these ladies happen to be professors at my university. So I am sending two of the case studies out - the nice thing is that while these two women are super intelligent and experienced they aren't on my committee.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Chapter one is finished....

SAM says that I will need to revise it a bit more when I am done with the whole thing but for now I can put it to rest. Hurray..... On to chapter 2 and then 3 and then 4 and so on.

I got my fifth committee member on board. Now all I have to do is fill out the paperwork.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

No Coasting

I thought when I 'finished' the first case study there would be some coasting. I WAS WRONG. There will be no coasting to the finish line. It is going to be hard work every step of the way.
But I am making progress:

chapter one - solid version to SAM.
chapter two - jello version to SAM by Friday.
chapter three - proposal state -work on revisions next week.
chapter four - three cases.
  1. case one -working on revisions from a grad school friend.
  2. case two - struggling to finish.
  3. case three - next week
chapter five - some notes

I am working on revisions of case one and case two today. Tonight I will try to do a bit of reading for chapter two.

I meet with a potential fifth committee member on Thursday. I need this to work out.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

ABCD writing method.

This is my new writing method:

Apply
Butt to
Chair
Dissertate.

I had a breakthrough of sorts the other day. My second case study had been going slowly. As in I have been trying to write for two days and have 8 pages. I decided I needed to spend more time in analysis and so I stepped back and spent time yesterday and today doing analysis and I am hopeful that the writing will go better this week.

I am visiting with a professor this week who will hopefully round out my committee.
I am also busy with a bit of personal business, that hopefully won't put me out for the week.

Friday, September 5, 2008

emails about graduation

From me to SAM:

In order for me to graduate in December, I have to have the approved version of my dissertation uploaded and then submit 'required forms and paperwork' to the graduate school no later than December 5, 2008. The web site recommends a month for your committee to read your dissertation, but perhaps this depends on your committee?

From SAM to me:

Two weeks is fine.

So that means you need to defend by the 1st at the lastest so that you can make changes, if necessary, which means having to the committee no later than the 15th of November. That's 2 months and 10 days from now. Do you think you can do it by then?

You read that right - 71 days. to. get. this. thing. DONE. We are not talking just writing- we are talking table of contents, references, all the typos, all of it. But what the heck that might really give me something to be thankful for, no?

Thursday, September 4, 2008

what a day....

I had an early morning doctor's appt. and made it to campus by 9, where I worked productively for an hour and 15 minutes. Then I went over to the education building to meet with SAM and figure out what to do since ... I forgot to pay my fee bill. My meeting with SAM went well turns out I just need to keep working and get my draft to him as soon as possible - please send your comments, Jenny ;)

Since I forgot to pay my fee bill I got dropped from my hours and it wouldn't be a bureaucracy if there weren't a form to fill out and signatures to get.... first step SAM signs off, second step faculty adviser signs off - this required waiting around in SAMS office for FA to show up. third step - dean of graduate school signs off - this required walking half way across campus to the administration building. fourth step - take form to registrar where they add the class and give me a new form - luckily in the same building. fifth step - take new form to another place where they make a new fee bill. step six - pay said fee bill by 5 pm using mastercard, discover or dinner's club.

so exactly how much writing did I get done today..... the boy just threw a fit - because I wouldn't let him eat popcorn on the couch and fell asleep in time-out - I am writing right now.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Oh the drama...

So being as I am writing my dissertation and taking care of my family I have a lot on my mind. Apparently so much that I forgot to pay my fee bill. I would just blow it off... except if I am going to defend my dissertation this semester I need to actually be a student. You gotta love bureaucracy.

I finished my last bit of transcription this morning.... well mostly.... today I will be deep in data analysis for my second case study: Margaret Anderson.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

how to avoid working....

I did such a good job last week avoiding distractions. I was at Starbuck's working my tail off daily. This week I am off to a slow start. My back has been killing me, no doubt from all the sitting and writing. But all I want to do is lay on the couch.... crap.

I did work for a solid two hours at the coffee shop with no email checking or internet surfing. I have exactly one hour and 29 minutes before I have to pick up the boy at school. I will work for one hour at least, hopefully I will get in the groove and will go longer. If not, I will make my bed, I do hate getting up early and coming home to an unmade bed.

setting goals.

Here are my revised goals.....

  1. finish rough cases weekly. I just sent case one to my friend Jenny to read, since I am not really sure whath the heck I am doing.
  2. finish draft of chapter 4 by the end of September.
  3. finish draft of dissertation by the end of October.
  4. draft to committee by November 14th.
  5. defend dissertation by December 5th.
  6. have a party..... sleep rest... resolve to relax in 2009.
back to writing.... case two is harder than case one.