Whether fall break means a week of sleeping until noon or one afternoon of not working and only writing two pages on an imminently due paper, it’s that time of year for [graduate] students. Fall break starts with a great word: fall. I tend to repeat myself to the point of excess when I startContinue reading “Fall is in the Air”
Author Archives: Jen
On Procrastination
This morning I came across a fascinating article about procrastination, something with which I think every graduate student is on first-name basis. It’s called Later: What We Can Learn from Procrastination, by James Surowiecki in The New Yorker, and as a four-page article, it’s also a great procrastination tool. Check it out! My favorite line:Continue reading “On Procrastination”
I, the Optimist
There’s something to be said for the intense optimism that follows sickness: Why yes, I can read three books in a day and a half. It only takes me 4 minutes to read a page: (4 x 450 pages = 1800 minutes = 30 hours). That’s 6 leftover hours! Why no, computer, I’m not offendedContinue reading “I, the Optimist”
My dear germ friends…
You germs always have the worst timing. I mean really. Is it too much to ask that you would check Google Calendar before you move in? Don’t tell me Germ Central doesn’t have high speed internet yet. I know you viruses share passwords. That’s right. Busted.
Staircase Strategems
**All new, behind-the-scenes look at the world of dramatized sports that is Jen versus the Stairs.** Stairman of the Ratings Advisory Board: All right folks, listen up. We’ve seen a pretty substantial drop in our ratings this month, something about football season – what’s up with that? – so it’s time for a serious comeback,Continue reading “Staircase Strategems”
Starting Monday Off Right
What better way to get your Monday off to a great start than by…? …feeling like a fashion guru because, if nothing else, you know that your pockets should probably not be longer than your shorts. …chuckling with the triumph of waking up before the alarm clock can have the last word. …getting Trogdor theContinue reading “Starting Monday Off Right”
Tonight’s Epic Question
Why are conclusions so ridiculously hard to write? One would think it would be easy to summarize three weeks’ experience into 4 pages, right?* I think my ability to summarize decreases exponentially after midnight. I’m fading fast. One more paragraph. One more. *Please note the thinly disguised irony in this statement.
Re(ally)(im)port(ant)s(tuff)
The fun (term used loosely) part of going on research trips is writing the reports afterward. Friday being my deadline, today is the day of writing. It’s amazing how quickly the first excited rush of ideas and inspiration gets buried under the quotidian workload. Time to unearth it, dust it off, and redact three weeksContinue reading “Re(ally)(im)port(ant)s(tuff)”
Sorry Feet
Lesson of the day: Asphalt absorbs sunlight. When asphalt absorbs sunlight, it converts it to heat. Apparently, asphalt can reach 140 degrees on a hot summer day. Even if maximum heat is not reached, it’s fairly safe to say asphalt gets hot. Bare feet do not appreciate those levels of heat. Even very cooperative feetContinue reading “Sorry Feet”
Admission of Geekiness
The paradox of graduate school: with probably 30 books on my reading lists for classes, four jobs to juggle, and research reports to complete, I’m having a hard time putting down a book that was (before this morning) on none of my reading lists, and that I merely saw while scanning the shelves of theContinue reading “Admission of Geekiness”
Snark on the Side 