(no subject)
Nov. 8th, 2003 04:42 pmThe following is written during a ten-minute study break, which I am hoping to use as a sort of exorcism before tackling Sixtus IV.
A Typical Thesis Work Session
Turn on computer.
Turn on heat in room.
Turn on music.
Turn off music.
Turn on different music.
Turn off heat in room.
Turn off music and lock CD player in closet.
Open word processor.
Ascertain that thesis will be finished on time if one chapter is finished every day until due date. Feel temporarily warm and happy until realization hits that this means one chapter must be finished every day until due date.
Curse.
Type.
Curse more.
Type more.
Discover feet have fallen asleep.
While pacing, discover wrists, ankles, legs and brain have also fallen asleep.
Discover that while thesis is awkwardly worded as all get out, command of invective has reached new heights of brilliancy reminiscent of Warren Ellis.
Type more.
Turn on heat in room.
Fail to locate Dar Williams CD which it is suddenly obvious can be *only* possible background for writing of Nicholas V segment.
Realize after turning room upside down that there is no possible relation between Dar Williams and Nicholas V, that whole thing was idiotic, and that CD player is locked in closet.
Regret own controlled-substance policy.
Type.
Fight off astonishing deluge of ideas for short stories and novel which could no doubt win Nobel Prize in literature but have nothing whatsoever to do with Pius II.
Curse self roundly for ever having quit smoking.
Remind self that it would be *no less stressful* to drop out of school, change name, move to Tibet and herd yaks. Repeat it until there is semblance of belief.
Type.
Realize have to go to bank.
Walk to bank.
Realize bank is closed Saturdays.
Go to A+ and buy massive, massive quantities of Mountain Dew Red.
Return to room.
Turn heat up.
Have Mountain Dew.
Have another Mountain Dew.
Consider third Mountain Dew, but notice that hands are already shaking.
Fail to locate closet key.
Swear at self for not having realized how vital music is to continuation of thesis and, indeed, existence.
Realize alarm clock contains CD player.
Turn on music.
Have another Mountain Dew.
Type.
A Typical Thesis Work Session
Turn on computer.
Turn on heat in room.
Turn on music.
Turn off music.
Turn on different music.
Turn off heat in room.
Turn off music and lock CD player in closet.
Open word processor.
Ascertain that thesis will be finished on time if one chapter is finished every day until due date. Feel temporarily warm and happy until realization hits that this means one chapter must be finished every day until due date.
Curse.
Type.
Curse more.
Type more.
Discover feet have fallen asleep.
While pacing, discover wrists, ankles, legs and brain have also fallen asleep.
Discover that while thesis is awkwardly worded as all get out, command of invective has reached new heights of brilliancy reminiscent of Warren Ellis.
Type more.
Turn on heat in room.
Fail to locate Dar Williams CD which it is suddenly obvious can be *only* possible background for writing of Nicholas V segment.
Realize after turning room upside down that there is no possible relation between Dar Williams and Nicholas V, that whole thing was idiotic, and that CD player is locked in closet.
Regret own controlled-substance policy.
Type.
Fight off astonishing deluge of ideas for short stories and novel which could no doubt win Nobel Prize in literature but have nothing whatsoever to do with Pius II.
Curse self roundly for ever having quit smoking.
Remind self that it would be *no less stressful* to drop out of school, change name, move to Tibet and herd yaks. Repeat it until there is semblance of belief.
Type.
Realize have to go to bank.
Walk to bank.
Realize bank is closed Saturdays.
Go to A+ and buy massive, massive quantities of Mountain Dew Red.
Return to room.
Turn heat up.
Have Mountain Dew.
Have another Mountain Dew.
Consider third Mountain Dew, but notice that hands are already shaking.
Fail to locate closet key.
Swear at self for not having realized how vital music is to continuation of thesis and, indeed, existence.
Realize alarm clock contains CD player.
Turn on music.
Have another Mountain Dew.
Type.