Here I am!

I know, I know...it's been a while. But here's the problem, lately, I've been crippled by a strange phenomenon that's been happening to me on and off since I started this bloody thesis. When I get really, really stressed about it all, I end up dropping a lot of the things I enjoy (i.e., yoga, running... and writing on this blog) for fear that it's taking up time I should be spending on my thesis. But somehow, in the midst of all this panic, I'm still able to make time for things like "Biggest Loser Australia"!? Yeah, I know, it makes no sense... I'm working on it.

There are a number of reasons for the latest bout of thesis-related anxiety:
1) A chance encounter with a former classmate of mine (he moved faculties after his first year). As PhD students tend to do, we traded stats: how many words/chapters we had written, how much longer left to go.... I told him I was hoping to submit by the end of July. And his reply: That's great, so, you must be done writing? (cause every PhD student knows that there's still plenty of work once all the writing is done - as in putting it all together, making sure there is consistency throughout and a clear story is being told) Ummm, no. I'm not finished writing. I'm close and most of my chapters are locked in (since I'm submitting as a series of publications), but still...

2) A couple of weekends ago, we went up to the Gold Coast for a long weekend. In four days, we managed to hit a couple of theme parks, rent a surfboard for a day, and go on a snorkeling/ diving trip on another day. We ate hot chips (fries) with every meal, and watched plenty of crap t.v., like Toddlers in Tiaras (horrifying and yet fascinating). It was fun but aargh! - I'm trying to finish up a thesis here!

3) I'm working on my last chapter, which involves wrapping it all up, talking about what it all means, and how the findings make a significant contribution to existing knowledge. Geez. I can't think of a better way to increase my feelings of self-doubt.

4) We finally booked our flights home. We're leaving Sydney in late July. There is now an official, written in stone, deadline that I'm trying to meet. Although, as I keep telling myself, it's ok if I need to finish it up in Canada (repeat 10x).


'Nuff about my neuroses. Here's some pics from our recent trip to the Gold Coast for my faithful readers (i.e., my parents and Vic's parents) to enjoy:

Gus on a board and Vic behind him, helping him to catch waves.


Vic, hanging ten.


Gus and I, on the snorkeling/diving trip (can you see how I was secretly rewriting sections of my thesis in my head, while on the boat trip out to the dive site?).

Gus managed to charm one of the divers, who let him ride with her on the jetski.