Fantastic Chrisrol, well deserved :-)

Calibri, but my sup will only tolerate Times New Roman.

Could anybody explain what WingDings is?

Thank you Sue and KB,

Last night was hard, I just kept going over and over the things that they'd said in my mind and couldn't seem to forget about it. So one good thing is that it's forced me to take a break, and I'm not going to do ANYTHING work-related for the next 3 days (my supervisor has been telling me to take some time off but I was too anxious).
KB, I will be re-submitting to a different journal at the end of the month. My sup is editing a special edition of a big journal and only 4 or 5 papers are going in. He really wants to accept mine as it looks good for him (rolls eyes), but all the other spaces have been filled by respected academics so obviously I am terrified, having read some horrible comments :-( Funnily enough the article was just an extended version of a paper I gave in January which was received really well...Clearly something went very wrong!
At least I understand the whole process now. Must start growing a thick skin,as I know these things happen all the time.

======= Date Modified 01 Apr 2010 16:30:50 =======
Thanks again.

My supervisor just came in to the office and lurked behind me whilst I was furiously typing on here, to top everything off!

I haven't really been able to synthesize anything that's been said yet but I'm hoping that now I've skim read it and absorbed the worst bits I'll be able to sit down at some point and work through it properly.

Edit: I have spotted one ridicuolous comment though. I study late medieval and early modern literature and the reviewer has asked whether 'my choice of reading matter has influenced my vocabulary' because I use the word 'whilst' and apparently 'whilst' is archaic!! Ha ha.

I can't listen to any music and need as close to absolute silence as possible. Large cups of coffeee and intermittent chocolate is essential. A large virtual tomato timer. I can only work in university and can't do anything at home.

Man, it's horrible!

I'm reading one more then I'm going home.

Thank you!

I'm generally fine with 'feedback' but this feels different. The first cut is the deepest, and all that
Ok, I've read one. I thought it would be just be a couple of paragraphs of comments, but they have annotated the entire document. Generally seemed ok. A few 'interesting's! And a few 'weak''s. *Sigh*

Two more to go.

Since I got rejected from a journal last month I haven't been able to being myself to read the feedback. Am going to try and be brave and do it today...Forum support would be much appreciated (yes I'm a complete wimp)

======= Date Modified 31 Mar 2010 21:34:01 =======
As much as it gets me down sometimes (and you can all smugly remind me of this when I'm threatening to quit again) I don't think I will ever, ever regret doing the PhD. Even if I don't pass my mid-point review next month and am left with nothing. Even if I never get a job in academia (very likely). For me, research *isn't* just a job, it's about trying to contribute something to a body of knowledge, however small that might be. It involves pushing yourself to the absolute limit, but that appeals to me. Leaving the office at 5pm and not thinking about work would be nice, yes but I think eventually I would start to question why I was bothering to go to work. Even if I had a 'normal' job I would want it to be something (CHEESE ALERT) that made a difference in some way.
I think it's easy to forget how lucky we are sometimes too. (Like I said, remind me of this when I'm complaining later). There are lots and lots of very intelligent people in the world who are stuck in dead-end jobs and would kill for the chance to read books and write and think for a living.
I don't mean to come across all evangelical here...:$

Edit: I also think my age might have something to do with this. I don't have a family to supportand I have plenty of time before I need to start thinking about starting one. That makes it a lot easier.

Ah I see. I shall block away. I knew my avatar was 'hottt' but sheesh...

I keep receiving PM's from somebody called 'Sylvia' who apparently wants to get to know me better as 'love is important', also giving me her MSN address....

Oh Bilbo this is fantastic news!

======= Date Modified 30 Mar 2010 12:32:18 =======
I just got an e-mail from my supervisor saying 'Your hard work will all pay off soon but honestly, for now, take a week off and rest. Step back and 'chillax' as I believe the youngsters say these days.'

Ha ha, that's made my day!

Eska I'm also teaching my last lesson of the academic year today. I'm trying to hide the fact that I am OVERJOYED about this!

There's nothing worse than a competitive flatmate! (Well there is, but you have my deepest sympathies ;-))

Mine is slightly like this, although he works in a museum and we generally get along really well. One example recently was when I stayed up all night marking essays, having worked all day too. He came in at about 4 am, drunk, and went to bed. I bumped into him in the morning and when he asked how I was I said not great as I'd only had two hours sleep (not his fault). He said 'god yeah, me too, it's difficult isn't it?' He'd been out drinking all night! I managed to splutter 'That's not the same!!'

I know it's not brilliant advice but the best thing I can think to do is ignore her. If she starts talking about work just change the subject or give non-commital answers. She's obviously insecure about her own work.