I think you do know, it's truly like nothing you've ever felt before simply cos it asks so much of you, and you get so much in return. But it's very easy to get caught up in the first flush of a great relationship and mistake it for love, so as sneaks said be careful you don't get crushed! I met my boyf when I was in the dregs of a previous relationship, i.e trying to break up but being pulled back in repeatedly. When we did finally break up i swore I wasn't going near another guy for ages, and of course I ended up getting together with my boyf about 3 weeks later. I told myself for about 3 months that it wasn't serious, even though I was mad about him, and we've been together ever since. 4 years almost, and I'm not bored yet which is a big deal for me! :-)

but yay that you're having a great time with someone :)

Absolutely fantastic news Sue, I'm so pleased for you! You should try and have a day off if you can, you deserve it! Or a light days working at least in case you don't want to break momentum!

And Al, I'm so sorry to hear about everything that't happened, I hope your friend in Mexico is doing ok. And that everyone is coping ok with your other friends death, what an awful situation. I hope you enjoy your holiday though and take some time off to relax!

I've been having a crap time of it myself, it's been an especially difficult few days here. Which all culminated in me having a mini breakdown today and crying for ages! My poor boyf is at a loss what to do with me. I'm just really losing enthusiasm for my project now, it feels like everything I'm writing is crap and that there's no point in doing my research. I mentioned to my sups about a few ideas for a postdoc but they don't seem interested, and my industrial sponsor has just gone off the radar and isn't bothered with what I'm doing. So it's like, what's the point?! Plus there are no other postdocs I can apply for available, so I've got no job for when I'm finished. arrgh! Plus I've got so much work to do still and really don't think I'm going to do it in time! Sorry for bringing the mood down...
:$ Onwards and upwards eh?!

ah, had a minor melt down today, joy. Goal is to get corrections for my lit review chapter finished. It's taking sooo long!

Hmm, substantial is good! My examiners will know about the toxins and all, it's old hat information to me, just some of the usual background stuff I have to talk about, which is why it's really frustrating having so much bother trying to find another way of saying it! :-) Sometimes I hate science!

Maybe I fly to New York and call on one of Jushilu's ladies to spend a relaxing evening to help me relax eh?! Insightful post there...

======= Date Modified 30 Jul 2010 17:41:19 =======
thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I'm talking in my lit review about some of my species which produce toxins. Overall there are about 200 species, but over 40 produce toxins, which is quite a lot really, for one class of organisms. But I don't want to be too wordy about it, and I've already mentioned the actual number so I'm looking for a more generic phrase than 'Over 40 species produce toxins...' which is what I've got, but is repetitive from the intro section of the review. If that makes sense... I like Numerous though I think.. :-)

and I've got super fussy sups so saying things like significant means I'll have to find stats and stuff to back it up, which I don't have a few months to do unfortunately..

I need a word the implies more than 'several' but not as much as 'many'.....

Apparently over 40 species out of 2000 is not enough to be many, but I think it's definitely more than several, so i need a new word to summarise the amount of species...ugh. Thanks!

I'm submitting 15th September, so I know how you feel! I've no idea if I am definitely going to do it, honestly, there is still so much left to do. But all we can do is plod on and give it our best shot! Sounds like you are in a good situation regarding your research topic and examiner, so I wouldn't worry too much. I'm getting more and more nervous about mine now tho as I type so I'll stop there before I freak out!
Good luck!

God if I was any slower getting started today I'd literally be going backwards....

Good going on the discussion sneaks!! Nothing like a deadline to keep ya going!

Today, I'm doing corrections for 2 chapters, I stupidly thought yesterday was Wednesday and told my sups that I would have corrections in by Friday, giving myself 2 days...but no, it's Friday today, so that means I've got 1 day! Joy!

Good luck!

Of course you're supposed to have a holiday Jepsonclough!! Especially when you have children, nothing is more important than them!

Have a brilliant time, use that enthusiasm to convince your sup to help you get funding for next year! :)

Absolutely fantastic news Chrisrolinkski!! I had no doubt you'd be great, I'm so so pleased for you!! Time to move onwards and upwards!! (up)

Have a great time celebrating Dr!

Chapter 5/second paper = DONE!!!


Oh yes! :-)

Ugh Im so sluggish today due to very little sleep last night, so it's taken me ages and ages to get going. Just received an email for my absent 3rd sup who was asking how I'm getting on and when he'll be getting the rest of my chapters. With 8 weeks to go to submission, replying saying I have yet to start 3 chapters was not a nice experience. Best get cracking today then. aaarrrgh.

I'm so very very bad at understanding stats language that the Andy Field book is too complicated for me...:$ Instead I've found the Choosing and Using Statistics: A Biologists Guide to be amazing. It's be Calvin Dytham, and it;s really accessible and easy to understand, plus the examples are all biology ones, I can't get my head around the psychology examples. It doesn't include everything, but it's gives a really good basis that you can understand what you need to get.

There is yearly summer party in the town I'm currently living in, celebrating all things Basque, and I hate every single one of the people who were there and partying until 5 am this morning, keeping me awake. Especially the freak who kept dooting the car horn for about 2 hours. Seriously, the town's not that great. Plus I'm like a demon without enough sleep and was cursing like a sailor last night. I had to have a lie in this morning and consequently starting work late, when I've got loads to do before 5pm. Rant over.