Hi All!

Im back to work after a lovely holiday with my boyfriend. :) However, my computer is sick, and these internet cafes in Latin America load pages SO slowly, I may not be participating for at least a few more days. Just wanted to check in, say ¨hi, and wish everyone good luck with their work today!!

Hey Lara! Congrats on your progress - and you're right - you've got to OWN your dissertation . . . be proud of the fact that you've worked so hard! We are all behind you!

So, I will be writing on and off for the next week or so. Wanted to let you guys know that my boyfriend is coming for a visit (haven't seen him in almost a year!). I'll check in though - and I'm cheering you all on with your deadlines!

Welcome Hopwood! Happy to have you join.

And good luck to all of us working this weekend. I know what you mean about unrealistic expectations, Lara. Do you have any ideas for a different approach you might try?

I must report that yesterday was a wash. . . sorry group. I don't even have a good excuse. I had most of the afternoon free, but I just felt STUCK in place. I didn't do anything productive - but I didn't do anything fun either!

I'll be back online with a bit, and put some clarity to today's goals. See you all soon!

Good morning all! Buen fin de semana!

I'm headed to the hospital this AM for some research, but I'll be able to get my computer back and spend much of the afternoon writing field notes.

Today's goals are:
1) 1 field note entry
2) NS Report - 1 part

See you all later!

Hi All,

I've been doing meetings all day, and don't have access to my computer. SO, I'm going to do 15 minutes of writing the old fashioned way - by hand!! After that, I'm taking a Friday night off and heading out to an art gallery opening. Gotta have some fun, right?

Hey all:

The board REALLY helped me tonight. I was all cozy in bed after a long day, just ready to throw in the towel and tell you guys that I had failed again. BUT, I realized I wanted to be able to post that I had at least finished the two modest goals I set for myself today. So, while its not much - I can say that I met both my writing goals for today - and will go to bed just a bit more relaxed.

Thanks for helping me push through!

Today is not my day! The research participant I'm working with had to Borrow my computer to make an important work conference call. Now, I KNOW how important those things can be - and I am glad that I could help out. But being without my computer for 3 hours without any preparation? I didn't realize how addicted I've become. I must be living out Donna Haraway's cyborgian vision. I just don't feel whole w. out my computer!

I have an interview this afternoon, but when I get back I will write.
Today goals are:
1) 1 Field Note Entry
2) 15 min focused writing on expectations/reality of MT

Good luck today!!

Today was a tough day for me too. Its about 2 AM - and I'm still not done. I've been doing research rather than writing, so that is one tough part. So, no accomplishments to report today. But I'll be back tomorrow with more time and energy. See you all then!

Hi All:

Im rushing out to a interview, but I'll update this afternoon! Wishing you all productivity and relaxation!

Hi liminalplace - yes, I totally know what you feel like. I woke up with a knot of anxiety in my stomach today and just wondered what the hell I was doing. I also have avoided my advisers in the past - in fact, I'm still working up the nerve to write one of them an email. I think its been about 2 months since I said I would do it. Arrgg... well, not that it makes you feel better, but you've company if nothing else!

Hey Lara:

Congrats on all your progress!! I liked your reference to the "down hill slope." Haven't worked with that approach so far, but might work on it soon.

1) Field Note Entry - did 1/2 of the entry so far

2) Focused Writing on Online Contacts - Did 9 minutes of Focused Writing (was interrupted at 9 min, and lost my train of thought).

3) Create questions for tomorrow interview - interview was canceled, so I got lazy.

Going to pick up on the focused writing before I go to bed and follow through. My REAL goal for tomorrow AM is to WRITE FIRST. I will allow myself to have coffee first, because without coffee I'm no use to the world. But I want to write before I post here, before I check email, etc. etc. See you all then!

Hey all:

Good morning - I am waking up late late late this am. Yawn!

Okay goals for Day 9:

1) Field Note Entry
2) Focused Writing on Online Contacts
3) Create questions for tomorrow interview


See you on the flip side!

Hey. . . my eyes are drooping shut . . . feels like a long day. Up at 7, busy busy busy, to bed by 1. I finished my goal tonight (!) and a reward, I'm going to pass out right. . . about. . . now.

See you in the am.

Hey Lara:

I'm up burning the oil - although its not even midnight here in Buenos Aires yet, so I guess it doesn't quiet count.

I'm off to do my field notes!

Thanks for the links - I'll check them out on my next break and update my progress when I'm all done for today.

Also - does anyone else use "Remember the Milk" for managing your tasks? I just discovered it - and love the feature that brings up my to-do list in my gmail. Anything that links my to-do list to my email habit is a plus in my book.

Day 8: Happy Monday All! (ok, yes - I am forcing myself to be awake!)

So, I was flipping through my stained and battered copy of WYDin15 and I reviewed the section in which she writes about making sure you goals are manageable and realistic.

This is something I really have a problem with! I get so concerned with what I'm supposed to do for the day, that I set my bar too high (waaaay too many things), and as you can see from my last few posts, I consistently fall short. This ongoing cycle of shortcomings doesn't work for me either. The question I have, how do I strike a balance between pushing myself to work harder and maintaining expectations that I can achieve successfully?

Today my only Writing Goal is:

Write 1 field note entry

I've got a killer day ahead, so lets see if I can complete this successfully!