The Printer

As you may or may not remember, I got kicked out of my uni office back in June, which meant no more access to a printer.  This is especially annoying when at the last stages of the thesis, as printing out copies for binding and vivas and whatnot is taking place.  Lucky for me, I've got great friends who let me stick it to the university by using the printer in their office building. 

Thanks, Lynch!  You really are the best.  Especially for getting toner twice and getting told off for it.  ;)

Hunkering Down

...for some serious correcting.  I. Must. Finish. Soon!

Actually, I must finish in 13 days if I'm going to have any hope of graduating the day after Thanksgiving...

Inspiring View

The following view, and the immediate surroundings, have been most inspirational throughout the past year of my thesis-writing, and that has continued into my correcting currently.  Today I got half of my last chapter restructured... which isn't as hard as it sounds, but it is very time-consuming.  It's a magic spot, I'm sure of it:

Paige, I hope your wee flat brings you as much thesis-luck as it has Lynch and me!  Especially me.  And thanks.  =)

The Necessary Evil

Oh my life.  Re-reading my thesis is horrible!  It's like hell on computer screen.  Ugh. 

But I need to make sure I remember what exactly I said, and be prepared for whatever critiques I'll get.  And fix any typos I notice now (there are more than I care to admit right now... I blame, uh, the OpenOffice program.  Obviously it changes things when I'm not looking.) so I have that much less to do later. 

Dear Lord, please don't ever make me have to do this again....

DONE!!!!

Today, I submitted my thesis.  That's me, empty-handed. 

I got very little sleep (like, two hours) because I couldn't stop my brain: what if I've not used someone obvious? what if I forgot something? what if it sucks? what if my formatting is all wrong? what if....?

Then I finally got up and ready, and headed in to Lynch's office.  She let me print out my 252 pages there, using university ink, since the uni had kicked me out of my own office.  I made sure my formatting was as good as I could get it, since uni uses Word 2007 and I don't, and then printed it off.  From there, I headed to the libarry--where I had to be let in and sign the book, since technically my student status expired in May--to get another copy made and turn them both in to the bindery.  The libarry guy was an idiot, and sold me copy cards that I couldn't even use (well, I could use them, but not to use the automatic feed to copy all my 252 pages. Turns out it charges you two copies for each page you don't do manually... what?! Seriously?!)  So after I did about 40 pages manually, because I couldn't stand to have wasted that £30 on copy cards (grrrrr!), I finally gave up and turned it all in to the bindery to finish copying and then bind up in the cheapest and quickest manner possible. 

After that frustration, I went back to collect Lynch and we went for a poddle--through the botanical gardens, around Seaton Park, and back around to uni in time to go pick up the two bound copies.  A little freaky, to hold those 'official' things in hand... and then to Registry, where we waited and waited in line and finally got to turn them in.  The lady was actually very nice, and was excited for me--which is funny, because usually the folks working there are like robots who don't give a darn about the people they are serving.  Lynch took photos, and wrote me a Thesis-submitting song, which she performed on the way back to her office, where we enjoyed Cockroach Clusters and Toffee Cappuccino coffee. 

I highly recommend having a photographer, singer-songwriter, companion walker, and party coordinator when you submit.  All in one person is even better.  Thanks, Lynch! 

Now it's just the wait for the viva...

Moulded To My Rear

This is where I've been seated for far too long.  I'm sure you can see my bum-imprint there...

I may never sit on this loveseat again once I'm done. 

Literature Review

I am hating this part.  These are the books I own that I had to dig out to get citations from, and bibliographies, and whatnot.  Ugh.  I really, really hate this part.  Can I not do it?  Please can I skip this part? 

The Bunny...

the bunny, oh I ate the bunny.  I didn't eat my soup or my bread just the bunny.  The bunny, the bunny, oh I love the bunny...

but now I feel sick in the head... from the thesis.  Not the bunny.  The bunny sacrificed himself so that I can write.  Thank you, bunny. 

Crazy Day

I went to church this morning, which is shocking enough in itself, because my friend Scot was preaching.  I got there to find out that I was also a Scripture reader.  What?!  That was the first I'd heard of it!  But I'm good, I can read.  I actually like reading-- I just like it better when I know about it ahead of time.  =D

After church, which was good, I spent the afternoon with Carrie.  We went to a artsy craftsy show at the Academy, and got coffee, and just hung out.  And I bought new flip flops.  For £1 at Primark.  Why, you might ask?  Because it started pouring down rain (despite it having been hot and gorgeous on my way to church) while Carrie and I were out, and my flip flops were worn enough on the bottom that I could barely stay upright on the slick paving stones of Union Street.  It was seriously bad.  Carrie practically had to carry me!  These were much better, and I didn't slip at all afterwards. 

Then I came home and started writing again.  The End. 

Thesis-Writing Day-Retreat

Lynch is currently house-sitting for two families in the BoD, so we had a writing day retreat at one house.  Honestly, I didn't get much done.  But then again, I hadn't seen another person for days... and there was wine!  And food!  And wine!  Oh wait.  I mentioned that already. 

These are the bestest wine glasses ever.  You can fit like half a bottle in one glass.  That's my kind of serving.  =D

My Study Spot

I always wanted a window seat as a kid, to sit in and read.  I don't have one in Aberdeen, but I have one in Alva.  I've done some of my best work sitting here...

A Pretty Slow Day

When all I can think of to take a photo of is my dinner (oven fries and chilli, ha) then I know I haven't done much.  And I haven't.  I've pretty much gone to the grocery for supplies, and worked.  Which I suppose is a good thing, since working is what I'm here for...

The steak fries were pretty good. 

Alva Thesis Retreat, Take Two

I came down to Alva today, to get away and write and watch the wee flat for part of the time Paige is in the States.  I was lucky enough to get uni to loan me a laptop for a couple of weeks, so I brought that and my work down.  I'm also very glad she has a TV, since the World Cup is still going.  I love it.  Today my crush, Diego Forlan, played with his Uruguay team.  I worked and watched and will continue to do so.  Hopefully it will be as productive as January was...