- Winter weather has begun. I had to walk on some treacherous footpaths. Some sections were covered with solid sheets of ice. It's only a matter of time until I fall, probably with my giant-ass red packback containing my laptop. This happened once before and I got stuck on the ground like a flipped-over turtle with my stupid backpack.
- Apparently we are still debating the best journal for my paper. I thought we had decided.
- There is a concert I REALLY want to see this weekend but I have no one to go with. Anyone like TMBG?
- EGM is away.
- I need to visit the grocery store but I'm so not interested.
- The t.v. is not working tonight.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Trying to channel my grouch
I'm in a pissy mood, that's what I'm in tonight. Things that are irritating me:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
Maybe you should watch the bee-people video - I find it to be quite cheering! (Sorry the day was a drag.)
Last time I was in this mood, I ran triple my usual distance, rendering myself sore for days (but it did help!). I hope you find a good way to direct the agitation, but don't forget to do something you like either while you deal with EGM's absence (I find that at least a little TV in the evening makes me feel less lonely when Hubby is away).
These moods are when I eat too much sugar...not good in general, but it helps in the short term. I found myself feeling pissy today for no really good reason -- certainly for fewer good reasons than you have. Maybe 'tis the season?
I knew I could count on you guys for some sympathy. Thanks. And sorry to be so whiny.
BTW, the t.v. started working so I've been watching it. Sigh.
Leave another rant over at my place, that probably helps! :-D
I'm with you on ALL points ... Hate winter, feel alone, have to do groceries, will fall off my bike for sure this week, and my paper ... argh ...
Good luck!
I am sooo feeling the pain! With me the TV works all the time, so I am stuck watching stupid TV and feeling bad about that afterward, not helpful either.
About the comments, you go and hand them the printed version, why not, it is not that impolite (at least in the country I am from, we are kind of direct in our manners). If they come up with lame excuses about time, at least you can tell them you saved them some because they do not have to walk to the printer themselves.
What I have learned in the year and a half I am working as a PhD (I admit, not experienced enough to give advises) is that waiting does not help at all, the people you are waiting for do not have the same interests as you, and until you push them and confront them with the actual prints, nothing happens for weeks.
I bet some of the editors secretly decided to read it during Christmas break. Why not ask them what they planned?
I'm sorry that you're in such a mood. I always dislike it when I'm in such a mood.
BTW, I love TMBG, but I don't think I'm in your area :-(
Sorry to hear about your bad mood. I go through phases like that.
For the no response from co-authors issue - As a post-doc who has dealt with slow/no response co-authors (and admit to sometimes being slow in responding myself), I would suggest giving your co-authors a deadline of some sort. If you and your adviser think it is ready to be submitted, then email your co-authors with the latest version and tell them that you are planning to submit it on X date and need comments by Y date (a few days prior to X). If you don't here back by Y date then send another email reminding them when you will be submitting, to let you know if they need more time, and that if you don't hear back from them you will be submitting it. This strategy has worked well for me in the past (both as lead author and as co-author). I think the key to this strategy is having your adviser's support.
I hate walking on ice too - I'm not very graceful at the best of times, and I have an over-developed fear of falling.
A friend told me a story once about falling on her arse in the middle of an intersection and not being able to stand back up - and the traffic lights were starting to change. A mutual friend came across her, pulled her back up, and helped her cross the road (my friend was in her late 20s at the time, LOL). The mutual friend is from Siberia (for real) and showed my friend her trick from home - coarse sandpaper glued to the soles of her shoes. I haven't tried it yet but apparently it really works!
GRRR when the TV does not work. Who is TMBG??? Greasy food always helps when I'm in bad mood.
Hope things get better soon. Would a good book and some chocolate help?
You kick so much a**. The last thing I want to do when I'm pissy is work. That's why you rule.
Thanks for all the support, everyone.
ScienceMama, I do not kick ass. The t.v. kicked on and I watched it. For three hours. lame!
I did eat both greasy food and chocolate, per some of your suggestions. It was delicious. I avoided alcohol though, which is good.
Amanda, why can't you live here? We would have so much fun jumping at the show! ScientistMother, the band is They Might Be Giants and they are hilarious (or obnoxious, depending on your taste). They sing about science sometimes, too! Also, they have at least one top-notch kids cd which I bet would be better than any barney crap Monkey might like to listen to now. I highly recommend it.
Cath, that story is very funny (given that she wasn't hurt) and way worse than anything that has happened to me so far. I'll take comfort in that. :)
lin, you encouraged me to take the passive out of passive aggressive!
AlcaligenesV, the problem is that the person who won't read the paper is my advisor. I have two advisors, one who has read it several times and thinks it's ready to submit and another who hasn't it read it in the 9 months since she got the first draft (there have been several updated versions). The trouble is, much of the data is hers so she really needs to read it. I'm finally at the point of submitting it without her feedback, though. It's ridiculous.
Ahh - I was thinking there was some adviser issue but I couldn't remember for sure. I agree that is ridiculous for her to provide no feedback over such a long period. I don't know all the dynamics so take this for what it's worth, but could you send her the manuscript, tell her Adviser A thinks it's ready to submit and that you would like to submit it by the end of the year, and is she okay with this version? If she doesn't respond I think a face-to-face visit is in order where you directly ask her if it is okay to submit the manuscript. Again, I don't know the whole situation and adviser dynamics so toss what you know won't work. I just know how frustrating that situation must be.
Post a Comment