I have to cut back on the coffee. I like to think that I don't drink that much, but the truth is that I do. 2-2.5 full mugs in the morning is running me 24-30 oz of coffee. I don't (try not to) drink it in the afternoon, but it's still more than I think I can handle. How do I know? My hands and left shoulder have been shaky. I guess it could also be early on-set Parkinsons or MS, but I think it's probably the coffee. Or if it isn't, cutting back and seeing no change should tell me that I can go on drinking the coffee but maybe should see a dr.
This is a sad day, my friends. Coffee makes me warm, makes me full, makes me happy. I like tea just fine, and I'll be drinking Earl Gray come tomorrow morning, but it's not the same.
Sigh.
For those wondering on the thesis - don't ask. It sucks. I hate writing (see every post related to my MA thesis), or at least I hate the early parts of writing. Actually I'm not that fond of editing either, now that I think about it, what I really like is talking (shocking, I'm sure). If I could just give a long lecture and accompanying power point for my images, I'd be a very happy camper. Hell, I'd even settle for an interpretative dance instead of a manuscript. Let me tell you, the chapter on prostitute and cuckold ballads would be hawt. I can't believe I just wrote "hawt" - see what I've been driven to! For now: the writing is awful, painful, the worst thing in the whole world, and it will never end!*
*until the 20th or so when I have to turn a draft over to my advisor and start converting said draft into a paper that I'm presenting sometime on the 28th or 29th of Oct. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
You just need to replace coffee with something equally energetic. When I was writing my undergrad thesis, I found loud heavy metal quite effective in this respect.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way!! I'd much rather have images and a discussion than write. Bleh, I'm not looking forward to writing (another) thesis.
ReplyDeleteL would be all in favor of the heavy metal - I could see something ridiculous like Dragonforce being useful b/c I could tune it out...
ReplyDeleteI wasn't actually drinking coffee when I was working on my undergrad diss- I relied on raging hormones and stress to get me through.
Coffee, beer... why must all the fun stuff have side effects...
Let me know if you want help in the form of listening/reading/idea-sharing/whatever. I've been out of the field for awhile but I'm always willing, if it would be helpful to you.
ReplyDeleteQuite painful for me as well. Writing the diss should be oh not so fun. I like conferences where I only have to present, not submit a full paper.
ReplyDeleteCraving anything German? :) I need to send that check to you, but could throw in something else....
Hint: don't cut down on coffee until after the paper is written. I'm just sayin'...
ReplyDeleteI'd like to save the cutting back until the paper is done, but the shaking really has me freaked. Down to 3/4 cup today and no problems. It's not the caffeine so much as the taste...
ReplyDelete