It seems the more I have to jam pack in a few days (i.e. a deadline looming) the more energy I have to do lots of other distracting but fun things. Things seem more alive and creative, and all the grumpiness / frumpiness goes away.
I remember when I was preparing for my qualifying exams in graduate school, along with a few other students, including my wonderful yellow-haired roommate Emily. I really had to review maths as I was quite rusty after a few years of non-use of so-called engineering math. My roommate and I had this list of about five hundred one lines from famous '80s songs. Emily got it from an e-mail from one of her college friends. When we needed a break, we would bring out the list and see if we could figure out which line came from what song. Some were really esoteric.
Do you know this one? "Sucking on chili dogs outside the Tasty Freeze"
Title and Artist, please.
Of course, we finished the list after 3 months of summer studying, and our exam was at the end of 3 months. Graduate school life was the best, better than undergrad, because I was ready and more mature for the closeness and hard work. I still did some goofing off and had plenty of alone time, but out of all the phases so far in my life it was the most rewarding. I wonder if I have to take a class with people (not an online one) to get that same feeling. Maybe I can take an Art Drawing or Painting class! Now that would be distracting :-)
