dissertation woes

The last week and a bit has absoutely flown by. In that time I've got back to Exeter. I made it back in one piece, although the rain fall since I've been here has been crazy. Oh well. It's absoutely wonderful to see friends again, although since Tuesday I've been mostly stuck at home, trying to finish this disseration and this essay.

I've got to the point where I'm not really getting anything productive done in the day - I keep getting really distracted by stupid things, I got a really good couple of hours back in my favourite cafe yesteday which was really good, but today hasn't been so good. I keep making small silly changes and trying to reread it, and I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking when do I stop? when do I say that's that? I'm fully concious of the fact I have to get it bound, which I want to do sooner rather than later, ideally tomorrow or Monday. But is tomorrow too soon? I'm thinking of leaving it until Monday... but... I don't know.. it's hard to know. Because once I've done that, that's it. Arggggh. I know it's not 'perfect', but I don't think ther'es much more I can do really.

I've also got my essay to finish and I keep umming over that too. That can be finished more last minute as it doesn't have to be bound or anything, so I'm telling myself to leave that until after the weekend. Oh man, I'm so bad at taking time off! And less than a week to go until hand in. At the same time I'm a perfectionist, I also can't wait to get it all in, and.... I don't know. I shouldn't be getting so stressed out but I am. I keep going from 'yeah it'll do', to 'this is rubbish and awful'. I suppose that's when I should take a break. A couple of people have read it (my disseration) which has been very helpful, but I still don't know. The thing is I think I always want to do what's right, when really I should do what's right for me, or what my gut's telling me....

I suppose in many ways its like writing (creatively). It's the nature of editing and rewriting. I'm never satisifed with what I write. Or even if I am, you always feel that its not quite right... do you know what I mean? I suppose it's knowing when it's the right time to stop.  When do you know though? I always, and I know other people have the same dilmenas and thoughts, swing between loving something and then hating it. At the minute I hate one of my projects and I'm ready to give it up, but then in the back of my mind I think, well I spent so long working on it... don't give it up... yet. And then other things seem more enchanting or much more fun to work on, and I suppose it's better to work on them for the time being. As long as I'm doing something. I got a little sidetracked here, I apologise. It's nearly over.

One last thing - the blogspot change.... it confuses me. I'm one of those people who hates change and it is just baffling to me this new layout. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but I keep clicking on the wrong buttons. 

Exciting Things

Woah. I haven't blogged in over a week. I apologise.

I have been busy trying to finish my dissertation and essay, and getting ready to head back to Exeter next week (yay!). Just over two weeks until it's all handed in. That's a little bit scary... Writing wise things have slowed down a bit, although I have been doing a little bit of editing when I can and when I'm not too tired to look at the screen, another reason for not blogging. I have been getting horrible headaches with all this staring at the screen. Which is why I was not going to work on my computer this morning, but print things out instead... well, anyway.....

Things I have been excited about this week:

1. Holy Musical B@tman. I was very excited about the fact there was going to be a new Starkid musical. Of course, not knowing ANYTHING about Batman (I do now) I was a little unsure, and I didn't know if I would get it. But I did. Most of it. I think. And I now know stuff about Batman that well, I never thought I would. It was a very slick performance and you can tell they've become more professional which was really great. The costumes, set, script, actors and everything were wonderful. I was a little unsure about the music to begin with. On the first watch it wasn't particuarly catchy, and it lacked that Disney quality that Daren always brings to the songs he writes, and as this musical only had Starkid's who lived in Chicago Darren was not involved. Yet, the music has grown on me, and it is now catchy. They did a great job, as always. And there were a couple of new members of the team who were awesome. Most notably Jeff Blim who played Sweet Tooth. He was AMAZING. His perfomance was so slick, the way he was able to do what he did was quite spectacular (I won't be specific). While it was very different from their other musicals, it reminded me just why I love these guys so much. They're TOTALLY AWESOME.

That was not meant to turn into a musical review - I apologise.

2. Secondly, something that I meant to mention ages ago but have been reminded of, as I'm so excited about it again is GLOW. Set up by four of the girls from Starkid, who are all wonderful in their own right, this is a website and blog set up to help girls 'glow'. It's a really inspiring community and I love it. It really makes me think, its encouraging and it gives me a place to belong. Girls, check it out. Its at www.knowyourglow.com Its awesome.

3. This website: www.ukyabooks.wordpress.com I want to write a post about YA books, which I've half started, anyway part of my point is that there is nothing about UK YA out there, but well, now there is. Awesome!

4. Heading back to Exeter next week!

And now I really need to get on with this essay. Apologies for the post that turned into a promotional post... I didn't mean to do that. But they're exciting things! :)

'We got no fears of growing old... we got no worries in the world'

I saw Mcfly on Saturday, for the first time on this tour (The Keep Calm and Play Louder Tour, which is a nice spin on the Keep Calm and Carry On poster that has been EVERYWHERE in the last few years), but for the... well, I think I've lost count of the number of times I've seen them live. Of course they were AMAZING as ever and made me fall in love with them all over again. It reminded me just how I adore them. It was definitely one of the best tours that they've done in a while. They did lots of old songs and fan favourites which was brilliant, and meant that Tom got the piano out again.
They also did a song which they've never done live EVER and it made me cry <3 Another one of my favourite songs which I wasn't expecting also made me cry too. Thanks guys.
They were just so wonderful <3 As always.
Anyway, just a quick hello. Trying to make myself get back into a good working routine and get on with my essay and dissertation. Easter weekend has been crazy but hopefully things will be quieter now. All of my friends at home are disappearing this week, so things are definitely calming down.
I also got a chance to sit down with my drafts the other day which was so lovely.
Happy Easter everyone!

Home Again.

I'm really impressed at the number of people doing this A-Z blog challenge. Well done everyone! I did consider doing it, but I think it was a lucky decision that I ran out of time to organise it, because I'm already behind with everything else that I'm meant to be doing!

Arriving home has thrown my usual schedule into chaos, with so many different distractions, and no one really around to level with the same work commitments. Yet, and hopefully once everything has settled down this will be true, I thought it would be good to be away from all the distractions and be able to focus. So far not true. It's been chaos. I suppose the distractions come in different forms, and here there seem to be plenty. My writing has had to take a back seat as well, with so many other things to focus on. Oh well, it'll all sort itself out soon... I hope.

Today, so far, has been quite good however, and I have a whole free day, which is hopeful. Well, here goes...