.Chained down.

Right now, I'm buried in hours of SPSS tutorials, MANOVAs, t-tests, path models, factorial ANOVAs, and significance tests.  If those words mean anything to you, then you understand my pain.  Although, a month into data analysis, those words still mean little to me.  But I've got deadlines to make and although it's my "spring break" that also means nothing with work and if I want to successfully defend before littlest baby makes her arrival in June.

So, I leave you with this picture of my sweet Dylan during one of our much-needed outings outside and away from a computer.  That in itself sounds like a vacation; I'm tired of being chained to this darn thing.

.Recent things.

A mixture of celebrations, enjoying (cool) days at the park, drinking in the sunshine and the taste of Spring at the yogurt shoppe, hours of (dull) data analysis and long evenings spent with SPSS, social outings, and lining up odds and ends for littlest baby girl.  

I know it's a terrible practice to rush precious time, but this summer will be so welcome.  The time when the days are long, and we're sticky with river water and sun, the first time ever that I'll be able to focus entirely on my little family and be done with draining deadlines, research, and other various academic obligations.  

So until then, we'll stay as we are and savor this season because it too, is good.

P.S. That coke was not Dylan's, herego the distressed look on her face because I was ignoring her requests to open her father's sugary goodness.

Day 1- Is it too early to cry?

Introducing the dissertation depression series...

Data analysis day 1- Is it too early to cry?  

Because I think that might make me feel better.  In the first few hours of sitting down with this raw data (after much procrastination), I've already used three lifelines- my finance-minded husband, an intelligent member of my cohort, and a brilliantly respected committee member.

Still, nothing makes sense.  I'm pretty sure I took all those research and stats classes that are supposed to be an aid in this process.

This new series probably should have started about a year and a half ago when this process began.  I think I've been in a constant loop of most the stages of grief: the denial, bargaining, anger, and depression.  Now I'm learning to accept it.  

Baptism by fire my friends.

Picture source: matchbookmag.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest