27 and no PhD *sob*

Last week’s effort in crossing out items on my to-do list over a weekend was abysmal to say the least. During the week though, I managed to get a couple more stuff done, so those are crossed off the list now. I think from now on, I should be realistic and set out weekly task list instead.

Rejuggling in terms of priorities, this week’s list is going to be the following:

• Further analysis for BHM project and fishing out top candidate genes (05102007)
• Writing up Project HCM
• Research new angles for Project BES
• Read the 8 3 journals that I have earmarked for the week (07102007)

Of course, things could get chopped and changed along the way, and ongoing projects will always appear on the list. Little by little, progress here I come!

Ps: note though I’m bag of nerves today, pending on the outcome of the Rugby World Cup matches, so I may be distracted and unable to get much done in terms of this task list…

It’s finally weekend when I can take a small breather, a few hours break, before plunging into another 6-and-1/2-days-week of work. Tons of them. I am beginning to think, if I can cut down my sleep to 6 hours, maybe then I’ll be able to squeeze in just that one more journal from to-read to read-and-done pile?

But my sleep is just too precious. I need my minimal 7 hours or I get cranky.

Very cranky.

As usual, Saturday morning ritual, trawling the net for a couple of hours while Facebooking and writing emails to my friends. And eating my breakfast. Some home-made muffins, half-boiled eggs and white hot chocolate. This is life’s little luxury for this graduate student.

Soon, food topics caught my eyes (not surprising really). Unusual food stuff. More specifically, bugs and stuff (in photo) and also an article on Beijing’s Penis Emporium (I kid you not!). Not the best of articles to read while I chomp away at my indulgent morning treats…

On a side note, would you pay $14,500 for a dessert?

I am beginning to dread ringing home to talk to my family nowadays. Always the same two questions that they pose:

1. When are you going to graduate?
2. Are you dating anyone at the moment?

I know they care about me. Honestly, I know. But continuously asking me these questions will not change anything. I am doing things at my own schedule and that’s that. I don’t need constant prodding to graduate (trust me, I want to graduate) nor having them worrying that I am going to be left on the shelf.

It hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park since I decided to take up the offer to do a PhD. There had been lots of moments of self doubt and demovation. But the days of euphoria and excitement made up for them ten times and over. Lot of ups and downs.

Relationship wise, fret not, I have not exactly been living like a reclusive spinster. I dated, albeit half-heartedly because the guys just weren’t the right one for me. These great guys are now my friends, which is always good news in its own. I was in a complicated non-relationship which I don’t talk about because I don’t want to worry everyone or send everyone into a frenzy of advise-giving on what to do, how to behave etc. He and I remain very close friends and we’re glad that we sorted things out very maturely to that end.

In short, I just need to do everything at the pace that I am comfortable with.

Right now I must concentrate on actually getting good results, write them up, publish them, and write my thesis. I am going to be very busy so it’s not going to be the right time to actively date someone - it wouldn’t be fair for the guy to have a half-present, half-absent girlfriend.

But of course, if there’s a great guy that comes along anytime between now and my graduation, who loves food, travel and photography, who understands that I am going to be quite very busy and doesn’t mind that I won’t be able to go out much, who has plenty of supply of hugs and kisses, then I am not going to say no either… lol…