no new words, but possible progress

[kareina]

According to the spreadsheet in which I track my hours, I've put in over 9 hours of uni work today. (I record every break, even if only a few seconds to look at e-mail) During that time I've done more runs of calculations than I care to count, but way, way more than I do in a normal day. Each time I've changed one variable, and each time the results are that little bit closer to predicting reality, but not there yet. The one I just finished is the closest yet. Figuring out which direction to change what for the next attempt is going to take some careful thinking. It is after midnight, careful thinking isn't going to happen after this long of working. Therefore I'm not going to add any new words to the thesis tonight, but instead go for a walk, do yoga, and get some sleep! With luck I'll get this sample's calculations predicting the composition of the garnet tomorrow, and then I'll have lots of words to write, both the description of what works and what temperatures and pressures it predicts, but also the changes that happen with each minor change to the variables I've been doing all day...

Damn, it is actually difficult to put it down without trying "just one more" run. It is also much harder than I expected to consider putting the computer down without adding new words to the thesis.

Have I mentioned recently that I love being a PhD student? I've given up most of my social life, I'm putting in more time and effort into my research than I've ever put into *anything* before, and I'm loving it! Even the days that the calculations aren't predicting the compositions I measured, comparing one set with another teaches me something about the reactions that take place, and what is understood of them...

Comments

[fjorlief.livejournal.com]

This is a good sign that what you are doing is right for you, not that that was in doubt... (I remember when i was working on a carving project till the wee small hours, 'cos getting it done was waaay more fun than sleeping)