Yes, I remember this.

A week after semester's end (for me, anyway -- it doesn't officially end until the 20th), my schedule is full up again. This is good: post-semester depression hit me rather harder this time around. I guess, this was the first semester I've really been doing exactly what I want to be doing; and so even more energy went into it than is usual, now that I could concentrate on work and not on proving myself to strangers through proposals, committee meetings and pointless exams.

For all its exhaustion, it's been a good semester. Now that it's been over for a week, and I've caught my breath (er, I think), there's been some wonderful reconnecting with people, as well.

Nevertheless, I am sad; the reasons are personal, and this too will subside, there's nothing to do about it. When major bad events happen, they tend to overshadow the good, no matter how much good there is. This is a pity, and it's a challenge to keep things in perspective. So I busy myself instead, with writing another conference paper, building a syllabus, writing upwards of 30 pages' worth of theory, going to the MLA conference, getting through every single relevant primary source at the Harvard libraries, and spending time with people in meaningful ways -- all of this before the end of January.

If, by the end of January, I've actually accomplished all of these things, I'll be damned impressed and chipper and more importantly, on schedule. It's good to have work to do, and it is so, so good to be surrounded by good folk.

Yes, I remember this.

A week after semester's end (for me, anyway -- it doesn't officially end until the 20th), my schedule is full up again. This is good: post-semester depression hit me rather harder this time around. I guess, this was the first semester I've really been doing exactly what I want to be doing; and so even more energy went into it than is usual, now that I could concentrate on work and not on proving myself to strangers through proposals, committee meetings and pointless exams.

For all its exhaustion, it's been a good semester. Now that it's been over for a week, and I've caught my breath (er, I think), there's been some wonderful reconnecting with people, as well.

Nevertheless, I am sad; the reasons are personal, and this too will subside, there's nothing to do about it. When major bad events happen, they tend to overshadow the good, no matter how much good there is. This is a pity, and it's a challenge to keep things in perspective. So I busy myself instead, with writing another conference paper, building a syllabus, writing upwards of 30 pages' worth of theory, going to the MLA conference, getting through every single relevant primary source at the Harvard libraries, and spending time with people in meaningful ways -- all of this before the end of January.

If, by the end of January, I've actually accomplished all of these things, I'll be damned impressed and chipper and more importantly, on schedule. It's good to have work to do, and it is so, so good to be surrounded by good folk.

Heh.

Wow, that sounded escapist. For the record, I'm doing a pretty damn good job of staying on top of the processing, evaluating (and re-evaluating) and talking things through. Some issues, though, bear only so much analysis, after which ain't nuthin to be done.

Blogging is a curious medium of expression. This, above, isn't a disclaimer I would have had to put forth with people who know me well. But I guess, LJ being such a public forum, some qualifiers do need to be strategically placed, for the curious-stranger readers.

Heh.

Wow, that sounded escapist. For the record, I'm doing a pretty damn good job of staying on top of the processing, evaluating (and re-evaluating) and talking things through. Some issues, though, bear only so much analysis, after which ain't nuthin to be done.

Blogging is a curious medium of expression. This, above, isn't a disclaimer I would have had to put forth with people who know me well. But I guess, LJ being such a public forum, some qualifiers do need to be strategically placed, for the curious-stranger readers.

Nevertheless

Being with people is addictive. I spent the whole weekend in close contact with several friends, and am lonely despite that. Having plans for half of the remaining week, with even more good catching-up, helps only marginally.

I don't like this dependency. I'll live, of course -- if this is my biggest down for the week, then life's grand. This is merely annoyance at not being self-sufficient enough, at times.

Nevertheless

Being with people is addictive. I spent the whole weekend in close contact with several friends, and am lonely despite that. Having plans for half of the remaining week, with even more good catching-up, helps only marginally.

I don't like this dependency. I'll live, of course -- if this is my biggest down for the week, then life's grand. This is merely annoyance at not being self-sufficient enough, at times.