Processing

For most of last semester, I met with my dissertation adviser who was/is supportive in every way.  We'd talk about what I would do for our next meeting, and I would complete it, sort of -- mostly in the hour (30 mins?) before each meeting.  I felt kind of ashamed, like I should really have been doing so much more (and really I should have), but she was always pleased with what I came with, and found really good thinking and focus in what I showed her.  I would leave feeling mixed -- both proud and kind of like a fraud.  Like I'd gotten away with something. 

One day I came clean with her (mostly) and in talking about it with her, and with my therapist and a couple of others, it was universally suggested that I'm simply processing and then getting my ideas, the results of my processing down on paper (usually) in advance of our meetings. My thinking, they suggest, is productive, I just don't work like some other folks do. I need to do a lot of work in my head, rather than on paper. Sometimes.

*****

So.  Hi.  For those of you who still stop by, I'd like to apologize for my long absence.  Much of it has been practical distraction (sick dog, sick car, tired feet) and some has been mental distraction.  Not reading, not reading for school, not reading for fun, not reading blogs much (forgive me, my friends).  I guess that I'm processing.  Therapy, life. You know.

So, I'm off to take care of a few more of those practical things, but I hope to be back in the next few days to share some of the (mundane?) details and some things I've been thinking about. 

It's been an odd summer, I tell you. But I have been thinking about you despite my silence:  So.  How are you?  What have you been up to?