Chomsky

The talk was scheduled to start at 7 pm. So, I went one hour earlier to get a seat. I thought it'd be crowded, but I didn't expect that crowded! It was ridiculously crowded. When I got there (the hall), there were already a bunch of people around the doors. I walked along the line, which turned out very very long. I ended up coming to the end of the campus! Walking toward the end of the line, I thought I couldn't get in the hall anyway.

While I was walking, someone started sending people to another venue where would have video stream of the talk. So I went there. Then, I realized this alternative hall was almost packed. I was lucky to find a seat. The hall where I was was fully packed with people sitting on stairs. An organizer (and police officer) came and got them out because of fire regulations. Poor people, they were there for 30 minutes or something. The organizer said they were setting up another venue. I hope they could finally get in.

The talk was great. I think Chomsky is a little bit too deterministic, but I like him because of his confidence in what he says. No one argues against him anyway because he is Chomsky. He is the god.

Another Draft of the Findings Chapter

As you imagine, I was devastated last week when I finally got feedback from one of my committee members. I compiled a crappy draft and sent it to her last ... when was that? Saturday? But I haven't got a response from her. I can't wait until she responds. My chair agrees with me.

So, I kept working on it without knowing whether it is what she wants. Mind you, it was a really, really stressful process.

In the end, the findings chapter looks like the findings chapter, I guess. Interesting. I sent the latest edition of my findings chapter this afternoon for his feedback. I hope the chapter is on the right track.

The longer you work on your dissertation, the more you realize your dissertation is a crap. That's what I learned from my experience.

Second Home

I'm blessed to have DS in my life here.

I'm in a very negative mode right now because of rewriting and my roommate's lifestyle.

As you image from my yesterday's blog post, I was devastated and upset. But I was more upset and devastated by my roommate's behavior. She came home after midnight and took a shower, making loud noise. I usually put ear plugs in my ears to keep my sleep, and I did, but they are not perfect. Noise that she makes woke me up, anyway. I was pissed off and I realize how much I'm tired of sharing an apartment with someone, this night person (damn ass!).

I asked DS to have me for the weekend. She is a super easy person, and so are her family members. I really appreciate her and her family to have me whenever for whatever. So, I've been here from this afternoon, working on my rewriting stuff. I will stay here for this weekend for my concentration and relaxation. I'm really relaxed here, more relaxed than I'm home.

Devastated

I can't get it, I can't get it. I did behind-the-scene stuff to avoid this kind of mess, but it apparently didn't work.

OK, I showed a part of this chapter to this person in the beginning of last term, seeking her advice, because I was not sure if I was on the right track. That time, she said she like it. Because I thought I got consent from her, I worked on it, and that chapter became 120+ pages long. Then, I submitted the whole chapter to her in the middle of last term. And now, after the spring break and the first week of the spring term, I finally got her feedback on it, which devastated me. She doesn't like it. What?! Don't you remember you said you like it?! Because you said so, I kept doing what I was doing, damn it. Rewrite the chapter?! Give me a break! Why didn't you give me that I-change-my-mind feedback earlier!? I'm running out of time. How do you think I can make it by my oral defense scheduled in the beginning of May?! I don't get it, I just don't get it. I feel like I'm stupid, putting belief in my committee. This experience makes me aware how much I'm tired of academic bullshit! I just want to get out of it and make decent money by doing something productive.

Rewrite

OK, I accept my chair's opinion: rewrite the discussion chapter. I realized after I submitted that chapter to my chair that that chapter was really, really redundant. Actually, I started rewriting it after I reread it. I feel sorry for my chair reading that meaningless chapter. Alright, I write rewrite it.

King Estate

The weather was gorgeous so that I wanted to do something outside. So, I asked MA and went to King Estate for our excursion and, of course, for wine.

King Estate is a beautiful place to spend a sunny afternoon. We had an almost private tour within the winery and learned a little bit about wine. In my opinion, wine (Pinot Noir) is better in La Velle, but the atmosphere of King Estate is great.


Food at the restaurant was also beautiful. We loved this mushroom dish that was fantastic.


We emptied a bottle of Pinot Noir and wanted more. But I was a driver, and it's 40 minutes drive in the mountain so that I had to save drinking, ayayayay.

Coen Brothers!

Fantastic! I'm a big fan of Coen Brothers, and I highly likely see their movies in a favorable light, of course, as a fan. So, this is another great movie of theirs.

The problem was I couldn't catch well jokes. I assume those jokes were heavily reflecting culture at that time. Also, characters use Southern (?) English (Coen Brothers love the theme of the South), which is hard to understand. Especially, Jeff Bridges! His English itself is difficult enough, but his character's is worse. I want to see the movie again with English subtitles for a better understanding.