July 13, 2007

If it's not apparent from some of my posts, I am really really frustrated with myself and my inability to be as productive as I need to be at this stage of the dissertation game. I am constantly worried and anxious coupled with cycles of low energy and gloom. I have a great support person in Reluctant Texan, who totally understands. But I did not expect to find additional validation and understanding from my dad.

He occasionally asks me how it's going with with writing, and I explain my tortured process of fits and starts, getting bogged down and overwhelmed, etc. He then says he completely understands, and that he's going through the same thing with his ongoing restoration of a 1935 Ford 4-door Touring Sedan that used to belong to his Aunt. This is what one looks like when it's all gussied up (his is actually midnight blue):



He goes 10 days without working on it, then feels it hanging over his head, starts again, gets bogged down, gives up for awhile, the whole thing. I have to say I found this pretty comforting, and it was nice to have his empathy.

Okay, time to get to work.