xcheck's hat tricks -- award winning journalist!

[xcheck24]

i had to take an incomplete on my thesis

i tossed a lot of my thesis draft a few weeks ago because it wasn't what i wanted to write. it wasn't like the thing was badly written. it was just wrong. and i just haven't recovered because of work, etc.

oh and the survey statistics need to be compiled. *sigh*

[pengwenn]

i had to take an incomplete on my thesis

So what does that mean for you? Maybe you should have set up some punishment/reward system to getting it written. Like no baseball until it's finished.

[xcheck24]

i have an additional seven weeks
my goal is to have it done by the end of the month

the problem's not baseball (or hockey). I mean, i was able to go to a weekly hockey game last spring and have a full load of classes. the problem is my job. my boss thinks "oh she's done with school now" when I'm not. and i have to constantly remind him of that. he's overdemanding.

[pengwenn]

With all your excitement/talk about going back to school I never would have thought you'd take an incomplete. It's good that you've still got time to finish it and get it in.

I've considered going back for a Masters in Fine Arts for Creative Writing but what's the point? It wouldn't guarentee me to get published and I'd just be doing it to help my writing discipline....which is sorely lacking.

[xcheck24]

i did it basically to screw my head back on straight about my career. i mean, if you need to do that, getting a masters degree is worth the time.

i love school and love doing the work. i mean, i did complete a class through all this mess this summer. it was a struggle to even make those deadlines. I was a few minutes late emailing a few assignments because work got in the way. all of the sudden this is happening. if i was still full-time this summer, i'd have flunked.

[Anblick]

Maybe you should "threaten" to take a few weeks off work so you CAN finish school, just to drive home the fact you haven't finished it yet?

[xcheck24]

so i'm off to DC tomorrow morning.
there until tuesday
mets-nats this weekend at rfk. kick ass

[pengwenn]

no baseball missy until your thesis is done.

[xcheck24]

missy is going to at least two games this weekend
and i am NOT missing the '86 anniversary next weekend at shea!

[xcheck24]

so i found this job:
http://www.journalismjobs.com/job_listi ... bID=535500

it's the washington post
BUT it's online and not the newspaper
BUT it gets my foot in the door
BUT it's not reporting
BUT it gets my foot in the door

*sigh* dont know, dont know
i should probably just apply

[xcheck24]

Made copies of my clips at long last yesterday. Now is the happy process of writing cover letters and sending crap out. The question is. . .where?

[xcheck24]

So today is the deadline for the washingtonpost.com job application. I need to get my ass in motion to write a cover letter. I just don't know what to write. I've had serious writers block before, but never for a cover letter.

[pengwenn]

How about this:

Dear WP,

I am writer. I need job. Hire me.

Sincerely,
X

[xcheck24]

well, that particular job is for an online producer. not specifically writing. I dont know if I even want the job, but I figure it might be a foot in the door.

I plan on sending my clips, etc. to the Post's editorial people too.

[pengwenn]

well, if it's an "online producer" then you should use the language of the web:

,

. . .

,
X

[xcheck24]

so I finished that and sent it out. we'll see.
i dont even know if i want the job. lol

[xcheck24]

so ive been quite lethargic the last two days. i dont feel like doing crap. so i'm behind on everything.

i went and worked out today (even though my neck hurts), and that seems to have given me some added energy. hooray!

i gotta get working on things for WN, my thesis and other crap like looking for a new job.

[xcheck24]

getting back on track is really, really hard for me. i do have writers group tonight, tho, so I'm hoping it helps me get out of this rut.

[pengwenn]

And how's that thesis coming along?

[xcheck24]

gwenn, the last thing i need is people poking me about it. really.

[pengwenn]

sorry

[xcheck24]

not your fault. you dont know all the crap i get from everyone else *sigh*
and teh pressure i put on myself

[xcheck24]

today was meant to be a get my butt moving day. . .at least that's what I envisioned going into the weekend. But what has it been? It's been a Jen sitting around, napping and watching TV day. I am just worn down from the last two days. Saturday I was up at 7:30 because I had a church council workshop all day. I left there at 3, came home for a total of like 10 minutes and then was out the door again for the Mets game. Got home late (still before midnight), was tired and went to bed so I could get up and do the church/sunday school teacher meeting thing today. and i'm just TIRED. It's not like I was unproductive this weekend, but my brain is just shot.

And I have to get up tomorrow morning early so I can be in town by 9 for the whole teacher back to school breakfast thingy. I don't actually go for breakfast. I go for the program. But it's still another early day in a row for me. And we reporters are more nocturnal. I used to be a morning person, but I have NOT been a morning person in close to a decade if not more.

By the way, the school superintendent is pissed off at me for whatever reason. Well, I know partly why as in what issue, but I'm trying to figure out specifically WHY he's mad at me. I don't get it any more. *sigh*

It's not like I've never gone through this before with him either. I guess I have to write a "the superintendent is my hero" story for him to like me again.

[xcheck24]

i dont know what i hate more
getting up early
sitting in traffic

but I know that i hate the combination of BOTH. ugh. I was late for my 9 a.m. assignment today. and I allowed myself 45 minutes! Took me a hour. Mind you, this is about a 15 mile drive. Doesn't normally take me much more than 20 minutes.

But I got there, got the story and now I have to write. My mind is having trouble focusing, but time to get to work!

[Mlou]

Be careful about admitting any trouble focusing, you might get advice on how to do it.