A Much-Needed (but Much-Dreaded) Solution

I am in graduate school, but just barely right now. My mother asked me the other day how school was going, and the only way I could answer was with raised eyebrows and a shrug. Let me explain: My program has a rule that you have to finish your thesis by your third year. Most people finish in their second year. I, however, am almost done with my third year and until a week ago I still hadn't finished my thesis. A year ago, right on time, I set up my study, gathered my data, and did all of the background research I needed, but then, for whatever reason, I just couldn't write it. I even took a term off from school (not because of my thesis, but for different reasons), and I didn't even pick up any of my research. I didn't work on it at all!

When I finally met with my advisor again in 2010, she told me that she didn't think I was going to finish. It was probably a well-deserved slam, mostly because I didn't think I was going to finish either, but I did end up writing about half of it. But I had made a goal for myself that I would be done with it by June, and May 31st I still only had half done. So I made a drastic decision.

A friend in my program suggested that I get a motel room and just sit and write for a week away from all distractions. I had put off doing this, but on Tuesday I knew I had to do something drastic or else it would never get done. So I moved into a motel for four days. I let Josh pick the place, and he picked probably the cheapest possible place (I think he was afraid that if I went somewhere nice I would never come back). There was no chance of that! By the end of the week, I was so happy to come home (even if it meant I had to deal with Josh's snoring and constant chatter).

(Note: It wasn't the absolute cheapest place I could find and it wasn't terrible by budget-priced motel standards. In my defense, I am taking Emily HERE in August... so hopefully that will make up for the experience of the Beaverton Comfort Inn! -- Josh)

Here's where I spent the majority of my time:

Five pillows, all to myself!

There was this random counter that was really too high for a counter, and not very useful:

It was also broken:

On check-out day, I woke up and went to brush my teeth, only to find that the entire bathroom floor and counter were wet, and the sink looked like this:

This picture doesn't do it justice, but the sink was full of crud. I checked whether the pipes were broken, and I checked to see whether the sink drained (it did), so I can't figure out what happened from 5am to 10am when I was sleeping.

But, after four nights (two of them completely without sleep), countless rounds of solitaire, about a million vitamins (fish oil is apparently supposed to help brain function), and loads of caffeine, I am pleased to announce that I am finally done with my thesis-- only a year late!

I don't recommend this solution to anyone. My circadian rhythms were so screwed up by the end. I came home and slept for eight hours, and despite the fact that I took tons of vitamins, I think I made myself super sick. I really hope that, in the future (because I still have two years left of school and a dissertation to complete), I do not have to resort to this.