Thursday, July 2, 2015

Overnight Research Trip

Yesterday, I took a two-day research trip to a nearby university that has most of the books and databases that I need for my PhD thesis research. My big question is this: Why have I not been going down there, lo, these many years of PhD work? It's not. that. far. Part of why I haven't been going down is that I do have database access (including ECCO and EEBO) through my UK university, but access is somewhat restricted by the UK hosting process. I thought it was an ECCO restriction, but I learned in March that it's a UK restriction. So I realized that if I visiting the nearby uni here in the US, I might be able to download PDFs of rare texts to my heart's content. And yesterday, I did just that. I felt like a cyber thief in a spy movie. But I was legit!

I look forward to trips to that library being part of a regular (perhaps bi-weekly?) routine as I start picking up the pace and pushing towards the finish line.

And why did I post today after over a year of not posting? I have no idea. I have toyed with the idea of starting back up as I dig in deeper to the thesis, but I only want to do it if it helps rather than hinders my progress. What do you think, bloggers who are still blogging and haven't given it up? Is blogging helping your productivity? Or hurting it?

7 comments:

Fie upon this quiet life! said...

I often need a space to be heard by other academics who understand what I'm going through. So yes. To me, it helps a lot. Glad to see you back on here, GEW!

JaneB said...

Definitely helps me! Do come back!

And yay for a new place to work and better access to resources!

Steel Magnolia said...

Yes, yay for you!

I think that blogging would actually assist me in being more productive by getting the writing juices flowing in general as well as (maybe) helping me to sort of think aloud some of the things I'm working out in my head. I read when I was writing my diss. that when you can't writing what you want to write, but write something--anything. Nevertheless, blogging has been slow as molasses . . . .

Anyway, it might be a good thing all around to start again. :)

Good Enough Woman said...

Thanks for the comments, everybody! They are encouraging. And Steel, it's great to hear from you! Maybe we should both jump back in with posts from time to time.

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

Hi GEW! It's nice to hear what you've been up to :). Oh how I miss being able to access all the journals and other research resources I had when I was in grad school. That might be one of the only things I miss, actually.

Hope you'll keep going with occasional updates (I know, I know, I haven't done that in ages either, but I'll get at it soon; there's plenty to share).

Good Enough Woman said...

CT! Great to "hear" from you! I hope the little troubadour is doing well, and I look forward to your updates.

Anonymous said...

Blogging helps my productivity, as it is a little no-stakes writing warmup exercise. And you guys respond and I feel loved. This is very important before going into the lonely writing cave.

Going to Nearby University is pretty important. You have a time where you are in one place w/o dishes and kids and sharks, and can work.