So What?

I have run into a brick wall for this research paper. I've got my conclusion : The discovery of the tubercule bacillus by Robert Koch in 1882 and the subsequent public health movement lead by Lawrence Flick changed social perceptions of tuberculosis. Instead of being a beautifying, romantic disease of the noble elites it became the disease of the working-class, immigrants, and blacks. This change can be seen in fictional literature published in the early 20th century.

While this works as a research topic, it still fails to answer the question, So what? Why do we care?

And the problem is, I really don't have an answer for that. It's the same question I've been struggling with since I got started on the paper. I think the problem with this could be that I didn't choose my topic.

There comes a point when you have to stop researching and start writing. But when do you know when to finally stop? I think, (1) when you can finally answer the question So What? or (2) when you realize your paper is due in a week and you have to meet the deadline.

I'm hoping I can get to (1) before I am forced to accept (2).

Hypergraphia, and Other News

According to my friend Kyle, I have an incessant need to write. I think this might be true. But, several famous authors were sufferers of hypergraphia, so I don't think that it is entirely a bad thing.

In 24 hours I will be at home, with my family and doggie. The only problem is I have a ridiculous amount of things to do between now and then. First, I have to finish writing a paper for French class. Then I have to go check out a couple more books from Taubman, which means a hike up to the medical campus. Afterwards I must do more laundry, pack my suitcase, and write an outline/abstract for my paper.

I'm really feeling the pain of 4 hours of sleep and 3 cups of coffee.

Christmas can not come soon enough!

Mourning Authors

It's always depressing when I find out another one of my favorite authors have died. I remember when Shel Silverstein died I was sad because I would never get to read another silly poem like "Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too" or marvel at the ink drawings that always seemed just a little to bizarre for children's books.

Worse is when I discover a new favorite author and then I realize that they have been dead for awhile. For some reason I thought that Ernest Hemingway was still alive (but just really old) and so I read a bunch of his books and was wondering when he was going to come out with a new one... then I realized he had died several years ago.

I remember having the same feeling after discovering the works of Jane Austen. In order to prevent myself from the sadness that comes after realizing I've read every work by an author, I have staved off reading "Sense and Sensibility" and "Northanger Abbey". Although a few weeks ago I realized that my library has copies of the unfinished manuscripts of "Sandition", "Lady Susan" and "The Watsons", as well as a collection of letters Austen wrote throughout her lifetime and so I may have to read those at some point during my stay at college. It might seem strange to non-bibliophiles but finding those manuscripts were seriously like Christmas to me.


I guess what brought all of this reminiscing about is because I just realized that Michael Crichton died this month and I somehow managed to miss it among all of the election hullaballo. I first read Jurassic Park when I was in 5th grade, mainly because it was worth 30 Accelerated Reader Points and because I enjoyed the movies so I thought the book would be better. I remember struggling to get through the book but once I finished I realized that I loved science fiction novels.

Luckily for me, I still have not read some of his newer works like "Prey" or "State if Fear". Also, there is talk of a book being published posthumously. Hopefully over winter break I will have some time to sit down and read some Michael Crichton and reflect on how the literary community has lost one more great author.

Re-Search

I hate the word Research. I mean, if you break it down, your basically searching for something that's already been found so you are re-searching it. Which makes me wonder why someone couldn't have just made me a list of key points so that I can write this damn paper instead of researching for all these sources, finding out there not at my library, then waiting for interlibrary loan... sigh. At least Google books is proving to by somewhat helpful.

At the present, I have approximately 1,000 pages I need to read before Tuesday, an outline for my paper due, a 2 page French composition, a rewrite of a 10-page paper, and an oral presentation to prepare for in French. And people HONESTLY wonder why I have anxiety. I think it's pretty obvious.

I need to find some restaurants to blog about for class next week. Anyone have ideas?

White Horse

I've been really busy lately with school and a new blogging projects for a class here at the UofM, so I'm sorry if you've all been left to wonder where I've gone.

School is going okay so far, although there is a very real possibility of me not passing French which will mean that I need to take it again next year. I'm usually good in French but my professor this semester is ridiculous. We had a quiz today and she quizzed us on a reading we never went over in class but that we were "suppose" to read on our own. Honestly, I think she forgot we hadn't gone over it but then she was angry because we told her that she hadn't taught us to it yet. Oh well. If I have to take it again next semester I'll take it with a different professor.

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about how I have unrealistic expectations. And I realized that maybe I wouldn't get as stressed out as much if I just stopped making so many expectations and goals for myself. For example, my history professor this semester told us that he would select one paper to publish in the UofM History of Medicine Journal and so now I've been psyching myself out all semester for this stupid paper because I want to get published. But, realistically, I haven't found that much original research so the actual chances of me getting published are nill.

Maybe I should quit praying for miracles and just start asking for patience.

Also, I just downloaded some songs off the new Taylor Swift CD today. I know that it's not cool to like Country music, but give me a break. I'm from Tennessee. =)

That I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale
I'm not the one you'll sweep off her feet,
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town,
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it's too late for you
And your white horse, to come around

Cause I'm not your princess, this ain't a fairytale
I'm gonna find someone someday who might actually treat me well
This is a big world, that was a small town
There in my rearview mirror disappearing now
And its too late for you and your white horse
Now its too late for you and your white horse, to catch me now