Updates

Ack.

Haven't updated in a while due to life, dissertation, and refraining from going off on certain committee members. The last is the most important part. So, I guess a little rant is in order, especially after today.

Despite one committee member including some of my dissertation work in her own teaching, another refuses to acknowledge that I know more about my subject matter than he does. And this is getting very frustrating. Especially today when he effectively called me out in front of the committee (via e-mail) and implied lots of things. It took a bit of control not to explode, but I think the response is relatively polite, moderately confrontational, and includes enough demonstrations of knowledge for the rest of the committee to get it. Not that this demonstration will actually get through to him, the other six or seven attempts didn't work.

Of course, the same person's been sending conflicting signals for the last seven months. Most recently throwing a tantrum because I didn't include irrelevant material he wanted included, after telling me that I'm the final word regarding what gets in and what doesn't (but "if this isn't included, the project isn't passable"). Grrr. Anyway . . . he's the only committee member who has brought extra primary material to be included, the others assume I'm "expert" enough to decide on my own (as well they should). Of course, they also get the point of the project and its organization, he apparently doesn't.

So . . . there are some times when I secretly wish dueling was still: a) legal, b) fashionable, and c) feasible. Alternatively, there are times when I wish there was a decent fencing group around (I'd even settle for u. frisbee) to work out the aggression/frustration. Ah well, they say hanging out with cats helps, but it's not the same. A little rant helps blow off steam, though. :)