Things are basically back to normal, the regular work load quickly piling on and up (but not through). Dissertation mode in a low gear.

You usually lose people when you start talking about gears. If you say “low gear” it means the smaller gear, the one that gives you more power because the engine (either a motor or your own body if you’re on a bike) can transfer more power through the leverage points. “High gear” is the larger gear, the one you use at high speed after reaching a certain rotational velocity that requires less power to maintain.

I’m in low gear, the power gear. I’m not moving fast through the dissertation, rather I’m powering my way through the hard parts– reading and synthesizing source information to help make my own points, occasionally needing to rethink my points, honing them and correcting them as I find evidence that takes me in truer directions. Low gear is what you use for going off road, through deep mud and up steep hills. That’s where I’m at: muscling through some tough stuff: the literature, the studies, the testimonies and evidences. High gear will be when I’m in free writing mode, adding style and making my project readable and enjoyable.

This weekend I’ll be working hard on this, with nearly all of my free time. I’m ready for a vacation from my vacation and to go hard for a while.

On the 11th I leave for San Diego for a couple a weeks where I will continue doing the same, hopefully on a beach for significant parts.

Have a great weekend.