Done and Done

Had my committee meeting today. Was stressing over my lack of data from the past year, but it went fine.

Helps to be reminded by five professors that everyone hits a gigantic brick wall at some point in their research, and you just gotta keep bashing your head against it until you break through.

I've got a 6 month plan to try and get the system I'm working with to actually work for mass spec. That is my brick wall. I need to get those mass spec results. The sooner the better.

Older people I know are graduating (as they should). People in my year are being told that they have a year left. I'm a little behind that schedule, naturally, because my boss moved to another city. But both the boss and Karl understand that for me, it's a question of "how can I make this work well enough in a short period of time so that I can GTFO?"

I need to move on. It needs to happen in a year and a half, two at most.

I found my motivation again. And now I also have a very firm plan. That makes me feel good. Like I'm in control again.

You know, until the next "simple" experiment doesn't work for a bizarre, unknown reason. But I'll deal with that when it happens...