I've been doing so much reading I feel like if you split my head open it would be full of pages. A little of the Meditations, but primarily texts on medical anthropology, medical history, epidemiology and other related topics, and it's doing a little damage. Last night for example I was finishing the book I quoted for the quotesporn thread, and it was focusing on child-rearing techniques in rural Ireland. HOLY SHIT I HAVEN'T FELT THIS BAD FROM READING IN YEARS! Basically, Irish infants are left on their own for large percentages of the day, not in contact with their mother, or anybody else, left unsoothed when they cry, and are basically neglected except for diaper changes and feeding. This is because 'coddling' a child is understood to cause weakness, both physically and mentally.

I let this shit get to me too much. This book was written in the 70's, and rural Ireland is drastically different now, because so many of the people who were living the way that was described in the book are just dead now, or else moved into the city or a hospital. But I still had to take a break to collect myself after finishing my outline of child-rearing practices.

Looking forward though, I've been very productive so far this week, I'll continue to do so. I'm already grossly over-prepared for my first round of exams and I'm making good progress on my research project.