Putting a spin on kb's advice on academic politics and pecking order, I began to largely ignore my research group's yammering and harassment, opting to give them token four hours of my time a week and concentrate efforts on the thesis instead. I spent today's conference call more focused on my CK2 lineage (procuring both Caroling and Attilla bloodlines ain't easy when you're a Slavic Pagan) than whatever overgrown Kohn variational theorem spinoff they put forward this time and feel better for it. Nobody can expect me to constantly bring results anyway, especially since it doesn't seem like anyone bothers to read them. But hey, after all, I'm just a student, and this argument certainly goes both ways.

Much to my surprise and, oddly, joy, I got permission to pick general electives from lists usually reserved for undergrads and took two classes on rhetorics and essay writing. God knows I'll get more out of improving those skills than attending diplomatic protocol or other polsci-derived courses. Gonna stick with classical languages, too, though I don't think I want to continue them in a formal setting. Especially since there are at least two good, populous and friendly discord groups dedicated to studying them.

I'm really proud of all the work I did on the house. From the roof to the basement, through the garden and unkempt trees. It's finally finished.

My research interest keeps drifting. I feel like I got into the condensed matter physics because of all the exposure, not entirely because it's the most interesting, best-fitting topic. On the one hand, I'd love to give general relativity a real shot. On the other hand, escaping academia through graduation is a priority right now, and switching disciplines would impede that.

Also, there's a really fun thread brewing, come on in!