Writing Blocks

I have been having some trouble writing lately. I've finally gotten to this point where I realized what my work is all about, across the seemingly different projects. But when I sit down to actually work on something, like my dissertation, I just draw a blank. Part of it was worrying about repeating myself. That…

I am so lucky!

Both of my parents went to college and earned bachelor's degrees. My mom was the first in her family. My dad was the son of a Spanish professor. Both of them raised my sister and I to not repeat their mistakes: don't get a degree because it sounds like fun. My mom wanted to be…

Refocused. Re-energized. Restarting.

I am currently reading The Craft of Research, 4th edition. Actually, I'm doing my first skim through, as suggested by the authors, before I give it a thorough read-through. But what I'm reading is already getting my brain going on multiple projects. I finally picked it up for a couple of reasons. One, it's summer! While…

A little help

I figure if I'm going to name this blog "Deviation from the Norm", I should explain why. First definitions. de·vi·ant (adjective): deviating especially from an accepted norm de·vi·ate, de·vi·at·ed, de·vi·at·ing (verb): 1: to stray especially from a standard, principle, or topic. 2: to depart from an established course or norm nor·mal (adjective): 1: perpendicular; especially…

Who am I? What is this?

One night, I was talking with my husband, and he made an interesting comment. I don't know how we got to the point we did, but he said something that struck a chord with me. "You are a half-elf." Now, to explain to those of you not familiar with Dungeons and Dragons, half-elves are just…