I promised Chet I would write about the work I've been doing, instead of just writing a travelogue. Personally, I think the places I've seen are much more interesting than the work I'm doing - at least to other people. But the whole point of being in England is to get the PhD, and the trips are kind of a nice bonus, so here's what I'm really up to at this point.
One of the reasons I haven't posted for a month is that I've been writing the first 'chapter' of my thesis. I'm told by everyone that it doesn't actually end up being published (or likely publishable) but the paper does let the panel know that you have been working, and gives them enough information to decide if your writing is good enough and there is enough information to continue with a PhD. If they decide they don't like what you are doing, then you write up more information, finish at the end of the year, and you get an MPhil instead. The paper on weaving swords and comb beaters was turned in last night, my panel is Tuesday at 10:00, and I'm a little panicked.
But I don't have much time to fret about it. Classes start on Monday, and I'm teaching two of them. The class is called Mapping the Medieval, and we basically teach Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to honors level freshmen. I'm really looking forward to it, but I also really need to get ahead on the reading for the class, which I've been putting off because of the thesis chapter. I have re-read Beowulf in the translation used for the class and a book by my thesis director, but need to read another book of essays and Tolkien's work on Beowulf by Tuesday.
In other news, I'm organizing a two day post graduate conference on Domesticity in the Anglo-Saxon world for next March, need to have the funding application for that in by the 30th, and am giving a paper on the uses of the re-enactment/Living History world for the academic community at the British Museum next month (which I still have to write, of course). I've also been teaching tatting classes to the ladies in my church: one last Saturday, and another next Wednesday.
Of course, I fuss and panic when I have so much to do, but in reality, I kinda like it that way, because when I have a lot to do, it all gets done. When there isn't much going on, I tend to put off what I need to do until later, because there is always time to do it, right? It also makes me feel needed, and I don't have time to wallow in depression either, so its a good thing when I'm busy.
