Monday, March 26, 2012

I Think I'm Falling Apart

Shhhhhh........ but something strange is happening to me. I'm working with cardboard, and I'm missing my sewing machine. I actually feel like I want to sew clothes for me. This has never happened before. Usually I'm sitting at the sewing machine, hating all fabric, and pining for my glue gun.

Want to know what I did to cope? Went on amazon and ordered Quantum Physics books. For recreational reading! When
  • I don't do recreational reading. All reading nowadays has to be done while doing something else, like eating, or waiting to flip pancakes, or sitting in the car in the pickup line at school.
  • .... really? Quantum Physics? Recreational reading? Not even when I was teaching the stuff!

I think this is what happens when I'm on a project that is taking too long. I start looking longingly at other pastures. It's a classic Grass Is Always Greener situation. Any grass. Even Quantum Physics. Ever happened to you?

18 comments:

  1. I'm curious to know which books you ordered!
    ~Natalie

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    1. Natalie: Two: In Search of Shroedinger's Cat, and Mr Tomkins (in Paperback). I also have Alice in Quantumland (an allegory of Alice in Wonderland but about Quantum Physics) from years ago that I think I might read first. Shroedinger's Cat looks..... technical. Eeep.

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    2. Argh. I can't even spell Shrodinger. Sorry, Mr S.

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    3. And look, I did it again. I meant Schrodinger. Duh.

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  2. I happen to LOVE quantum physics! :)

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  3. I can honestly say I've never been desperate enough to long for Quantum Physics. And never will. Guaranteed.

    You have my sympathy.

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  4. When I get stressed out I read random things as well...like over the holidays I read an entire book about the history of salt...and no, I"m not kidding...other stress realted wonders have been books on raising pigs, tracing the travels of Columbus, and the allure of totalitarianism government during the 1950's...so what I'm saying is if you finish up that physics book and still need a good read let me know, I'll mail you something. :)
    liZ

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    1. Liz, that's funny! But also very useful for building a database of random but useful knowledge because you never know who you might be standing beside, at the next party you attend! Last year, we met, for the first time, the boyfriend of one of our nieces, whose family owns a huge pig farm. I naturally like pigs, but I'd never actually thought of commercially raising and trading in them. I wish I'd read your book, because I must have come across to the poor chap as foolishly eager and starry-eyed, but completely ignorant.

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  5. I haven't wanted to sew for a while. I've just been out of the groove. I forced myself to pick up a project and my machine broke. And now It's all I can think about and I don't have a dang machine! I think it does this all the time to me!!! Argh!!!

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  6. Not Quantum Physics but I've just ordered a children's book called Not A Box! (Cardboard related for small people)

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  7. When I was in college, I'd clean like a maniac if I had a test to study for or a paper to write. I also have friend who read physics for fun when she was on bed rest during one of her pregnancies. Sometimes it's just the 180 degree change of pace you need : )

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  8. When I get stressed at work, which involves writing plant physiology research articles, I go read craft blogs on the internet. When at work, I'm always thinking about playing with my kids and/or sewing things for them. At home, well, I mostly just daydream about napping. :)

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  9. When I get stressed at work and need a distraction from writing scientific papers, I start reading craft blogs! (Like right now...) When I'm home and get stressed, I just start daydreaming about taking naps. :)

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  10. You know, when I was a teenager my mom used to order Quantum Physics books to read - and she is a former PE and Math teacher, not a Physics teacher! The funny things parenting does to us :)

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  11. I don't even know what Quantum Phycs is, the word Physics keeps me away from it. But I guess the world is a better place for people who like it. But I do agree reading is a good stress relief. Hope you get your grove back soon. Take care.

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  12. I will say that the last strange book I got from the library was a book about the history of the periodic table. It was actually very interesting once I let myself not try to keep straight some of the scientific parts that were a stretch for me.

    I love to wander down the aisles of the library and discover topics I have never read about before. Unfortunately, I don't get as much time to do that as I used to before kids.

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  13. yes...all the time--even if not with Physics specifically. And the irony is that I am also well aware that the project at hand becomes tedious simply because it HAS to be done/finished, while anything else is appealing only to the extent that it is new and not something that 'must' be done. But knowing this does not help :).
    Anyway, I miss your posts on sewing, even if I am greatly impressed by your work with cardboard. I have been conquering my fear of knits (thanks again!!), and I am also using your patterns for pants, overalls and raglan dress (this one in jersey!!!) for the summer clothing of my little one.

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  14. Yes! I am there! Books on Bespoke Tailoring or Hyperpolyglots are my current readings of choice. They seem to stimulate my creativity when I'm working on a particularly difficult/long project or juggling lots of projects. Maybe it's the polar opposite thing or just that it's encouraging to know that others have forged through the sometimes challenging process of executing something really well (like in the case of bespoke tailors or hyperpolyglots). These types of books inspire me to see a project through to completion even when I'm tired of it or feel like throwing in the towel.

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