My Procrastination Demon

"Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment." - by Robert Benchley

And so you are being lovingly blessed with a blog post. Because what I'm supposed to be doing is analyzing some data on antihypertensive therapy and insurance coverage. Ugh.

It all started one morning last week - let's say it was Monday. The instant I woke up, I knew my old demons had returned and I had no choice but to wave a white flag. Procrastination - you old foe - why can't you leave me be? Over coffee that morning, Mr. P reminded me of my need to avoid and my desire to start work after 10am. He also brought along some heart palpitations (or maybe that was the Twilight movie...)

You see, data analysis means I have to immerse myself in SAS (a statistical software package) that runs on a Linux platform....have I lost you? Then you can understand my pain. Ultimately, I spend my time unsure of what I'm doing and begging the resident statisticians for help. I suspect they think I'm a fool. Sometimes, when my idiocy reaches new heights, I casually name drop a difficult-to-pronounce drug. Did you see that great new study on rituximab and arthritis? How about those crazy varenicline side effects? Sure, I get a lot of confused glances and rolled eyes, but I feel better for a few beautiful minutes. Kind of like taking a diazepam....okay, I'll stop.

So, on this Wednesday of Wednesdays, inspired by the recent NY Times article on slow blogging, I'll enjoy writing this post (slowly) and then try to drop a few more drug names. Maybe I'll even get some work done.

Aptly titled image - 'The Procrastination Demon' - by 0olong

In need of a vacay

What's surprised me most about graduate life is how inflexible a flexible job is.

My 25 year plan always revolved around securing a flexi-career. I thought this meant Monday to Friday, 9-5. I dreamt of a job that wouldn't require my presence for long weekends, Christmases, or (maybe, just maybe) Augusts. I know - the typical North American schedule circa 1950, but I'm a pharmacist. The default pharmacy schedule is any day of the week, any time, often on holidays and usually on christmas (damn those convenient store hours!)

However, I'm slogging through my day with one eye half open and a slow-drip coffee IV. My main study of the moment is mid-recruitment. In addition, 6 other projects are using mixed-martial arts to demand some me-time. Oh, so tired. It may be time to revisit that quarter-life plan and find some of my own me-time.

So for today, I'll just post a blog about needing a vacation (on what is a 4-day weekend for many - lest we forget) and open up the New York Times 'Modern Love' column. If you need me, I'll be practicing the fine art of escapism.

Photo by: fenchurch

Amazing

We have made great leaps in recent times but we are not free of our prejudices. This morning I listened to a session about Vancouver's Insite - a safe injection site for our city's most disadvantaged. With much opposition from government and law enforcement, it is a controversial attempt to help a community in need of hope and kindness. What was clear from the session was that researchers and supporters are fighting an uphill battle against social conservatism. Victory remains very uncertain. This fact alone is, at times, devastating.

But today, Americans voted in their first black president. A democrat.

Amazing.

Photo by: Guille