The journey begins

Day 91 of the expedition

We have penetrated the outer peremiters of Academia, fabled land of knowledge and ulcers. Several of our local guides needed to be left behind, as they feared to venture into the uncharted territory, across the River Discipline, but we press on none the less.
The drums have started again. When we first embarked on this journey, we heard them on occasion, but they were distant and far between. Now they threaten our very sanity with their insistant thumping, and I fear that they may discourage the rest of our party, if we do not find an adequate place to rest and gather our strength soon... The ulces cannot be far off.


I have turned in two papers for conferences in two months, and the third is threatening to kill me. I had never anticipated that being published would take so much work and mental energy, and even though I love the thought of advancing towards being a "real" scientist, publications and all, I am inclined to take a break from it all.