What are YOUR coping mechanisms?

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

Since none of the schools I've applied to have even started sending people emails (good or bad), I've found that my coping mechanisms with the horrifying wait for rejections are becoming more and more bizarre by the day...

Here is a choice sample:

1. I've embarked on yet another Monty Python's Flying Circus marathon.
2. I find myself wishing I had all my Discworld novels back.
3. I grab my dog and hug her for absolutely no reason, and then pull her floppy ears.
4. I become overly engaged with my grumpy cat in a battle of wits re his not eating dry food (i.e. telling him every morning "Mommy is poor, so eat your crunchies, I can't afford to buy you wet food!).
5. I find myself wishing I could find that wardrobe to Narnia (yes, I've reverted to the ripe old age of seven).
6. My coffee and cigarette consumption has risen to alarming highs.
7. I faithfully report to my mother everything I read on this forum.
8. I rejoiced when American Idol auditions started airing. Watching all those terrible singers made me feel better about myself (at least I'm not that deluded).
9. I obsessively research schools and programs for next year's applications.
10. I fantasize about leaving everything and going to South America to save Jaguars.

Please share yours, so I don't feel like the only headcase in the world!!

Edited February 11, 2010 by Branwen daughter of Llyr

[minnares]

You're not the only nutcase by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I think it's exceedingly sane to fill the void (or The Lull) with other activities. Here's a list of a few of mine:

1. Cleaned out the garage and organized it.

2. Painted my kitchen and one of sons' rooms.

3. Sold a bunch of stuff on Craigslist.

4. Met with our realtor.

5. Met with our contractor to have the kitchen countertops fixed (one of our sons set down a hot kettle and left a scorch mark).

6. Inviting LOTS of friends over for big dinners.

7. Movie marathons.

8. Extra sleep (before I get none for 7 years).

9. Reading as many books on my GoodReads "to read" list as humanly possible (before what I read is dictated to me for 7 years).

10. Made a moving binder in preparation for the family journey across country.

That's all I can think of right now. That and eating WAY more than I should and MUCH less healthier stuff (like chocolate peanut butter ice cream and homemade chicken pot pie).

~ m

[origin415]

1) Going through all 9 seasons of Seinfeld. I've probably seen every episode at some point, but I've never watched them sequentially.

2) Working on my honors thesis, I guess even if I need to try again next year, I'll have big points in my favor to have this finished and published.

3) Planning post-graduation road trip, regardless of what I'm doing next fall. (Anyone have any must-stop ideas?)

[minnares]

@origin415: Did you locate all the Superman dolls in the Seinfeld episodes?

~ m

[jmb04]

1) Going through all 9 seasons of Seinfeld. I've probably seen every episode at some point, but I've never watched them sequentially.

I love Seinfeld! One of my favorites is when Elaine brings Uncle Leo to the doctor and says, "I'm his nurse, *gulp* Paloma."

harharhar

[artschoolhopeful]

1) Going through all 9 seasons of Seinfeld. I've probably seen every episode at some point, but I've never watched them sequentially.

Whoa. Is it sad I've done the exact same thing???

[fauxtog]

my anxiety is through the roof.

1) working out 3 days a week and yoga twice a week. my ass is killing me and my muscles are screaming at me to take a break! hell, if i don't get in, at least i'll be buff.

2) baking all kinds of buttery, sugary confections and giving them to friends, neighbors and coworkers. started out with the quest to make the perfect double chocolate chip cookie and has morphed into muffin-palooza.

3) stalking former classmates on facebook to see who is in grad school for what and where and who is also applying now

4) obsessively reading in all aspects of the huffington post

i feel like my brain is on fire.

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

my anxiety is through the roof.

1) working out 3 days a week and yoga twice a week. my ass is killing me and my muscles are screaming at me to take a break! hell, if i don't get in, at least i'll be buff.

2) baking all kinds of buttery, sugary confections and giving them to friends, neighbors and coworkers. started out with the quest to make the perfect double chocolate chip cookie and has morphed into muffin-palooza.

3) stalking former classmates on facebook to see who is in grad school for what and where and who is also applying now

4) obsessively reading in all aspects of the huffington post

i feel like my brain is on fire.

Yoga is supposed to be relaxing!!

I'm with you on the baking though. Wish I had money for good baking. *sigh*. Maybe when I get a decent job, I can continue my quest for the perfect Brownie.

[Kam]

Baking is my savior. I made some chocolate buttermilk cupcakes the other day that were pretty amazing -- and I don't even like chocolate.

Besides the baking, I'm working on my honors thesis and keeping up-to-date on several TV shows haha

I also do a good bit of movie watching, thanks to netflix.

[minnares]

Oh fauxtog, muffin-palooza sounds fantastic. I want to join that. I've been cooking my way through Martha Stewart's Casserole Calendar. Everything has cups and cups of cheese in it. Eggs-cellent .

~ m

[nenanubes]

I find that closing the door to my room and dancing around and singing to crappy 90's music for a good hour helps me. We are talking middle school jams.

[anxiousapplicant]

A little exercise and a lot of video games. Probably more Fallout 3 than is healthy for the stressed psyche. Too much Oblivion too.

Edited February 12, 2010 by anxiousapplicant

[fauxtog]

maybe we're all missing our true calling as chefs?....

[Nighthob]

A little exercise and a lot of video games. Probably more Fallout 3 than is healthy for the stressed psyche. Too much Oblivion too.

I'm taking out my frustrations in Star Trek Online.

Also having movie marathons, cross stitching (okay, I know that sounds a little Carol Brady, but modern patterns are actually pretty cool), and reading voraciously. Now recommending: The Thirteen Tale by Diane Setterfield, Sepulchre by Kate Mosse, and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.

[graddamn]

1. Guitar Hero - can now beat every song on expert and some with my eyes closed, a month ago I'd never touched the game.

2. Six days a week at the gym.

3. Honors thesis, my new best friend.

[minnares]

Now recommending: The Thirteen Tale by Diane Setterfield, Sepulchre by Kate Mosse, and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.

I LOVED The Thirteenth Tale! Blew through it in a day, could not put it down. Just a pure pleasure read, right? I'm going to add Edgar Sawtelle to my Goodreads now. This is about the tenth time someone's recommended it.

~ m

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

I'm taking out my frustrations in Star Trek Online.

Also having movie marathons, cross stitching (okay, I know that sounds a little Carol Brady, but modern patterns are actually pretty cool), and reading voraciously. Now recommending: The Thirteen Tale by Diane Setterfield, Sepulchre by Kate Mosse, and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.

The Thirteenth Tale was fantastic - I read it a couple of years ago.

I'll recommend Michael Chabon - I just finished reading Summerland (FANTASTIC - it's technically a children's book, but it isn't really), and am now on to The Yiddish Policeman's Union (also fantastic). For those who want to get really really involved in an awesome story combining history, the birth of the Royal Society, convoluted court and state politics, swashbuckling pirate adventures, and a spy story, I highly recommend Neal Stephenson's three volume Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World). It's huge, it's entertaining, and you really get sucked in to it....

[chemmefatale]

Having a social life trumps just about everything that I do. The less I am attached to my email and this website in the coming weeks, the better.

[unclelurker]

chime movie marathons. not finishing homework. hulu. the olympics. mavericks live stream, contest tomorrow!

shoveling out my driveway. again.

[Nighthob]

The Thirteenth Tale was fantastic - I read it a couple of years ago.

I'll recommend Michael Chabon - I just finished reading Summerland (FANTASTIC - it's technically a children's book, but it isn't really), and am now on to The Yiddish Policeman's Union (also fantastic). For those who want to get really really involved in an awesome story combining history, the birth of the Royal Society, convoluted court and state politics, swashbuckling pirate adventures, and a spy story, I highly recommend Neal Stephenson's three volume Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World). It's huge, it's entertaining, and you really get sucked in to it....

I'm a big fan of Neal Stephenson. Since you're into children's lit and fantasy, have you read Delia Sherman or Ellen Kushner? I think you would really like them.

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

I'm a big fan of Neal Stephenson. Since you're into children's lit and fantasy, have you read Delia Sherman or Ellen Kushner? I think you would really like them.

Neal Stephenson rocks. I've read Snow Crash about 30 times, I think. He's another one I would stalk quite happily (that is, if it was socially acceptable and legal...).

I'll keep Delia Sherman and Ellen Kushner in mind the next time I have a book allowance for Amazon, thanks for the recommendation

Here are a few more from the bookshelves: Pope Joan (was so good. I was riveted to it for a few days), Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (yet another 800 pager, but seriously, you don't want it to end. Amazing world she created, with footnotes, and everything, and you wish that all the books she's "citing" actually existed...), Sci-Fi lovers MUST read Iain M Banks (Player of Games is my personal favorite), and a really obscure British Author named Scarlett Thomas wrote two wonderful books called The End of Mr. Y and PopCo, very counter-culture, edgy, and extremely suspenseful and fun.

And then of course, for some light reading, none compare to Terry Pratchett. Also Neil Gaiman (Stardust, Neverwhere, American Gods, Anansi Boys, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, and with Terry Pratchett, my all time favorite - Good Omens).

Did I mention I'm a bookworm?

[iceman]

• Netflix documentaries (particularly about the Roman and Greek empires, the holocaust).
• Seinfeld (seen them all), Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia (my new favorite).
• The Gradcafe, checking email every 30 minutes.
• Smoking.
• Hitting the local pub almost every Monday and Friday night.
• Making plans for a six month unemployed period I have from the end of march to august (if I do attend grad school this year).
• Finishing up my thesis - I am defending at the end of this month.
• Trying out new dishes at my favorite local restaurant (and also pushing off learning how to cook).
• Going to Vegas this weekend
• Telling my friends and family - "No, I dont have any more updates. Sorry." every time I meet them.

Edited February 12, 2010 by iceman

[Nighthob]

• The Gradcafe, checking email every 30 minutes.
• Finishing up my thesis - I am defending at the end of this month.

Good call on Grad Cafe. I've been obsessively checking postings almost as much as checking my email.

And good luck on the thesis.

[ColorlessGreen]

And then of course, for some light reading, none compare to Terry Pratchett. Also Neil Gaiman (Stardust, Neverwhere, American Gods, Anansi Boys, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, and with Terry Pratchett, my all time favorite - Good Omens).

Did I mention I'm a bookworm?

I LOVE Good Omens. You just reminded me, I lent out my copy months ago and still haven't gotten it back...

[American in Beijing]

I find that closing the door to my room and dancing around and singing to crappy 90's music for a good hour helps me. We are talking middle school jams.

Me too! I hated middle school, but something about "Bye bye bye" makes me forget the stress!