Work?

I've been in Scotland for almost two months now (weird), so I guess it was only a matter of time before I actually had work. Last week I had a 20 minute presentation in my Comparing Scottish Devolution class and this week I had a 5 minute presentation in my Contemporary Russian Politics class (I put more effort into one than the other).

Now I'm faced with the prospect of two essays due next Thursday, which ordinarily I wouldn't even be worrying about at this point. The difference is that I'm going to be in London from Friday morning until Sunday evening, and will probably be exhausted by the time I get back Sunday evening. So basically I only have tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday left to get these things done.

2500 and 1500-word essays once a semester would be incredible at Duke, where it feels like I write at least one essay a week, and probably longer ones too. I also really don't like how they give us set topics here--I appreciate the general topic suggestions I get at Duke, but often I'm far more interested in writing about something that has personally grabbed my attention. I usually wait until an idea for a topic strikes me (usually in the middle of the night) and then write it a day or two before it's due.

Right now I'm struggling to find about 2498 more words to "justify my answer" to the question "was the USSR a totalitarian state?" So far I've essentially written: "Yes. Stalin." 2500 words seems a little excessive for a question like that, even for me--someone who tends to have a lot to say about, well, everything.

The good news (for me, at least--you probably don't care) is that my 1500-word essay is on the same topic on which I gave the 20-minute presentation, so I'm leaving that essay for next week after I get back from London.

The even better news is that I'm going back to Chocolate Soup tomorrow, and tomorrow night there is a whisky and cheese tasting event. Scotland: here is your chance to redeem yourself on the cheese issue.

I haven't forgotten about the Skye post, but right now I'm focused on these essays. After these are done, I am going to have a post influx--detailing my trips to Skye, Loch Ness, my day trip to Rosslyn Chapel, London.... I promise I'll get those done before I head to Wales next weekend.

For now I suppose I should stop procrastinating and get back to finding every possible way to reword the phrase "Joseph Stalin was a totalitarian dictator."