Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Top 10 Differences between Grad School and Working on a Ranch.

Since my wife hasn’t updated our blog, I guess I should. As you may or may not know, I have been working on a ranch since late April. Why? Because I can’t eat or pay rent with my degrees. I have observed a few differences between ranch life and grad school that are worth sharing. Why? Because I don’t want to work on my dissertation. Anyways, without further ado (I know the suspense is killing you) here are the. . .

Top 10 Differences between Grad School and Working on a Ranch.

10.  In ranching, bad weather leads to days off. In grad school, weather is meaningless unless it kills your electricity.
9.      In ranching, you have to build a lot of fence to keep your cows in and others’ cows out. In grad school, you have to close your office door to keep everyone out.
8.      In ranching, sometimes you drive forever to get somewhere. In grad school, sometimes you write forever and get nowhere.
7.      In ranching, there is sunlight. In grad school, there is only fluorescent light.
6.      In ranching, you see lots of strange things. In grad school, you’re the strange thing.
5.      In ranching, there are wide open spaces. In grad school, you and 5 other people share an office with 3 desks.
4.      In ranching, things break. In grad school, you break.
3.      In ranching, if done correctly, one makes money. In grad school, if done correctly, one owes money.
2.      In ranching, one occasionally steps in cow poop. In grad school, one often writes papers full of, well . . . you know.
1.      In ranching, cattle are the commodity. In grad school, you are the cow.