Head Spinning

So, I'm taking a class on linguistic Anthropology, and I have to do a project for midterm. It's due this Friday. I'm doing a project on jokes. This project involves gathering data (I videotaped a group of people just sitting around telling jokes) transcribing the data - and not just what was said but semiotic codes (gaze, hand gesture, anything non-verbal), emphasis, rise in tone, timing significant pauses and including how long they were, overlap, and reactions to jokes. Even small talk in between about the jokes and all of the above that is involved in that. I recorded 20 minutes of film and currently have 9 pages of data transcription alone. I haven't even started the analysis portion that will be the bulk of my paper. Did I mention the paper in its entirety must be a MAXIMUM of 8 pages? I'm going into brain overload. There is so much that goes into a simple conversation or knock knock joke. Plus, the jokes escalate in offensiveness, which is interesting, but a bit tiresome. Maybe I'll post part of the transcript when I'm done, I dunno. This is going to be a major headache.

But do you want to know the dirty truth? I love it. Every minute of it. This has been an incredibly challenging class, but not impossible. I've loved working hard and I'm so anal with looking at the details. This class is designed to both invigorate me, yet drive me absolutely crazy. You reach a point where the details become overwhelming and I just need to stop and take it up again in an hour or so. This is the first time I've been excited about a paper since last semester when I loved all my English classes. Green Beer day? No thank you, I'd rather spend time with my project than watching you puke bright green liquid up. Here's hoping I don't drive myself crazy this week!