Next Up: Law School

Today I turned in my very last assignment for a graduate course E.V.E.R. I'm going to enjoy this feeling until I start my prelims, well, pretty much next week.

Really, though. Yay!



Tangent: I really like this picture of Ms. Logan playing bocce.

"There were a lot of kids in the pool."

Dave threw up in the pool today. And then kept swimming like nothing had happened. We had chili for lunch. So you can just imagine.

Gatorville

Loved NRC. Perhaps the best conference I've attended to date. My talk went well, which was a relief. And the pool bar was a delightful treat on a December afternoon. This all has me feeling rather calm as I face tremendous challenges in the end-of-semester weeks to come.

p.s. Lee, this picture is for you.

Travel

Off to Orlando for Conference #2 today.

Today

Hi: 62°

Lo: 41°

Partly Sunny

Wednesday

Hi: 68°

Lo: 50°

Mostly Sunny

Thursday

Hi: 76°

Lo: 53°

Partly Sunny

Friday

Hi: 68°

Lo: 48°

Partly Cloudy

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Back from Conference #1. I attended a number of great sessions, but what I found most informative was my inside look at the ugly underbelly of educational research. Still processing that. Luckily, those moments of disillusion were bracketed by some healthy laughter with good friends.

Conference #1

I'll be making my way to Texas today. Just wanted everyone to know that I won't be blogging NOT because I'm a totally lame-ass blogger these days, but because I'll be out of town. What about all of those other days in which you have NOT been blogging, you ask? Well. I'd love to answer, but my bags won't pack themselves, will they?

VOTE

VOTE

I too was really nervous about the 30-minute Obama slot last night. Thought I might have to hold my breath through the whole thing. Not the case. I was once again moved and inspired. When it was over, I just started sobbing. Like many others, I'm very emotional about this election. I'm so afraid for so many people, and I have allowed myself to really hope these last few weeks. It's exciting and terrifying at the same time to be invested in something so promising.

13 More Sleeps

My support never wavered, but I do feel much more prepared for the next two weeks now that I'm wearing this button.

Under Control

I kept thinking of this poster as I watched last night's debate.

Support

I'm waiting for a button like this to arrive. I ordered it weeks ago and am being very patient.

New

I left my house for good tonight, and although there was a lot of crying, I know change is good.

The Family Vote

For the first time in a lot of years, it seems that my parents might be voting for the same candidate in November. And this is good news.

Yes I Can

I have several friends who are blogging Obama until the election. I can get into that.

Short Update

I really meant to blog again, but things have gotten crazy around here with preparing the house for sale. Turns out I kinda hate house projects -- especially those that involve paint. Things are looking pretty good so far, though, and I'm excited to see the final product. And then to sell it to someone else. And soon. I'll be terribly sad to leave my house but overwhelmed with glee to have the whole process done. Of course, once the house is done Dave and I will start planning the wedding. We've been engaged for just over a week now and I already feel like I'm behind.

On the Blog Again

Congrats to me on finishing a book that was not assigned for class. E. M. Forster's A Room With a View is quite good. Funny stuff. I recommend it. In other news, I'm putting my house on the market soon. So that's also a big deal.

On Why She Does Not Sweep

After a year and a half of living with Cassie, I finally understand:

"I don't even think about sweeping the floors because I've always had carpet. I used to vacuum all of the time, but I'm not used to hardwood floors. And you know, I don't even really like the hardwood."

Summer Blues

It still doesn't quite feel like summer. Mostly because I'm still feeling guilty at every turn for not getting this or that done. Today, the guilt over the messy house is at the forefront of my guilts. One of these days I swear I'm going to spend a sleepy day doing nothing and it will be the only thing I should be doing.

Expect More

All of the Isaac Mizrahi sunglasses at Target have a sticker that reads "Maximum UV Protection" while all of the other sunglasses in the store say either 99% or 100% protection. To me, saying maximum instead of 100% seems like a sneaky way of pretending to be 100% while being something slightly less.

I decided to check this reasoning with the sales clerk.

"Maximum is like, um, it's like somewhere in the middle. It means like 50%. Yeah. It's 50%."

Huh.

Not the answer I had expected, but enough for me to decide to put that pair back on the rack.

Elgar and Brahms

Dave was the house doc at the orchestra last night. No one needed his assistance, though. And this was a good thing, because after having an allergic reaction to an herbal cough drop, he was mildly covered with hives, his eyes were swollen to the point that both of his contacts had gotten stuck in the back of his eyelids, and he couldn't see a thing. I asked if he needed me to get the house doc, but he didn't think that was very funny.

PhDuh

When I signed up to speak at this conference Friday, I thought, "Hell. It'll get me to write that damned paper and what's the big deal anyway?" Why is it I can never really convince myself with statements like these? On the plus side, I have a very good reason to do some drinking Friday night.

Hands On

Part of Dave's new gig at work includes ordering parts for the hospital's simulation center. That means I catch glimpses of messages like these in his inbox from the rep at Limbs and Things:

"As far as the breast simulator goes, i was impressed with Kyoto's model"

and

"that testicular model looks good from here. do you have any experience with it?"

Apparently not all simulator's are the same, but with some proper research a discerning individual can select the right model.

Golden

Dave and I have been trying for months to see Into the Wild and we've been mostly thwarted in our attempts. Once, after driving 20 minutes, we learned that a theater had forgotten to update their listings on the website and it wasn't actually showing. Another time we believed the City Pages when it located the Hopkins theater in Eden Prairie. FYI: it's not there. This weekend we checked four video stores only to learn their copies were out. Driving home dejected and silent, we happened upon a McDonald's and an idea. Redbox. Sure enough. Dave wouldn't let me buy any french fries, but we were both really happy with this stop. On the movie, we felt ambivalent; on the redbox, we're sold.

Academic Hazard

I'm currently typing with a wrist-guard, velcro-wrap thing on each arm. It's slower going than usual on the ole' keyboard, but I'm trying to ward off a case of carpal tunnel that I caught from grad school. These accessories are fashionable in my office at least. Gradpals Carrie and Kate both wear them frequently with a variety of outfits. They are nothing if not versatile.

"Did I just say that out loud?"

The -55 windchill didn't stop me from having a good time up in North country this weekend. Neither did the five-hour power outage that knocked out heat and lights in all of the lodge except for the lobby. Nor did my eight falls and one minor head injury during cross country skiing. I had such a good time, in fact, that I didn't even mind when Dave, standing right in front of the receptionist, held out the room key and said matter-of-factly, "You go ahead and poop. I'll check us out."

Josephine

I had brunch today with some old pals. I am very much in love with their two-year-old daughter who, when her four-month-old brother pulled her finger, exclaimed, "He's pulling my finger!" and then, with great effort, tried to fart. I knew her father in college. This is his doing. Trust me.

San Diego

I took this photo with my cell phone and recently figured out how to transfer it to my computer. As you can see, I've been working hard over my break.

Resolution: Be a Better Sport Win More Games

Dave and I spent the New Year's holiday at his family's cabin. He taught me how to play cribbage. I lost 8 of the 9 games we played. At one point I got so mad I threw down my cards and stormed out of the room. This scene was reminiscent of last New Year's Eve when he accused me of cheating at Yahtzee. I'm trying to keep such displays to just once each year.