Tuesday, March 31, 2009

List making

I like to make lists. In part this is because I'm a planner and I enjoy planning things, but also this is because I will forget things if I don't write them down. Going to the grocery store, for instance, is a lost cause without a list. I will end up with a basket full of things that look yummy, but no toilet paper, even though I went there for TP in the first place.

My newest list: Things I Must Remember Never to Do Again

1. Buy luggage without wheels.
2. Go see Dr. Michaud when I could just talk to her office on the phone

Obviously, there are millions of others. And I intend to update this list as I go, but these two came up today and made me realize that I should make this list.


In other notes, I am now in possession of toiletries of an acceptable size to carry onto a plane and I had a lovely dinner with Lucinda (my Sunday school teacher from hundreds of years ago who essentially adopted Matt Salisbury and myself, and is the parent we rarely see. She also writes excellent books on horse-related things). Oh, and I rediscovered one of my favorite books from childhood and read the whole thing last night. Thank god my parents kept all my books.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Victory in our time

I defended my thesis on Friday.

And I passed!

I win!

In all seriousness, it was scary. I worked harder on this project than anything I've ever done, and yet it was easier and more fun than anything I've ever done. At least, most of it was fun. I've never been good at the fluffing up parts. Left to my own devices, my work is straight-forward and verging on sparse. And defending it made me nervous, even though I know my data inside and out.
Luckily, it's traditional to bring snacks for your committee. This gave me something to worry about and obsess over all week, and thank god for that. I ended up making cheese straws (with my new cookie gun), tiny blueberry muffins, little pinwheel wraps (on gluten free wraps), and "Texas Caviar" with blue corn chips. I went to town. I even got cute blue polka-dot plates to serve it all on.
To celebrate passing, I... went to work. And then I went to work again. But on Sunday I went out with Jessica for our traditional Sunday dinner, then met all manner of people at Backroom. It was thoroughly delightful.

Right now I'm in Franklin, hanging out with my parents and doing lots of shopping. On Wednesday I leave for a conference in New Orleans, which should be a lot more boring than it sounds.

I'll keep you updated.