the beginning of the middle

I've been working on and off since last week to complete all the requirements for my upcoming 'graduation.' It's odd. They're giving me a degree. I'm graduating. But I'm not actually going anywhere, and nothing is going to change at school or elsewhere. Anyway, I'm almost done. I just have to corral a few more signatures and submit a few more documents, and then I'll be finished with a process that began around this time last year (when I started to think about doing my thesis).

When I start my dissertation, the whole process will start all over again on a much larger scale. I don't really want to think about it. Because I'll probably pee a little.

thesis defended

My thesis defense went well yesterday. There weren't really any major hiccups. I do have to make a few changes before I can turn in my official final copy to the dean's office, but it isn't something that is going to be too monumental. I should be able to get it all finished in a week or so. Then I'll have to wait for a while to get all the official signatures, paperwork, etc. And then that will be pretty much it for Master's v.2.0. Graduation isn't until the first week of May, though, so nothing is officially official until then...

back to the grind

Got back safely from Michigan last night a little before midnight, and it was balmy when I stepped out of the car. Maybe 70 degrees still. Twenty hours in the car definitely makes for a long trip, but the nice weather on our return was a pleasant surprise. The house was pretty much as we left it, with the addition of a role of paper towels knocked onto the floor and strewn about the kitchen. I guess the cats got a little bored.

I don't have too many plans for today. I think Sarah's going to do some cleaning, and I'll probably go to the store to get food so we can eat this week. I'm going to defend my thesis on Wednesday, a week earlier than I initially planned (I switched spots with someone else who needed a little more time). I'm basically ready for it, but I'm going to do a dry run with my advisor on Tuesday.

Other than that, things will go back to normal on Monday, and it will be back to the daily grind. Bummer.

so close, so far

I still have another few hours before spring break officially begins, but I'd really like to start right now. There are papers to be graded, and they're glaring at me from across my desk. It doesn't appear that they're going to grade themselves. Let me check...  Nope, I think I'm going to have to do it. Oh well, maybe next time.

the usuals

I've spent the last 10 days or so doing typical things. I've been doing a little research here and there. I've made some more revisions to my thesis. I'm on my last draft before I will defend it in front of the committee (on March 30). I also played basketball three times this week. We won our first intramural playoff game via a mercy rule (we were up by 40 with 10 minutes to go). Game two is on Monday, and I think our competition is going to be much better.

I got some more good news this week. I was accepted for that special summer program I applied to back in November or December. I'll learn some specialized methods of data analysis and some other new techniques for research, and it will look nice on my CV. More importantly, we'll get to visit Matt and Rebekah for two weeks!

Today Sarah and I are going to go to the Cheesecake Factory to use a gift card she won a while back, so that should be fun. We're also planning on stopping at Costco and running a few errands, which is slightly less fun, but what are you going to do. At some point I also have to do the all of the spring yard work (trimming, giving the grass it's first mowing, etc.), but I think I'm in the process of seeing how long that can be put off...