defense: passed

What I was most afraid of was that I would feel discouraged and not want to work on the ideas I already had bouncing around for things I wished to do with my manuscript. I don't feel that at all. I feel like I could write all day! All night! All weekend, all week, all month, all of my life!

Horray for those momentary highs!

The School Saga from A to Z

It was a long process. Before our trip to DC this past weekend, Tim had narrowed it down to five schools. 

George Washington: Because of the proximity to DC, Tim would have better job prospects for national jobs. It is the most expensive, but he had a campus job offer that would reduce tuition by 95%. But, no one had ever gotten the degree and certificate he wanted to get at the same time, so he was a little nervous about how it would work.

George Mason: They have Emergency Management and it also has the DC advantage, but it is still extremely expensive. We felt the campus and Fairfax was nice, but nothing really screamed us to live there. It's also a very large program.

After the trip to DC, these were eliminated. So it came down to...

North Texas: They have the emphasis he wants (Emergency Management), and is the perfect proximity to our beloved parents. It would probably be easier to find a job within Arkansas driving distance after graduation. But, Denton is Denton, which does not compare to Chapel Hill or Wilmington. 

UNCW: This is in our most favorite town in the whole wide world (it only beats Fayetteville by .3 points, and only because it had a beach. If everyone I loved in Arkansas would move to Wilmington, my life would be perfect, also because Wilmington is getting a Whole Foods and possibly a Trader Joe's, and it has First Presbyterian Church and a zillion wonderful local restaurants.) It didn't, however, have Emergency Management.

UNC: This is the smallest program. They offered Tim a scholarship. People called him to talk about his decision, and he was able to meet several students, all of whom he liked. He would be able to get the degree and certificate without problem, and its well-known for its local government emphasis, which is what Tim was interested in (as compared to national, ie DC schools).

So, because we couldn't put UNC's program in the town of Wilmington in the proximity to Arkansas of Denton, we chose UNC.

Go Tar Heels!

Happy Birthday Timoteo

Grotero

As I taught my Korean class last night, I spotted a cockroach crawling around, too close for comfort. I couldn't move because of my class. I just had to sit there and watch it conquer territories in the dining room, until it disappeared behind a bag of soil in the corner. I remembered that cockroaches travel in pairs, that they only come indoors because they are curious creatures, and then they get lost and can't get back outside.

Of course, I forgot about it when class was over. I'm not forgetting it now.

Sad Things About Growing Up

1) Removing The Doors as my voicemail message after eight years (the whole time I've had a cell phone!).

Thesis Reading

When I attended a seminar on how to give a good thesis reading, Philip and Clyde's best advice was not to give a reading,but instead, give a performance. So if I look a little upset in this picture, don't worry, it's all part of the performance. 

March Madness is over

At least my March Madness. This past month I have interviewed for jobs, taken the Praxis, started a new Korean semester, and gone on a quick weekend trip. This past week I have turned in my thesis, turned in my last official assignment, and gave my thesis reading. Holy Moly. I feel a thousand pounds lighter.

I thought I'd be jumping around with happiness at finishing all of this. And believe me, I am relieved. I've watched a television show, a movie, and a documentary this morning, and I didn't feel one once of guilt about what I should have been doing. But in place of the pressure I'm feeling quite sad that this whole experience is coming to an end. I feel like I'm just beginning to figure a few things out. Now I need about 10 more years to really get in a routine. So, how about that UNCW? Would you mind extending the program another 8 years?