Calling all PS thesis-tacklers, researchers, and students!

[AmberGretchen]

katamari - thanks for the nice words. I have done most of what I am able to do at this point to make myself marketable for this type of job, but there are a number of other companies that do the same thing. Some of them don''t hire PhDs, but more and more are starting to, so I''m working on getting lots of applications out (I already have one more set of interviews lined up with another company that has been recruiting me, and a recruiting event for yet another company that I''ll be attending later this month), so I''m hopeful that something will work out, but still pretty stressed about the whole thing.

I''m sorry to hear about your advisor troubles - I hope you are able to get everything wrapped up by the time you leave - two weeks in Europe with SO sounds fabulous

and what a lovely time of year to go

dockman - I hope that not having research to deal with allows you to focus more energy on your actual research and be very productive this semester

 

[WishfulThinking]

Sarah- It sounds like you will have a great year! I definitely understand being exhausted and having extra curricular responsibilities. We must belong to the same orgs. No one in my orgs ever seems to want to do ANYTHING.

FI is president and I am vice president of the main one I am involved in, and the other members are horribly disorganized and inactive. It''s sort of worrisome, considering that it would be nice to continue to have the org after we graduate. Stress there. We have a bunch of funding apps to get in, which is just soooooo fun. At least your classes sound like they will be good, and hopefully not too stressful.

You are not a downer! I can relate to the bittersweet feeling, for sure. We had convocation yesterday, and we wear our graduations robes to that- it was so WEIRD and surreal and sad and exciting all at the same time. I am one of those students who never wants to leave. If my college had graduate programs I would stay forever!

AmberGretchen- Thanks for your kind thoughts. I am so sad for you about the job search. We know how enthusiastic you were about the companies that were recruiting you. How frustrating. It''s good to hear there are some more job opportunities available. You are on the right track continuing to apply and interview. I so hope that you have luck with the companies who are recruiting you right now. I''ll be sending happy thoughts your way!

katamari- Thanks! It''s already been a great year... all 6 days of it! Good luck with your funding applications. Just think, once you''ve done the bulk of that work you can spend a beautiful vacation with your sweetie in Europe! I am so jealous! I hope the meeting with advisor2 went well.

dockman- Glad to hear you had a great trip! I wish I had your resolve to cut back on PS time... I am so bad with my internet guilty pleasures. When I''m MIA it''s not because I''m being good, it''s because I am running around crazily and can''t find a computer! Going ABD sounds like a great decision. It will be nice to be able to focus on your research without all of the other time-consuming hassles. Good luck!

As for me...
Convocation was amazing and fun, I''m excited to be back on my gorgeous campus, and our dorm suite is just FABULOUS. I''m in love! Not only am I living with FI and happy to have her back with me, but our little quasi-apartment is adorable and fun and just beautiful.

I got a 2nd campus job doing office work for the Gender Studies department, which is exciting because I can get some workplace-relevant experience from it, as well as build my contacts within the department. It''s a good feeling.
I''ve only been to one class so far, and it was a dance class, but my courses this semester are going to be wonderful. A lot of work, especially very reading intensive, but interesting subject material, and the professors are supposed to be good to work with.

I am planning to set up a meeting with new [evil? ahhhh] thesis advisor as soon as she is available for meetings, which should be next week. I am putting the finishing touches on my thesis proposal and brainstorming witty and charming things to say in addition to the sales pitch for all of my brilliant ideas.

I hope she buys it! I have done a lot of work so far, and favourite professor/summer advisor thinks it would be really hard for her to justify not allowing my thesis to go through, given the background I have with this research and my sort of obvious strengths in the department. I also have to completely ace my gender studies courses this semester--I have two in addition to my independent study/thesis credits, which should bolster my resume and hopefully make advisor like me. I am busy, but good, and definitely hopeful that it will be a great year! I am strapped for time, but I''ll be around, surely, as procrastination mode inevitably sets in...

Good luck everyone!

 

[katamari]

It has been awhile since we were all posting here.

On the quarter system, school just started back two weeks ago. I am teaching a new class and that has been sucking tons of my time. I need to either get less interested in it or stop caring so much asap. Beyond that, I am working with advisor1 on my NSF dissertation grant application (deadline 11/20) and with advisor2 on a publication that must be in review soon (i.e. this quarter) if I want a top job.

At the end of the summer quarter, I was not productive at all because I spent two weeks in Europe and then got engaged when we got back (which has increased phone call, text, and e-mail volume by at least 200%). I am, though, doing really good at not planning/thinking about the wedding much. But, it is my escape fantasy, so when models aren''t running or the advisor isn''t happy I think, "Time to find a location for our DW" and spend an hour on kayak.

Back to SAS

So. . .how is everyone else doing?

 

[kcoursolle]

I know I''ve been mostly absent from this thread, but I just wanted to chime in with an update! I got one of my papers out for review and the second one is close!!! I wanted to get them both out by now, but I''m staying productive.

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 7/28/2008 4:25:15 PM
Author: Elegant

Date: 7/10/2008 8:16:00 PM
Author: kcoursolle
I''m probably going to put together my dissertation proposal soon after these papers are in review and hopefully pass my orals by mid-year. Any tips on getting the proposal ready?



Good luck with your papers!!

kcoursolle - Hey there! Did someone already address this for you? How far are you into the proposal? This is an outline of mine (I am in an Organizational Leadership doctoral program):

Ch. 1 Introduction
Background
Statement of the problem
Purpose of the study
Research questions
Definition of terms
Importance of the study
Limitations and assumptions

Ch. 2 Review of Literature (YUCK!!!!!

)
Introduction
Review of literature
Summary

Ch. 3 Methods
Restatement of the research questions
Research design
Population, sample and analysis unit
Human subjects
Characteristics studied
Data collection procedures
Instrument
Analytical techniques

References

Thanks for this elegant! In my field I think it''s quite a bit different, but useful to have organization to think about!

 

[Clairitek]

This is my first time seeing this thread but I too am in the throes of graduate school.

I am working on my PhD in Mechanical Engineering. I do my research in composite materials. I have been in graduate school for 3 years and I will be done by this time next year (or at least thats what I''m telling potential employers). My adviser told me that I have to have 3 refereed papers out before I leave (or at least two out and one in review). My first is due by November 30th and I thankfully have topic and some work done towards the other two.

 

[gwendolyn]

I think we''re in need of a role call here, students/researchers/thesis-ers! You''ve been slacking on reporting your progress! Get back in here and give us a shout-out, will ya?

Welcome, Cairitek! This thread can be a great tool to keep yourself on target for timelines if you use it well. Best of luck!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Gwendolyn - how is London?! Are you guys all settled in? How''s the job? If you want us all to check in you have to spill too

I have to confess I''ve not made a huge amount of progress on my thesis - I got one more good chunk of data in last month and was just gearing up to do some more experiments when I tore some muscles in my ankle and so I''m now on crutches and probably not back to lab work for 3-4 weeks

I am working hard at finding a job though, but don''t want to post too much here for fear of jinxing it (silly, I know). But send whatever spare good thoughts you have my way around Oct. 17th and I promise I''ll come back and post if I have good news

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 10/7/2008 2:58:16 PM
Author: AmberGretchen
Gwendolyn - how is London?! Are you guys all settled in? How''s the job? If you want us all to check in you have to spill too

Will do, once more folks check in.

I have to confess I''ve not made a huge amount of progress on my thesis - I got one more good chunk of data in last month and was just gearing up to do some more experiments when I tore some muscles in my ankle and so I''m now on crutches and probably not back to lab work for 3-4 weeks

I am working hard at finding a job though, but don''t want to post too much here for fear of jinxing it (silly, I know). But send whatever spare good thoughts you have my way around Oct. 17th and I promise I''ll come back and post if I have good news

Oh, ouch! I am so sorry to hear about your injury, hon! Sounds very painful--please keep taking good care of yourself. And I can totally relate to not wanting to post too much about jobs for fear of jinxing things, but I am SURE you will find something amazing! It just takes some time, as you well know.

 

[katamari]

Hi everyone!

Glad to hear that everything in London is going well, Gwen! How''s the new job? Does it feel good that it doesn''t involve a thesis?

Welcome Clairitek!

I have also been told that I have to have three papers to have a shot at a top job (and at least one needs to be in a high-impact journal). Good luck!

Congrats on getting your paper out, kcoursolle!

That is a major accomplishment! I wish you speedy review times. I have two out now and it takes forever! Are you still planning on taking your comps this year, too?

Wishing you lots of luck on your job search, AmberGretchen!

We are rooting for you!

I am still working on my other paper that I wanted to get out this summer and grant proposals. If only the dissertation could write itself while I focused on other things.

 

[katamari]

Date: 10/6/2008 2:15:05 PM
Author: Clairitek
This is my first time seeing this thread but I too am in the throes of graduate school.


I am working on my PhD in Mechanical Engineering. I do my research in composite materials. I have been in graduate school for 3 years and I will be done by this time next year (or at least thats what I'm telling potential employers). My adviser told me that I have to have 3 refereed papers out before I leave (or at least two out and one in review). My first is due by November 30th and I thankfully have topic and some work done towards the other two.

Can I also tell you that the idea of finishing your PhD in 3 years with 3 publications in mindblowing to me! I am hoping to finish in 6 and that is 'on time' in our department. I am so jealous!

 

[Clairitek]

Can I also tell you that the idea of finishing your PhD in 3 years with 3 publications in mindblowing to me! I am hoping to finish in 6 and that is ''on time'' in our department. I am so jealous!

Don''t worry- I''m not getting out of here in 3, I''ve already been here for 3. Once I''m done it will be 4 and change (my adviser said that this is average but I have yet to see someone escape in that time). I agree- 3 years total would be totally mind blowing! Not even the best and brightest in my department can do that. Typically the ones thats stay around for a while have such an abundance of relevant work that they just keep going and going and going. That won''t be me... I just get easily distracted by things outside of my schoolwork- buying a house (and working on it, the boyfriend, my family (thats just close enough to want to visit often), sports, etc. I have a feeling that the end of the road for me funding-wise is the end of August 2009 so that is why I am now motivated. No one wants to work for free!

I have some friends here who are history students and they take 8 years on average to finish the masters and PhD together. The masters only takes 2 years but then the next 6 are spent on the PhD. I think its much harder for them because they have to find their own funding to live on or they end up teaching which takes up a lot of time. I definitely got some spiteful looks my first summer here when I mentioned that I was glad it was payday the next day. I didn''t even realize that their funding was only a partial year and that during the summer they had to fend for themselves. Most of them hardly get anything done in the summer because they are too busy working a jobby job in order to save up money for the coming school year. When I realized this I became very grateful that I work in a well funded field. I certainly don''t take year round, dependable funding for granted. Half of them end up leaving campus to work full time and then write at night. I can''t imagine a worse fate since I seriously lack in the motivation department. I respect my friends in these sorts of situations very much because of their determination. Its surely a labor of love for them.

 

[Delster]

Same old story with me

Clairitek I''m living that reality that you described, that you''ve seen the history students go through. It''s no fun, really not.

But being more optimistic, I know a lot of mech eng people, what kind of composites are you looking at?

katamari, when your dissertation works out how to write itself, could you get it to send a memo to mine?

Amber I''ll be sending lots of good job vibes your way this month. Take care hon and keep us posted.

Gwen you are such a darling. I wish I could have you sitting on my shoulder all day, spurring me on!!!

 

[WishfulThinking]

Hi everyone! It sounds like you''re all doing so well, and are, as usual, my inspiration.

Claritek, welcome!

It sounds like you are on track. Good luck with your papers.

AmberGretchen, I can''t wait to hear how your job search is doing when you are ready to share. I am thinking of you! I hope you are healing well.

gwendolyn, do share about the job!

katamari, nice to hear from you. Good luck on your paper and your dissertation. I am also multitasking right now, and it''s really tough.

Del, I''m thinking of you! Your

face made me sad. I hope everything is working out, despite all of the obstacles.


As for me...
I have been insanely busy, very little sleep, tons of deadlines, my classes are really kicking my @$$ this semester. However, it''s been GREAT overall. I feel like I''m being really productive, I love living with FI, and I know that I am putting a lot of my best work out in all of my classes.

My thesis got off to a VERY rough start. I had decided on doing it in the Gender Studies department even though I am a politics major, but my advisor there was horrid. I switched to yet another advisor in hopes we would click better, but it was even more of a disaster. After she told me all of my ideas [that I have been working on for NINE MONTHS!] sucked and my proposal was terrible and my ideas are [and I quote] "not academically rigorous" and "common sense" [?!?!] I freaked out. Then I realized that NO OTHER professor has told me that, so I consulted with an old professor of mine and a higher up in the Politics department who is serving as the Dean of the College currently. She hooked me up with the Politics department and insisted I switch out from Gender Studies.

So back to Politics I went. I talked to a professor of mine this semester [Legal Semiotics] who is now the director of my thesis work and she is FABULOUS!! YAAAY! She loves me, thinks I''m awesome, has great ideas for how I can proceed from here and make my work better, and is helping me edit my thesis proposal into an abstract to submit to conference that is going on in the Spring, when I will have my thesis completed. I am so excited! As an undergrad I haven''t had an opportunity to give any papers or go to any conferences as a presenter, so it''s going to be really cool. She also thinks I should look into publishing my thesis or sections of it once it''s complete. I feel like she is actually on my SIDE, which feels more "right" for an undergrad honors thesis at my college. Usually they do not give us a hard time about stuff the way they have to me, so I am relieved.

Overall, I couldn''t be more happy with how things are going. Hopefully I don''t sound like a fool carrying on this way! My last meeting with her was this morning, so all of the excitement is fresh in my head. I also met my FIRST deadline of the year in the department to be formally considered for honors thesis work. Yippee! FI is taking the GRE as we speak, so hopefully all goes well and we can go out tonight to celebrate!

I hope to hear happy things from all of you. Hang in there!

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 10/8/2008 12:31:52 AM
Author: katamari
Hi everyone!

Glad to hear that everything in London is going well, Gwen! How''s the new job? Does it feel good that it doesn''t involve a thesis?

Welcome Clairitek!

I have also been told that I have to have three papers to have a shot at a top job (and at least one needs to be in a high-impact journal). Good luck!

Congrats on getting your paper out, kcoursolle!

That is a major accomplishment! I wish you speedy review times. I have two out now and it takes forever! Are you still planning on taking your comps this year, too?

Wishing you lots of luck on your job search, AmberGretchen!

We are rooting for you!

I am still working on my other paper that I wanted to get out this summer and grant proposals. If only the dissertation could write itself while I focused on other things.

Thanks Kat!! It feels great to have it out! Yup, I''m still planning on doing my orals this year (academic year). Hopefully I will get the second paper out by winter and do my orals this spring. Who knows when I''ll get to those R&Rs if I''m lucky enough to have them.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Wishful how was the LSAT?!

It''s all over, yaaaay!

 

[WishfulThinking]

Date: 10/12/2008 1:36:34 AM
Author: SarahLovesJS
Wishful how was the LSAT?!

It''s all over, yaaaay!

I never took it! I am not sure whether you were around for my "mini-crisis" about what to do with my academic life. I ultimately decided not to apply anywhere this year and to take a year [only one!] off before deciding for sure. I am pretty close to positive that I will be going for a PhD in something like Gender/Feminist Studies, Cultural Studies, or maybe Political Theory... so many possibilities! I am excited about it, though.

How are your applications going? I hope you''re doing well and enjoying senior year!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Date: 10/12/2008 10:28:10 PM
Author: WishfulThinking

Date: 10/12/2008 1:36:34 AM

Author: SarahLovesJS

Wishful how was the LSAT?!

It''s all over, yaaaay!

I never took it! I am not sure whether you were around for my ''mini-crisis'' about what to do with my academic life. I ultimately decided not to apply anywhere this year and to take a year [only one!] off before deciding for sure. I am pretty close to positive that I will be going for a PhD in something like Gender/Feminist Studies, Cultural Studies, or maybe Political Theory... so many possibilities! I am excited about it, though.


How are your applications going? I hope you''re doing well and enjoying senior year!

I am not sure, but I think I missed some of it! I am sorry, but at least you made a decision that is best for you and removed a stress, that is awesome!

I am jealous..I kind of want to do the same thing sometimes, but it''s too late now. Haha. They''re going well..need to finish up the personal statement and get my other two recommendations turned in. ASAP I need to do this..

Hehe. I''ll get it done next weekend I guess. Your PhD options sounds awesome! My year is going well so far, crazy midterms ahhhh, but other than that! What about you?

 

[WishfulThinking]

Date: 10/13/2008 12:53:27 AM
Author: SarahLovesJS

Date: 10/12/2008 10:28:10 PM

Author: WishfulThinking

Date: 10/12/2008 1:36:34 AM


Author: SarahLovesJS


Wishful how was the LSAT?!

It''s all over, yaaaay!

I never took it! I am not sure whether you were around for my ''mini-crisis'' about what to do with my academic life. I ultimately decided not to apply anywhere this year and to take a year [only one!] off before deciding for sure. I am pretty close to positive that I will be going for a PhD in something like Gender/Feminist Studies, Cultural Studies, or maybe Political Theory... so many possibilities! I am excited about it, though.



How are your applications going? I hope you''re doing well and enjoying senior year!

I am not sure, but I think I missed some of it! I am sorry, but at least you made a decision that is best for you and removed a stress, that is awesome!

I am jealous..I kind of want to do the same thing sometimes, but it''s too late now. Haha. They''re going well..need to finish up the personal statement and get my other two recommendations turned in. ASAP I need to do this..

Hehe. I''ll get it done next weekend I guess. Your PhD options sounds awesome! My year is going well so far, crazy midterms ahhhh, but other than that! What about you?

Thanks! I feel like it''s the right thing to do. As for you, how cool that you''re almost done with applications!

I''m so excited for you. Please do tell as soon as you get any info back, okay?

Mid-terms are borderline killing me right now. I''m actually supposed to be working on my 10 page midterm for this insane legal semiotics class right now... 3/10 done is not good enough since it''s due on Tuesday! I have a ton of other stuff to do. The good part is that I love my classes. This class is actually really making me want to do critical legal studies stuff from the non-law side. I still

law... maybe this is my "thing." For all the reasons I said in my last post, though, I am so happy right now with school. Even when it''s hard it''s what I want to do, and as long as I keep remembering that all is well.

I am not doing so hot emotionally, though. This whole marriage thing / wedding thing is making me nuts. I feel like I can''t do anything until we know whether we can get a marriage license. Our newest plan is that it''d be awesome to just elope to city hall in SF, CA [did you see mia''s photos?!

] but we def can''t get there before Nov. 4th, and who knows after that. It''s totally putting a damper on everything, so wedding planning is on hold for now. *sigh*

 

[gwendolyn]

*le bump*

Ok, so I just had to give this thread life again. How is everyone doing? What is going on with your work? How many people are counting down until the Christmas holidays like I am?

So, I don't have much to report. James and I have been living together for just about 2 1/2 months or so and things are going well. I had off from work last week (half term, I love you!) and painted our living room the incredibly lovely shade of duck egg blue from Laura Ashley and it looks sooooooooooooooo much better--like it's mine and not just some generic apartment! So that's very yay. The job is going well, especially since I had a break all of last week and am generally feeling refreshed.

I am also so so so excited about the results of the election, AND, to top it all off for me, yesterday evening I saw my best friend from Australia and her husband (also a friend of mine) for the first time in almost 9 years!!!! Didn't get home until midnight and was awakened at 4am with good election news about Obama so I'm exhausted, but what a great day yesterday was!

Ok, your turn. What's new with YOU?

 

[Lorelei]

Hi Gwennie!

Good to see you!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 11/5/2008 8:55:21 AM
Author: Lorelei
Hi Gwennie!

Good to see you!

Heehee, hiya, Lorelei! Always a pleasure to see you!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Awww...Gwen great to hear such a lovely update - sounds like things are going beautifully

Delster - glad to hear that things are proceeding, but sorry that the tome is getting you down - that''s no fun at all...

I hope everyone else is doing well - would love to hear updates as well, and I''ll add mine to get the ball rolling.

So first off, I have to say that trying to find a first job out of school in this economy is brutal. I''ve seen so many talented, qualified, enthusiastic candidates, including myself, who have been turned away with "in any other year, yes, but this year, we just don''t have space." I''ve gotten that message myself from one of the large firms I''ve interviewed with.

So far, the only positive I''ve gotten is actually from my top-choice firm, but its not an offer. Its a maybe. As in " we were really impressed with you, and any other year this would be an offer, but we just don''t know how many spots we''ll have until we''ve seen everybody, so sit tight and wait." So the wait is kind of killing me, but I''m trying to remember that I''ve done the best I can do up till now, and there''s nothing else I can do. If you do have any extra dust though, I''d love to have some floating my way - this would truly be my dream job, in so many ways, and I''d be thrilled to get it, especially in the current economic climate.

 

[WishfulThinking]

Hi Gwen- glad to hear things are going well with you and J!

AmberGretchen- I am sending dust your way, for sure! The economy really is in a tough place. I am definitely not looking forward to my job search, though I doubt I''m qualified for anything other than flipping burgers at MacDonalds...

I will be thinking of you!

As for me I am doing well... my new thesis advisor is great, I''m making pretty good progress. However, the election has halted my progress COMPLETELY, we missed 2 days of classes to fly to CA to get married [!!!], and now with all the confusion with prop 8 happening... it''s been a long couple of weeks, and full of ups and downs. I can''t get anything done until CA is sorted out and we find out if we''re still married.

I hope all of you continue to do well!

 

[AmberGretchen]

Wishful - thanks for the dust, much appreciated to be sure

I'm following the prop 8 stuff avidly out here too - we had a party last night for the election and everybody had such mixed feelings because we were all excited about Obama and yet saddened by the prop 8 results so far. I'm hoping for a miracle with those uncounted ballots, but also trying to take some comfort from the fact that at least these margins are narrowing, and hopefully in another few years we'll be ready to do the right thing, as a state, and hopefully shortly thereafter as a country.

I saw some of your beautiful non-pro pics from your wedding - what a special occasion. I know its so hard, but try not to let the painful prejudices of the ignorant spoil the beauty that you and your DW have together

I'll be sending good wishes your way, for job, thesis, and most important, a legalized marriage

 

[kama_s]

NO WAY! I wish I knew about this thread before!!!!!! I am doing a Master''s in Clinical Pharmacology, but my project was a PhD project (I decided I didn''t want to switch to the PhD) and I added two big projects onto my study! End of august was two years into my Master''s, and I was beginning to add a THIRD section to my study (don''t ask me why). That''s when I realized that I need to be done by end of November, since I''m flying across the ocean to marry my wonderful beau 2nd week of December. Soooooo...I started writing my thesis on the 1st of September, and finished a rough draft 3rd week of Septermber (!!!!!!!!!!), distributed it to my supervisor and my entire advisory committee, revised it with all the necessary corrections and handed it in to the department mid October!!

My defense is set for the 19th of November! I can''t believe how close I am to being done!

And to anyone who''s having anxiety attacks on the whole thesis writing....I arranged, entered and analysed (statistically) most of my data and wrote just under 150 pages in THREE WEEKS! And the entire department apparently wrote to my supervisor commending me on my thesis.....soooo, if I can do it, so can YOU!

If anyone needs any help at all, feel free to ask

 

[AmberGretchen]

Congrats kama - that sounds like an amazing accomplishment. Please come back and let us know how your defense goes - fingers crossed on that one, though it sounds like you have got it in the bag, with all the accolades you''ve already received

 

[kama_s]

Thanks for the kind words, AmberGretchen. I have yet to start studying for the defense, since I''ve been busy marking 250 3rd year pharmacy exams up until now. I''m also training a new student to take over my project, since I added that 4th part to it. I finished writing the protocol, made ethics amendments and started recruiting. I''ve just recently handed it to her. *phew*

 

[AmberGretchen]

kama - its always so nice to get a defined chunk of something finished - congrats on handing over the reigns.

I''m working towards a similar goal right now - gathering what will hopefully be the last big chunk of data before I have enough to start writing up one of my papers. Fingers crossed that that comes together in the next week or so and that compiling it isn''t too painful...

 

[katamari]

Hi everyone!

Gwen: glad to hear things are well. It must feel good to personalize your home, I know I always love it!

AmberGretchen: This is what I hate the most about the academic job market! No one else seems to understand the stress about working so hard to get jobs that may not even exist.

I do hope that you get it, though, and I am sending all the dust I have to you!

Wishful: That makes two of us who were sidelined by the election. Since I teach stratification classes, it has given me a lot to talk about, and so I have turned all my election coverage into "class prep," but it is emotionally draining. I certainly will keep you and your wife in my thoughts! Good to hear your new advisor is working better!

Kama: We wish you would have been around before, too! I cannot believe that you have a date!

That is so exciting. You are certainly my inspiration right now! Tons of dust for the defense! That is such a wonderful accomplishment!

I am working on my NSF dissertation grant application now. It is due the 21st! It has gotten me really interested in my dissertation and I, at least now, am loving the project! I am very overextended right now, though, and that is frustrating. I am working on the grant/dissertation with one advisor, working on two articles with the other (all on quasi-different topics using 2 different data sets and 3 different methods), and teaching a new prep. I do love

my class that I am teaching, though. It is an advanced senior seminar, and it is a great group really dedicated to exploring and deconstructing ideas. I hope the workload will be better after the grant is out and since the election is over, but luckily my models take awhile to run and while they are, I open PS and FB and those distractions are keeping me sane.