I’m one step closer to being ABD–‘ABD’ stands for ‘All But Dissertation’, which refers to one’s status as a graduate student when one has completed all the requirements for one’s PhD except the dissertation. On Monday I passed my Area Exam, a 1.5-hour grilling, conducted by three faculty members, on about twenty books or papers relevant to my anticipated thesis topic. My Area Exam Committee worked me pretty hard, but I said enough of the right things for them to give me a passing grade. Woot!
Month: October 2008
19,747 steps
I fear that we may have been a little hard on poor Gam’ma. If I am correct, on her arrival here, she was happy to say that she had once walked 10,000 steps in one day. Well we then made her walk 11,000 steps and then the next day 12,000 steps. Yesterday she was a really good sport and managed 19,000+ steps. Most of those should have counted double since they were up hill and down hill.
So three cheers for Gam’ma!
The Keystone Arches
Last year, at about this time, Aunt Ivy came to visit. While she was out, we went to see some old railway bridges in western Massachusetts. Today, we decided to show the same bridges to Grandma and Grandpa.
Hmmm. How far is the drop on the other side of this rock wall?
If Grandma needs to poke the ground with sticks when she walks, then I should try it too.
Visitors From Home
On Saturday, nearly a week ago, we went to the airport to pick up Grandma and Grandpa. Since then, we’ve been playing tour guide. We’ve taken lots of pictures, but, unfortunately, we haven’t been blogging to keep up with the pictures we’ve taken. Here’s a sampling.
The fall foliage at Old Sturbridge Village.
The New England Aquarium. If you look closely, you’ll see L doing his best imitation of the penguin swim.
A lighthouse on Cape Ann.
A beach near Ipswich, MA.
When I have bad dreams…
How’s this for some personal information. When Pam has bad dreams, they usually involve a bull. It chases her around and she can never run fast enough. When I have bad dreams, they usually involve great big grizzly bears. I am planting trees by myself in some far corner of the block or I’m camping alone in the woods or I’m hiking with Pam and L and a bear shows up. You can imagine the rest of the dream: running…running…nooooo…running…etc. (I’d be interested to hear a dream expert’s take on these dreams.)
Given the nature of my bad dreams, this guy is now my hero. I will try to emulate him the next time I have a bad dream. Wow!
Stunt Cow
HOORAY!