Merry Christmas

(or, if you're like me... Happy Birthday!)




As I was cleaning this week, my suitcase was out in the middle of the living room floor- Webster fell in and had a great time playing inside the suitcase. The next few days are going to be busy! Meeting my dad/Grandma/Brother for birthday lunch then heading an hour south to have Christmas with L's family- then back up here to have Christmas with my family at my house on Saturday.

I knitted every single Christmas gift that I'm giving this year, so I'm really excited to cast on something for myself today. I'm thinking a Pogona- my bosses at the yarn shop actually gave me some yarn for my birthday/Christmas- so I may use the skein of Casacade Heritage they gave me and then I can wear something new to work. I sense a mass cast on coming on!

I know that this might be a bit dodgy or cliche- but, if you're reading this, I want to say thank you. The last few years haven't been the easiest for me and blogging, and the bloggish friends that I've made have helped me so much. Thanks everyone for being so wonderful, and have a great Weekend no matter what you might or might not be celebrating this weekend!

Suck it.

I know I promised good news yesterday, so I'm a day late. But it's still good news.

Remember, back when I was on The Island, how Dr. H spent quite a while telling me what a horrible writer I was and how I was never going to finish the program and how I turned in the worst thesis proposal he'd ever written (I'd link to it, but I'm not sure I want to sift through that much anguish).

Well, Dr. H. You Can Suck It. You heard from my advisors this week, telling you that I did indeed finish my thesis. And then, Dr. H, you yourself had to go to the registrar and perform the grade change to make it official. On Wednesday I got the email and talked to someone in the degree conferral office- I am officially a Master now. I did finish.

Also. I had a meeting with one of the professors I TA for now (in the midst of MA number 2)- and we ended up talking about my research. In the completely unrelated hour-long lunch I got more positive and constructive feedback on my research than I had in two years of fighting with people on the Island. Dr. L from here thinks I have a great topic that is likely to garner funding for further research. Suck it, Island- I have triumphed over you for once and for all.

So, basically, my good news is that in the same week I got my first quarter grades from my first quarter of MA #2, and did not fail- and MA #2 was finally conferred. So awesome (and I'm feeling sweetly vindicated, can you tell?)

Knitting pictures soon, maybe?

Robot Santa!

The boyfriend, and I have been preparing for our first Christmas together.

Well, we have since last Friday when I was officially done writing, reading and grading.

We got a little Christmas tree (it's staying at my house since that's where we'll be for Christmas), and have pledged only to have handmade ornaments. The best part is the tree-topper we made together:

It's ROBOT SANTA! (and yes, I knit his hat).

I have more good news for tomorrow. Now, it's time for bed.

Crunch Time

Paper #1 (Discussing the evolution of Marx's concept of alienation) due tomorrow at noon. First set of finals and final batch of regular grading due for students at noon (so my grading work will begin).
Paper #2 (Discussing Pakistan for my US Environmental History Class) due Tuesday at noon.
Final set of finals for grading will be done around 11 on Friday, grades due from profs on Sunday.
Dance performance on Saturday.

Here's what happens when there's a reading frenzy at my house:

Webster gets highlighted. (can you see the green on his wee kitty cheek?)




Oye. Back to writing.

Snow Turkeys!

Happy Thanksgiving!



It's been snowing here, so my family holiday has been postponed until Sunday. Webster and I are trying to stay warm and knitting and writing.

P.S. if you know my real name, you might be able to find it in that book up there... : ) One of the reasons I couldn't blog for a while- it was so hard to keep the secret!!!

My favorite part of the day:

Watching the sunrise over the water.





Also, (obviously for those of you who aren't reading this in a reader), I've changed my design, and I am so happy about it.

I love the rain. One of the best things about being home is the rain. I know that there was rain on the Island and in Georgia, but it's not the same kind of rain- and there is something amazing about a blustery fall day.

It's apparently the end of the quarter, because I've cast on about four new projects since Thursday. And I have ideas for several more. Evidently I knit when I'm stressed. There are a few hats in the works that I will hopefully be able to share soon.

Happy daylight savings time, everyone!!

Still Alive.

Although barely, it seems sometimes... It's funny easy it is to forget how hard grad school it.

It's also funny how much of a difference a really great support system makes- which is one of the reasons I haven't needed to blog so much lately, between being so close to my family and the Boyfriend- I've just been too happy and contented to feel the need to blog!



Webster got into a fight with a pomegranate seed the other night, and it looked like he was all bloody for days afterwards. It was hilarious.

Another reason for my contentedness: The view from my new apartment.



Ah, beautiful sunsets over the water.

Also, I've been knitting, although not nearly as much as usual.

Pineapple Upside Down Hat (test-knit):



Papers are going to be due soon- blogging may be part of my strategy to write more. We'll see. I hope everyone is having an amazing fall- I know I am!