Sunday, November 25, 2007

Christmas Tree Rant

So let me tell you that it's a sad state of affairs. I'm loosing faith in humanity. Why you ask. Because it's next to impossible to find an artifical Christmas tree WITHOUT lights already attached to the branches. Are we really sooooo very busy that we can't take a few minutes and put the lights on ourselves? Is that not in fact the best part of putting up a Christmas tree? Plugging in the lights, untangling the glowing chain of color, and then wrapping the tree with them? Now I suppose finding that one unlit light which darkens the whole string is quite annoying but come now people.
But after going to 8 different stores (all of which likely had the same 10 kinds of fake xmas trees), I finally caved and bought a "prelit" tree. As you will see from the photo, since it came with clear lights, I had to add my own colored ones but quite frankly, an all white tree is dull. The kind of thing that one sees in a store but not at home. Ok. Quite enough of that rant.



But really, life is good. I have a pretty tree. Thanksgiving was really nice. I spent it with two of my professors and their families, which turned out to be a lot of fun. I had the tastiest baked Turkey I've ever eaten. (Sorry Mom.)
And on that note, it's time to eat a bit more.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving

So just to update things, I took my oral Q-exam last Friday. It ended up being less fun than I'd hoped, but I survived. My committee gave me some constructive advice, so all-in-all I think it was a useful experience.
Otherwise I'll be in Ithaca for Thanksgiving. It'll be nice to have a travel-lite holiday. I hope you all have a happy Turkey Day, and a safe trip for those of you who are traveling.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Let's all take a moment...

"C" is for cookie, it's good enough for me...

Blodablblblbdabldadlbdladlbladlblblblbl....

Monday, November 12, 2007

I've got five minutes to kill...

So what's occupying my life you ask? Well grad school of course.
It seems that after much back and forth, I may in fact do my oral Q-exam this Friday. "The Q" as we call it, is trial by academic firing squad. It's more or less impossible to prepare for, and probably the most scary and intimidating rite of passage for us astro grads. And it may in four days time be over.
Otherwise there is a little under three weeks of classes left, two weeks of finals/projects, and then I get to go back to Iowa!!!