Pass

A mighty smiley hi and hello to you, February. I successfully defended my
comprehensive exams this morning, gathering around with my committee for an
hour-and-a-half as we wound our way through the exam answers and associated
quandaries. About those associated quandaries: holy smokes. I started to
wonder if the climate controls for the much-trafficked Gilyard Seminar Room
(where it all happens) were accidentally bumped to 80-degrees, because,
for more than a few minutes, phew. Can I simply explain it that way? Phew.
To stay focused and to humor myself regarding focus, I brought in one of those
pinkish kiwi-something A-lutein Vitamin Waters, the kind with "focus" on its
label. But during one stretch I must’ve forgotten to take a sip because I
might have approached a record for the longest answer-avoiding utterance (I’m
still talking?) in the history of oral defenses.

While the successful completion of qualifying exams might, in itself, be
enough to give a satisfying lift on any other day, today’s not just any
other day. It’s also Is.’s 6 Mos.-Day. Almost grown! On top of that, Ph.,
who is battling the flu, stayed home from school on my insistence (It’s the flu,
kid; take a day). This meant we were able to stop in at
Erawan for Gai Pad Kra Pow
(I’m hooked on the sweet basil) and then run by the shopping mall to spend a few
dollars from the generous and ever-surprising Future Professoriate Program funds
disbursed late each January to participants.

So I guess that’s it. Tomorrow, onward with the diss. prospectus toward a
goal of proposing and defending it before April is up. Also, I’ve been
thinking that rather than updating Exam
Sitting
to Exams Sat, I’d give the exam notes blog a new moniker,
convert the old keywords into MT tags, and rejuvenate some of the note posting
rhythms that worked so well for me throughout the fall. That’s my plan, anyway.

23 Comments

  1. It was an honor and a pleasure, Mr. Mueller. And you were coherent, sharp, and smart throughout.

    It was also fun, from this end, thinking through all of that. My head was bubbling afterwards.

    Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations.

  2. Rawk!! And ditto the sentiments from Donna, JM, and Krista: it’s not like there was ever any doubt.

    Can’t wait to see the diss.

  3. As usual, D. takes care of business. There was never any doubt in my mind. I’m proud of you, Son!

  4. CONGRATULATIONS!…”Move over Dr. H., here comes Dr. M!”….enough of that…I just want to come visit Isabel….

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