ABD!

I'm not sure it has sunk in yet, but I am ABD. A candidate. Dang. It took too long - 4.5 years, but I got here and am excited to do my dissertation research. My committee was great and my defense was really a conversation about how best to go about doing what I want to do in a strategic and rigorous way. I chose wisely with my committee!! Now my last hurdle is to get USDA permission to do my research. I don't know how long that takes and I've been dragging my feet on getting the necessary materials to my boss for some reason. Gotta get that done this morning.

A Productive Morning!

While not as productive as it could have been, I checked a big to-do off of my list. I finished the documents needed to give to DHS in order for the USDA to approve my research. This is a big step towards commencing my field work. Unless my boss thinks it needs major revisions, it should be ready to send this week. I'm curious how long the process will take. I'm proud that I finished that task this morning. I've had plenty of mornings that were completely unproductive, which is frustrating.

I'm not sure how ready I am to go back to work. Even though it's only part time, sitting in the office for 4.5 hours/4 days a week is really mentally tiring. It doesn't help that the work is tedious. I'm so thankful for the job but sometimes that's hard to remember when I'm making Excel spreadsheets all day!!

Off to take the Penny dog for a walk and do a strength workout.

Back to Real Life

We had a great time going back to Iowa City for the holidays. My nephews are at such a fun age and everyone was home for the first time in 3-4 years. It was COLD when we were there - rarely got above freezing. But it was sunny almost every day so that made up for it. We took in a corker of a men's basketball game - Iowa vs. Indiana. Iowa kept it close the whole time and the arena was sold out since there was no bowl game. It was one of the loudest things I've ever been to and it was great fun even though we lost. I had kind of forgotten how exciting it can be to be at a Big 10 sporting event. It's a little nuts and slightly sickening to think of all of the money and effort going into a game, but I won't lie, it was a blast and I was hoarse from screaming by the end. I went running at the rec center once and then outside once. Lame! In my defense, I spent two days with a sour stomach and one day visiting friends. We also went sledding with the nephews which was fun but cold. Running gloves are not appropriate sledding gloves!!!

With Herky before the game. I only had to push one little girl out of the way!

Inspiration on 1st Ave. near City High!

As usual I've slacked on my work. I took some time away from the proposal when it was in the hands of my advisor. The IRB process is finished - exempt - yay! But I now have comments from two out of my three committee members and need to get going on revisions. I need to defend this month so I can apply for the dissertation fellowship. If I got it, that would be a HUGE load off of my mind since I'm 99% sure I won't have the time or energy to work at DHS while I'm doing my field work. I also have a paper that needs some significant editing. Lots of work to do!!!

I've been thinking a lot about resolutions lately. I don't like making them since they usually get broken, but I also love the idea of starting the year fresh with a new vision of how you want your life to be. I keep thinking about this quote I have on my desk that says, "You are what you do repeatedly." If that's the truth, I'm in serious trouble. Because what I do repeatedly is surf the internet and avoid my work. So that's my resolution this year, is to be mindful of who I am and who I want to be as evidenced by what I do repeatedly. I know resolutions are supposed to be specific and goal oriented and blah blah blah, but this is as good as it gets. I am what I do repeatedly. Watching Mad Men and refreshing Facebook all day is not who I want to be (what I did repeatedly yesterday).