Friday, April 14, 2006

I'm Not In Kansas Anymore

Who would have thought that not running for two and a half (help) weeks and then going on a 8km run would have a downside? Well, I'm sore. I was sore yesterday, but I thought it would be better today. Not so.

I have an 8am class of Fridays and I wasn't entirely prepared, so I woke up at 5:30. When I stood up - woooo the things were still a' burnin'. So I trundle outside to get on my bike and get to the office, and oh. It's raining. Really really raining. So, on with the rain gear and off I go. The rain gets heavier. The wind picks up. By the time I get to campus I'm seeing branches blow across the street - branches that were very recently on trees. Of course, when class started the wind died and the rain dropped to a drizzle.

Anyway, the lesson I'm taking is that the world doesn't want me to really work today. The rain's picked up again, so I'm not going to run (maybe tomorrow). I've finished my 'must do today' work, and so I'm going home. I've got a brand spanking new desk copy book that I can curl up with (up with which I can curl?), and the pattering rain on the window will sound so nice.

The downside is that I've got to bike through all that again to get home :(

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Sidewalk After a Rainy Day

My firewall is popping up all sorts of worm attack attempts. Someone must be after me...


Originally uploaded by Overread.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Running In the Sunning

Wow, Don't run for 2 and a help weeks and you get slower. Will wonders never cease?

8.23km - 41'02"

Stomach Gone Twisty

Ok. Hold on, this may take a bit.

I didn't want to talk directly about this before I knew more, but I did mention I got to talk to two of my potential PhD advisors at the Conference of Doom last weekend. One was from a school I did get in and one was from a school I got waitlisted for. Here's the breakdown:

Old School School (OSS?):
  • I would have to reread a lot of pre-PhD classes - would probably add 2 years on to the PhD trail
  • Very strict - don't graduate until you get it place. 10 years? no problem.
  • Funding very tight
  • Up and coming department in a very well-respected university
  • Really good sub-field of Gruub studies folks to work with
  • My subfield of Gruub studies is solid there, but in the process of building (up and coming, don't you know)
  • Advisor is good, youngish and also up and coming
  • Gorgeous location
Famous Urban Uni (FUU?):
  • My MA would be very well received there so I could go straight into the PhD
  • timetable oriented. They want you on track and headed toward graduation. This is good and bad, really. I'm an older grad for my field, and I'd like to get the PhD and get out there soonish, but I'm not sure if I would feel rushed.
  • Hugely well-known, world famous uni
  • My sub-field of Gruub studies is very strong there, but the sub-field that I need to work on might be a bit weaker than OSS
  • Advisor is very well established, has written books that I've got on my shelf and dig. His reputation is quite strong (I'm already thinking recommendation letters, how mercenary is that?)
  • Very urban location - lots of opportunities, but all the ick that comes with big sprawl (can you guess it yet?)
So here's the kicker. I talked to the FUU advisor last weekend and he seemed very encouraging. My writing sample wasn't exactly what they were looking for and so they placed me lower on their lists (hence the waitlist), but I explained why the writing sample was a bit unconventional, and he seemed to understand. We chatted for a while and seemed to get along well. He said he was really glad we got a chance to talk and that he'd go back and double check on my application.

I got an email today.

acceptance with guaranteed first year TAship.

So...

I'm really excited, but I'm not sure what to do with myself.

(read in a stunned voice) I think I'm going to FUU (need a better acronym though).

The funny thing is that when I talked to the OSS potential advisor, he asked what my other options were and I mentioned FUU and the advisor there. OSS advisor said, "Wow. If I were a grad student again, I'd go there and work with him."



Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Home Again Home Again, Jiggidy Jig

I made it back from conference-land with only a minimum flight delay (Also, by flight was listed as taking me to Dallas instead of home. I didn't want to go to Dallas.)

In any case, I've been running around like crazy lately, so I haven't had time to really digest everything I saw and did, but all in all I think things went well. I got to meet with two potential advisors from different schools, catch up with a couple people I haven't seen in a while (have I even been in this field long enough to have 'I haven't seen you in a while' people?). And I was even recognized by a prof who I took a class from a couple of years ago - he's at Hoity Toity Ivy now. He even deigned to chat a little.

Ah, more to come. I've got class paperwork that's calling and it's gonna be a loooong day.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

"Burritos"



Originally uploaded by Overread.