feb 27

I walked to school today (~2.5 miles?) without a sweater on and wishing I had worn shorts and sandals. The forsythia is a-bloom, and better still I saw a dogwood putting out its catch a bee flags as well. If the dogwood blooms, surely it must be spring!!

I also had a flashback to the days when I was living in Lac Labiche and getting some grade ten educatioms. I have come a long ways from those years (17?) and that place. I am still broke, but I am so different in most other ways.

There was a small field I had to cut across on my way from school to grocery store on Saturday mornings. The school feed us well during the week, but we were abandoned on the weekend. It was worse than prison. Anyway, I would walk across that field, cold weather and warm, to pick up a cheap cut of cheap meat and some cheap bread. And that is what I would at Saturday and Sunday. For some reason today's weather reminded me of the weather back then.

Did I mention that the dogwood are beginning to bloom?

Well, they are!!

Post youthing post

I began my younging day (the day I grow one year younger every year 44 this year) with a lie in. I did not flop out of bed until nearly 8!! Then a couple hours of lazing about, sippin coffee, reading my rss feeds before strolling down to whole foods for lunch and groceries. I had originally planned on going to the arboretum in the morning, but it was too cold. After getting back from WF, I changed my mind as the weather had improved a great deal, so, off I went.

The arboretum is still mostly gray, but there are some plants showing signs of spring. Some Magnolias are ready to bloom, some have started, but the cold weather has hurt them. Crocuses are coming up, some Irises, and lots and lots of daffadillies.

In the afternoon, I went to a brief gathering of graduating types, we drank and talked a bit, were congratulated, and then off I went with Carol to India Mahal for a supper out.

For a celebratory taste, I had a bowl of blueberry creamcheese vegan icecream before going to bed.

The youthing day was a success.

If you are interested, this is a link to one of the photos I took yesterday.

It smells like spring this morning!! I am so happy to feel the end of winter.

For what it's worth

I have completed the exam. The final product has
~15-17 pages of text without quotes
24 1/3 pages with quotes
25 pages with bibliography

It is printed, ready to be stapled and turned in.

I am tired, but happy enough with the final product all things considered. A sense of achievement slips in behind/under/around the exhaustion. It is done.

The Event

At noon today I pick up my question and begin the final major exercise of the program. By Monday at noon, I will have completed my program. Well, there are a few small things left, like a 20 page paper in the one class I am taking and a few poems in the workshop.

How much can one write in three days? I think there is a novel writing contest that happens over the labor day weekend, so one might say one could write a little bit. Anyway, my weekend shall be invested in the exam. I am actually looking forward to this.

My defense went well Monday, but you already know that. The process was simple, I walked in, I read for ten, I answered some questions, I stepped out, I stepped in, I passed, I walked out, went across the street and picked up some channa masala to celebrate, I came home, I ate, I slept. In many ways, it has seemed anticlimactic. All those expectations and fears wrapped up in one small event, and then it's over and now what? As Carol says, I am nearly an official poet, but I don't know what that means/entails/is.

On the upside, it is going to be bitterly cold this weekend so I won't feel guilty for hiding inside.

I will see you all on the other side of Monday. Have a good weekend.

Defense

I had my defense this afternoon (4-4:45) and passed unconditionally. So, that means that a fair chunk of the program is now complete.

I will post greater details when I am lesser pooped. :)

For now, I am rather glad to have completed this step!

Onward.

February 7

Week 5 is over. Week 6 begins.
My defense is set for the 16. 11 days away. My reading is set for the 16 of April, two whole months later.
This has been a quiet week, except for lots of shivering cause it has been very cold.

Carol flew to D.C. and did a talk, got lots of praise, came home, missed a flight, had to stay an extra night in Charlotte, which she now despises.

Mags and Daphs touched noses, though they are still not real friendly.

I have a busy weekend planned, but I am going to make some time to go for a walk as well. For the first time in weeks the temps will approach almost acceptable levels. Unfortunately, the long range forecast looks icky, so likely no beach party for my birthday (44).