4-19-09

 

I got up really early this morning. 6am California time (3am Virginia time) to make the drive to Beverly Hills for my nephew's baptism. The service was beautiful, and afterwards we all had lunch at my sister's house in Van Nuys. I got to see my mom, dad, grandmother, aunt and uncle, sister, baby sister, etc. etc. Driving on the freeways was a challenge but I DID it. It was over an hour each way. Here is a photo of my sister, her husband and Buddy after his baptism. Soooo cute.

4-18-09

 

Another photo from my hotel room. I'm not seeing much of Southern California, stuck going to meetings all day.

4-17-09

 

 

I woke up at 5am and left for California at 7. It seemed like I traveled all day, but actually got here around noon. Funnny thing, that time change. This is the view of palm trees from my lovely hotel room. I'm soooo sleepy. Quietly celebrating my first full day of being Chrissy Wormwood, Ph.D. Something feels changed. It's a bigger deal than a birthday. It feels way more than just being a year older. I'm a degree older.

4-16-09

This is going to be my new kitchen. How cool is that? Actual green slate counters, a Dacor Double Oven, Jenn-Air gas cook top, an Asko Dishwasher, and a Sub-Zero Refrigerator with maple facing so it looks like a cabinet. Hardwood flooring. Georgeous. Dinner party, anyone?

Today is a day that will always be remembered.

But also today I turned in all the paperwork for my dissertation and am officially Chrissy, Ph.D.
Graduate school is OVER!!!!!!!!!

4-15-09

Today I packed some, made a presentation for my upcoming conference, and FINISHED 35 revisions to my dissertation, which I will submit tomorrow. Hopefully this is the last time I have to revise the thing. Yesterday I received a very special gift from a very special dear friend. Just look at this amazing painting, called South Alabama Morning. Stunning.

4-13-09

This will be my kitchen!


We got the house! We got the house! Now for a loan, an inspection, and insurance. Also today I got my hair cut and colored darker. Not sure I like it. It took 3.75 hours to cut, color, highlight, and cut again.

4-12-09

We met with the real estate agent this morning and made a counter offer on the Tahoma house, and filled out a contract for the Hanover house just in case. Then we drove all the way home, stopping off in Ashland on the way so I could take a look myself at where Maya got lost. It was sad. This is a photo of the woods behind the hotel. We made it home safely and exhausted. Frisbee was SO glad to see us.

4-11-09

The one we are going to make an offer on. Amazing through and through. Called the Tahoma House.

4-11-09

So far this looks like the best house so far. All fresh paint and
updated floors. Nine foot ceilings. Nice street close to shopping and restaurants. Called the Hanover House.

4-10-09

We looked at a dozen houses in the rain today and there are two that
really stand out. This one, Ashland, the estate of Henry Clay, was not
for sale. But it was nearby!

4-9-09

We saw about 20 houses today and this was our favorite by far. But too
good to be true- after imagining ourselves moved in we found out that
a contract is pending.

4-8-09

Driving to Kentucky to find a new home,
The grass is not blue, but greener. A poem.

4-7-09

Today I cleaned this room like I've never cleaned it before. OK, I had
some help from a moving box in which Dan put a stack of papers three
feet high.

4-6-09

See, I'm walking. I took a walk today in the field. It was around sunset and the colors were beautiful. The sky was glowing and the trees were glowing, and the grass was oh-so-green. I'm feeling better thanks to my gut-intuition of what I needed to get better and Dan's kindness going to the store to get it for me.

4-5-09

Today Dan and I sorted and cleaned and organized and decided what to try and FreeCycle. We were successful and found happy homes for many items. I learned that Picasa has a really cool collage feature that wasn't in the older version. You can arrange and tilt the images in the collage. Pretty nifty. We also went through all our old expired medicines. I took an awesome photo of the pill collection prior to and after being combined with kitty litter and put double bagged in the trash.

4-4-09

Step 1: pull everything out of the linen closet
Step 2: sort keep and not-keep
Step 3: put keep back and sort rest into trash and give-away
Step 4: do same with clothes closet
Step 5: marvel at the detritus
(Aza, claim what you want! Beach towels? Double sized sheets? Leather
pants and skirt?!)

4-3-09

Twenty five years ago today I met Dan. We went to a bar- we were too young to drink- so I had a rootbeer in a mug and we played backgammon.

I won.

Tonight we played a game of backgammon and I lost, then we went to a bar to hear my old band 180 play for a friend's birthday party. I had fizzy water in a wine glass then we went home 'cause my tummy hurt.

25 years. Wow.

4-1-09

The Jeffersonia Diphylla is blooming again. http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=A409

See last year's post: http://chrissysphotoaday.blogspot.com/2008/04/4-2-08.html It blooms on schedule!

It was a gift from a student long ago and blooms each spring. I must remember to dig it up and bring it to Kentucky with me. Each year I scatter the seeds from the seed pods hoping new plants will grow, but I always get the same one or two. Feeling a bit better today. It rained. I had to take Frisbee to the vet for a check up and it was hard. I also had to pick up a phone for Jes, as she lost hers and I found her another one on Freecycle http://www.freecycle.org/ - got it set up at AT&T- and shipped it to her. Whew. A busy day!

3-30-09

Alas, I did not go out today. I worked a half day then crawled into bed. My pathology report came back though and all was benign. Good news!

Today was another "Not Maya" day, as I was contacted by a nice lady named Leslie who found a cat just a mile away from where Maya was lost, but she sent me a cell phone picture, and it was not Maya. Poor Maya. I still wish she would decided to get herself found. Here's the "not Maya" of March above. As a reminder, the "real Maya" is below. The real Maya does not have all that white on her face.

3-29-09

I spent the day in bed- did a little work at the computer, but mainly laid low with a heating pad. All day. Dan was out helping somebody pack up and move. Squirt was playing soccer with a friend. I was wishing I had magic powers and could summon tea or chocolate or a cleaning lady. This photo was taken last week when Dan and I were in Mississippi on an old Native American mound. Better days.

3-28-09

No walk today. I managed to take a good nap and avoid pain pills
though. I ventured outside long enough to photo our new bushes!

3-27-09

It's been a full week, but alas, no photos were taken that YOU would want to see. I have some very graphic photos of my innards, taken by the surgeon who operated on me Wednesday, but believe me, you don't want to see them! All is well- not to worry. Percocet is my friend and I'm doing well.

So this week I ordered my doctoral hood, collected and analyzed the delayed posttests for my study, spent some quality time with Martha Jefferson, and got an awesome job offer from the University of Kentucky. Today I signed the contract and feel so right about it. Very right. I canceled an upcoming interview, turned down the offer to pursue an opening at another school, and feel content about where the next phase of our lives will take us.

Tomorrow I plan to get out of the house and take a little walk. My camera will be with me.

3-23-09

We left Mississippi early this morning and stopped in Baton Rouge on
the way back to the NOLA airport. Of course, we paid a visit to Mike
the Tiger, and he was busy grooming in a corner of his habitat. This
was the best picture I could get and the closest I've ever been to a
tiger!

3-22-09

Longwood, built by the Nutt family was never finished after the war.
We visited this today. Largest octagonal house in the US.

3-21-09

We are staying in this B&B, The Choctaw -in Natchez, Mississippi. My
presentation went great this morning, then we left New Orleans early
afternoon heading northwest. The sunset over the river was lovely.
This is a beautiful town.

3-20-09

Lots of walking in boots today back and forth from our hotel to the
convention center. Each time I passed this really cool mural. Beignets
and coffee for breakfast, I hope we have a yummy dinner of good Creole
or Cajun food. Weather perfect.

3-19-09

We arrived in New Orleans after 12 hours of travel by plane and car.
Exhausted and hungry, we ventured into the French Quarter which is
pictured here. We had po-boys and fried eggplant for dinner then came
back to our hotel room and found the door ajar. Security came and we
switched rooms, then I fell asleep after midnight with a migraine to
the sound of elevator noises. Our new room borders the elevator shaft.
Shafted.

3-18-09

This morning I cried over a job lost. This afternoon I celebrated with
Dan at our fave restaurant over a job offered! LP, you were right.
Next time I go to New Orleans, you're invited.

3-16-09

Today I defended my dissertation in this room. Sixteen people attended, including both my parents and Dan. It was so wonderful to see old friends, colleagues, grad students, and family members. I passed! My advisor welcomed me back into the room after deliberating with the committee and shook my hand saying, "Congratulations, Dr. [insert my last name here]" Here I am with my advisor and Thomas Jefferson. (My advisor is the one on the right!)

3-15-09

We went to visit Aza today. Here are three generations of strong women: my mom, me, and Aza. How come her hair grows faster than mine? Youth. See the progression of hair length?

We had a nice lunch with Squirt and Dan too. A good time, with smiling faces, was had by all.

Now to sleep and rest up for my BIG day tomorrow. I'm so excited!

3-14-09

Getting ready for my dissertation defense on Monday. Trying to reduce the number of slides I created so the presentation is under 30 minutes. How can I tell the story of a 2-year 326 page dissertation study in 30 minutes?