I think I’m done with the Pillow Book posts — those were fun, and I muchly enjoyed your participation. I mean, who doesn’t love a good list-making session?
Currently I am in the throes of list making as it applies to my upcoming trip to Zembla, and by “upcoming” I mean I am leaving tomorrow night. (Also “upcoming”: my dinner. Oh, the stressful tummy!) That’s right, y’all: it is the moment of truth. I am going back to defend my dissertation, at which point they will either make me a doctor officially, or they will uncover the horrible fraud I have been perpetrating over the last seven years — finally realizing I am not an academic at all but merely a lame lump who spends more time thinking about TV than literary theory — and kick my round butt to the curb.
As far as the list making goes, I have already crossed off such items as “fret,” “worry,” “stress,” “revise last chapter and bibliography,” “subtly probe committee members as to what their tough questions might include,” and “arrange a dog sitter.” I still have to find the perfect blouse and do my nails. Let’s not forget the crucial things, shall we?
It’s going to be a busy week, starting with my leaving for the airport at 2 a.m. tomorrow night (OK, technically Sunday morning, but since 2 a.m. is before my usual bedtime and I won’t be going to sleep first, it will feel like tomorrow night, and that’s what counts — how things feel to me, for I am the center of the known universe. Of course.). After the defense I will fly back to New Wye, arrive the night before Thanksgiving, then leave the next morning to go up to my parents’ house for the holiday. I plan to spend all my time there happily consuming turkey, pumpkin pie, wine, and their adulation. Monetary gifts are also welcome, of course.
What are you doing for the holiday break, if you have one? I hope it’s something a little more relaxing, and I hope that wherever you are (and whether you’re doing Thanksgiving or not), you have plenty of pie and wine.
Good luck for the defense (although “luck” is probably not the right word, but you know what I mean)! In all the defenses and presentations I have ever done I have always been nervous beforehand, but found that a stiff shot of whiskey in advance can really calm the nerves (just kidding. Maybe.). Seriously though, I always find that once you get started you forget everything and off one goes! Always remember that it’s your topic and you know more than anyone else in the room about it. Unless, of course, that thing about being a fraud is true…heh.
I’ll send you my congratulations in advance because my “holiday” will consist of more legal wrangling with my landlord. (Oh God, why did I move to France?).
Anyways, have a good defense, a good holiday and some nice wine and pie. Mmmmm, pie…If only I could find me a saucy Christian minx who serves up a mean colloquial pie…hee!
Good luck! Get the committee arguing with each other, takes the pressure off the student. Or maybe it’s only science professors who do that. Do you have to feed them at the committee meeting? If so, make sure there’s chocolate. I’m always kindly disposed towards students bearing chocolate. Wine is sadly not allowed, that I’ve ever heard of, but hopefully there will be champagne afterwards.