Friday

Today was a good Friday. The best Friday I've had in quite a while (honestly!). The weather was exceptionally nice. We still have an Indian Summer to look forward to, but this gave a taste of what was to come. Work went great. Craig was out of the office and while he's not an overbearing manager by any stretch of the imagination, it was a light hearted day the whole day regardless, while still getting work done (no goofing off), everyone was in a good mood.

I met with one of my professors today to talk about the paper in his class, and he liked my idea and gave me some direction that I could go on it (riverfront redevelopment in general, then a specific case study in Montgomery) and he suggested "dovetailing" it with a non-thesis paper to, in his words, "minimize work while, at the same time, maximizing output".

I also met with another professor yesterday (Dr. Weber) and he liked my idea for a project in his class about accessibility of fire stations in Montgomery. I actually wanted to do Prattville, but he suggested Montgomery because he and I both thought a larger data set would be better. He also gave me some early guidance on a non-thesis paper. I got asked to write a letter of recommendation for a professor who is up for tenure this semester, which I will do. This is for Dr. Weber, my program advisor. He's always very helpful in papers and projects, and was great in easing my tattered nerves about comprehensive exams. He's met the publication requirements, and I'm certain he won't have problem getting it, but it was humbling to write one for him.

Luke Henderson passed the bar exam. I was almost jumping up and down in the mall when I called him and he told me the good news. The fact that the state of Alabama has said that he can practice law is rather scary (I say that tongue in cheek, of course)...he's earned it.

One of my friends from Riverwood is moving to Birmingham tomorrow. While that isn't the fun part, the going away stuff was fun. About 5 guys and four girls (including this guy's girlfriend) went out to Nick's in the Sticks way out past Stillman along Culver Road/US11/43. Met a girl from Richmond (Kelly, she claims her parents go to Third Pres.), AND a girl from Montgomery.

And to top it off, it's Suzanna's 2nd Birthday.

This is exceedingly better than two Fridays ago (dinner w/ Dave & Amelia Nolen that night salvaged that day).

Today was just what the doctor ordered.

Does this count as rubbing "it" in?

Just put on my car today.

Celebration Day

Again--further evidence of me being a music nerd, and in keeping in tune with titles having song titles based on the subject matter of the post, I present to you a song off Led Zeppelin III (their acoustic, folksy album from 1970).

Comps are over. I passed. I'd write more right now, but my brain is fried. Just thought I'd put it out there.

Later!

Under Pressure

In again trying to attach song titles to blog entries, I have chosen Queen's "Under Pressure" featuring David Bowie. (John Deacon's opening bass line Vanilla Ice...um..."borrowed" during the early 90s for his reprehensible song "Ice, Ice Baby"). I'm a music nerd, I know.

Anyway, so the pressure of about twelve to thirteen people having taken and passed comps in a row comes to me. I see no reason I'll break the streak. There are two approaches I could take to this: (1) Statistical--the more people who continue to pass it, the more likely it is the next person will fail, and (2) Perpetual Motion--an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. I'm trying to keep the perpetual motion idea in my head while I study, and ultimately once Friday comes up.

I feel fairly confident on most of the stuff right now. I think I have Dr. Weber's stuff down, I think I have the lion's share of Dr. Seth's stuff down, and I'm feeling better daily on Dr. Richetto's stuff. Mind you, there is still stuff for each I'm weak on, but that's reality. I don't expect to know or be able to answer everything they ask me off hand, but I certainly hope I can, with a little leading (there is precedence, Dr. Richetto once got me started on an answer on a test after everyone else had left) on that stuff, be able to convince them I DO know what I'm talking about, and know enough about Geography for them to feel confident in giving me a degree.

I'm just sick of studying, and looking over all this stuff again and again. It'll be over Friday though, then I just get to the normal rigors of school.

*snicker*

Which Princess Bride Character are You?
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