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.