Apparently, prompt updating of my blog is not one of my virtues. Sorry about that. I've had quite a time lately. I went home a few weeks ago and faux graduated. I haven't defended my thesis yet, of course, so I went through all the associated graduation motions for my family. And while it was nice to see my family (whom I haven't seen since Christmas), the whole event was rather trying on my nerves. Everytime I was socializing, entertaining, walking, driving people around, and smiling like I was having fun, I wasn't working. And the only thing I could think of was how much time I wasn't spending on work.
And work? She is not great. Someone else's mistake some five years ago basically cost me two years of work. I redid enough of one project to be certain that it was now worthless. I'm still working on redoing my other major project. I've had to add an entirely new study to my thesis to fill in the hole left by the project I had to abandon. My timeline has me completing the new study by the end of June, which means many late nights ahead. All in all, the whole debacle only pushed my defense back by a semester. Which is ok, I guess, because I still cannot find a job. But that's a whole other whiney post. :)
The good news is (1) that I'm heading home in a week. I will be back at home for the summer and after that, I have the option of coming back here in the fall to finish up or staying at home. I have heard that my advisor is back in the office a few mornings a week now, so I think my decision on what to do in the fall will depend a lot on how he's doing. And (2) I'm headed to the beach on vacation in 16 days, thank the heavens!! As ill-timed as it may be, I really need a vacation. I need to see some friends, even if it turns out to be just an occasion to work in a new environment. I think a week of surf, sand, and the friends I miss everyday will do me a world of good.
