On the way to becoming a hermit

Reading is starting to get to me. I spend most of my day sitting and reading. Frankly it's getting old- and I'm just past the halfway mark- which is great- because it's downhill from here but bad because I feel like I've been reading forever- and I'm only halfway there!

I spend way too much time alone- if I were a guy I'd grow a beard and starting calling my dissertation a manifesto since my lifestyle is becoming rather unabomber-esque- only without the manhunt and bombs.... and I still shower and stuff.

Luckily I have a dog- unluckily for him he is owned by a hermit, I think it is starting to affect him too.







On the bright side- I actually manage to get out of my home almost everyday- Rusty enjoys his walks and how could I say no to that face? But I do think our combined stir-craziness has made our walks more interesting. Today he started climbing fences. Ok, it was just one fence- but he climbed it twice!

Here he is on top of the fence... there is a sheep behind him but it's hard to see since he is blocking most of it.



Here he is trying to go under the fence, since I wouldn't let him go over it. Now you can see the sheep.



The sheep have noticed our craziness too- these two sheep tried to climb through the fence to get to Rusty (turnabout is fair play and all that- except these are different sheep). Don't be fooled by their sweet expressions- the sheep on the left kept trying to butt Rusty through the fence.



Now, please excuse me I must get back to reading.

back in va

I'm back in Virginia!

I spent two months in Utah hanging with family and friends... and reading of course. Last semester was my last semester- of course work that is. So I have no classes this semester (which still feels strange but hasn't really hit me) and I am not teaching this semester and I can, at least theoretically, read for my comprehensive exams anywhere, and I am broke so I won't be able to afford to fly home again anytime soon- so I decided to take a very long trip home this year- hence the two moth stay in Utah.

I was worried that I would not get enough reading done while I was home because I'd have the distraction of family there- but I actually managed to get quite a bit done! I have had less luck in the week I have been back here. I lost two days to the language exam and then I had a day full of meetings one of which went until 1:30 in the morning! I am way too old to be up until 1:30am- it took me a couple days to get back on track. I had a pretty good reading day yesterday- but I still only have half of my books read for this week and it's Saturday- not a good sign. But if I can get back on track I should still be able to finish in time for my April 28th exam date. In order to do that I really should get back to reading now....

Hey- did I mention I passed my language exam?!?! I PASSED MY LANGUAGE EXAM!!!! Finally, on the third, yes the THIRD, try I passed the language exam!! I am still giddy about it. Even getting in a small car accident (no one was hurt) could not dampen my elation over the language exam. Even the fact that a months worth of my mail was sent back could not dampen my elation over passing the language exam. Even the unpleasant meeting that went until 1:30 in the morning could not dampen my elation over passing the language exam. Even the fact that I am now behind on my comps reading could not dampen my elation over passing the language exam. Even the fact that I am missing my family and friends back in Utah could not dampen my elation over passing the language exam. Ok, I'll stop now, it should be clear that I am rather excited about the language exam.

Now back to reading....

nothing new

still reading, reading, reading.... nothing else new to report.

But how cute is Rusty?