Blogging from bed

Right now I'm coming to you live from the mothership. From my bed, actually, which is awesome. Hooray for wireless technology. I apologize for the unscheduled hiatus. There was this dissertation, and there was stress, and I figured nobody really cared much for my whinging about it all. But now its over (hooray!) and I'm just having bad dreams about having ditched an exam or two, forgotten to turn in a major assignment, or turning in my diss missing a chapter. Horrible, horrible stuff. I thought it would be all cake and roses afterwards, but this stuff just doesn't stop haunting you.

So let's see, since last time I

1) finished my masters
2) packed my room
3) flew home
4) unpacked
5) cleaned my closet (mostly)
6) got a wallet
7) got a couple suits for the office, since I'm going to have to dress nice. No more shorts and slides for me. Bummer.
8) watched exceptional amounts of football.

The kitty and I have been getting reacquainted, and I'm going to need to find his brush, I think, since he's having some weird shedding issues, which is making it hard for me to keep clothes clean. But he leads a rough life. Sleep all day, talk during dinner, sleep on my lap during telly-time, then sleep under his favorite tablecloth blanket all night. I could get used to that.

The only other big news is that my boogers aren't black anymore, since I'm back in the country where the air is clean. And filled with pollen, but that hasn't caused me too much trouble (yet, touch wood). The fat man has stepped off my chest, as an added bonus.

The job starts a week from tomorrow, so I have a good seven days left to bask in sweet, sweet freedom. I'll keep you posted.

The Amazing Flying Russians

A big night in the stadium tonight - a great mens 1500, a great decathlon, and an incredible womens pole vault. The TV crews are feeling artistic this Games. In between jumps they would cut to these sort of dreamy, half-focussed shots of the torch, until a pair of shoes, followed by a spandex-clad woman, come floating over the bar in slo-mo. It was the same with the high jump (minus the torch), some slo-mo action from a few crazy angles. I'm a fan.

Today's dissertation update: progress. G-Lo and I bickered a while about how to construct out models, about how to structure our objectives, but remain friends and in good spirits at the end of the day. Hooray! Tomorrow, some more writing, throwing together our presentation, and dinner and a drink with the Stokes. The Last Supper, if you will.

Progress

Today some writing actually took place. And some database-building. Hooray! I am starting to get nauseated when I think about the deadline, so I've been trying to spend most of my time in my happy place. Its going to be one of those deals where you think that if you ignore it it doesn't really exist. Except that it does. And our LSE supervisors have come through in typical form - my tutor is on holiday (ON HOLIDAY!!) in Rome and wasn't going to bother to check his emails while he was away. Which sucks for me since G-Lo and I emailed both our supervisors to see how they wanted us to split up the paper when we submit to the school next week. So now, finally, almost two weeks later, we get an email that says "gee, we don't know, why don't you look at this other paper submitted a few years ago." This after my supervisor assured me, repeatedly, that I shouldn't worry too much about it because they "have experience with this sort of scenario." My ass. So G-Lo and I are just going to make it up, and if they screw us we're going straight to the Exam Board. I'll have none of this half-assed amateur nonsense.

In other news, drama at the gymnastics tonight. No apparatus kissing, sadly, this Olympiad, but there was a dance-atop-the-apparatus, which came close, and I have high hopes for Beijing. An exciting evening at the track, as well. At least as far as Team GB was concerned, when we could break away from Paula angst. Not that I don't feel for her. Over the weekend, though, the British rowers did their Maj proud. Lots of crying on the medals podium, which, for me, is a sign of a good competition. The reactions on the face of the bird that won the 800 tonight were priceless. Props tonight, as well, to the US Softball and Women's Soccer teams for games well played. Maybe we'll get to see Brandi pull of her shirt again. And, women's saber gold medalist? Domer. Looks like the Irish are going to be unstoppable on the fencing mat for a few more years. The Dome has a fair contingent in Athens this year, including two swimmers, which is pretty cool.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned, but I will be back in the US of A on 5 Sept. And if anybody has any extra tickets to any football this season, I'd be happy to take them off your hands. Particularly for Michigan, but I'm not picky.

Sod all, squared

Dissertation Update #3

Progress made = sod all, squared. G-Lo and I did have a breakthrough on our model this afternoon, after some hang-wringing and a few sadistic visits by out supervisor, who floats in and cackles with glee about how many days we (don't) have left. But she keeps talking about having champers when we're finished, so we can't hold it against her. Starting to get a wee bit freaked out, but so far unable to convert it into motivation.

A late addition to the Lollipop League All-Munchkin All Star Team: Stefani "Fifi" Bismpikou (4'8", 5 stone 7).

Not quite as exciting at the pool today, aside from the DQ, er, wait, not really. But I did miss the 50 free semis. And the Russian bird taking the silver (Queen Khorkina) needs to super-size next time she hits the Arches, but still, a class act.

Tomorrow: Gail Devers!

Representing the Lollipop League

Not a lot of excitement today, outside of Athens. Did some work, had some lunch, played some Minesweeper, went to the BLPES. Yes, yes, thrilling stuff.

Dissertation Update #2: Three paragraphs written. Quality = pants.

For those of you on the other continent, items to look for in your primetime coverage this evening...

Best Deck Dance = Great Britain's own Steven Parry. Well done, Steve-o. And wicked smooth moves, my friend.

Best Relay Photo Finish = Keller vs Thorpe. It was a nailbiter, as you can see from the look on "Boss" Phelps face.

And finally, the Lollipop League All-Munchkin All Star Team = Laura Campos (ESP, 4'8"), Oana Ban (ROM, 4'7") and Fan Ye (CHN, 4'3"). Remember, the beam is 4.1 feet tall. We're talking serious munchkin action.

In other news, props to Pranav for hooking a brother up with a jar of real, honest-to-goodness Skippy. Now all we have to do is actually follow through on plans to meet so I can get it before its time to head back to the States.

Dissertation Update #1

Houston, we have an outline. So far the feedback from out advisors: "um, okay, I guess. I'm not sure there is a precedent" and "Larry is out of the country and may not be checking his email."

Well, gee, fellas. I would think that somebody who is now on the faculty (1) would be able to make some informed decisions, and the senior member of the program with a half-dozen dissertations to supervise (2) would CHECK HIS EMAIL no matter where on God's green earth he happens to be. Why he would leave the country with TWO WEEKS TO GO boggles the mind, but I'm not feeling philosophical today.

Today's Olympic Excitement:

Apparatus Kissing = none (although Blaine did stay on all the apparati tonight. With no concussions!)

Self Hugs = none

Crazy Greeks In and Around the Diving Well = Opa! [pictures to follow]

My new girlfriend

Inge

Its not just the Greek summer that's hotting things up on the pool deck, now is it? Marry me.