What ever happened to that dissertation?

Well, I'm glad you asked. I always heard it would be a long process that would test your patience. I really hadn't experienced much of that until the last 6 months.

If you recall, I passed my General Exam (which was basically chapters 1-2 of my dissertation proposal, with a third chapter that would need quite a bit of work before it was included in the proposal) in November and completed my last courses in December. It's now late May.

I have...waited a lot. Written some. Waited more. Written a little bit. Waited awhile. Written a tweak. I was waiting on dissertation committee feedback, which always eventually came. I would deal with one question/comment, fix it, wait, and then receive another in response.

Finally, the proposal was ready. I filled out the human subjects application. Then I was told I also needed to submit my interview questions. Those, friends, are NOT in the proposal.

Wrote interview questions. And am now waiting. (For feedback from my advisor.)

So, in 5 months, I've written the equivalent of about 5-7 pages and created a title page and table of contents. And I've waited in one form or another for probably 4.5 of those 5 months.

BUT. If all goes well on the next round of feedback, all I have to do is get the signatures (in person, electronic not allowed) of my department chair and faculty advisor (finding 2 faculty in person when I work full-time? Sure, no problem.) and submit it to Human Subjects.

And then I get to wait.

In Seattle, it's hard to tell if it's May...or February.

And the winner is...

Thanks, Joanne, for the adorable frame!

Other favorites from my Cinco de Pegs birthday:

Ever heard of Rocket Dogs? Apparently, I have been missing out.
These are the best shoes I've ever purchased (thanks, Kerrville Itschners, for the birthday $!),
BAR NONE.

Rat City Roller Girls (roller derby) tickets--thanks, Roommate!

Favorite Middle Eastern cuisine with my favorite.

In other un-birthday news:
It's a very un-surprise birthday/Bon Voyage party for Roommate since I emailed out to her friends that we should turn the last monthly movie night before she leaves for the summer to the Philippines into a surprise birthday/Bon Voyage party...and included her in the email. BOO. HISS. This is why I don't spearhead these things.

I played right field in softball last Sunday and am proud to say that I caught both fly balls that came to me...and didn't break any fingers.

It has yet to reach 70 degrees since last summer in Seattle.

It's shocking how 59 degrees and sunny felt warm the other day. 65 was downright hot.

Boss is growing up. You know how I know?
1. His mouth is half adult teeth-half baby teeth. Very freaky.
2. He has obtained clearance to go to the dog park.
3. I have scheduled his pre-neuter appointment. That's right. We are nipping things in the bud on his 6-month birthday.
4. We walked Green Lake the other day, and he only received 3 direct compliments. An all-time low. I am convinced that many others just didn't approach us, but were secretly crooning.
5. He has had ZERO accidents in EIGHT days--WOOT!

I mean, seriously.

Which of these should I frame in my office?

Spring came to Seattle...or Boss meets a Clydesdale.

Either one of the above is an appropriate title for this past weekend.

My college friend, Joanne, came in town and it was the PERFECT weekend. 60s and sunny. Jo and the weather were very amenable to the fact that we had to find dog-friendly activities to entertain us.

Highlights:

We finally got a non-blurry picture of Boss in his Leavenworth hat.

I know this guy! I was walking along the Pike Place Public Market shops when I saw my friend Patrick featured as a model for a lady selling scarves.

My two favorites.
(I promise Jesse looks older in person. Promise.)

When we came out of the shops area, we heard a horse whinney. Wha...?
Turns out a cop was riding a Clydesdale through the park. So we introduced Boss to his first horse, who happens to be THE largest Clydesdale on the Seattle PD force.

This was Boss' Big Weekend. We went to Norm's Eatery & Ale House, which was created to be a dog friendly place where people can come eat and bring their dogs. In walked this BEAST of a dog, a Newfoundland named Cole, who was very patient but any time either of the dogs moved it blurred the photo. This was the best we got.

Jo & Pegs, est. 1998.