Monday, March 13, 2006

Misery! Narwhal!

Indiana weather is still anything but, well, reliable. It was 72 degrees this morning, and I watched the storm clouds rolling in. According to the radio station folks, we even had a tornado warning or watch or some such. Following the briefest of showers the sun came out for a while and all was beautiful. Now I can see more clouds rolling in and the trees swaying in the wind.

Though the dissertation is still a constant part of my dreams these days, my subconcious is digging up an odd cast. Two nights ago I dreamed that I was in the car, taking my completed (!) diss to campus. The car was drven by a friend from high school, the front seat passenger was a friend from college and I sat in the back, next to Professor McGonnagall. Last night I dreamed that my family planned a picnic to celebrate (!!) my graduation. For some reason John Wayne counted as family and he made the drinks.

Utterly true story: during qualifying exams, aka two weeks of utter living hell, I kept dreaming that Mamie Eisenhower and I were having Manhattans together. I loathe Manhattans.

I'm still trying to nail down dates with the Gang of Four. My advisor (may he live forever) and #2 (upon whom also may light shine) very kindly gave me some possible days, on both of which they're almost entirely free. With my luck, #3 and #4 will be impossibly busy on both of those days. I tried to talk the graduate secretary into letting me schedule an evening defense, to be held at a local bar and grill known for its large drinks. She was not impressed.

Utterly true story: I know four people who had their defense for the MA in this same bar & grill. I guess the PhD process is supposed to be more dignified. Sheesh - what am I going to wear??!

3 comments:

Jim Wetzel said...

Though the dissertation is still a constant part of my dreams these days, my subconcious is digging up an odd cast. Two nights ago I dreamed that I was in the car, taking my completed (!) diss to campus. The car was driven by a friend from high school, the front seat passenger was a friend from college and I sat in the back, next to Professor McGonnagall. Last night I dreamed that my family planned a picnic to celebrate (!!) my graduation. For some reason John Wayne counted as family and he made the drinks.

Lemming, please do not misunderstand if I say that your dream-version of the formalities attending your doctorate remind me a little bit of Happy Gilmore's "happy place," from the cheerful (but admittedly brain-dead) Adam Sandler movie. I have to admit that my taste in casual entertainment is often far more casual than it is tasteful.

Let us know if any midget cowboys on tricycles show up in your diss dreams.

torporindy said...

What kind of drinks was John Wayne mixing up? Something tells me he wasn't making amaretto sours.

lemming said...

He said something to be about using up the leftover vermouth (??) and some other kind of hard liquor to make a punch. Um, yes, that punch would pack a punch.