Graduation

So I never wrote about graduation.

It was fun, even though it was all make-believe (I hadn't completed all the requirements for graduation yet). I participated in both the college convocation and in the university-wide ceremony. My mom and brother flew down to attend my graduation, and several friends came in from out of town. Here are some photos of the graduation ceremonies:

The new graduate

Hooding by my advisor


With the head of my department and another graduate student who also graduated

Friends and family after the ceremony

I don't have photos of the party yet, but I will post them when I receive them. It was tons of fun! I had it at a park with natural springs, ponds, water fowl and palms swaying in the wind... As close to an island atmosphere as you can get when you are hundreds of miles from the ocean! Lots of friends came, including some from out of town. We had grilled hamburgers and veggies, as well as fruit. People visited and caught up with one another's lives. The weather was perfect. I didn't get to chat with as many people as I would have liked, but it was good to see so many friends there. Definitely a day to remember.

First monsoon!

This afternoon we had the first storm of the monsoon season. It was glorious! The rain came crashing down around three- it even hailed!- and the wind howled, shaking the trees. It was an awesome sight (both in the sense of inspiring awe and in the sense of being a wonderful thing to watch). It reminded me of cyclones back home, which I have always loved. Cyclones last a lot longer, of course, about a day and a half on average, but it's the same thing that I love- watching nature in all its fury and power...

Now the front yard is flooded- huge pools by the dumpsters!- but the backyard just drank up the rain. I am excited to see my garden come to life after these rains. My plants seem to like rain water much better than water from the faucet. Plants that seemed dead come back to life, everything starts blooming, the grass becomes green again- it's a miracle to watch!

So preparations for the move are picking up speed. I now have a set, definite move date- July 10th. That's in exactly two weeks. I am sending my personal belongings through movers and my brothers and I are driving in my new car:

Snazzy, isn't she? I have named her Victoria.

Anyway. So the four of us, along with my two doggies, are driving across country. I don't have housing yet at my destination, but I have looked online and found a couple of houses for rent in the area, so hopefully it won't take me too long to get something. It's exciting!

Bitten by my dog!

Never disturb a sleeping dog. Never. If you do, the consequences can be dire, as in my case.

And this picture doesn't even show how swollen it was! There were six sutures, which were taken out just today. The doctor did a wonderful job of stitching my lip back together, so I think the scar won't be too bad. I have bought Mederma, which is supposed to help make scars less visible. The nurse who took the sutures out said that the little "bumps" where the skin didn't mesh back together perfectly may have to be dealt with through plastic surgery in about 6 months. Hmmm. We'll see!

The other big news right now is that I am graduating in about 10 days! YAY!!! My mom is coming down, and I am throwing a party at a park here in town afterwards. Should be fun!

New beginning!

OK, this is a fresh start on blogging! I want to chronicle my oh-so-exciting adventures here, since I am so dismally bad at actual journal-writing.

What's new in my life? Well, the big thing is I have a job and I am moving to the East coast in July! YIPPEE!! I am really excited about it, and can't wait! But FIRST, I need to finish writing a big fat dissertation!!! Oh, wouldn't it be nice if we could just wish these things into being, or at least if we always felt inspired?....

Home sweet home!

After having the great pleasure of hosting my brother for the last three weeks, I now have my apartment to myself again. YAY!!! I love people, I love family, but I have to say that nothing beats having your place just to yourself! Yesterday evening after his last things were moved, I sat in my living room and thought to myself: Wow, I had forgotten what it feels like to not have anyone in the house and to not expect anyone to come home! This morning I cleaned the bathroom in and out, did laundry and am just generally settling back into life-as-before.