Hey look!

The entire thing felt a little weird, as I haven't actually defended my thesis (or finished writing a full draft, for that matter), but May is when the departmental luncheon is and all the big ceremonies. I figured if I was going to do it and haul my parents in to town, we might as well do the entire thing.

I'm not usually one for sentimentality or ceremony (I did go to work the day after getting married), but I'm glad I did all of this. I have been at this training thing for six years now, so it was nice to feel like I'm approaching one big milestone. I also got to write a page to put in the graduation luncheon program in which I got to be sincere and thankful for all the great experiences I've had as a grad student, which felt good because sincere thanks isn't my normal mode of operation. It must be the pregnancy hormones talking.

Also, funny hats!

80 is the magic number

This preganancy is both easier and harder than the last one. So far, it has been easier because I know what to expect from myself. For instance, when I wake up nauseated at night, I need to eat saltines. I need to swim at least twice a week. I'm also more active, what with the lifting/carrying/twisting/walking around the block/swing pushing/dancing that goes on with a toddler, which means I don't need as much yoga. Sleeping makes everything better.

But sleeping is not as easy when I'm watching a toddler for many hours a week, who gets up some mornings at 6:30, who has become very adept at napping when I am not home. I was feeling like I was getting a ton of stuff done because I was past the 11 hours of sleep per day phase - nothing like getting 3 extra hours back per day! - but I'm starting to need more sleep again. Hrmph. And I have a lot of writing to get done in the next month.

And it turns out that 80 is the magic temperature at which I start swelling. Third trimester during the summer was a bad plan, I can tell already. It isn't even June and it is 80. It has been the strangest spring with wild fluctuations in temperature - things bloomed out of sequence, or bloomed and then melted in the heat, or bloomed and them melted in the cold. I swear my lilies of the valley bloomed for all of 2 minutes. We are all Poofed. I guess I'll need to learn to haul out the kiddie pool instead of slowly walking around the block with Turing while looking at every other stick and buried-electrical-line flag.

The blog begins anew?

Another year, another blogging software.

It has been a while and I have missed writing. I fully recognize that this blog is surface and silly, but it is still important (to me) to document little things about Turing and grad school and whatnot. And I like the habit of writing.

And about baby #2, who has a penis, of course, because he is a Zelsnack. We may have finally stumbled across a name this last week, which is an exciting development. I had been rooting for Galton, which Trouble had not vetoed, since he did so much awesome measurement/statistical stuff. But then I actually read a biography about him and I'm not sure I can get away from the Upper Class White Male Victorianness (asshole) of him. I still think it makes a good name, though. I've requested a biography for the new name. We shall see how it goes.

I've had a couple of terrible weeks of library books. The stress of finalizing my dissertation analyses and starting to seriously write was starting to pile up - I was cleaning a lot, getting headaches, and just being a bit irritable. So, I decided to start reading for pleasure before bed, since I don't really feel much like crafting at the moment. I used to power my way through almost any book, but I seem to have lost that skill. I've probably abandoned 2/3 of the books I've checked out of the library within three chapters over the last month. I really must be cranky.

Testing, testing

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