Well Hello

My most sincere apologies for the extended absence! As you can guess, my comps are now thankfully (and hopefully truly) finished! We expect to hear the results at the end of next week which will make for an either blissfully happy or downtrodden 4th of July! At this point, I am just happy to not be studying every available moment of the day. I have even progressed onward to thinking about the next steps. They say to take a break after primary comps, but you have to be careful that such a break does not become a permanent vacation. With that in mind I have been meeting with advisors and mentors as well as observing at the Children's Hospital "Taking on Life after Cancer" childhood cancer survivorship clinic (which is AH-mazing). I am pretty sure that is going to be the focal point of my dissertation research, and honestly I could not be happier! My only "problem" now is trying to narrow down the scope of this particular research project. I find so many aspects to be fascinating and relevant that in my head I start to overload my plate at the research buffet. After my meetings this week and next week, though, I should have it narrowed down (hopefully) to something I can feasibly accomplish within the next year. Then I can spend the rest of my life chowing down, so to speak, on the rest of the research that has caught my eye.

Other than that I have mostly been trying to take it easy to an extent. Odds and ends of work each day, and ongoing reviews of the literature (it never seems to end...), and trying to spend some time with family and friends. Greatest emphasis on the latter because I neglected so many people (probably including you as you read this) during my study isolation. So now I am attempting to make up for some lost time. On the near horizon is my trip to Minnesota to see some family up there (I've never been, though they have come here), for my dear friends' wedding, and naturally to visit the Mall of America. I am told they have one of those "As Seen on TV" stores at which I plan on emptying the contents of my checking account. Actually, I am working on saving money, but it is extremely difficult, I have found. It seems my spending is directly proportional to how much free time I have. So I am working on that.

I hope you are well, and not melting in this hellacious heat. I try to spend most of my time inside to avoid heat stroke and other heat-induced aggravations (although you wouldn't know it because of my glowing spray tan--since extended sun exposure is a no-no for me, I like to see how the other half lives by indulging in the occassional spray tan. No, I am not orange...I hope). I'm hoping for an opportunity to get to the beach sometime this summer, not for the sun and all, but because I just generally like the beach atmosphere of flip flops, optional showers, and seafood. Let me know if you have any vacation plans; I am more than happy to tag along :)

Oh, also, very exciting: the sweet, sweet girl whom I have been tutoring for three years just graduated from high school! She will be attending college in the fall and I could not be more proud of her. I kind of understand what it is like for a parent to see their child succeed or a mama bird who sees its babies flapping their wings for the first time. Anyway, her amazing family surprised me with an almost equally amazing "graduation" present for me: and iPad 2! I am still in shock and overwhelmed with gratitude at their generosity. This is amplified by the fact that I get to pick it up today! So perhaps soon I will be blogging from that; the possibilities are endless!

Okay, well I really must get to work on something so that I can claim today as at least semi-productive. (Hopefully more interesting) updates soon, and let me know what your summer plans are so I can see if they are better than mine and decide if I should abandon my own and crash yours. Love.

C