it's only just begun

Yesterday I had my first dissertation committee meeting. Four of the six members on my committee were there--one's father passed away last week, and another lives out of state and couldn't be on the phone--but one of the committee members that did attend will have to be replaced since he's going on sabbatical next year in Europe (a little hard to serve on a committee when you're out of the country). By my chair's estimation, I was "great" and the meeting went excellently--he was really impressed. Yipee!

But now I think about all of the work, and about how organized I have to be, and I realize--it's only just begun.

In other news, I'm on my third day of "three days with no meds" commanded by my new doctor since I was allergic to Septra DS 800-160, a sulfa drug/antibiotic that we were hoping would get rid of my lingering cold/sinus infection/whatever it is that I have. I'm picking up another antibiotic today and starting it tomorrow, and if I'm allergic to that, too, I'm just going to tough it out. I'm feeling a bit better, but I'm afraid to trust that since I thought the same thing last week and ended up with a fever all weekend. Let's hope this new one works!

Finally (and this is the biggest news of all), our good friends Dennis and Cathy are having a baby! They're due around May 1st. Our circle of friends just keeps growing, and it's always a good thing. Congrats, Dennis and Cathy! Al and I are so happy for you and can't wait to meet your little one (an Asian friend for our kids, as Jungle says! :)).

Dennis and Cathy are pictured here, with Del and Nicole, after this year's Greasy Weasels Tiger game outing.