This story gave me chills when I read it:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050319/ap_on_re_us/death_of_a_prodigy

I get the sense that this boy was a very special spirit who came here for a very special purpose.

Quick updates

Too many papers, an exam (excuse me, QUIZ) tomorrow, cramps from hell, a sick dog, lots of rain, a wet dog, minor spats with the labmate, researching polluted sites for fish collection, research proposal to write, one more committee member to find for qualifying exams, potential headway in apartment ordeal, a pretty rock collection received from a pal back home as a pick-me-up (including a rhino figurine carved from lapis), first good pal I've made here in NO is moving back to PA in May, Dad had part of his toe amputated to stave off infection, Paul is examining back pain relief options, hoping to finally get past background info and into actual therapy in my counseling session on Monday, AND had fun at a pizza party last Monday.

Haven't managed to get back to the audio CDs, and haven't managed to work recently on Nay's belated birthday story. Still can't figure out why. It's not like I'm doing anything.

A Brief History of Nearly Everything

My pal Chad loaned me this audiobook by Bill Bryson yesterday, and I've been listening to it as I type my Biodiversity notes and eating supper (those latter two NOT at the same time ::grin::). I'm only through chapter one -- twice, because I got distracted while trying to interpret my own handwriting and lost track of the book -- and so far the description of the formation of the universe and how large it is has made me feel very small and insignificant indeed. The writing is very much geared toward the layperson, and there's enough humor thrown in to keep all this science-geeky-nerd stuff from getting boring, even to a science-geeky-nerd. Highly recommend this one to anyone who has an interest in science -- and that's saying something considering I'm only JUST on chapter two.

I'll ply you with updates.

I'm 2/3 the way there for qualifying

I officially have two committee members. I talked to Dr. Grady (my Biology of Fishes prof from last semester -- you remember -- Dorosoma petenense, Sphyrna tiburo, arg, those f---ing minnows!!) today, and he said he'd be "honored" to be on my diss committee. He asked what I'm planning on doing and seemed fairly satisfied with my oh-so-sketchy outline. But I'll tell you the part that caught me off guard. We were talking about the qualifying exams, wondering why they call them EXAMS when there is not a single exam component to the process, and I commented about probably having to take a couple of courses because my GREs are crap. I said that I really am not the dunce the scores show me to be, and he replied that of the Ph.D. candidates he knows in the department, I'm the top as far as my reasoning ability and ability to ask and answer questions. He also stated he was more than confident in my ability to complete the degree (apparently he questions that in some). Believe me, that's high praise from anyone, but especially from Grady. And this was the guy back in May that I thought was trying to talk me out of coming here! He did make the comment again today that he made back in May that some people are going to look at my degree and say, "You got your Ph.D. WHERE?" But I don't think he was saying it today in a bad way -- I think it was his roundabout way of saying I need to make sure that I have a solid study in every aspect. That's why I want him on my committee, because I know I can count on him to offer comments that will only make my work stronger. I just need to make sure I remember that when he's asking me questions, because he can really come off like he's shredding you. He's just kinda gruff like that.