dreadful dreams about dissertation advisor still not liking chapters in my dissertation

One of the most recent dreams I remember having last night involved my dissertation advisor still not liking my revisions. In the dream, she thought I didn't spend enough time discussing various topics, that are not directly related with my main dissertation topic. And she wasn't very specific about what she wanted. Our alleged conversation (that occurred in my dream) left me feeling very uneasy this morning, when I woke up.

Alright, before I start on my dissertation work, as I promised my accountability partner, Manda, I am going to start with some devotional time. Somehow, in the last few years, I've gotten in my head that for devotional time, I need to do more heavy laden work, rich in theology. But, given how poor my devotional life is currently (yes, that's a confession, and I'm repenting!), I need to get back to it. Manda's lent me Beth Moore's "A Heart Like His." I've done a few Beth Moore studies and I remember enjoying her stuff. So, here I go!

Ladies and Gentleman, Write it Down in History, We are once again blessed with rain!

I've been keeping my nose to the computer, not working on my dissertation (shame on me; I will start before the top of the hour) but blogging, when I looked outside. It's pouring rain! Thank goodness. Rain is always welcome here in the valley, since it comes so rarely.

This past Wednesday, the power window on the passenger, front side of our car decided to stop working, with the window over half way down already. Thank goodness for Providence on several counts. Our pastor, Kevin Sheese, recommended an excellent mechanic. What qualifies a person as an excellent mechanic? In my book, the person knows their craft very well, can do a good job with the actual repairs, and charges decent amounts of money for the service. Well, the blessing didn't stop there. Friday, before we took our car to the garage, I called and asked the mechanic and owner of the garage, Israel Martinez, how long the repair would take. He said if I brought our car in around lunch time (no later than 2 or 3 o'clock), he could have it fixed by the end of the day. He didn't even take 2 hours to fix it. More suprising was just how reasonable the labor cost was. The biggest hit was the cost of the parts. He was able to get the parts used. And the cost of the parts was reasonable, too; I know, given that the driver's side window as fixed not that long ago. Good thing we're not driving around town this afternoon with a half open window. Thank you Lord, thank you Israel Martinez, thank you Pastor Kevin Sheese, thank you Westcotts for everything you've done to help our car get back in shape.

Any of you who need car repairs and need a referral, please let me know! I would be more than happy to pass on this wonderful mechanic's contact information.

Really Hilarious Video, Serves the Guy Who Was Driving the Mercedes Right!

My husband somehow found this video on Google video. It's so funny! Do take a look. Old Lady Crossing the Street in front of Mercedes Benz

It was a very sad day in terms of dissertation stuff

I can't go into details, but after much crying and exhaustion during and following my dialogue with my PhD advisor on the phone . . . and after a nice little vacation, I've got to peel myself off the floor and do some dissertation work tomorrow. Poor Rhonda and John were over at our home when life (or the dissertation saga) began to unravel in a very bad way. The phone conversation lasted at least thirty minutes. I actually made it fifteen or so minutes without crying, which is great, especially for a pregnant woman. Anyways, to make the long story short, after getting yelled at for quite awhile, I know what I've got to work on and finish in the next ten days. I need to have Ch. 1 in perfect condition. And, I must revamp Ch. 6, comparing Aristotle and Confucius. Don't know about the work on Ch. 5, yet. But, if I can get Ch. 1 through Ch. 4 in tip-top shape by June 7, I will be in decent (barely decent) shape. If my advisor likes what she reads, at that time, she'll send those first four chapters on to my second reader, at the very least.

The other piece of bad news is I won't be defending in the third or fourth week of June. Looks like I'll probably be defending the first weekend in July. Please Lord, let that be the case. This has been such a tough journey academically. Sometimes I have a really hard time believing that I can finish this adventure. At the very end of our conversation, my advisor affirmed that she is proud of me and that she has faith in me.

Another Chapter of the Dissertation Finished!

My Doctoral advisor wanted me to refocus my chapter on Confucius, and she wanted me to split that chapter into two. This is allegedly the last substantive work I need to do for my dissertation. Well, this afternoon, I submitted the second of those chapters, comparing Aristotle and Confucius on virtue ethics. I'm actually feeling pretty decent about what I submitted, for the moment, or at least until she tells me how terrible she thinks it to be.

What's left? Well, barring any major changes my advisor wants me to make, I need to write the conclusion chapter. Then, I need to revise the parts of the Introduction that talks about Confucius. And, I am finished with my dissertation!

My goal is to be completely finished with what I can do by the end of May. I'm very nervous about what my advisor will have to say about that. The last time she and I spoke, she told me, after speaking with my committee members, that the plan is for me to defend my dissertation the third or fourth week of June. Hope that's still the plan! I'm ready to get my degree and move on to other matters.

Family is Off to Taiwan Today

Daddy, Mommy, Tenny, and Tim are heading to Taiwan today. The flight from the U.S. to Taiwan is roughly sixteen continuous hours. This was a family trip in the planning for somewhere between half a year to a year. Not too long after the New Year passed, before plane tickets were purchased, Troy and I decided not to go. The primary reason was that by the time we were due to travel, I would be around 24 weeks pregnant. Though my OB-GYN doctor did not explicitly tell me or advise me not to go, those were her implications. Besides, given that I wasn't sure how I'd be feeling at 24 weeks of pregnancy (uncomfortable or what-not), we decided against going.

In hindsight, not going was the right decision for another reason. I'm not finished working on my dissertation. In January or February, I was still hoping to finish in time to graduate in May. Little did I know how teaching five classes and being pregnant would slow me down. Slow me down they did. So, here we are, hanging out in the Valley, while they adventure to Taiwan and, in my parents' case, Japan.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip, family!

Final Grades Have Been Submitted!

Grades are due by 3 pm today. And, I've just submitted final grades for five classes of students (somewhere between 130 and 200 students). Whoo hooo! Now, I can work on my dissertation for awhile, until my husband come home. At that time, I'll help him enter final grades for his students, too.

Then, later on today, Manda, Johnnie, Troy, and I are going to a huge book sale, where there's a super generous discount for teachers. I'm getting pumped. Can't wait.

Finally, a Down Pour of Rain in South Texas

We've been basking (more like frying) in temperatures hovering in the lower 100s in the past few days. And today, we had hot and humid weather, which in other parts of the country, indicate rain. Here, deep in the bowels of Texas, better not hold your breath, hoping for rain. Rain is a very, very rare commodity here. The skies were turning a gray color, late afternoon. But, I've learned not to get excited, in hopes of approaching rain. Well, gladly, I was mistaken today. As I am typing rain is a pouring down here in the Valley. Thank the Lord for rain.

I know, I know, since it rarely ever rains here, that means we'll face an onslaught of mosquitoes once the rain stops. But, hey, can't have everything the way we want, right? I'll take the rain for now.

Troy Made Dinner Tonight!

I was absolutely delighted that Troy made goulash for dinner tonight. He wasn't hungry yet and didn't want to eat. So, I said I wouldn't mind making the goulash myself. But, shortly after five o'clock, Troy started making the goulash. Granted, I had to wash all the pots he used and clean up after him . . . I was very, very happy that he made me dinner. He even dished some goulash into a bowl for me, and I ate every last morsel he put into my bowl. Thank you Kitty! Troy making me dinner reminds me of our dating days, somehow.

To show how much I've grown as a person, I wasn't bothered by the fact that he didn't wash the pots he used. By the way, I put away the leftovers into other containers. I was just thankful somebody else, besides, me cooked, especially since I'll be five and a half months pregnant tomorrow!

Here are the ingredients for Troy's version of goulash:

• lean ground Turkey.
• elbow macaroni (I prefer Barilla, because it doesn't get mushy as quickly as other brands).
• 32 oz. tomato juice.
• diced onions (Troy used the dried, ready-to-go kind).
• salt to taste.

And, viola! You have yummy goulash. Thanks Troy!

Four Exams Down and One to Go!

I just administered and proctored my fourth of five exams. Tomorrow, I give an exam at 7:45 AM, and I'm done. Well, I'm not exactly done, but I am almost done. I'll need to put the last scores into Excel, fill in the requisite final grade forms, and I'll be done. Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Then I'll be set to devote the next three weeks or so of my life to dissertation work.

A Student Squealed With Delight

A student came in around 10 minutes ago to find out his score on the fifth (and last) exam. He made a pretty good grade. I also told him his final grade for the course. He squealed with delight several times! I'm very glad to have made his day.

I'm done typing my dissertation for today!

I very badly want to taste the end of my dissertation that I want to scream at the top of my lungs. But, given that night as taken over the daytime and my neighbors will freak out, I shall refrain from screaming. I'm allegedly on the last leg of work for my dissertation. My dissertation advisor really doesn't like one of the chapters. She wants me to do two things, change the focus of the chapter and split that chapter into two. So, I'm in the process of doing both of those things.

I'm working on the first of the two chapters. Today, for a change, was one of my more productive dissertation days. I typed four single-spaced pages. That's eight double-spaced pages!!! I really want to get that chapter to my advisor ASAP. But, alas, I'm tired and can't do anymore work for the evening. So far, on the chapter, almost eight single-spaced pages are complete. Ideally, I'd like to get in another five single-spaced pages before I call this chapter done; we'll see.

Dissertation, be done! I want that sooooooooooooo badly. And, I want to defend my dissertation and have my degree in hand. Is that too much to ask? Come on, it's about time.

Yay for Naps!

Took an hour nap. That was so great, drool and all. Wasn't sure I'd be able to sleep, but thankfully, after some fidgetting, asleeping I went. What a way to knock off a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Now, I'm off to do some chores . . . cleaning the bathrooms. Then, I'll wrap a baby present for a baby shower after church tonight. That will be a lot of fun. Yay Rhonda and John, for the munchkin in their tummy: Maverick Chandler Westcott, who is due to arrive in four to five weeks.

I'm not feeling my best

Last night, Troy and I went to a party, at the home of a colleague's, where some 48 people said they were planning on coming. I didn't do a head count, and we didn't stay the entire duration of the party; so, I have no idea how many ended up going to the party. I haven't felt that great since the party. I felt a dizzy spell while I was seated at the party. Wasn't sure whether that was a pregnancy thing or not. We went to bed not long after arriving home. I didn't sleep well, seeing nearly every hour pass on the clock. Then, when the alarm clock went off at 6:30, the music kept me awake. I was cold and feeling weak.

Troy went on to music worship practice, at church, without me, bit I asked him to come back and pick me up for church. After I fell asleep, I fell into deep, deep sleep, with several strange dreams. And, I didn't awake until Troy opened the garage door. I think the sleep did me well. I didn't feel cold any longer. But my eyes burn a bit and I'm still feeling a little weak.

Hopefully the prenatal vitamins and the juice I'm drinking will nip anything coming at me in the bud. I hope, I hope, I hope . . . Could I just be experiencing a super bad bout of allergies?

I'm super restless; what should I do?

I feel super sonic restless (no, I haven't been getting shots of caffeine) and even jittery. I have plenty to do (write an ethics exam, work on my dissertation, clear the clutter in my work space), but I'm too restless to do anything. I'm wired! And, I feel useless. What's the deal? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaggghhhhhhhhhhhh.

Thank goodness for our church family

I'm about to pass out of consciousness, but I wanted to take a moment to note how thankful I am for our church family, at McAllen First Church of the Nazarene. So many nice people have reached out to us with warmness and kindness. I'm still surprised that people I hardly recognize know me by name! People in our church have made our stay here, thus far, more homey than our transition would otherwise be.

I'm sure I'm bound to forget loads of people, but thank you . . .

• Manda & Johnny.
• Rhonda & John.
• Katia & Jeff.
• Pastor Kevin & Pam, and Heather.
• Monte & Diana.
• Dennis & Tracy.
• Leeroy & Rosie.

Oh my goodness, I don't think I can come up with an exhaustive list. I'm thankful for everyone who's made our transition here so much easier by reaching out to us and loving on us.

There are many people that aren't a part of our church, that have made a significant difference in our lives here, but that's another entry, another time.

Thank goodness for Manda and Christine

This past Thursday, April 20 (2006), I had a pregnancy meltdown. Though the day began well, with me stirring after 10 in the morning, my day quickly declined. By around three or so, I was struggling with acid reflux from Hades, my head ached, and I hadn't gotten much dissertation work done. I called my sister and spoke with her for the few minutes she had to spare. I cried telling her how I wish we lived closer to each other.

I ended up calling Manda. Thankfully, she picked up the phone. I hadn't uttered more than a few words, before I started crying. I told her how these pregnancy symptoms sucked big time. Soon enough, I was crying hard enough I couldn't enunciate at all. To make a long story short, Manda asked whether she could come over. She biked a ways in the hot Texas sun over to see me! With her, she brought a tasty green tea iced tea drink for me and two photo albums of pictures. I loved hearing stories behind each of her pictures. During her visit with me, I felt much more comfortable and relaxed. She's a truly amazing friend. Thank you, Manda! Your company was so much appreciated.


Yesterday, April 21, I called Christine, my best friend in Columbia, MO. We did some small talk, in which I shared her my continuing and unrelenting acid reflux. Through the course of our conversation, she suggested that I might be able to allieve some of the heavier acid reflux problems by making sure that I do not let too much time lapse in between times of eating. I don't have to each in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In recent times, I've taken the liberty of sleeping in until ten or so. In the last few weeks, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I've gotten some eight to ten hours of sleep. Christine commented that that's too long to go without eating. That's a great observation! My tummy and the baby probably don't like that one bit. I've been keeping a cup of water by the bed since my pregnancy began. But now, when I go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I'm going to try and drag my half-asleep body to the refrigerator and drink a drinkable yogurt.

Didn't work last night, though. When I did go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I was unsucessful at getting myself to the kitchen. I did, however, get something to eat as soon as I awoke. I drank a Dannon drinkable yogurt. Acid reflux as been tolerable so far today. Thank you for your keen observation and wisdom Christine.

Buffet that Recently Made the New Record Buffet in the Guinness Book of World Records

Manda! Thought of you when I ran across a Reuters article that talked about a new record buffet that made the Guinness Book of World Records this week. Manda and I both share a fond appreciation for food.

To break the previous record, 500 dishes were needed to create a new record buffet. Executive Chef, George Bargisen, at the Las Vegas Hilton, spent some 24 hours overseaing preparation of 510 different dishes. 40 soups, 100 salads, and 150 desserts were available. Nadine Causey, a Guinness Book of World Records official flew from London to verify and certify that a new record buffet had been reached.

Each person was charged $7.50 for the buffet. All proceeds were donated to America's Second Harvest, a hunger relief charity. Pretty cool, huh!

Below is the article from which I gathered the information, published by Reuters, on Wednesday, March 29, 2006:

Four Beautiful Words: All You Can Eat. . .

Cravings that Have Come and Gone from Conception Until Now

Here is a list of cravings that have come and gone from conception until now (this isn't necessarily an exhaustive list):

• Hop Tung's Hot and Sour soup.
• ice cream.
• cucumber salad (with tomatoes and onions).
• pickled kohlrabi (pickled with salt and a bit of sugar).
• cheese (such as slices of pepper jack) with Claussen's baby size pickles.
• fresh, organic carrots and celery dipped in Ranch vegetable dipping sauce.
• fruit popsicles (especially strawberry popsicles with strawberry chunks).
• fresh fruit - strawberries, bananas, honeydew, blueberries, mango).
• Troy's homemade yogurt smoothies, with fruit (fresh pineapples, fresh bananas, sometimes fresh oranges, other times frozen strawberries and frozen blueberries.
• Haagen Daaz popsicles (mint & dark chocolate or chocolate with nuts).
• sushi made with crab meat and cucumber.
• pregnancy tea or herbal tea - English style (with milk and sugar).
  

Keep the pandas, Taiwan tells China

Keep the pandas, Taiwan tells China