Sorry for the delay in posting - we've been very busy (and sick). Rachel is on her third anti-biotic, I've had 2, Jacob has had 1 and Michael has had 1. We've all had the upper respiratory stuff - ear aches, coughs, congestion.... AND we had 1 round of the stomach stuff rumble through our house. Surely we'll be through this soon and we can all get back to our normal selves.
We had a great time visiting family over Christmas. We saw my brother, his wife and their two kids, my parents and my sister. It was very nice - even if I had a baby in my lap with 102 fever for 3 of the 5 days. Poor thing. Here is the best picture of her from the holidays....
Jacob is amazing. He's so smart. He got an electric circuit "game". It has pieces that snap together and make electric circuits, turning light bulbs on and off, using wire leads in water to complete a circuit, figuring out what fits where... It literally has put a light bulb on in his head. Jacob also has a great aptitude for language. He's reading way above his grade and is learning a second language. He's reading and writing in Hebrew!! We are fortunate that a lady in our congregation is from Israel. She is his tutor. They also use the "learn a language" tapes that his grandfather gave him. They can carry on a little conversation - it is pretty cool. Jacob is playing Tennis too. The weather here has allowed him to play most days. This week he didn't go, due to his ear ache. He'll start back next week though - with a hat of course!!
Rachel is sitting up, rolling over and eating cereal. She' babbling and having a lot of fun giggling at our silly dogs, funny family and friends at daycare. No one can make her laugh like her big brother though. He apparently has found her giggle button. She thinks he's the funniest thing going.
Michael is still working on his dissertation. He's frustrated - to say the least. His committee is frustrated - so much so - that one of his co-chairs said to him,
"... you have my blessing to work with anyone you want, we've been debating words on the page for two years, your committee will look it over when you are done, go... write.... get an editor....write some more.... and bring me all 5 chapters when you are done....."
Things to note between the lines... in the voice of the co-chair again....
I'm done trying to help - this is my first dissertation as a chair and I don't know how to do it any faster - so go get someone else to help you.
You've been here for almost 5 years and we need you off the payroll.
I know I was out of the country on sabbatical for the first year and we've had to rehash the things that you did while I was away.
You have to meet many deadlines: finish your statistical model, submit your final dissertation, submit your intent to defend, submit your intent to graduate, actually defend your arguments to the department... in order to graduate.
Each deadline domino needs to fall in sequence, they can not happen simultaneously. The first deadline is 1/28/08 .... good luck.
To top it all off - he's been passed over again in the job search. Two of his companions in the program were hired this year. One finished his dissertation and graduated. One is ABD - meaning they hired him as All But Dissertation - and he must finish it within a year.
Work for me is fine - same. I am trying to adjust to not being the one promoted to manager. I know the woman who was, is great. It is just not me. I will always do my job, but my heart isn't in it 100%.
I thoroughly enjoyed every Christmas card....don't be a stranger - email me, or call me.
