Proof of Age

Today, a box arrived in the mail that was a rather startling proof of age. It was a "Welcome to OurUniversity!" box for the eldest boy.

He still has his senior year of high school to do (although he's really finishing up his associate's degree during this upcoming year), but he has been pretty set on this school since we visited in the fall. As part of the visit, he could start his application (and they'd waive the fee - woot). So he did.

Last week (week before maybe?) I got his O-fficial grades through his junior year, so we sent off a transcript. It was the last piece he needed.

And he is in.

I had planned to force a few other visits this summer, just to round out a plan B. But I guess that's off the table at this point.

It seems odd to go into his senior year (or heck, the summer after his junior year) with college all but squared away.

I'm still making him take the ACT in July (and probably again after that), because there are scholarships for scores to consider. Plus it's just a good idea.

But for whatever reason, my little doodle boy is old enough to head off to college soon.

The tempus, it does fugit.

Sprechen sie Deutsch?

 When all the madness began in March, I decided it was a good time to plug back into Duolingo. I've been faffing about with learning Spanish for several years--and I had also added on German since I took that in high school.

Guess which is going better? 

But I do find if I warm up with a German lesson or two, my brain handles Spanish better when I get to it. I found this in college as well. I took a semester of French, mostly for fun, and while we weren't allowed ot speak English, I would often end up asking half my question in German. Thankfully, the teacher spoke both. But he would shake his head and say, "En Francais!"

Oops.

Anyway, as I'm enjoying it and I'm on a two hundred plus day streak now, I told my sister, when she asked, that she could get me a year of premium for Christmas.

And so she did.

I'm kind of excited to explore the progress quizzes and such that they have on the paid side. I think some things I know better than what's represented in my little screen--I guess we'll see. 

But also, since they just changed the way they handle your "lives" and made it SUUUUUPER annoying, the best part of paid is that goes away. (Which I'm sure was part of why they changed it. But I was at the point where I was like whelp, either someone gives me this for Christmas or I guess I quit b/c it's that dumb.)

And there you are.

High School Thoughts

I don't recall if I ever mentioned that I graduated from the STEM magnet high school locally, a billion years ago when STEM wasn't even an acronym that people used.

Regardless, I loved my time at the nerd school. Roaming the nerd halls. Feeling like I'd found people who, if not my actual peeps, were not going to be annoyed with me because I enjoyed studying. I was nowhere near the brightest there and was a solidly slightly better than average student. (I can't remember my GPA. I know it was good enough that I got into college and my report cards never got me in trouble at home. That was enough.)

Anyway.

As the years have gone by, it's gotten harder and harder to get in to said school. It's become (in my opinion) less about the students wanting to go there and much more about the Tiger Parents making sure that their kid has that check mark for their college apps.

When I attended, it was primarily Asian (specifically and primarily Korean and Vietnamese when I was there but they may have diversified some there, I'm not sure) if you were looking to sort things by ethnic demographics. We had 7-10 Black students. (I'm thinking through the names and I know I didn't know everyone but I had two good friends who were Black and knew some of the rest by virtue of association.)

The other-than-Asian-or-white attendance has been plummeting downward every year. And every year there's a bit of an uproar in the alumni groups. And this year, given the world and the fact that the stats just released admitted that there were ZERO Black students in the upcoming freshman class...well, you can imagine.

There's quite a hue and cry within the Alum Faceplant group for the school to be closed down as an abomination and misuse of public funds.

I think that's a bit of an overreach, myself. Because I do think there are students who benefit greatly from the school who wouldn't necessarily flourish as well at their base schools. But I also do agree that they should be doing more for diversity. Because there are students of EVERY background who would benefit greatly from the school who wouldn't necessarily flourish as well at their base schools. And there are many kids who end up there who would do just fine -- and perhaps flourish even more -- at those base schools.

Anyway, my general feeling on how I'd fix it were I to be in charge is this: If an average incoming class if 500 students, and there are 5 primary categories on their racial/ethnic demographic checklist, then each checkbox gets 100 students. 

They can keep running their entrance exam exactly the same way they've been doing, but the top 100 from any checkbox category get accepted. (If there's a serious concern about academic ability that the test is supposed to measure, then establish a "minimum baseline" and take those kids who score over that. But it needs to be a realistic minimum, not one that's inflated to try and game the system.)

I realize this would create probably an even bigger hue and cry from among the 67% ethnic majority at the school (which is not white) - but if we're aiming for fair? Let's be fair. 

The trouble might arise finding 100 kids of every racial/ethnic checkbox who actually want to go through the hassle of taking the test. In that situation? I guess the left over spots could be done as a lottery for kids in other checkboxes who were over the minimum baseline but below the top 100. But I'd say there needs to be a cutoff so that it's not a situation where, for example, only 10 Black kids apply so now we have space for 90 more of other boxes as a lottery. There needs to be something done to encourage application by a large spread of kids (and I haven't looked at the application stats in depth, so it's possible this issue is moot. I just know many of the Black alums have said they've actively discouraged siblings/friends from applying because of their experiences. That's wrong and I hate that it felt like the best course of action for them. That's not the school I went to.)

But maybe, knowing that every group was guaranteed 100 spots, then the understanding that the kids who get in are the ones who start test prep when they're 9 would start to be less true. Because it's RIDICULOUS to me that anyone would spend close to five years prepping for an entrance test for high school. 

No kid chooses that. That's something parents choose.

And no high school is so amazing that kids should be forced to go there by overly ambitious parents. The kids who were there because their parents made them go when I was there were miserable.

I can't imagine that's changed.

A Hiking We Will Go

This morning, youngest's Trail Life troop (think what the Boy Scouts used to be, before they decided it was okay to pander) had two "hikes" at the Manassas Battlefield. Since they combined short hikes and Ranger education, the event counts towards two of his badges (outdoors and heritage) and so it seemed like it would behoove us to go. Plus it was looking to be a lovely day. And the kiddos both enjoy the time spent with their friends at Trail Life.

So it was that the Sleepy family was piled into the minivan and toodling off to the Battlefield before we are usually all up from our slumber on Saturday. (Eldest has taken to sleeping in -- ahh, tweendom -- so the fact that he was up and raring to go was rather amazing.)

We started with the Matthews Hill loop. The park ranger (an actual ranger) did a lovely job telling the story of how it factored into the first battle of Manassas and various troop deployments, the purpose of what they were doing, and spotlighting some of the individuals who fought. It was all very interesting and I appreciated not hearing the current spiel about how the Civil War was only about slavery and anyone who says otherwise is a racist. (In fact, this particular spiel didn't touch on the whys of the war at all, just the whys of troop placement and whether or not they moved in to fight.)

Then we piled back in the car to hit up the spiel that's done near the Visitor's Center. I remarked to hubby how refreshing it was to hear just details without getting into the politics of it all. Not that we don't discuss the politics of it -- in fact, eldest chimed in with some interesting tidbits (we hit the Civil War in history this year and he was fascinated. In fact, the librarian at our local library was rather amazed as he requested just about every book for his age group on the Civil War and read through them. Which means, mental note, I should see about him reading Across Five Aprils. I didn't read it until high school, so I'm not sure about handing it to an 11 year old -- but maybe I should give it a peek and see if it's appropriate.)

Amusingly, one of the other parents (friends with us and dad to one of eldest's best friends) commented somewhat on the lack of demonizing of the Confederacy as we circled round to start the second talk.

Well, we all spoke too soon. This one, led by a volunteer not a park ranger, started out with "Who knows what the Civil War was about? That's right, slavery." And it digressed from there (apparently Lincoln was only elected because he was going to stop the spread of slavery - that was his sole qualification and why the South rebelled.) He did a lot more talking about individual people, which is interesting and not a bad idea when looking to catch the interest of the folks following you about in the great outdoors, but his focus seemed to hone in all the innocent civilians whose lives were disrupted if not downright ruined by those slavery loving Southerners.

I'll admit to not being overly annoyed when all the kids with us started losing interest and searching the clover on the ground for 4-leave varietals.

Still, it was a fun outing, the boys learned a little and we've had some good conversations about how things like the Civil War are nuanced and while yes, slavery was at issue, it was not the only issue and was, in fact, part of the larger issue of state's rights during the era of western expansion. We got into the economics somewhat, as well. So like I said, educational all around, and the kids had fun with their friends.

Afterward, since we were near, we hit up Pizzeria Uno for lunch and gorged upon deep dish. As you do.

STEM...STEAM...STEAHM?

Here in the Sleepy School for Exceptional Boys, I do not push STEM/STEAM. I get no end of crap from some people about this, but I stand by the decision. Even as a former STEM-based career professional.

Even as a FEMALE STEM-based professional.

STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) was started as a push to get kids (in particular, girls) interested in STEM careers early. I had no issue with that, honestly, even though my literature study for my PhD pretty much showed that early exposure and interest didn't really translate into a future career in the field. (Or even future interest in a future career in the field.)

And somewhere along the lines, the arts got mad that science, technology, engineering and math were getting all this attention (read: money) and suddenly was ended up with STEAM.

Which had me scratching my head and wondering what the actual purpose behind the "movement" was. Are we hoping kids will develop and maintain an interest in STEM because of the future of technology in our career paths? Are we hoping to try and solve the pipeline problem with women in these fields?

Then why in the fresh hell is Arts part of it?

Don't get me wrong, arts matter.

The arts are important.

But it's a lot easier to get girls in particular interested in the arts. So...why STEAM? Seems to me, all the teenage boys, minus the few exceptions who would already have been there, will flock to the STEM parts and the rest - majority girls - will glom on to the Arts.

In my mind? Let's just throw in an H for Humanities.

Then we've covered all the bases.

Or as we called it when I was little: school.

Of course, that means that we've decided to just let little Johnny and Susie decide for themselves what's interesting to them and pursue those careers based on their interest and formative experiences (Hint: It's less likely to be a STEM career for the girls unless the old boy's club gets a kick in the nuts or the girl in question is willing to put up with a lot of BS.)

Regardless, around here we do school - that's STEAHM. And I hope my boys find interests that produce sustainable careers long term - be that in a STEM field, the arts, or the humanities.

Jots and Tittles

Today I shipped off four copies of my dissertation (on 24lb extra bright paper, as required. After making a special trip to the store to get said paper) to the binding office on campus. $200.

Then I uploaded my dissertation to ProQuest (I think it's ProQuest, that's what's sticking in my brain. Something like that, if not that.) $55

Then I filled out and submitted my application for degree. $75

Cause really, I haven't paid enough for this degree yet.

As Tim keeps reminding me though, 1) I'm finished (wheeeeee!) and 2) at this point, that's a drop in the bucket.

And hey, I can almost retire the smartification label.

Is There a Doctor in the House?*

Why yes, yes there is.

*No, not a medical doctor. Still making my students call me Dr. Sleepy, by gollly.

The Moral of the Story

Is that anytime I post bemoaning how slowly things are going with my PhD and then ask if anyone wants to take bets about how long til I hear something - you should say YES.

Today I received my very minor feedback. Made the changes. Gave it another critical once over. And have turned it into the official "I am finished with this" drop box.

I still have one committee member I'm waiting to hear from, but my advisor doesn't expect anything major. So now all that's left is my defense.

I'm working on the power point as we speak (well, not literally, I took a short break so that I could come post this. You know what I mean.)

Progress. Sweet, glorious progress.

Slow. And Painful.

Those would be the words I would choose if asked to choose only two words (I'm obviously excluding the "and") to describe my PhD. At this point, my thesis has been sent to committee, I've received feedback from all three committee members, have made adjustments based on that feedback and resubmitted it. Now, yet again, we wait.

Of course, my advisor is on vacation the first two weeks of July, so I'm guessing I'll have to wait a seriously long time (unless he manages to motivate everyone to hurry up this week because of said vacation...anyone want to make bets?)

That said, barring major catastrophe, I'm thinking mid-July should find me defending and graduating. (Touch wood. Cross fingers. Etc.)

And then? Then I can go on vacation with a free and clear heart. I'm really looking forward to that vacation.

Bullets Over Monday

• I haven't actually seen Bullets Over Broadway, but I do think it's a catchy title and that's why I'm semi-ripping it off. It probably is completely inappropriate to anything in this list. But that's never stopped me before, so why start now?
• We spent the bulk of Saturday trying to do a bit of spring cleaning. (Is it always spring cleaning regardless of the time of year? I just think you all understand what I mean when I say spring cleaning vs. "summer cleaning" or "June cleaning" or whatever. I spring clean whenever I can find the motivation.) Part of that was bagging/boxing/sorting all the kid clothes for donation. I found a friend who is going to take the 24 month + stuff, so that's lovely. The rest I will drop off at the Salvation Army when I get a chance. On the one hand, it feels really good to have it out of my hair. On the other hand, it's a little sad to see it go. It's not as if we're giving up on adopting a second time, but there's only a 50% chance we'd get another boy to start off with, and if someone else can be using the stuff, why should it sit in my closet gathering dust? Share when you can.
• I also finished up my first and a half-th round of revisions. Why first and a half-th? Because I sent 3/4 of the first round off and he got back with more changes before I had finished the last 1/4. Now all changes are made and sent back to him. What will be fun is waiting to see how many rounds of revisions it takes for him to tell me to undo something that he told me to do in this first round. I give it another 2 rounds of revisions.
• I also spent time up at my folk's old house with my sister and brother-in-law making the last changes/touch ups before getting it listed for sale. Merry Maids is going to come do a deep clean on Wednesday and then, hopefully, it'll get listed that night (or at least in time for the weekend). Pray that it sells fast! 
• We get to start booking our cruise excursions this week (on Friday)...which means I guess I'd better knuckle down and figure out what I want to do through the cruise line (if anything) and what I think we can just figure out on our own. 
• I'd probably also be well served to make some hotel reservations for either end of the vacation. I did, at least, manage to get the airfare taken care of. 
• I noticed that the Tony Awards were on last night. I've always wondered why they televise the Tonys when the shows that all the awards are for have to be viewed in person in New York City.
• We're also now all caught up, DVR-wise, on Chuck (gosh am I glad that next year is its last season - it was a fun show, but it has definitely run its course. Honestly...not sure I'll watch the last season, though I stuck with it this long, kind of feels like I might as well finish it out.) and have only the most recent Dr. Who sitting there waiting to be viewed. I am *loving* this season of Who. Matt Smith is finally growing on me. He's still no David Tennant, but really, who is?
• That's really all that's going on around here. Much too much reading (if that's possible), which is a common avoidance syndrome for me. But at least I recognize it for what it is, right?

If You Whine About It, It Will Come?

So not 20 minutes after my post yesterday, I got the feedback on my thesis. The accompanying email mentioned the "tons" and "lots" of comments (along with how the info was good but the organization had "issues")...and how I could send them chapter by chapter if I wanted - he had comments in 3, 4 and 5...and only 4 and 5 have changed, really, since the proposal.

I am too chicken to open the document and see how bad it is.

Gah. Guess it's time to man up since it's been sitting there around 24 hours.

Little Bits Of This And That

• We hired a lawn company to do the mowing this summer. In general this has been a lovely thing, but they're very clear on their website and in their contract that they will assign you a day and always come that day. This is a good thing because it helps me know what day I need to stay close to home and keep the dogs more in than out and so forth and so on.  When they first started, our day was Thursday. Then, for inexplicable reasons, it moved to Monday. (Inexplicable and unexplained, I should add.) And then along came Memorial Day and they told us the week before that it would, obviously, not be on the holiday but on Tuesday. And they came on Tuesday. But I thought then we'd go back to Monday. Except they didn't come yesterday. And they've not shown up yet today. And really...I just would like to know when I can put the dog door in without worrying about it. Is that so much to ask?
• I'm starting to look at booking our flights to Seattle later this summer for our cruise. Hands down people have said to go with the non-stop, so I think that will be the choice. Now I just need to decide if I should book them now or wait and see if there's a better price as the summer wears on. More than likely I'll just book them, but inevitably when I do that, there'll be a big sale come through my email. 
• I probably also ought to get hotels for before and after booked.
• We had a planning meeting for our MOPS group for next year. Yes, I'm still doing that. No, I can't really explain why. You ever go to a meeting where before hand you're very stern with yourself about how you're going to just be amenable and keep your mouth shut and then not five minutes into it you've proven to everyone yet again that you're an outspoken pain in the butt? (Or at least that's how I figure I come across.)On the other hand, honestly, how many times do we have to have someone come and speak to us about how men and women think differently? 
• I submitted the first draft of my thesis to my advisor exactly a week ago. Anyone want to make a bet when I actually get feedback? 
• I also submitted my monthly status report with a goal to be completely done in June. Anyone want to make a bet if that's going to pan out? 
• Those last two are closely related -- I'm guessing I might get feedback before the end of June, but probably not much else.

Oh, Look, a Squirrel!

If you don't see anything new here for a while, it's because I'm studiously working on my dissertation. Or procrastinating while I should be doing so, though I can't quite justify blogging because then you just had to admit that you're procrastinating instead of working.

Point being, I'm trying to get the stupid thing written so I can just graduate already.

Also? We got a new puppy on Saturday. I think this just clinches the notion that I am certifiable. But she's a cutie. More on her later when I'm not supposed to be working.

Definitely Not a Train

That really is light at the end of the tunnel!

I have enough data to form sustainable conclusions for my doctoral study. It has been analyzed and there is even a little bit of positive news (in that at least part of my hypothesis was proved. This is not, of course, necessary...but it's certainly more fun to have a dissertation that shows something that works vs. simply adding to the pile of ways not to do something.) Not it's just a matter of writing it up satisfactorily and defending it. And then we will have a week or so wherein I remind everyone to call me Dr. or add PhD at the end of my name. Because otherwise it's unlikely that this degree is going to be utilized.

On the heels of yesterday, it's nice to have something positive to say.

Nearing the End

I'll be honest with you, I've still got my toes crossed, but...I am nearing the end (the *successful* end, mind you) of my PhD.

Just typing that gives me a little fit of the giggles.

I have collected all my data...well, ok, that's not 100% true. I thought I had collected all my data, but looking at the disparity in responses from the control and experimental groups, I actually contacted my control group leader to see if she could poke a few more students so that I might have a statistically significant number of responses. (Thus the toe crossing). But....BUT! My advisor played with the data and did some magical statistic-type stuff and he feels that, even without more control data, I've got good results.

Which is not to say that my idea actually netted an improvement. I still think the treatment is a good thing and would be helpful if I'd been able to control the study a bit more (which would have required having it done by people who actually cared about the study vs. people doing a favor for my advisor). But at this point, I'm just looking forward to putting the whole thing behind me and 3 little initials after my name.

If all continues to go well (and I'm really thinking it will -- but mind you, my toes aren't uncrossing til after my defense), then I should be finished well before our celebratory cruise. So there is no more fear of being either left behind or thrown overboard. So that's a weight off my shoulders at least.

Now I can begin planning how to spend all that extra money that we're not spending on tuition...though honestly I think it's going to end up going into the kiddo's 529...he's recently gotten it into his head that he wants to go to Notre Dame.

We're also working with him on a new word: Scholarship.

So. Um. Yeah.

That whole sleep deprivation thing? It really puts a kink in your ability to get things done enough to the point that you can blog when you have free time. Mostly because you never actually get around to having free time. That could also be somewhat related to the fact that I'm trying to get a jumpstart on my statistics for my final report because, well, I really want to graduate before I die of old age. And also? We totally booked a Disney Cruise for the end of summer as a "Hey, congratulations, you finished your PhD" type thing and if I'm not done when we are supposed to leave for it, Tim is threatening to leave me at home. (Ok not really. He'll just throw me overboard when we get there. (Not really.) (Probably.))

So. Statistics. Can I just say that I hate them just as much now as I did in college and also again during my coursework?

I ordered a book to review and it came and I opened it and oh. my. gosh. There is no way I'm going to be able to finish it. So I will be posting a pseudo-review of it tomorrow (though I kind of hate to actually post the review, because good gracious...but you have to review what you have in order to get a new book so...lucky y'all). It's not that it's bad, but it's the 4th in a series and I vaguely recall getting the first (or 2nd?) and having a seriously hard time with it and, to be perfectly frank, I ordered this one thinking that it was something else entirely by a different author entirely because I vaguely recognized the names of the characters in the blurb and only when I got the book did I realize that I recognized them because of trying to slog through the first one that I ordered.

Our new puppy is getting huge. It's kind of astounding how much he grows when you turn your back. Also? We got promoted to the 2nd level of our dog training classes on Saturday. This is because he can sit, lay down, and looks at me when I say his name. So it's not like he's already saving small children from imminent doom. But still, it's nice to get out of the newbie classes cause the level 2 classes are at a much more convenient time for me. So there's that.

Speaking of the puppy, I had to call the vet today to ask a really stupid question because Google failed me. So, for future googlers - if you want to know if collies are considered a large breed or if collies are considered a medium breed, know now for the record: collies are considered a medium breed dog. (I think I put that in enough easily googleable search terms there. Cause really, why do the collie websites not just come out and say that?) Thankfully our vet is very nice and did not make fun of me while I was on the phone. I have no doubt, however, that my idiocy is anything other than the day's watercooler joke. This is me, an informed pet owner.

At least I started with "I know this is a stupid question and I did try looking on the Internet but it failed me."

That's really all that's going on here. Other than the whole it used to feel like spring outside and gosh, that was nice, but then yesterday it snowed and today it's freezing cold thing. And really, did you want to talk about the weather?

Surely There's Something to Say

Let's see if it can just bubble to the top:

• Having a 3 year old and a puppy is, I imagine, a lot like having a 3 year old with a 9 month old sibling. The puppy puts everything in his mouth, doesn't do anything that you ask him to do, and is, basically, only getting by because he's adorable.
• I'd forgotten how annoying the puppy chewing stage is
• I started working on my dissertation final report yesterday. Technically the study isn't complete, but I have initial and midpoint data, so I think I can start crunching those numbers so that when the final data is in, I only have to do the midpoint to final data analysis. Making it (cross fingers etc) possible, nay probable, that I will actually graduate this semester.
• I told my doctor that I was hoping to graduate with my PhD at the end of this semester and she asked if I was going to go to Disney World. Seriously.
• But it did make me think that, hmmm, Disney in the fall might not be a bad idea. (I would wait til the fall though because seriously I do not get people who go to Orlando in the summer on purpose. It's hot down there.) (Plus, as no one here is in public school, why fight the masses if you don't have to?)
• On the other hand, there are other places we could go in the fall too. But of those? Disney might be the better choice for all around enjoyment.
• Though I've been kicking around the idea of going to Yellowstone (and that we would do in the summer as freezing is not something Tim enjoys.)
• So I guess we could potentially do both. Who knows?
• Point being, I could really go for a vacation.
• Also? There is no reason that I am writing this as a bulleted list, other than that I started it that way and am now too lazy to go back up and unclick them.
• I need to decide what I'm doing re: MOPS and crafts next year (as in: am I going to continue being in charge of crafts) soon. The coordinator has asked and honestly...I just don't know.
• I believe that that is all.

The Sound of One Head Screaming

What is it they say? Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you?

That would be life right now. I'm almost thinking that I'd've been better off not finding a place to do my doctoral study. Yes, who would have ever thought those words would cross my fingers? Not me. But there you are. Why you ask? Where do I start?

First off, apparently the teachers who are "helping" me have problems understanding numbered lists of step-by-step instructions. So that had a major hiccup that I had thought we were remedying...until two weeks went by and we're now at the mid point of the study and, oh yes, no one in the experimental group has actually received the experimental treatment.

I'll wait a minute for you to collect your jaw up off the floor. My head still randomly implodes when I realize that this is the case.

Why is this the case? Apparently because I didn't tell them that they needed to do it. Because, "Be sure that the students all complete the tutorial within the first week of class (date x to date y)" was not clear about the fact that students needed to take the tutorial in the first week of class. Not sure how else I was to have phrased it, but maybe I should've used the universal translator. Or hired a mime. Interpretive dance, maybe?

So yes, here we are at the midpoint and I have opened up the midpoint survey, though I'm not sure why, because really I just have a huge control group - maybe I can tell which teachers are more effective when I analyze my data, because that's the only difference that I'm going to uncover.


I'll be in the corner whimpering. It's the only thing that seems to ease the stabbing pain behind my eye.

On Tenterhooks

Data is actually trickling in for my study. I'm actually half holding my breath - but I think this might actually happen. As of now I have 32 surveys from the experimental folks and 18 from control. I'd like more from control, but 15 was my absolute minimum so...

Now I just need to pray that the mid and post surveys go as well.

In other news, I titled this post and then had to stop and ask exactly what a tenterhook was and why I was on them without knowing what they were. For all you word nerds out there who haven't already looked it up - tenterhooks were used to keep woolen cloth stretched to the appropriate size and shape while drying.

Go, Joe!

Ready...Set...Panic!

Today is Wednesday. I know this because I looked at a calendar. And also because we went to MOPS yesterday and that happens only on Tuesdays, which makes the next day Wednesday. At least the last time I checked. Anyway. Wednesday happens to be the middle of the week, for those of you not in that particular loop (and really, if you've somehow managed to escape that loop, can you tell me how?) The Germans, being all smart and creative, have even gone so far as to name their Wednesday Mittwoch, literally translated "mid week", rather than our rather unhelpful "Wednesday" (which is named after Woden, the English God of the hunt, pre-Christianity, obviously, who later became associated with Father Christmas. So really, Christmas happens every Wednesday. Interestingly, Woden is more closely associated with Mercury in the Roman hierarchy of things -- so is it the hunt or commerce? Or is it just finally proof that shopping is akin to hunting so men need to just hush up already. Except that I really hate shopping, myself, so it's kind of neither here nor there.)

Sorry. My Word Nerd hat hopped on my head there for a minute.

As I was saying, today is Wednesday. I started collecting data for my doctoral study on Monday. (I'll skip the etymology of Monday. You're welcome.) Which was, for all those keeping score, three days ago. (Essentially. If we want to be precise, we can go with 2.5.) My study is being promoted to roughly 120 students. Anyone want to guess how many pre-study surveys I've had taken?

Anyone? Bueller? (Speaking of Bueller - anyone have a spare $1.65M they want to loan me so I can buy this?)

Two. That's 2. Or deux. Or zwei. Or dos. And both appear to be from the control classes.

I was planning on closing the first survey on Saturday. Because it really needs to be done BEFORE they start learning how to program (thus calling it the "pre-study survey" - I know it's a bit technical and all, but well, it seemed apt.)

Anyone want to lay odds on me actually getting enough participation in this study to make it fly? Yeah. I'm kind of thinking it's more likely to have $1.65M drop in my lap too.

Sigh.