Spring Means Stress for Fall Classes

I wish we had a nice spring. It gets warm for a day and then is plunged back to below 45 degrees. It's plain teasing -- and not a nice kind. I have to admit I'm looking forward to Raleigh -- slighter hotter, a little less humid in the summers, but I remember some kind of fall and spring. I could be wrong though.

Also, I'm applying for a fellowship at NC State sponsored by the department of homeland security. It means a pretty big raise (income + tuition & fees benefits) and some mandatory service during and after the fellowship.  I certainly hope I get it, though I think my odds are pretty good. It would also be nice to see Maria jump around in joy over something involving higher education -- the news from NC State and Duke hasn't been unqualified enough successes to make her do that. I should mention, if someone doesn't know for some reason, that she got into Duke, but due to some annoying stuff about their fellowships, we don't know if she can go. Her usual impatience (let's call it 'eagerness' so it sounds better!) means that she has already started working out the schedule she wants at NC State.

Which makes me remember that I really need to figure out my schedule at NC State next fall. I'd like to finish in two years and that seems possible but it means I'll only have 1 chance to pass my qualifying exams, the summer of 2011. While it shouldn't be too hard, I'd really like to not put all my eggs in one basket, because if I don't pass both parts it could make things a bit difficult. So I might have to spend this summer studying for at least one of the two qualifying exams I need and try to get that out of the way.

There's not a whole lot else to report for now, so I'm going to cut this one short. Thanks for reading, here's hoping we get all this stuff tied up before we go on our "honeymoon" to Kyoto at the end of March.