So my exams are done now. I wrote my last one earlier today starting at about noon: four essay questions in four hours. It’s hard to say I’m relieved, though, because the reality hasn’t fully sunk in yet.

You know that feeling when you’ve put off so many non-essential things for so long to focus on just one thing… and then that one thing ends and you don’t know what to do next? Should I go out and do something now? Go tidy up the apartment? Or go read that novel I’ve been putting off? On second thought, I should probably avoid any serious mental activity for a while… I feel like I need to go sit on a beach somewhere and just stare at the ocean for five days.

this brings coffee addiction to another level. lucky that we have our trusty no frills six cup black and decker coffee maker to meet joe’s daily needs. funny that coffee is called ‘cup of joe’…hee hee…he.

his stress level is getting higher as exams are in less than one week, after which he’ll try to deal with his addiction. please pray for him (…i meant for his exams…).

less than two more weeks until joe’s exams. he has his method, and it seems to work; multiple vocab cards in purposefully arranged piles which he will systematically go through. it’s a tricky balance now trying to memorize facts without inadvertently pushing another one out. hate it when that happens.

joe has been busy studying for his comprehensive exams, which will be in exactly one month from now; five eight hour exams within one week of time. i took a peek at what he was studying yesterday and this is what i found:

it’s a ugaritic letter to a master complaining about the destruction of a city apparently by some bandits. obviously.

step 1. pull hard on ignition thingee (while holding down lever on handle).

step 2. push in a straight line.

step 3. mow in an orderly fashion.

step 4. avoid play things.

step 5. mow in the front.

step 6. refill gas.

step 7. keep mowing on the side.

step 8. fill garbage bags with cut grass.

step 9. enjoy lawn.

ps. i helped with picking up sticks.

i spent yesterday and today 8am-6pm at a conference on women’s health. i LOVE a good conference! call me a nerd, but it feels so good to learn something useful. AND it only cost me $35 after getting a huge discount, which is crazy cheap for a medical conference that included lunch and education credits!! yeah! during the lunch break, i enjoyed the sunshine, blue michigan lake and the downtown skyline. finally i came home to a yummy steak dinner made by my hubbie.

if you’re wondering where joe has been, you’ll find him under a pile of books. one more week left in the quarter, and then we’ll be off to hong kong!!