It's Been A While...

Sorry, faithful 3 readers. It's been a while. I have been pretty busy with critically important work, like with my marathon West Wing session (I heart CJ) in which I watched the entire 7th and final season (yes, that's 22 episodes) in 25.5 hours. Speaking of, for anyone who is a fan of Stockard Channing or revenge flicks or noir strangeness or generally fine acting, check out this flick.

Anyway, when that little fantasy was over, I flipped on the t.v. to CNN with baited breath and anticipation for news about the latest campaign information but just found more
of the
same. My sister (while crude) was right. The West Wing is, fundamentally, just a Democrat's wet dream.

And, finally, there has been some progress on the dissertation front. I am writing and downloading data. I am also applying for a couple of post-docs (wtf is wrong with me?!) and I scored an interview for one of them. So, in addition to all of the above, I get to line up the next experiment in academia.

IRB Approval: Check!

Just received word today that my proposal went through the IRB process and was granted exemption. It's not like I'm surprised but....it went so smoothly and quickly.

What does this mean?....that I am actually going to do this research...and I can start now!

Next: mind-numbing conversion of 1990 to 2000 census tracts, data extraction, and derivation of new variables.

Dissertation Proposal Progress

There has been more progress on the dissertation front. (Yes, I am STILL stillin school.) Three of my four committee members are satisfied with my proposal and the last--my statistician--got back to me today about his revisions. Despite my fears, his comments are not only helpful but they're actually pretty easy. After all, how hard is it to delete an episilon from an equation?

Even better, during our conversation today, we laid to rest A BIG ISSUE. A potentially huge analysis problem (I thought) that was already causing me anxiety. It is now a NON-ISSUE.

Still more progress, I have received official approval on one front to use the data, and from another, to pay for it. Can this really be happening??!

Meanwhile, I am finalizing my first application to a post-doc position. Since this is so much fun, I figure, why not continue onward?!