Countdown to the oral exam

I have been spending quite a lot of time reading and prepping for the oral exam for my master's degree. It is scheduled for this Thursday, December 8 at 11 am. I asked whether it will be a back and forth and if I will get any further questioning from my interrogators as I answer.  I was told "no" so I will talk non-stop for an hour. I am very happy to be done.

Thinking of having my band do this song



 

A Sort of Disturbing Exhibit

It probably isn't designed to be that way but it is.  PostSecret: The Power of a Postcard is an exhibit of post cards on which people write their darkest hidden secrets, sent to an address somewhere in Maryland. There are a lot of heartbreaking ones to read about lost or unrequited love, miserable relationships, disappointed parents and children. 

Prepping for my oral exam

Not with a dentist, but with a panel of my professors. I need  to answer nine questions posed to me on topics from the courses I took. The exam is an hour so that averages about seven minutes per answer. I need to clarify whether it is a monologue of me blathering for the entire time or a dialogue where they will ask me more questions or challenge some of my statements. Previous classmates have assured me that i will do fine but still I have been doing lots of reading. I know that I can be very inarticulate and inexpressive so I will need to be well-prepared. Presuming I pass, I will get my degree in January. Maybe I will have the grduation party I never had when I finall finished my bachelors at 29 years old.

After a drive through central PA

Also known as Pennsyl- tucky. Not surprising but still.

But just in case

Hotel rooms in Boston

It is amazing how expensive hotels rooms in Boston have become. I need one for an upcoming business trip and all of the old stand-byes are either sold out or well over $500 per night, which with hotel taxes means more like $575. The Westin Copley is $607. The Taj, formerly the Ritz Carlton across from the Public Gardens is a relative bargain at $579. The new Ritz is $807. Even Air BnB is not much of a bargain. Most of the desirable places are over $300. I think I will be relegated to staying in the suburbs and commuting in-- not a very attractive proposition-- since travel policy is quite stingy.

My New favorite Toy

Loopy is a great time waster when I am traveling. It lets me create little music compositions with just my vocals.  I also practice guitar solos as a chord progression loops over and over. What a bargain for $3.99!

As much as I dislike Billy Joel, here he is demoing Loopy with Jimmy Fallon.



 

Can a Friday get much worse?

I thought I'd start the day off right with a yoga class at 6:30 am. Things were going well until the sun salutation. While bringing my left leg back to plank, I slammed my big toe in the my yoga mat. The pain was instant but I was able to finish the class. I iced it throughout the day but by evening it resembled a small purple plum from the bruising and swelling. Bad enough, right. Then I had a good show with my band at a winery   but I somehow misplaced my wallet when we were packing up. So I needed to cancel all of my cards and get a new driver's license. Of course, a Friday could have gotten much, much worse, but this was a pretty bad one. Toe is recovering fine and new cards are on their way.

UPDATE 8/24/16 : I found my wallet in my car in the only place I didn't thoroughly search. And better yet, there was still $80 in it.