I thought dog days of summer were in august

Geez, where have I been lately. I haven't felt like doing much lately, a paralysis spurred by the fact that I have committed myself to a proposal defense date (Nov. 28 or 29) and alerted my committee members to that fact. I decided that creating external expectations is the only way I am going to reach this next milestone. Now that I have set up this structure I am entering the phase of anxiously studying my calendar but being too afraid to start getting the proposal ready. I'm afraid that I will sit down to figure out the details of the research design and will realize that I have no idea how to decide what to do. Two waves of data or one? One age cohort or three? Do I need to use special software to account for complex sampling? So the days ramble on, staying up late watching the DVD commentary on "Freaks and Geeks" and finishing up Barack Obama's autobiography that I started last December.

We did some painting last weekend. I found out that there is an elusive line between a pleasing mint green and seafoam green. I'm worried that the bathroom turned out looking like a bad bridesmaid's dress color. On the other hand, the red wall in the dining room/kitchen is going to be badass. So far it just has two coats of tinted primer on it, but it already looks super cool.

Meanwhile I have two more weeks til I start my new job. The position is grant-funded, and there was a delay in getting the money released to Texas State - but I am starting on Oct. 10. Adds to the pressure to make progress on my proposal before then. Also meanwhile, I have high hopes for the premiere of the new ABC show Commander in Chief on Tuesday. I think it will help condition the masses to accept the notion of a female president.