Thursday, April 11, 2013

Post-Defense Pizza Party

Thanks for all your nice words and congratulations yesterday, friends! I also posted on Facebook that I'd defended my dissertation and was really surprised and happy to see how many people "liked" my status.

The defense itself went just about as I'd expected. I drank some black tea beforehand, so I think that helped me focus a bit instead of rambling on confusedly at every question they asked me. I was definitely a bit nervous right before we started too, though I have to say that being pregnant has kind of drained the anxiety out of me when it comes to anything non-baby related. In other words, I'm just too tired and deeply entrenched in thinking about being pregnant and having a baby to worry as much I as I used to about other stuff. Case in point? Yesterday afternoon before my defense I meant to prepare a bit but found myself being woken up by a text message from David. Oops. Well, I guess being well rested is just as important as remembering what you wrote in your dissertation, right?

Anyway, my final thought about having finished this last big hurdle in my PhD is that it doesn't feel like that big of a deal. I mean, before I got into a PhD program having a PhD seemed like a really big deal. But, as per usual with me, now that I've done it it just doesn't seem that impressive. That sounds more downtrodden and depressing than I really feel, since I do feel really happy to be done, and really happy to have my PhD. But it just doesn't seem as ominously impressive, if that makes any sense?

After my defense, as I mentioned yesterday, I went to dinner at Pizzeria Locale with my parents and David. In case I haven't mentioned it before, PL is a relatively new and extremely popular restaurant on Pearl Street, made popular by their enormous pizza oven that was shipped from Naples, Italy. The pizza and ingredients are incredibly fresh, and in general it's worth the wait time (which there always is) for a table.

Last night I tried their Finocchietta pizza without the finocchietta, which is a type of meat. So, in essence, my pizza consisted of broccoli rabe, chili flakes, and smoked mozzarella cheese.






Soooo good, people. Try smoked mozzarella on pizza asap. It was just as good for leftover lunch today, too.

Now I'm thinking about another quick afternoon nap before I go in for a shift at the Humane Society. I wonder if fewer dogs will pee on me now that I'm a PhD...

*Do you often feel less impressed by certain goals once you've accomplished them?

11 comments:

  1. If I friended you on FB would you friend me back?

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    1. For sure! Do you still remember by last name? I think you should be able to find me, but let me know if you can't.
      Wait--was that just a hypothetical? :-)

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    2. You're the one with the mountain right? I think I found you.

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    3. We're friends!!! Also, my friend count on Facebook gives a false impression of how popular I am. I don't have any idea who those 263 people are. I probably really know about forty of them.

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  2. Well, I think getting your PhD is still super impressive! Pizza well deserved. And leftover pizza is my favorite. I can never decide if I want to eat it hot or cold, so I always eat one piece hot and one cold. I hope you celebrate for a few days longer!

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    1. Cold pizza...noooo!!! Cheese is so much better melty.
      But I do really appreciate your suggestion to celebrate for a few days more, and I will take you up on that:-)

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  3. Every single week I study for days for a 50 point test. I mean, yeah I learn a lot but it isn't very impressive when I get a 80% after studying for hours upon hours.

    And I am going to agree with Lauren, cold pizza, especially for breakfast, is delicious.

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    1. Guess I'm going to have to have pizza for dinner again just so I can test this out...
      Do you like studying? I know it gets exhausting after awhile, but I for one do like sitting down with a book and a notebook or computer and just learning and taking notes.

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  4. It is fun sometimes, but what I am running into now is that it is all I do. Most weekdays, I wake up, go to the gym, and then study/go to class for the rest of the day. Not fun after a few days. Though some test are way more fun to study for, like biochem or anatomy :)

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    1. And I of course meant that as a reply to your question. I just can't comment well.

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    2. Yes, that is tough. When I was studying for my comprehensive exams my schedule was identical to yours. I had to start having animals crackers as an afternoon treat in order to stay motivated.

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