the Dalaverse

Well, it's officially out of my hands now. I sent the file to Kinkos at 5 am, called the office to check for like the fourth time that yes, it would be printed and bound in two hours, and tried to catch a little sleep until 6:45. This was largely unsuccessful, although I don't feel particularly unrested right now. I'm sure the hysteria will hit later. On the way into work, I picked up the...theses? There are two of them. The documents, anyway, which are not as attractive as the uni hardbound dissertations, but are professional-looking enough. They're spiral-bound because I'm suspicious of comb binding, with nice navy blue vinyl covers. I'm somewhat sad that I had to print them in black-and-white, but seriously, I was not about to pay $95 over $25. The title page picture is in color, anyway. As I don't actually recall reading anything about color vs. black and white in the Masters handbook, I am crossing all fingers and toes that this is acceptable. And that, if someone asks me about it, I do not respond 'BITE ME.'

Anyway, I considered mailing them from FedEx but the cheapest option would've been $88. I still think that's somewhat ridiculous. So instead we schlepped to the post office just as it was opening its doors. The guaranteed express option would be twenty bucks cheaper and get the package there Thursday. Now, I remember sending some papers international express last summer, but I had totally forgotten that you need a phone number. I was thinking about popping into work to look up the phone number and then going back to mail it. In theory this would have gone off without a hitch, since no one else is here to notice my extra tardiness. But I decided this was too much trouble (especially considering I have no idea where to FIND Darren's number because he isn't in the faculty directory for some reason), and shipped it the next level down instead. It should be there a week from today, but any positive vibes to help it on its way would be helpful. I'm actually kind of anxious now, even though it's done - because it's out of my hands, out of my sight and I don't have control over it. But I have the receipt and saw the 30 September postmark with my own eyes, so I should really chill the fuck out.

This is a perfect time to do it, after all. The office is wonderfully empty and I'm just sitting here listening to Darth Black Pearl and waiting for intake calls.

I'll probably be more excited about being all done later. There's a little bit of a shock factor right now, and I keep thinking I should be doing something that's already finished!

Man, I love this song.



Because my purple egg hatched sometime in the wee hours this morning (you'd think I would have noticed, given that I was wide awake), I named the pretty hatchling Dissertation McThesis. Fortunately it's a gender neutral name.

ETA: I don't know if it's the sleep deprivation or the stress or both, but omg I am starving. Like, I'm actually sitting here surfing restaurant menus. Damn, but I could use a cider margarita from Longhorn. If you think that sounds disgusting, you don't know what you're missing. It doesn't taste much like margarita, but it tastes EXACTLY like deliciousness. And comes with cinnamon sugar on the rim. Since I'm neither made of money nor an alcohlic, I think I'll get lunch from Cal Tor. A burrito with chips and queso and an extra large dose of caffeine will hit the spot. I'd go to Cosi, but it's a tad too far to walk. I really miss the beef stew from Au Bon Pain.

Augh. I could go now, but I like to divide my day with the larger portion in the morning. I dunno if it's gonna work today...