Bring on the Contenders.doc

So I drop-kicked that cold faster than you can say vitamin C. I think it was the combination of working 30+ hours last week with the sudden drop in temperature (which for here amounts to a lot of frost). All it turned out to be was three days of stuffiness and the mild headache. I'd like to think I willed the thing away, since I need every once of strength to get through the next four weeks of work, but I'm sure it just took its course.

This week has been pretty low-key thus far. I've put my head to the ground and worked through a whole bunch of little issues that didn't get the attention they deserved last week. These challenges, like the cold, are my opponents in the coming weeks. I'm hopping to go toe-to-toe with each of them and rack up some KO's.

1. Revision Shmision. Well, it's official. I've received my feedback from my two supervisors and now have a clear path towards finishing the dissertation. As was the same with Milija's feedback, Kati was really complimentary and excited about the work I have completed thus far. She suggested some really key points to consider that will inevitably make the paper stronger. At this point the notes aren't too difficult to integrate, but it just feels a bit tedious to be wading through all of these arguments and trying to find new interventions. I think I've 'added' all of the expansion that both supers have asked for - or least I am hoping. The beast now clocks in, are you ready for this, at 150 pages with bibliography. I mean, staggering. I stare into this monstrosity and wonder where and how it came to be. It feels especially nice to have a table of contents for something I'v written.

2. Load up the truck, we're moving out. I've moved a few times in my life, with large scale furniture and what-not, but this one in theory should be pretty simple. If I trim the baggage I intend to I should only have two pieces of luggage to take with me out of Nova Lodge. That being said, the hassles are starting to mount. The housing company would like us to have the carpets cleaned as required in the lease. I had originally planned to aid the girls in doing a bang up job of the carpets and telling the company we had them done, but they want the receipts attached to the move out papers. Burn. My next idea was to give the carpet company 20 pounds to make us a fake receipt, but I've thought better of it (I think what goes a wee bit too far in terms of deception). But I mean, we've only been here for four months. The carpets look fine. I think the compromise will be that they'll do the living room and hallway but not the bedrooms. We also have to cancel the cable and pay the bills into the future, as well as pray and hope our secure deposit is returning in one lump sum. It's just a lot of crappy details to sort out. It's not going to be as easy as wheeling my two suitcases off into the sunset.

3. British Bureaucracy. I applied for a National Insurance Number four weeks ago. Sounds important? Yes. It's the number that allows me to get paid as a working employee in the UK. River Island isn't able to process my pay cheques until they have this number. And get this - they only pay their employees ONCE A MONTH in a big lump sum. What is this organized crime? No, in fact, I bet organized crime does it a little better (a little here, a little there). Cement shoes can be expensive. I called the office three times yesterday and after three reconnections, I was foisted upon Sandy who was delightful. She assured me that my NIN number (Trent Resnor fan club?) is in the mail. Success. I am looking forward to my monthly payment immensely.

4. Social, what social? Is there something social going on? I've felt like a hermit the past few days. A 30 hour work week plus all these extra details have kept me focused. But thankfully there are a few wonderful things to look forward to. Courtney has invited me over tonight for dinner - roast chicken and pumpkin pie. How on Earth could I say no to that? And on Friday we're going to have a final program dinner in Birmingham. It promises to be a little bittersweet, but I'm looking forward to sharing a last meal with the larger group. And finally, on Sunday I have a day of merriment scheduled with Mr. Jonathan Heppner in Europe. He tells me the Convertable Jono to GBP was just too great to pass up so he's over in Europe for a few weeks. Because of the busy work schedule I won't be able to spend an extended visit with him, but I'm looking forward to bopping around London for the day and taking in the sights.


5. There is life after Europe? Add to all these details my affinity for forward thinking (I curse it sometimes), and I'm running on all cylinders. I've got my fingers in a number of Canada based projects - finding an apartment and the early job search. Admittedly it's the last thing on my list most times, but I've done some leg work on getting settled once moving back. I don't want to divulge too many details just yet (in case I jinx anything) but applications for apartments are hard to complete from over here. I also am not optimistic about landing a job from here for February, but will work on and try to send off my resume in the coming weeks. "Sorry, can't come in for that interview, having my carpets cleaned in the UK"

Doc's Prescription of the Day: From one Doc to another, I must join the Jays fans back home in Canada (those that are left) and lament the loss of the best starting pitcher in baseball. I remember watching Halladay's second every start as a Blue Jay against, I think, the Detroit Tigers when he took a DEEP into the ninth. Early signs that he would blossom into the stoic franchise leader that everyone admired so much.