smart thing to do...

When you're killing time before your defence. PS defense is American, defence is British, so I'm told. 

I got up this morning, put on my slamming defence outfit, which is a wee bit sexy secretary thanks to my black rimmed glasses. That makes me love it more. I like it when formal things a re a little less formal due to some subtlety. Another way to do that would be nice skull and crossbones black on black stockings, but I didn't put much effort into finding them. 

I got a lift to school with Rob. I printed out my thesis, filled out my intent to graduate form, got the key and the remote for the defence room and tested out my equipment. I visited a pal that works in the building. I got water and juice. I meet Rob for lunch in one hour, an an hour after that, I defend. 

I suppose if I were smart I'd run through my presentation once or twice. I suppose I will do that. I know that I'm probably going to have to read through my notes for one or two slides since they compress like 80 pages into 8 succinct points. Left to my own devices it's too easy to branch off and want to explain things in more detail and talk more about it all. So I'll use my notes to keep me on track.

So. What are you up to today? Everyone keeps telling me that today is a big day but I'm not thinking of it that way and I'm resisting thinking about it much at all. I don't want to get worked up about it. It's a big presentation, yes BUT in my department, you don't get to defend if you might fail. So, I know I won't fail. I know I will get revisions, because that's normal and a thesis like mine just can't get away without them. It's not perfect, but it's perfect enough, so that's all good.  

I think I feel nervous, but not anxious. I know the outcome except the extent of the revisions I'm going to need to do. This is probably the last week I'm going to have to really work on my thesis. THAT part is surreal. When it's all over and done with, and I'm certain I have no more admin stuff to do, then that will be cool. I'll enjoy updating my resume, removing the "MES candidate" and putting MES next to my name. It will save me a line in my resume anyway.

Ooh! Here's fun news! I got an interview for a dream job I applied for, up in Whitehorse. They e-mailed me to let me know that I was screened in for an interview, saying that my resume "met their minimum requirements of the posting". If that doesn't say "you got it!" then I don't know what! hah! Actually, I'm super excited about it.  It's not smart of me, but I pretty much have my hopes pinned on this thing. I'll keep looking for work, but my fingers are crossed for the Energy Solutions Centre in Whitehorse! 

Pfft. That took half an hour. I guess I'll practice a couple of times then go meet Rob for lunch. It's time to get things done. 

I feel like the job possibility and the lateness of this defence (four months after I planned to do it) takes a lot of the edge of the nervousness. I just. want. to. finish. 

Close!