Good things afoot and ahead...

A good weekend...

House guests- we have our basement nearly finished which means that when we have house guests they have a whole floor to themselves. No more awkward p.j./in front of the bathroom encounters-- because now guests have their own bathroom. It no longer feels like they are living on top of us. A truly great change.

Free time- painting toe nails (with new polish from LLC), watching Olympics (so fun), doing yard work with husband (long overdue), and going for a run around the lake.

Saturday night party- one of the best ones we have hosted. Such a great mix of people, very low key but very enjoyable, exciting news from someone we haven't seen in a while, a few lawn games, and an impromptu late night conversation... the last party people left at 2 am. A great night with really great friends.

No work: I did none.

Good things ahead: a long massage this Tuesday, Boundary Waters next weekend, and most importantly... a return to normal life.

And...We're Done

Elvis has left the building. The pages have been bound. And I have been born again. The Thesis-mania is over.

I still have the last to-do post it on the key board of my laptop:
1. Finish last slide
2. Make Handout
3. Reading quotes
4. Notes for slides
5. Practice

My presentation/defense went well. I was nervous about it all day, but yoga class before-hand and lots of familiar faces in the audience made it very easy and even a bit enjoyable. Drinks and a late dinner out with my wonderful cheering section made it a great night.

Now it is all over. I have an incredible sense of euphoria. I have my life back. I am done with my Master's Degree. I WILL NOW HAVE FREE TIME. It is so good, I really can hardly believe it. Even when I try to think about coming home from work and having the freedom to go running, eat a leisurely dinner, see friends, or spend time with husband, my brain goes into automatic,"but you will have work to do..." scanning, wondering what I have forgotten or what I still need to do and for the first time since I left college, started teaching, or started graduate school I can firmly say back "NO I WON'T".