no longer considering the bunny ranch

32 applications.
27 thank you notes.
18 interviews on campus.
15 conference interviews.
4 phone interviews.
4 plane trips.
3 campus visits.

One job. HOLLA!

tru luv 4-eva

Lauryn and I were unearthing my personal history with the Internet when we both realized that in our early days, we used Prodigy. This prompted me to remember my very first Internet boyfriend, the one and only Rider Strong. Oh yes, dear readers, Rider and I were tight for several months as we exchanged e-mails and chatted on Prodigy. If only we had kept it up...I could be living in Hollywood with the world's cutest has-been!

some things i learned from recent flights

1. It is remarkably difficult to hear someone throwing up on an airplane. I know this because my row-mates continued to rest peacefully as I utilized the air sickness bag in my seat pocket.
2. The air sickness bag is a genius invention and is remarkably useful (see #1).
3. Flight attendants are super sweet and attentive once you've told them that you've just been sick in the bathroom.

2 flights. 3 episodes. Oh yeah, baby. Monday was fun.

so.

I've pretty much sold myself on taking an actual vacation--as opposed to a trip for a conference, a trip for an interview, a trip for a wedding, or a trip to see someone in particular--sometime in the 4-6 weeks after graduation. I've also pretty much sold myself on the idea that this vacation should happen in Vegas. Who's in?

mmm.

Breakfast is probably my favorite meal of the day, which is sayin' something for someone who has spent most of the last 4 years eating cereal for breakfast. Cereal does not make breakfast awesome. Pancakes, french toast, omelettes, biscuits, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes do, though. I have been on a pancake kick for the last several months, but I finally got tired of paying for them and started making them at home. This morning, however, I had some leftover whole wheat french bread to use up. French toast!

2 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1-2 tbsp Splenda
1-2 tsp almond extract
Cinnamon to your liking

Whisk that all together in a shallow baking dish or pan until it's well blended. I had 4 pieces of bread that were about an inch thick. It was the perfect amount, though the recipe can be doubled and tripled and whatnot. Add the bread to the mixture and let it soak about 5 minutes on each side. Heat a nonstick pan or griddle on medium, spray it with Pam for good measure, and add the soaked bread. I think it took about 4 minutes on each side. Enjoy!

The novelty of being back in my usual grad student life after being gone for 5 days has officially worn off. Projects, thesis, teaching, defense, grading, miscellaneous administrativia. May 9 (the approximate date that I estimate everything will be wrapped up) cannot come fast enough.