This is Carboy.  He goes along with all my hair-brained ideas for “fun”

He willingly accompanies me to ballets and operas even though he’d rather be at car shows

He stands beside me in even my most my crazy endeavors

And he’s my best pal

I am grateful for my favorite friend, my conspirator, my partner in crime, the guy who takes out the trash, cleans the kitty litter, kills the bugs and stands at the stage door taking pictures with only minimal amount of visible jealousy… I am grateful always for Carboy.

Today I received an email from my dissertation advisor. You see, I turned in several chapters of my dissertation and am at a point in the analysis where I can’t continue until I have an approval from my committee. So I’ve been waiting, and waiting, and worrying, and waiting. And today the email came – approved with no changes. This is the best kind of approval because there is approval with minimal changes, approval with massive changes and flat-out not approved. I still have to do a little mini-defense but it’s not a big thing in comparison to getting the actual stamp of approval from the chair. I’m grateful for my dissertation advisor for all his work and his support. I’m grateful that I got an approval with no changes. But I’m most grateful for his enthusiasm – yes, enthusiasm. He actually wrote, and I quote, “wooooohoooo!” You know, you don’t get that too much in academia. And it’s amazing how that one little woooohoooo filled me with happiness, energy, motivation, and more enthusiasm! Enthusiasm is a wonderful thing to have and it’s an amazing gift to give. And so I am grateful today for enthusiasm and in my gratitude I most joyfully share my enthusiasm with you… woooohoooo, baby, wooooohoooo!