Huh boy! I am done with grad school. The defense was fun, I talked for about 20 minutes and then we’ve had an hour and a half of discussion. My mom and Chris say that I did well. Anyhow, I’ve made the updates, printed and handed in the thesis and now I am done.

First thing I did was revel in euphoria, then I hit an existential crisis. For eight years I described myself as a grad student, but now, what am I? Then I was Ok because I am still a relation to a whole stack of people some of which rely on my quite heavily and I am still a full time engineer which is plenty. Then I went to get my graduation gifts. I got a nice serving set and a mighty good stack of fabric:

Pretty!

Anyhow, living without the nagging feeling that I should drop everything that I am doing to finish my thesis is strange, but I can get used to it. I am getting into the projects that I have been planning for a while, but did not want to start before I was finished with school. So, you know what my next foray into learning is? Spinning! As in learn to spin and ply wool fibre on a handspindle. Useful? No, but it does not have to be! I have finished my serious education and I can do whatever I want (within reason).