Trapped like a rat...or puggle...

As a graduation present my parents got Elaine and I new windows for our house. Which is good because we have those really old windows that the former owners painted over 17 times. They are impossible open, etc. So, last night Elaine and I had to move stuff away from our windows and take down the dressing (apparently, that is the word for blinds). Now, I am sitting in our upstairs bedroom with my 3 dogs just kind of hanging out. To the window guys credits they are absolutely flying through the replacement. We had 15 windows and they have 10 of them done and it is noon. However, every time they talk, pound, or breath Murphy feels the need to whine really loud and bark. The other dogs are doing fine, but Murphy the spaz is making up for that.


I am trying to work on my dissertation but it is a little distracting. In addition, I am having a hell of a time getting my model to run in AMOS. As a result, I am thinking about switching to Mplus. Mack Shelley (the stats guy on my committee and resident genius) described the Mplus vs AMOS relationship as, "AMOS is ok, Mplus is bigger, meaner, nastier, and generally cooler." Unfortunately, nasty, mean, and cool are not free, so I am weighing the pluses and minus of purchasing Mplus at a tidy $195. I am sure I will use it more, but man that is a lot of money.

That is pretty much my life right now. I will attempt to work on my dissertation again.

Bill 

One Quick Trip...

I am back from Denver. I will post videos soon, but I am too lazy to do it right now. However, the trip went well. I made it to see 3 apartments, the place I will work, and got my enormous television (it is bigger than Karl). Two of the three apartments were great and I would be really happy to live in them, the other one was possibly where germs are born. Unfortunately, I had to be back for work and did not get to go on my yearly trip to Nebraska with my friends. It spoiled my perfect attendance and I was none to happy. However, I have been feeling the pressure lately of finishing my dissertation, so I think it was a good decision all in all. Also, I cut my hair into a mohawk...it is awesome.

Murse....

I am sitting in my office right now wearing what can only be described as a "murse." Why am I wearing a man purse? Well, earlier today I had to swallow a pill that is a camera that will take picture of my small intestine, because lately I have been having what the Doctor describes as, "the iron levels of a teenage girl who is menstruating." The murse holds a hard drive that receives pictures from the camera and stores them. The doctor will later look at the pictures and try to identify if there is anything wrong in my belly. In conclusion, murse..check, comparisons to a teenage girl...check, lack of existent masculinity...check.

Getting my blue belt...

2 unrelated, but equally important topics!

1). Just ate at the new Mexican restaurant down the street "Fiesta Jalisco." It was good. As a result, I will no longer be pushing Elaine to look for a bigger house to move into. I am willing to live here for as long as the Mexican restaurant is open or I die. I assume the latter will influence the former, and then the former will influence the latter. More plainly put, the longer it stays open the more likely I am to die of clogged arteries and the longer I am dead the less likely they are to have consistent business. Also, why do Mexican restaurants always have such hot freakin plates?

I had the the huevos rancheros and they were delicious. 

2). I test for my Gracie Jiu Jitsu blue belt tomorrow. I am excited to do so and it has been a lot of working getting to this point. Jeff Curran will be the instructor administering that test. (Picture of Jeff Curran, Marcello Garcia, and me; Jeff is on the far left)

Now some of you might be saying, "I got a blue belt in Tae Kwondo when I was 7." First, congratulations. Second, GJJ has a different scale for belts. I am not saying that TKD isn't a worthy endeavor, but the time and competence it takes to get belts in GJJ and TKD are totally different.  In our branch it takes a minimum of two years to get your blue belt. In addition to the time requirement, you have to show you are proficient at the fundamentals of GJJ. So for me, earning the chance to test for my blue belt is an accomplishment I am pretty proud of.

If I pass I will post a video of me receiving the belt for everyone to see. Until then, have a great day.

Confessions and fun with pets!

I have a confession to make...it has actually been Gus-Gus writing my dissertation for me!

Actually, I just took these pictures this morning and thought it was funny that Gus appears to be working on the computer. The major advantage to him taking my seat is that the seat is warm.

In other news, I am working diligently on my dissertation. I have added references to my literature review and am beginning to setup my data set for analysis. Elaine's mother is coming into town for my graduation party on Sunday. My mother is picking her up from the airport tonight. Luckily, our moms get along very well and can entertain each other until our semester duties are over on Saturday. 


Finally, I leave you with a fun game. Can you spot all the pets in this picture? 

Happy Hunting!

Just the facts....

An update of my comings and goings....