On Positive Affect

I'm beginning to understand positive affect. For instance, this week I passed my qualifying exams. Though a big milestone and thus somewhat stressful, exams were easy, really. More like a check-up than an operation. After exams though I've noticed some subtle differences. People congratulate me more than they used to. Its more than ABD - where I used to brood now I converse. Where I used to be sarcastic now I'm witty. And suddenly pretty Lithuanian sociologists take notice. Frankly, it's taken me by surprise.

Positive affect extends to the smallest, most inconsequential, most tertiary aspects of life. Take my fantasy football team. I had a shit draft, lost my best receiver in the first week, and have been in the basement ever since. Yet things are looking up. While it's true that I'm a lowly eighth out of ten in the standings, eighth place makes the playoffs in our league. And come playoff time I should be the team to beat. How could this be? Because l-a-r-r-y-j-o-h-n-s-o-n spells TOUCHDOWNS. Look for me in the winner's circle, my friends!

A bloggable update

The way our qualifying exams work, your committee gives you three questions to write over three days. A couple of days after submitting your written exam, you meet with the committee for an oral defense. I'm in the pre-orals purgatory stage, and can't help but feel nervous. I'm fine! I'm in trouble! I'm fine! I'm in trouble!

Really I'm fine. No problem. But still, I can't help but feel nervous. Its a gut reaction. I meet with my committee Thursday morning. It should be a good conversation.

I've been meaning to send a couple of posts - one on a Sam Peckinpah film and another on how I'm set to win my fantasy football league, but y'all'll have to wait with baited breath until this weekend.