Well I finally took my comprehensive exams and have to say I am adjusting quite well to life after comps. It has been my first time since I started the Ph.D. program that I did not have course work and besides teaching and a few smaller projects I have had some free time! Please know, that like most people... I did not know what to do with this "free time".... So I have been living it up! I started the day after my comprehensive exams by attending Oktoberfest in Addison with some friends. It was a great time and even though it poured rain we still knew how to make it fun!
Next I went to OU vs. TX... This was an experience! I although I have lived in Texas for many years this was my first time to attend the game or partake in the festivities. I met up with Scotty and Alicia and we went to the game, I am sure everyone knows the outcome so it was a great day!
Alicia and I at the game!
Next I went to the Texas State Fair. Although I had been there for the OU vs. TX game, I did not have the "fair experience". Little did I know what I was in for... I headed to the fair with two of my close friends thinking that I would be there for just a little while. Well I was dead wrong! Tina and Ibis have been going to the fair for years and I knew I was in trouble when they had a printed schedule of events for the day :-) It was such a fun experience! I got to see The Amazing Doberman's, walk around the whole fair, eat my first corny dog, and have my very first funnel cake! It was a great day! Above I placed a picture of Big Tex and the annual "butter sculpture" below.... (Yes! It really is butter) .
Also, in this free time I have got to spend a lot of time with my great friends. Over the last few months two of my great friends from high school/college moved to the area, so I have had a ton of fun reconnecting with them.... So on Friday, I headed over to JT and Clayton's house to watch the Rangers game (I know Michael could not be more proud). Needless to say, the game went really well! So we celebrated! I am one lucky girl that my friends have an awesome hot tub and really good wine! We had a lot of fun and then repeated the same pattern again the next night for the OU game (Although the outcome of the game was not in our favor) so we had wine to console us.
I know you are probably thinking... Well what is Chanel up to? Although I have been out having adventures, she has been having some of her own! We started going to the dog park in the neighborhood! Needless to say I was quite scared about how this would go, but she is doing really well. She seems to like the other dogs, but as I would call it "holds court". She does not like to play in the grass but expects the dogs to come to her on the concrete slab in the park, she will then associate with them, but as soon as they leave her domain, she is over it... But for those who know her, this is probably no surprise :-)
This weekend is an exciting one... I have a huge Halloween party to go to on Saturday. I am debating between a twister board costume or Snow White... Any thoughts? I will update with pics after the party. Then Sunday I am having people over to watch scary movies and pass out candy. Since I live in a huge neighborhood with thousands of children, I think it will be fun to hang out here and let Chanel show off her costume! So this is what I have been up to... Just really have a great time... Seeing movies, reading a ton of books (not journal articles), and seeing my friends! Will update after the weekend!
