When did that happen?

I turned 28 yesterday. I had big plans about finishing up old projects and starting the 28th year of my life fresh and free from old, nagging to-dos including posting about my Thanksgiving dining room makeover.

That didn't happen. I got sick. On my birthday. Sniffling, sneezing, achy sick. I still did exactly what I wanted to do all day (it was my birthday), but that meant sleeping for the vast majority of it. I feel a little better today, but today is not my birthday and I have stuff to do so I'm accomplishing things with the help of daytime cold and flu medication.

Before I get to the seriously responsibilities I wanted to show you how well the dining room turned out. Thanks to my parents arriving the Saturday before we were able to get it all done for dinner. I'll post about the individual projects over the next couple of days. I promise. For now, check out well we did. And just ignore that Christmas tree in the background. I didn't get around to taking photos until after everyone left.

It's a freaking travesty.

Seriously people. Don't light your Christmas lights before Thanksgiving. It's not right.

Feel free to put them up. I get it. It's easier when it's not freezing and snowy, but have some common decency. Just because retailers put Christmas stuff out in August doesn't mean it's okay for you as a private citizen to do so. Have some respect.

I love you Queen Watson.

You may or may not know that I've been having a series of mini-heart attacks over the last several days over the submission of my degree completion materials. There is a lot more involved in getting a Ph.D than just writing a dissertation and having your committee approve it.

A lot more.

Like hours of filling out forms and cursing the mail service.

Here's a little time line for you so you get an idea of what I'm dealing with here.


Tuesday:

I mailed the hard copy of my dissertation, the forms, a book I need to return to the library and my keys to the department Priority. It was supposed to arrive Thursday, the day before the hard copy and forms were due. A whole day to make sure my committee chair signed my ETD Submission Form and the rest of my committee actually got in to sign my Approval Sheet and submit it to the graduate school.

Wednesday: 

Three of my committee members hadn't signed it. Keep in mind they all already agreed at my defense, a month ago, that my dissertation was acceptable and signed my Degree Completion Form. I just forgot to print out the Approval Sheet and bring it with me to the defense. Living in Kansas, I had to mail it out since the actually original, signed copy is required by the graduate school. I sent out an email to remind them that I really need that done. Because, you know, I want an actual degree out of this whole process and I would sure hate to not graduate because I was missing some signatures from people who intended to sign something.

Thursday:

I get an email from one of my committee members saying he left for a conference and wouldn't return until Saturday, the day after all this paperwork is due. 

Stress level: cortisol up.

He says a departmental staff member can sign for him so this really isn't the worst thing that could possibly happen.

Oh, and the hard copy didn't come in the 8:30am mail. Maybe it will come in the delivery around noon.

Does it come at noon? No. 

Stress level: pretty freaking high.

Friday Nov. 19th:

Still no hardcopy and my committee chair doesn't think he's going to make it in today to sign the Approval Sheet. He'll sign it Monday.

If you missed this part, the paperwork, including most importantly said Approval Sheet, is due Friday Nov, 19th. (A.K.A. Today when I received this news).

Stress level: I'm not sure they can measure it in this range.

I just about lost my mind.

Instead I called the graduate school. I talked to the lovely Queen Watson who assured me to that she wouldn't block my graduation over a little paperwork lateness. She is amazing.

And the hardcopy? Still not in the mail. Either time. Damn.

Stress level: Stable. I think its maxed out.

Over the weekend:

I just decided not to consciously think about the situation. Mail wasn't going to be delivered and people sure weren't going to come in and sign things. No sense in actively stressing out about it. Subconsciously though, stressed to the max.

Monday:

As of about noon the freaking package still hasn't arrived and no one has come in to sign anything. I mean, really. Why would they?

I check the delivery confirmation number with the USPS. Guess what? They delivered the package at 8:51am on Friday. Where has it gone? No one knows. Emory Mail Services Limbo. Isn't that great?

Later my committee chair actually came in to sign my approval sheet (I love you George. He's been around long enough to know no one actually cares about the due date and doesn't get all riled up about stuff), but since they hadn't found my package yet he couldn't sign my ETD Submission Form (I told you there were a lot of forms). He signed a blank one instead. I guess the secretary will fill that out to match the one I signed and sent and sign for me.

Whatever. I'm over it at this point.

Oh yeah, and that last committee member, the one who also failed to show for my defense. No word from him. I left two voice mails.

I sent an email to Queen to see just how long she would give me before she really would have to block my graduation over this ridiculousness. 

Stress level: Pretty sure my body will implode if this continues much longer.

She said I can bring it by Dec. 1st. 

That woman really is a queen.

Erg.

I thought I would be posting fabulous photos of my finished table and chandelier by now, but no such luck. The table is beautiful, but a little redder than I wanted so it needs another coat of stain and it snowed yesterday so the spray painting of the chandelier didn't happen. Don't worry. I will prevail.

First up, the dining room.

Austin and I are hosting Thanksgiving. A little crazy for people who closed on our first home on November 5th you say? Yep. Pretty much. But that's what I love. Making things mine rapid fire. The dining room is the number one priority since it's the site for the big event.

In case you don't remember, this is the dining room.

Or at least that's what it looked like when the previous owners lived here. A little boring. Maybe they took decluttering and depersonalizing a little too far. Or maybe they just didn't really have much interest in the dining room. I'm not sure, but I am sure that table looked little and sad. It really didn't fill out the room.

Then we moved in.

Still boring and sterile and our little table didn't really work either.

Good thing I have a plan. I've been thinking about this house and what I want to do to it for months so it's not like I haven't had the time to plan. Including drawings. By Thanksgiving it will look like this.

 

Well, sort of like this. Hopefully without the enormous cup and saucer floating overhead. And the table going the opposite direction. I clearly didn't quite remember the dimensions of the room at the time.

First project, get a table that both fills out the 12'x17' room and seats enough people that we can all sit together at Thanksgiving.

Check.

No seriously. I got a little help from Ana White. I built this table over the weekend. Well, not quite this table. It's a little closer to the original, complete with extensions and 43 1/2" wide. It still needs to be sanded and stained so I won't unveil it just yet, but soon. I promise.

I should probably also get on that finding chairs to sit in project, but they aren't in the drawing so I guess technically they aren't required.

Introducing The Parsonage

We moved into our house! Things have calmed down a bit and the internet is functional. I'm trying to get as much house stuff as possible done.

With that said, I can't type for too long but I do have pictures. Lots of pictures.

First, the previous owners pictures from the real estate listing.

Realtor Photos

And it's state as of Saturday morning. I haven't had time to take more recent pictures. I'm just too busy, really. I'll see what I can do after I finish up some work tomorrow. Promise.

2010-11-07

We still aren't done unpacking and I have a rule about not seriously decorating until the boxes are empty. I'm not following it, but I do have a rule. I'm super excited about it's potential.

No, I'm not dead.

I've been busy earning this mug.