committee meeting
i had to send off a proposal of my project and work to-date to my committee board early this week, and give a powerpoint presentation yesterday. it was a fair amount of work, but i wasn't particularly worried about it. following the meeting joe asked how i thought it went. i'd given a good presentation, i'd answered all their questions, and i'd only received intrigue, not criticism- so i said i thought it went pretty well. he shook his head. "leah, i don't think you understand. a committee meeting cannot go any better than that."
:)
this is great for him, as he's in the process of making a name for himself- if his students succeed, he succeeds. i've also been impressing him with my stats knowledge, which is important as he’s big on stats. it makes me happy to make that man happy.
also, although i'd been told when i was accepted that i'd have to take additional courses to make up for gaps in my background, the committee said i don't need any more than the standard three. guess i've done all right, eh?

endings
i had my last stats lab this past week, i'll have my last weekly stats quiz this monday, and i ran my last upcycling workshop for the year yesterday. new priorities have already slid under the door, but i don't mind. i really enjoy challenges, as long as they change from time to time.
and after a stats final on the 16th it's off to good 'ol virginny to celebrate the end of this lovely year.

cardboard furniture
i think i'll do this as one of my 2010 upcycling workshops:
http://www.foldschool.com/
kevin, how do you feel about some xmas cardboard construction?!

favela rising
i borrowed this documentary from OPIRG. if you can find it somewhere, do watch it. it's the story of anderson sa, a former child drug-trafficer who became a social revolutionary in rio de janiero's slums through music, rallying community to counteract violence. there's an insane twist that i won't give away with the hopes that you get to see it. i really need to snag myself an anderson. phenomenal.

saturday newspapers
i’m in a coffee shop this morning trying to get work done. across from me is an older couple drinking their coffees and reading the paper. loss of this is what would make me the saddest about newspapers closing down. i haven’t had the pleasure of a languorous sat paper for awhile, but i have the fondest memories of, for example, cape cod sat mornings spent reading the paper and doing crosswords at a coffee shop with josh.