Oh sweet catharsis, where art thou!

Hello, Ryan here,

Blue moon risen, hell frozen over, call it what you will, but I've decided to again grace all of you with my presence on the blog. (It's actually mostly motivated by the loneliness and boredom of an empty apartment. You'd be amazed the glow that the echoes of senseless baby jabber can elicit from otherwise depressing, drab cinder block walls)

Firstly, I'd like to announce that the blog has attained international readership and would like to formally greet the Ecksmann family to our 'blog family'.

Schönen Grüß und vielen Dank für die damalige Gastfreundlichkeit und für den Glückwünsch zu dem Geburt unserer Tochter! Wir hoffen in den nächsten paar Jahren euch besuchen zu können. Lass bitte auch Kommentar! Wenn er auf Deutsch ist, ist es auch kein Problem. Ich würde einfach so gern mit euch in Kontakt bleiben. Ihr wart immer so nett zu mir! Ich habe sogar ein Römertopf gekauft, mit der Hoffnung dein leckeres Rosmarinhähnchen hier zu Hause nachzumachen. Bis jetzt ist es mir leider nicht gelungen.

Now, for the past... well, for what seems like a very, very long time I have been in a manic state , not unlike the proverbial headless chicken, preparing for my qualifying exams while trying to mediate concerns about law school, regular course work for my MA, providing for the three of us, Addie, and all the other life altering experiences of the past year or so. After just over 15 hours of testing, and a unbelievably nerve wracking hour of oral exams, I received the pronouncement that I had passed and barring any acts of extreme stupidity would be receiving an MA in Comparative German Literature this May.

Honestly, it was a lot like turning 18... no wait more anti-climatic, like... being awarded the plastic toy gun from the dollar store after going door to door selling wrapping paper during elementary school... no wait, not even that. Like opening the box of cereal expecting the amazing toy portrayed on the box, and instead finding an order form to send in. It just fizzled. No piece of paper, no huge sense of accomplishment, just a hand shake, a pat on the back, and the realization (and reminder) that all the other research projects I'd been putting off to study for the exams were coming due.

At least it's over. And I did pass, so that is exciting, but I don't know... I was hoping for some fireworks, hey, even a bottle rocket, or I'd even actually be happy with one of those throw snaps. Speaking of which, I think there might be some in the closet...

Ryan