Joel and Michael picked me up from the airport with a perfectly tacky, hilarious helium balloon saying "Welcome Home". Michael promptly handed me the balloon and then Joel gave me a fake flower lei in classic Hawaiian fashion. Awesome. I have the best friends in the world.
We drove back to Joel's apartment in Grandpa's truck (they chose to come pick me up in the truck to try to be funny with all three of us having to cram in) and made the plan for the day. We decided (actually Joel and Michael decided several days ago that we'd follow one of Joel and Becca's V-day traditions and make pizza) to make heart shaped pizza. I suggested we put a twist on things and make a second, penis-shaped pizza. Awesome. So Joel whipped out his iPhone and made a list of ingredients we'd need, and we walked over to Rosauers (super close to his apartment- like 3 blocks). We made everything from scratch- dough, sauce, the works. And save for the dough being a bit thick- everything tasted great.
We starting drinking beer at 3:00pm and just hung out chopping veggies, rolling dough, and sharing stories. Joel and Michael started several wrestling matches. Michael followed through with his usual persistent barrage of lame jokes. And I, of course, was focus of much of the teasing throughout the evening. So nice to be with the kind of friends you can just sit around in the kitchen with a beer and lose total track of everything. We laughed, and laughed, and laughed some more. After filling up on pizza, we headed out to the bars.
The Swamp was the first stop. This bar is hilarious. It's right off of the freeway- about 5 blocks from Sodes' place, and it's one of those hip because it's not kinda places. We, naturally, were hoping for some cute girls to kiss, but alas, at 8pm (yes that's when we decided to go out) there wasn't a whole lot goin' on. Anyhow, Jens called right when we showed up, and it couldn't have been a more timely call.
So I should probably back up and say that for pretty much the whole flight back, I was thinking about all of the possible outcomes and the possible permutations of decisions to be made in the next weeks. I mean shit, my life is about to seriously take off in another direction. And with the sort of exciting, yet unofficial news from the UT professor I stayed with, I'd been a bit tied up in knots. Hearing this guy pretty much give me the "hey, kid you're in" ala some 1930's Humphrey Bogart movie was a weird thing to process. At first of course I was pumped. I felt cool. I felt like I was in. I felt wanted. After all this waiting business, that felt great. But after a while I started thinking like "well, that's not in writing, it's not official, I don't want to take anything for granted". So I have more or less been questioning, doubting, wondering, and hoping to have the official offer in hand on Monday- tomorrow.
When Jens called yesterday, I had also been thinking about maybe just waiting another year and reapplying to U of O- where I really really want to get in. And when I actually told him that I had more or less gotten in at UT- he put me square in my place. He kindly but firmly reminded me that I have, for the last 4 years or so been searching, seeking, complaining about having a focus. He also reminded me that nowhere was going to be perfect, and that what had happened is that I got tempted by the filet mignon on the menu- when I already had a free coupon for the sirloin. You get my drift. He told me that it was my job to go and deliver my first lecture to Michael and Joel on the future of Dr. Brandt- and that we were to begin celebrating post haste. I have the best friends in the world. I am so blessed to have the kind of friends that just tell me exactly what they think. I love that. And I needed to hear that. And I feel so much better sitting where I am right now.
So, to the title of this post. I am hoping that tomorrow I will be able to let you all know that I have been accepted into a PhD program!!!!!! Holy Poop. So cross your fingers, do a little dance, and pray to the God's that it comes tomorrow. Seriously, the waiting thing is getting old fast.
WELL????
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