Day of Validation

Today my sometimes popular wife emerged from the common rabble of PhD students to become a certified PhD candidate.  Though it may sound like mincing words, the line between the two groups is clearly demarcated by a rigorous and gut-wrenching set of exams called the prelims.  The dreaded 24-hour preliminary exams are known for their unforgiving cruelty and their ability to turn even the most confident intellectual into a quivering, whimpering, huddled mass.  Those who pass are free to begin work on their doctoral thesis.  Those who fail are duly punished.

McBone salutes my wife for having earned the decisive (if rather unenthusiastic) grade of 'Pass.'

Her path to greatness will be littered with many artifacts, and this nondescript piece of paper will be coveted by her most ardent and deep-pocketed of ebay savvy fans (as a bonus, the page comes with an authentic P. Ryan Schneider signature).

Later in the day I accepted a FedEx package from a surly delivery guy who spent a pleasant two-minute exchange bitching about his extended workday, part of which included my shipment of this book:

Jam-packed with a year and a half's worth of blood, sweat, tears, elbow grease, gumption and barf, this 400-page text is the satisfying culmination of my wine education.  A special thanks goes to Christian Butzke for trusting an unknown writer to corral his lecture series into book form.  For a song ($108.95 plus tax and shipping, while supplies last), you can have your very own copy of Wine Appreciation.

nwb