October

  • Arrange for home maintenance: masonry, glazing, garage roof repair, electrical
  • Reserve room and AV equipment for preliminary exam
  • Talk to a stats person about early research project analyses
  • Begin revising ERP write-up for publication
  • Begin preparing conference presentation
  • Round one of dissertation revisions: intro, methods
  • Round two of dissertation revisions: intro, methods
  • Plant things, hoping for infusion of gardening skill
  • Plan Marty's birthday
  • Figure out Halloween costumes
  • Christmas knitting: Sheldon, We Call Them Pirates, finish Surprise #1
  • Start Christmas shopping
  • November

    • Arrange handyman jobs: kitchen floor, moving washer/dryer
    • Final revisions: intro, methods
    • Document to committee
    • Prepare presentation for preliminary exam
    • Keep plugging on ERP publication
    • Work out details of spring semester long-distance TA responsibilities
    • Finish conference presentation
    • Purchase birth supplies
    • Plan Thanksgiving
    • Start writing Christmas letter and find a suitable picture
    • Christmas knitting: dragon hat, miniature dragon scarf, surprise #2
    • Finish Christmas shopping
    • Wrap Christmas gifts

    December

    • Bake Christmas cookies
    • Ship Christmas gifts
    • Finish presentation for prelim
    • Submit ERP for publication
    • Plan birthday celebrations: Elwood and MIL and Alex
    • Pass preliminary exam!
    • Finish and mail Christmas letter
    • Optional stress-free knitting to fill my ample free time: soakers and maybe an Ice Queen
    • Replace raggedy diapers
    • Dig up and clean bouncy seat, baby bath, carseat
    • Wash and put away baby things
    • Clean carpets
    • Last-minute Christmas details
    • Tidy up year-end financial details -- charitable giving and January bills
    • Give birth
    • Take a nap
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