So today I handed in my thesis to a "derivative classifier" which means that they read it and determine if anything in the thesis is classified. It's required for anything published from the laboratory. Naturally, if the verdict came back "classified" I would be in deep doo-doo. But, as expected, I got a clean bill of thesis health. It's good to get that out of the way. I wasn't really worried, but it was still hovering there ahead of me anyway.

I also deposited my mucho bling loan from Rob to cover my tuition expenses for this term. Despite going by the self-imposed moniker "Evil Rob," he's actually a pretty swell guy to have as a friend. The reimbursement form got turned in, though it needs my receipt from the bursar's office indicating I actually paid my tuition and an email from Kim indicating that I've finished my academic responsibilities for this term.

Just after defending, I'll go pay off my bursar's bill with my newfound $$$ and fax the receipt off to LANL to start that paperwork rolling. Once I submit the thesis and all of that is taken care of, I get the department to write a letter to HR at the lab indicating that I have effectively graduated, and that gets the other major paperwork machine in motion - getting me transfered to my postdoc at N-1.

...so close...