Dissertation Idea # 5,328,697

I exaggerate slightly. It's really only idea #4. You see...

• I came here with idea #1 in the fall of 2002.
• I changed to idea #2 in the spring of 2003.
• I switched back to idea #1 the following fall 2003.
• Then, idea #3 hit me last spring of 2004, and I carried that torch until two weeks prior to the end of the fall 2004 semester, at which point I switched back to topic #1.
  
• And today, after a knock-down drag-out meeting with my advisor (a good meeting, though), I think I may go with idea #4.
  

One problem: Wife doesn't understand what the hell idea #4 is. She's a smart cookie with a master's degree and 10+ years of work experience, but the topic is a little esoteric. Now, you may think her understanding of it isn't important, and I should do what I want to do. However, spousal understanding and approval of the dissertation topic is crucial, in my view. I mean, if I'm going to live, eat, breathe, and sleep this topic for the next couple of years, then Wife better understand and approve of this proverbial "guest" that I'd be inviting into our home.

It's going to be an interesting couple of months as I work out the details of this new topic. OK, it kinda makes my brain itch, but it's exciting nonetheless. My advisor does a good job of helping me develop a dissertation topic that will show off analytical skills when looking for a job and also falls inside an area that I really care about.

I'm not quite ready to share the new idea yet...we'll see where things go with my intellectual activities this week.

Gotta get some reading done now...