Thursday, May 1, 2008

Very Very Good News. Very Very Good.

You know how sometimes you get good news about a dream or hope that you were secretly panicked wouldn't come true? I love that feeling. First I get dizzy, then I realize that I forgot to breathe, then I squeal and leap and jump for joy, then I have to go potty.  It always happens in pretty quick succession like that. 

"Wow, Cheasty," you say.  "This seems like it's pretty fresh in your mind!  Why's that?"  
"Most perceptive of you, my dear!" I respond.  "Let me explain." 

Today I found out that I've been awarded a huge fellowship for next year. Wahooooo!!! Yippeeeeeeee!  Hoooooraaaaaaaayyyyy!!!!  Dance of joy, dance of joy, dance of joy, la-la-la-la-LAAAAAAAAA!!!

Months of unpleasant tenterhooking are over, and now I know can now go to El Salvador and Nicaragua to do the research I have to do for my dissertation, and I can stay for months without having to worry about running back home before I'm ready.  And bling, bling, I'm getting like a 40% increase in income!  Not that that's such a huge AMOUNT, really (I only earn like 13K a year now as a graduate teaching assistant) but proportionally, it's quite astonishing.  In fact, (and I know that this is sad) I don't know what to do with ALL THAT MONEY.  I'm filthy, stinking rich!  I know, I'll buy diamonds.  No, wait, scratch that.  A yacht in the Mediterranean. Oh, no, never mind.  I know.  I'm going to Tahiti.  Want to come along?  Trip's on me and my big fat heavily loaded WALLET!  

I'll leave you with some pictures from my last trip to El Salvador.

the mountains:


public transportation:



and....

Blogger just stopped letting me upload pictures, the bastard, so you'll just have to imagine the beach at sunset, palm trees and blue skies, delicious pupusas (the national food of El Salvador), and some of the loveliest people I've ever met. I haven't been to Nicaragua yet, but I've heard wonderful things, and am equally excited to be there, as well. Yay, travels!

10 comments:

Sarah McBride said...

LUCKY!!

congrats on the grant and the increase and your new heavy laden wallet.

Captain Judy said...

Cheastika!!!! Oh CONGRATULATIONS! Brava brava. ::insert applause here:: I sure am going to miss you next year, but the thought of you tromping around El Salvador and Nicaragua makes me happy. Btw, you will LOVE Nicaragua. It's a beautiful country.

Anonymous said...

hello - it's me, the lurker on your site who you do not know but is enthralled with your adventures in life. I had to post today and tell you Congrats!!!! My husband just finished his PhD and 1) I know how stressful comps can be, 2)I know how little grad assistants make (omg, do I know!)and 3) I know how awesome it is when someone recognizes your hard work and rewards you for it!!!!

So CONGRATS! CONGRATS! CONGRATS!

I'll go back to my little corner now. :o)

Sam Marie said...

super dooper most grande congratulations!!!!!! excelente!!!!!!!! that's really fabulous - and you totally deserve it. glad to hear that you can now twidle your fingers together and cackle about how your plan is coming together (mr. burns style...) - wooohooo!!

Cheasty said...

hello friends, and hello Lurker Chel! thanks so much for the enthusiasm on my behalf. i've got to admit, i'm just floating around on a cloud today, but my essays are due in a week, so i've got to stop enthusing and just buckle down to finish my work NOW.

Anonymous said...

Woo-hoo! That's awesome. I'll live vicariously through you, then, until travel becomes an option in my life again.
Good for you!

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to add my congratulations to the pile so...

Congrats! :)

Anonymous said...

yay! yay! yay!
I wrote this before but it didn't show up on the comments...maybe it'll show up twice now?

Matter Of Fact Mommy said...

congrats, cheasty! i will graciously be jealous (?) from afar and think of you... while being semi-homebound with my two little chitlins. until, like lindsey, travel is an option again.

hugs all around!

poohito scientist said...

i am so proud of you!!!! rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! yes yes yes! i have to go potty now!