scaffolding

Today was the day I was to give my committee my proposal. It is not to be. I finally got feedback from my advisor yesterday. Chapter one got the thumbs up. Chapter two, however, needs major reconstructive surgery. All I can do is sigh and push forward. We are keeping the defense date, which is the good news. But I have three days in which to reconfigure chapter two. It's a bit daunting.

I am trying to think of chapter two as scaffolding--the support upon which to build my study, so to speak. The problem is, I have two seemingly disparate topics to bring together. It's like taking two completely different house styles (say, Gothic and 70's ranch) and trying to find a place where they will join together. In addition, they all have to be built on a foundation that is really meant for a neoclassical home. Fortunately, both the Gothic and ranch styles are strong, but I need to work on that foundation. And, the ranch is actually a sprawling ranch, so I need to cut that down from a five bedroom to a more modest two bedroom with bonus room.

Alright, now that I have mastered architecture it is on to social stratification and identity.

Could someone at least assure me that there is a martini with my name on it waiting in the kitchen?