I've spent the past few days studying for final exams non-stop. I have one on Thursday, another on Friday, and one to do over the weekend. Once that's turned in, I will have officially completed my second semester of graduate school.

I've been thinking about the future. To answer my previous question: yes, I am ready to decide what the future of my research will be. I don't mean I'm going to choose my exact dissertation topic today, but I am at the point where I need to start really thinking about it and decide on a path. For the remainder of 2007, while I study for the comprehensive exam and take classes, I can do the background reading and preliminary research to focus in on that topic and narrow it down to a true thesis. I can do that, over time, starting now.

Over the past week, everyone who had an office in my hallway has moved. My hallway is a small one off the main path, so it was used infrequently before the relocations. Now, the only people who walk the hall are those who use the small library across from my office, those who work in the Dusty Plasma lab next to my office, the rare passerby, and me. It's so quiet... too quiet....