A Little Morning Excitement

I stared certain doom in the face a couple mornings ago and didn't bat an eye. Running a little late to class, but perhaps more of a result of a nice tail wind or the fact that I was feeling ambitious, I was biking hard toward campus. I had just crossed the street and was standing up and accelerating away when a combination of bad events occurred simultaneously. First, my foot slipped off the front of the pedal and dropped to the ground. Second, somehow my chain came off the crank. Next, because my foot had fallen off and was dragged on the ground, my crotch had also dropped onto the nose of the seat and then onto the top tube of the frame.

Now wobbling semi-uncontrollably, the light post that I usually zip past without a second thought became a real concern. The pole was rapidly approaching and I was still struggling to get my bike under control. I employed the sophisticated technique of grinding my foot, grabbing the brakes, swearing, and steering fearfully and managed to skid to a stop just past the pole no worse for the wear, really. Topping things off however, my front wheel somehow developed a nice wobble and so I had to limp to my building on campus. Fortunately, I avoided disaster but it definitely not the way to start the morning.

VICTORY!

The Fighting Bobs moved to 1-0 with a pulsating 2-1 victory in our first game of the season. Despite showing up only a few minutes before kick off, the Bobs started quickly and went ahead 1-0 in the first half. The first opportunity to play together, our eclectic gang of policy dorks looked strong throughout the game and opened up a 2-0 lead in the early stages of the second half. Yours truly netted a fine goal, slipping the ball past an oncoming keeper after a mazey run through the opposition's defense. Our attack created chances but we could not capitalize. They pulled on back later in the half and the game tightened up a bit. Balls flashed across the face of the goal and we clanged the woodwork but could not finish. Stout defending secured the win and now we move on to the second game with high hopes and expectations of good things to come.

Classes, Homework and IM Soccer

After coasting through the first week of pseudo-classes, everything has picked up in earnest starting this week. I have officially completed my first full week of graduate school and to this point things are going well.

My microeconomics of public policy is my favorite class at this point. For some reason I understand the conceptual elements of economics rather well and by in large am enjoying the lectures. Unexpected, but certainly not unappreciated, hopefully my understanding of the material will continue throughout the semester.

Statistics on the other hand is already proving to be a bit more prickly. I say without reservation that stats will by my nemesis for this semester and the prospect of another stats class in the spring is loathsome. Stats is quite abstract and I am not suited for that type of number manipulation. I will manage but I think it will involve a fair amount of head-bashing and sluggish progress. Hopefully things will improve as the course wears on.

My homework for this semester will largely consist of problem sets for both econ and stats. These weekly assignments haven't been too difficult so far, but it is still way to early to tell how they will be. I've got a study group for both and we get together to go over the problems, correct errors and complain about the assignments. From what I understand, study groups in grad school are about whining about how difficult and stressful life is as they are for actually doing school work. Misery loves company after all.

However, I my proudest accomplishment thus far relates to intramural soccer. I am quite pleased with myself for organizing an IM soccer team for the LaFollette School. Appropriately our name is "The Fighting Bobs" (in honor of our namesake Robert 'Fighting Bob' LaFollette. Little do the rest of my teammates know that I am a Fighting Scot; they will never know the insidious pleasure I am taking in our team name. We had a bunch of people sign up and in compliance with our unknown skill level, I signed us up for the co-ed recreational division. Our first game is this Sunday so we'll see how we do.

One Day Down

On day of classes down, whew! Only three more months to go - piece cake right? I had my first official day of classes yesterday and it was a breeze. Man if grad school is like this, I'm going to stroll right through it without breaking a sweat. If only...

I had my statistics class and it followed the standard formula for the first day: pass out the syllabus, talk about the course briefly, send students away early. I am hoping for more of the same today but we shall see what the afternoon holds. I suspect things will pick up in earnest on Thursday and then it's going to be nose to the books until the middle of December.

I have Statistical Methodology, Microeconomic Analysis, and Intro to Public Affairs. Three courses doesn't seem that bad, especially compared to some other graduate programs (law, medicine, PhD), but I have been assured by second-year students that they lay it on pretty heavy. Stats is meant to be especially difficult and since I'm not much of a math guy, my hope rests on latching on to a smart study group and hanging on.

I am a little anxious for the start of the semester but I also feel ready to get going. This has been a long time coming and those who know me, know how well I deal with waiting. That said, we'll see what I'm saying a month from now when the first round of midterms are looming.