Defense-Eve-Eve

My defense is in two days, and it seems a good time to reflect a little. I've heard too many conflicting stories about defenses to feel like I'm well-prepared for mine. I've heard that if I have good advisors, it should be a piece of cake. I've heard that the committee is going to try to get my goat, and that one person I talked to succeeded, but left the defense in tears. My office-mate thinks I'll be out in an hour to an hour and a half, but other reports say that a defense usually takes two to two and a half hours. I'm not sure where I stand, especially when I don't know what to expect.

I feel like my talk is in good shape. It may run a little long, but at the practice, no one felt like it was too long. I'm going to practice again tonight and tomorrow morning. Possibly Friday morning, since the defense isn't until Friday afternoon.

I've re-read the first two chapters of my thesis and made a list of things to remember and worked through a few different problems/equations that might come up. I need to finish reading the final three chapters, but these are the ones that I'm more familiar with.

I have my spa appointment for 12:30 tomorrow, with a massage, facial, and manicure scheduled. I plan to do very little tomorrow evening, except order pizza and play some Zoo Tycoon. At some point I have to decide that I know all that I can know before the defense, and just take a deep breath to relax.

I could use all the good mojo, happy thoughts and stupid-sucking that you all can muster. The defense is Friday at 2PM, Eastern Daylight. I'll try to post the results Friday night or Saturday morning.