busy yet hateful

Today I have a meeting with my dissertation committee. Last fall my dissertation chair began a new program of having the entire committee meet when one's dissertation proposal is approved (mine was approved 2.5 years ago). So I had to re-write my proposal over the past weekend and prepare for this meeting. This means that my undergrads will not be getting their grades today because I didn't spend time grading, I spent time retro-fitting my proposal to make my chair happy before she leaves for Europe for the summer. Hence the rush. It's on her check list and she wants me to redo it so she can check it off and feel like she's done something. She wanted me to reapply for candidacy but it appears that since I already have achieved that state, it can't be revoked and then rewarded again (which is good because I think I might have had a nervous breakdown otherwise). But it sucks to be at having this meeting at her whim and, even more annoyingly, on her schedule. Struggling to write when I was so ready to either cry or put my fist through a wall out of frustration made the long weekend a real challenge for me and all who came near me. There was a fantastic evening of barbecue and gaming in there and a delightful afternoon at the Ren Faire that really helped keep my sanity. And I feel tremendously guilty about not having my grades completed. RWR and SH proofed the retrofitted proposal and I emailed it off last night. By 5:45 I shall be free (the meeting should last 1 hour and begins at 4:30). To pass the time, I'm off to start the first day of summer school.