Yes, I am still here. Still at Pitt, still working toward my PhD. There have been disappointments, struggles, joyful moments, and lessons learned. But that is neither here nor there. I actually have a specific purpose for re-starting This Thus: helping me prepare for my comprehensive exams. I think I’d be less apt to use this platform if I were still living with Kellen H. as we spent many hours of the year we lived together talking through each other’s ideas and thoughts on research and reading. Since I don’t have that any more, and since I’m living alone, and since I think better after writing/speaking things through, this forum may be a huge help in my preparation. While I may post on other academic issues now that I’m back here regularly, the focus from now through December will be my comps. In the upcoming days I will outline the specific comps process that I’ll be going through, as well as my specific areas chosen. I will post my thoughts and drafts on the 15 questions I need to develop by Sept 1, as well as working out ideas and questions throughout the semester as I prepare for the exams themselves by outlining and structuring my responses to those questions. I will also share whatever strategies I find helpful, or thoughts on the process itself. If you happen to come upon this site and are a graduate student, I hope you’ll join me for the journey and say hi. Hopefully it will be interesting and helpful for you and that you’ll let others know about it.

So there you have it, a site re-born.