O-HI-O!

Alright, forgive me but this is going to be one of the larger blog posts in recent memory for two main reasons: (1) a bunch of cool stuff has happened and (2) I didn't get around to posting in April. So, consider this two months worth of posts. Also, I got an email from a trusted and wonderful friend asking me to post more often, which means I may even consider writing another post later on this month (probably after the long-anticipated Kate/Matt Lundborg Florida visit). Without further ado...

Okay, the big news: Meghan and I are Ohio bound. After many long months of waiting, we heard back from the schools to which I applied and decided on Ohio State. OSU was nice enough to offer me a pretty good financial package including five guaranteed years of funding, a generous stipend, and even the first and fourth/fifth (my last) year free of teaching. Honestly, I couldn't really ask for a better package, and it's for this reason that Meghan and I felt comfortable saying yes to their offer. I visited the campus a few weeks ago and really got a good impression; the graduate students were very nice, the professors were intelligent and kind, and I felt comfortable the entire time I was there. In fact, I really got excited about what I could do there. It looks to be a really great opportunity. We're definitely going to miss Gainesville and especially our friends and family here, but Columbus should be an interesting and fun experience. Meghan and I haven't figured out exactly when the move to Ohio will happen, but we're thinking probably sometime either in July or August. We'll see. In the meantime, we're going to enjoy our last weeks in Florida and prepare for the next step.

Now the picture above should make a bit more sense. There's more to write about, but I thought that everyone would enjoy looking at some of the other pictures I was considering using for this initial Ohio-esque image. As I looked through the pics on my camera, I thought the whole sequence was funny. Sometimes I wonder how I got to be this way.




I'm ridiculous. As you can see, I started off with just the hat and then went to poses with the hat. Oh and yes, I bought the hat after visiting Columbus; I kinda wanted to have the whole "signing day" experience where TV cameras watch me deliberate over multiple schools and then I finally grab one hat and put it on my head, but for some reason ESPN doesn't cover the latest history graduate student recruits. Funny. I thought I could've brought in ratings.

In other news: Meghan and the band recently (and by recently I mean like four weeks ago) traveled to Orlando for their annual band trip. I actually came along as a chaperone. We hit Disney parks for three days, and at one point in the middle of the weekend, the kids performed before a panel of judges. They were participating in a competition called "Festival Disney" where a bunch of bands from all across the country came to Orlando and performed. Long story short, Meghan's band ended up dominating! They won the top prizes in their class and were even one of only three ensembles to be invited to the national competition next year. Huge honor. Here are some pics from the trip:

(by the way, you can click on these pictures to make them bigger) Here is Meghan with the whole band. Notice the awesome trophies the kids in the front are holding. Good group of kids for sure.

Here's me and Meghan with the seniors. Kate, you should recognize Chris in the middle.

And of course here's Meghan super-excited that her gorgeous husband decided to come along and hang out with her and the band all weekend. (Honestly, I was super excited just to have a free trip to Disney...I love that place).

Alright one more bit of news before I go. The arrival of the month of May also marks the completion of my program at the University of Florida. I guess you could've gathered that from the whole Columbus in the fall discussion above; nevertheless, as of yesterday I am officially "Master Watkins." Well, not really, but I do have an M.A. now, and I guess that's pretty cool. I successfully completed my requirements and defended my thesis. It's nice to be done. Now, I'm looking forward to a few months of rest, relaxation, and preparation for the Ph.D. Meghan still has a few more weeks of school before the summer break. Come June, however, we will be going on a cruise, hanging with family, and having a grand ole time.

Should be a fun time. Let me here from everyone.