January Update

Back when I regularly updated this blog, I wrote seasonal/monthly updates that would include items that we were enjoying. I thought it might be nice to revive the tradition, especially during the cold, dark days of winter. 

The super blue blood moon eclipse

So what happened this month?
First and foremost, I passed my comprehensive exams on January 30th! My Ph.D. is not over, but this is a major milestone. I am now a Ph.D. "candidate" instead of a Ph.D. "student". My major focuses over the new few months/years will be to research and write my dissertation and work on becoming a professional historian. 

I usually hate photos of myself, but I do love this one. This photo was taken after my final exam. I do not look my "best", but all of my emotions are written on my face. 

I also learned some good news about a few summer projects. I am the 2018 Visiting Scholar for the Mount Desert Island Historical and will be writing an article on religious history for the 2019 edition of their journal Chebacco. I also will be the the project manager for a walking tour app for the Castine Historical Society. 

Christopher spent the second week of January on the west coast attending CES for hothardware.com. He is currently working on reviewing a set of coolers. We plan to take a few days off in the month of February to relax after a few hectic months. 

Reading:
Nothing! After months and months of reading I need a little break. I do plan on re-reading my favorite book, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and maybe dig into a few Margaret Atwood books. I have never read any of her works and one recent show piqued my interest. 

Watching: 
I turned to Netflix over the last few weeks to escape my monstrous pile of reading. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return has provided some major comic relief. I particularly loved "The Beast of Hollow Mountain" and their reference to the infamous (and one of my all-time favorites) episode "The Touch of Satan". 

Image from netflix.com

I also loved Alias Grace. The show was suspenseful but not scary, critical but not pedantic, and beautifully filmed. I liked that there was not a clear answer to the major question haunting the series. I would highly recommend this show and I am eager to read the book. 

Last but not least, I may now have a minor obsession with The Crown. The filming, acting, and writing are all excellent. I finished Season 1 and just started Season 2. 

Eating and Drinking:
January was, rather randomly, the month we discovered soba noodles. We really love variations of this recipe and have made it at least once a week. 

Image from pinchofyum.com

For Christmas we purchased Ommegang's "Winter is Coming" gift pack. We drank "Fire and Blood" this month, a red ale brewed with ancho chiles. It was seriously delicious. I have a soft spot for "spicy" beers. 

To celebrate my comps, I opened a bottle of Concannon Vineyard's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon. It is not my favorite cab, but it is a strong contender. 

What did your January look like? I am looking forward to a quieter February and a more stable schedule. Have a great weekend!