I just spent a week working in the collections at the Smithsonian, and I'm back just in time for Fay to hit. If only she'd waited another couple days... 'Til the first day of classes. The Smithsonian was a ton of fun and the collections were incredible.

I'll be MIA for while as I move forward on research and get set for the semester. Boo, classes. Nobody likes you.

As such, I leave you with a recent text message conversation with my father:

Me: I got Mom's birthday present at the Smithsonian and the guy working the register had a Ph.D.
Dad: Please tell me it's not in Environmental Science.
Me: No, millipedes.
Dad: Not much call for sick millipedes, huh?
Me: Hey, at least I know I'll be qualified to do something!
Dad: You can always get a job with a paper hat.
Me: Gourmet chefs wear paper hats, too.
Dad: You're right, I met one the other day... at Wendy's.
Me: What if I get a job as a professor and coincidentally happen to like paper hats?
Dad: Might as well go all the way and get a paper route.
Me: Sounds like a good way to get exercise.
Dad: What goes click click 99 times and then goes thunk? A centipede with a wooden leg.
Me: Thanks, Dad.