:D

I got "Bad Property" back - the first properly assessed, counting-toward-my-degree essay of the year - with, seriously, the kindest comments I've received on a piece of work since...high school, probably. (As an undergraduate I counted "at least this essay has a conclusion" as a kind comment.) I'm happy not least because when I reread it after handing it in, it seemed incredibly dry and I couldn't see what my own argument was supposed to be. But apparently it is in fact "elegantly written, wide-ranging and scholarly". Also "hard-hitting and eloquent". And "the final paragraph about teacups and blasphemy is a masterstroke". (It turns out, though, that you're not supposed to end a paragraph with a parenthetical statement. The things you learn in grad school.)

Though gracious in defeat I am, as ever, extremely annoying in victory, and Sarah and I shouted and cheered and punched the air in the grad study room (she was also very pleased with her mark). Then I went to get some wine for Chettam's birthday party tonight and ended up with Chardonnay, which I don't particularly like, solely because it was the only one with a screw top. All class.

And finally, dialogue from last night, after I was socked right in the eye with a snowball:
"I just want to make sure you get to your room without passing out from concussion."
"Oh God, what if I am concussed? What if you've RUINED my head?"
"Well, what we can do is save your brain by removing it and putting into something else."
"Like a robot?"
"Well, anything you like. We could put it into a lizard of some kind."
"Can we put it into a great ground sloth?"
So at least I was able to go to bed secure that there was an emergency backup plan in place.