The Afterglow

I had a truly amazing day. It's actually kind of mind-blowing the kinds of things that went down.

Powder blue cardigan - LOFT / Navy blue tank - TJ Maxx / Grey wide leg pants - New York & Co.

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I alluded to the importance of the day, leaving many of you held in suspense. My day was so busy, too, that I just haven't been able to communicate with anyone until now. So I thought I'd kill a few birds with one stone and just blog about it. =)

Basically, I met probably the most important scholar in my field (Russian music) today. Not only was he a much more congenial individual than I ever thought possible (he comes with a inimitable reputation), but we had really thoughtful conversation about the field and scholarship in general. I felt comfortable and valued all at the same time, even though for the entire 24 hours previous I was stressing about whether I could even pretend that I knew what I was talking about anymore. (Admittedly, I went back and reread my dissertation proposal! I have been out of the game for about a year and half now.... ) And then? The conversation ended with him offering to be an outside reader for my dissertation... You'll just have to trust me when I say: this.is.a.big.deal. It was decisive moment for me; it resurfaced my latent desire to actaully write my dissertation; it assured me that I could write the dissertation; it even suggested that it could be a great dissertation. In short, it validated all the things that I've doubted for the better part of my graduate career. And for a great many reasons, I needed a little validation right now. The fact that the validation come from an eminent scholar in my field only intensified the magnitude of the thing.

I've told myself that this would be the year in which I decide if I'm going to move forward with musicology or arts administration. However, I must admit that I still cannot choose one over the other. I love my current job and I love the opportunities it presents; but musicology is something I've been doing for so long that I can't imagine not finishing. I don't know if I want to pursue academia for my career, but I am missing out on a great opportunity if I don't write this thing; if I don't take advantage of the professional relationships offered to me today. And that's saying something.

Handbag - Tano "Minilisa" in Blue Marine

And one more thing: I'm down 7 pounds through Weight Watchers... a big day on all counts...

Floral ring - TJ Maxx / Earrings - The Limited

I close with just a few words about the outfit: I did choose it carefully. I wanted to be well-dressed but feminine, confident but approachable. I originally thought I'd rock a pencil skirt, but I opted for pants for their ease and comfort instead. I also kept accessories minimal, going without a belt (something I would usually do) or a necklace. I love the monochromatic blues, calming and great for my skin tone, right down to my fabulous shoes and pedicure.

Blue suede t-strap peep toes - Nine West (via Amazon) / Mani & Pedi - O.P.I. "Russian Navy" (appropriate, no?)

As I close on a post that has reflected on such a big day, retrospection affirms that dressing well, that feeling good about how you look and present yourself, can go a long way to help you manage otherwise stressful moments.

...among other things. =)

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