Is there a Doctor in the House?

Why yes, yes there is! On Friday Dale successfully defended his PhD. For Electrical Engineering, and for Dale in particular, this involved a preliminary exam, a qualifying exam, 4 and 1/2 years of PhD research, writing various papers, attending and presenting at various conferences, writing his dissertation, and finally defending his PhD in front of all his colleagues and committee members.

Dale during his defense

Dale's Brother Alan, Dale's Mom Linda, Dale, Me, and Dale's Dad Daryl after the defense

It just so happened that Friday was also graduation and after the defense his advisor suggest he walk in graduation so on a whim we went to graduation and Jorge hooded Dale.

Jorge hooding Dale

Dale and I after graduation

We of course did much celebrating after the graduation and after over a decade of being a college student Dale is very excited for the next chapter in his life. It was a long road but Dale did it! So proud of him! 

Love Always,
Matilda

Sambo

We are now playing a waiting game. Everything we can control is in order. We check the websites for news constantly, but there really isn't anything. (Why have a website to give updates when it doesn't do that??) We need the check number to see the status but we were only ever given the case number. We called the embassy and referenced our case number and they gave us our check number . . . or a check number anyway but not ours! Luckily Dale's soon-to-be-boss has been super helpful through this whole process and he called the embassy and got news for us. Dale's visa has been approved! They are processing mine now and we are told it wont be a problem that we aren't legally married but applying for visas together. In the land of socialism (as I have been referring to Sweden lately) they have a word for people who are committed to each other but aren't legally married and this term is "Sambo" which literally means a partner that you live together with under marital conditions without being formally married: “Sam” is an abbreviation of together and “bo” means live. Isn't it nice to have a term for this? Here in the States I can't even tell you how many people give me sideways looks for having a boyfriend for over 8 years now and the flotilla of questions that I inevitably get when they discover this fact. Why don't you just get married? When are you going to get married? What are you waiting for? And on and on it goes. I'm hoping that in Sweden people wont give me the sideways looks and the flotilla of questions. I'll keep you posted on how this turns out! Anyway, Dale's sambo visa was approved and now they are working on mine. The embassy said it would be one week more maximum and then we can FINALLY buy our plane tickets. Plane tickets to D.C. to get the visas and tickets to Stockholm for the big move and maybe even a plane ticket from D.C. to Boston for a quick visit. (I did a quick price out and one ways Denver - DC - Boston - Stockholm is actually the cheapest option, hooray) As a capricorn, not having a definate date for any of this is killing me. But the waiting is almost over . . .or so I think :)

Love Always,

Matilda

 

Movin' and Shakin'

I'll be packin' all weekend and that means I'll be jamming out to some quality music! I created a playlist so you all can move and shake with me :)



It's mostly what Dale has dubbed "Mattie Music" meaning slower beat, good vocals, and quality instrument playing skills. I throughly love each artist and if you've never heard of one of them you should check them out!
Leave a comment and let me know which song you like the best, which video you love the most, or maybe just how much you hate all my music selections (but hopefully you don't).
Love Always,
Matilda