Professor Nate

As many of you know, today was a big day for us. After 5 years of hard work, Nate had just one more thing to do to earn his PhD, and that was to defend his thesis. Nate spent the morning doing final preparations and I spent the morning finding him a decent shirt to wear (no comment on why). Then, at 3 o'clock, everybody convened at Brandeis for Nate to defend. Nate gave his talk (which I have no pictures of because I didn't want to be that person, plus my cell phone went off so I figured I was distracting enough....oops), and then his panel of judges kicked everybody out and talked for awhile. Then they came out as well and... drum roll please.... Nate passed! YAY!

Now it was time to celebrate. There was a small reception at Brandeis with Nate's panel and colleagues and then we headed over to Porter square in Cambridge to meet some friends for dinner at one of Nate's favorite restaurants called Christopher's.

Doesn't he look happy?

Group shot

 There was a special dessert on the menu tonight and it was like they knew Nate was coming. The special dessert was a double chocolate stout float. Yes, somebody decided to combine two of Nate's favorite things, beer and ice cream, and he loved it. I personally prefer the root beer version, but whatever floats your boat...or your ice cream as the case may be.

Nate pouring the beer on the ice cream

Nate eating the ice cream

And Nate drinking the beer. Can you tell he is smiling as
he drinks it?

All in all this was a great day. As I finish this up, I realize it is after midnight so officially yesterday was a great day but this just means that today we can do even greater things! In a few hours we will be packing up the car again and saying goodbye to Boston, for now, and hello to NY and PA.