Submitted!

I submitted my thesis Monday morning. !!!!  It's been 3 days, and the realisation is just slowly sinking in. I'm enjoying being off and not worrying about the thesis - a very unfamiliar feeling. There is a growing worry about the defense of course, which I probably should start doing something about fairly soon (prep talk, study my large document in which I've collected potential defines questions).

But YEY!!! A strong worry about what to do about the future turned into calm yesterday as well. If the thought of following the path you're supposed to follow after a phd scares me half to death, and the thought of doing things that I would want to do fills me with calm and happy/excited anticipation of the future, there's got to be some kind of hint there telling you which would be the better way to go, right?

Since I moved to Toronto in the beginning of August, I've been working like crazy on the thesis, except for a week when my brother was visiting, and I got some sightseeing in then. On Tuesday, the day after my submission, I went downtown as a reward to myself, visited the Eaton centre, and walked around in the city, while David was doing simulator training (I got to see the simulators - very cool machines!!). Toronto is really great. A downtown where you can walk, enjoy, see the shadow side of nice "old" buildings being lit up by the reflection of the beautiful sunset in the neighbouring high glass buildings, follow the stream of people going home from work to the union station, take the GO train home in just 20 minutes. I love the GO train. It's rather Dutch except for the diesel engine, which is massive and crazy loud (but rather cool). I saw the most beautiful sunset from its second floor as I went home. The sun sets really quickly this far south! Just a matter of seconds! 

Today is remembrance day, and my mother's birthday, and I don't think I've ever experienced such a beautiful 11th of November before. David was off and we took a bike ride up along the little river, through the forest, discovered a new path, and then back again. The last trees are getting coloured leaves now (they seem to take turns here - starting in September - I don't know if it's the norm, but the autumn really was amazing).  The sun still burns my face. In November!!! 

We also changed our number plates on the car today. Funny how such a seemingly insignificant thing makes such a difference in the feeling of where you belong. We need a new Holland sticker though, the old one is fading. The Sweden sticker is fine :) 

Having fun with my wonderful camera. This is one of my favourites!

David's parents visited for a week - during some of the best autumn colours

The birds are preparing to go south

I'm so relieved!!!