Two words for you: impostor syndrome. I am amazed by the number of people I have fooled into believing I am competent, especially among my labmates. "Oh, don't worry, you know all that," concludes my closest collaborator while my mind freezes, trying to grapple pieces of information about "all that" among the pitiful danger signals sent by my panicked brain.

Also, I have the self-confidence of an abused whippet, as best illustrated by my sheer delight at each of the guests who confirms their presence to the goodbye and celebration/commiseration party I am planning for a few days after I defend. People I call friends want to come drink sparkling wine with me before I leave the continent! Hold the presses! I am still not getting over the fact that one of them is postponing a trip to Texas by a day to attend.

And mostly, I am too busy wondering what kind of tricky questions I will be asked on my defense to take the time to write anything more.