This Day in History Part II (and a day late)

So as most of you know, I, Jen, do 99% of the posts on this blog. Last year as Mike was finishing up his dissertation, he told me how much he really wanted to blog about it himself. Well a job, a 3,000 mile move, and life just got in the way so on this year anniversary, I was given blogging rights. So without further ado, this day (yesterday) in history, June 23, 2008, Mike got his Doctorate of Philosophy in Economics from Washington State University.

Some presents I bought him.

I was fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to be able to go to his defense, for which I made delightful "healthy" cookies in order to try and bribe Mike's committee, which I think I might have had some success. Before things got started, Mike's committee made up of Robbie Rosenman, John Yoder, and Trent Smith, informed me that the wives don't generally like the committee when things are through. There is a lot of truth to that statement. They were harsh! But I totally understand that's how it was supposed to be haha. Mike did a great job! This is him after the walk home. He wanted a pic with the clock tower.
We went out to celebrate at La Casa Lopez.

This is Mike in his lovely office. He had the biggest desk in the entire department and used every inch of it (click on the picture to make it larger for proof).

This is Mike with his good friends, husband and wife, Junfei and Caiping. Caiping was Mike's office mate for all four years. She and Mike got along great. They are both working now back in China. We miss them.

This is Mike and his chair Trent. Trent is your typical econ "nerd." I use quotes because he really is a rad guy, just really into economics, and you really can't be that cool if econ is your hobby. Mike wanted to find someone else to take the pic but Trent said "No way. Let's do a party pic." So thus, a party pic of Trent and Mike.

One paper that Mike and Trent wrote together "Why the Poor Get Fat: Weight Gain and Economic Insecurity" is currently being published in the journal "Forum for Health Economics and Policy." Also, one of Mike's dissertation papers "Tobacco Use as Response to Economic Insecurity: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth" is in the revise and resubmit stage for "The BE Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy." Besides these papers, only two more disseration papers to publish! Go Mike and Trent!

Well it seems there is no room left for sap on this blog so all I'm going to say is "You did it Mike!" AND I love you :)