On nature vs. nurture

So today I went with my mom and my sister to Babies 'R' Us and Pottery Barn Kids to buy and exchange a few things for my sister.  As I walked around the stores, I noticed a lot of things were divided into themes:  jungle animals, cars, teddy bears, sports, etc.  It got me thinking about how when we're little, a lot of our "likes" are chosen by people around us.  I can't help but wonder if babies would decorate their rooms differently if they had the ability to choose.

Do you think we like or dislike certain things simply because they're what our parents like or dislike?  In my family we're not really cat people, mostly because my parents were never really cat people - none of us kids grew up longing for a cat or anything.  On the other hand, my sister and I h a t e Kenny G because one summer my mother l o v e d him, and played his tapes endlessly during long car trips.  I think we came to hate him because we associated his music with being bored and motion-sick.

Anyone else have any examples?

Aaaaand that's a wrap

So yesterday, at about 8 pm, I submitted my doctoral thesis to the print shop in Oxford.

This morning, I called in my credit card information to pay for the copies.

It will be delivered to the Examination Schools tomorrow.

Now, all we can do is wait.

And now, the end is near.....

Cervantes Blvd., San Francisco, CA, originally uploaded by Kait W..

The time has come. Two weeks from now, I'll be submitting my thesis.

I'm excited and terrified at the same time. I don't know what to expect.

I can't believe it's actually happening.