I just passed my dissertation proposal defense with flying colors.  My chair informed me he was going to “ride my ass every week until it’s done” because I’m one of the first students of his to go for the doctorate.  (The other is a friend of mine working on the history of the bar.)  So it’s his reputation on the line, as much as mine.  However, the committee felt it was a great concept, and thesis, to go after, and that the work should be fun, as well as scholarly.

The only real complaint was I seem to be biting off more than I can chew.