Lingering last words

While reading a magazine I was delighted to find these lingering last words. Now these are just a few samples of a body of written work that could be developed into a story, a book, a novel.

1. It is said that while French writer Voltaire was on his deathbed, the attending priest wanted him to renounce Satan.  Voltaire's classic response was, "Now is not the time to make new enemies"

2. Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen was told by nurse that his health was improving.  Again another classic reply, "On the contrary."  He died the next day.

3. Henry David Thoreau was asked by his aunt to make peace with God as he was slowly dying from a deadly combination of tuberculosis and bronchitis.  His classic reply, "I didn't know we had quarrelled."

It's nearly Christmas!

Less than a week before Christmas!  Here in NZ, after this Friday it's going to be a long break for most people.  It would be interesting to find out, how do PhD students (all over the world) celebrate Christmas day/season/break?

For us who are in the Southern Hemisphere, we have Hot, not just warm, sunny days, around this time.  Many will be heading to the beach and some will be doing their annual winery tours.  Others head to the South island and bask in the cool weather of the Southern Alps.

As for moi, I will be in front of my Mac hammering, pounding and extracting everything I can from my brain to come up with a decent Chapter 4 of my Master's thesis!  I even have a Skype session with my adviser on December 24!  But no worries, I like it that way!

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention, I also have to work for a living while finishing at least 20,000 more words for the novel I'm working on.  Now that's my Christmas break, what's yours?