So, it seems like for the last little while of my life, I've rocked the beard. Most of the time, when people ask me why, I tell them that I have it to protect me from the harsh winter elements. Like I really need an excuse. So, in my many browsings of the interweb, I stumbled across this site titled "10 Very Good Reasons Why You Should Grow a Giant Beard." Check it out here.
I rest my case.

On the poll. Indiana, Maryland, S.C. and Wayne State all offer the dual degree. USU and U of U both only offer the M.A. in History. I don't know if that changes your vote or not. And seriously, let me know which one you chose and why. Because I'm nosy like that. It may be election season, but this isn't a secret ballot.
And I don't care who you are voting for, the picture for this post should make you laugh.

So, lately I have seen a bunch of friends and family that I hadn't for a while. During the usual catching up, they all ask about how school is going, and then ask what it is I'm studying. When I tell them I'm a History major with a Philosophy minor, obviously they ask me about job prospects. Let's face it, it's not like during these economic times people are begging for historians and philosophers to come and save the world.
Believe it or not, lately the plan has been to punish myself even further by going on to Grad School. Originally I had toyed with the idea of going on to get my PhD in History and becoming a professor. At least until recently when I met with my adviser.
My adviser just happens to be a History professor. He told me that being a History might not be the smartest idea ever. Again, it's not like people are pining for the days when historians were more readily available. But, he gave me a suggestion, and the more I thought about it, the better it sounded. He had recently written a letter of recommendation for a past student who just started Grad School this fall. He is getting a joint Master's degree in History and Library Science. With that degree you could work in the archives of a library, or as a curator in a museum, or something else of that nature, which fits along well with my nerd-ness.
So, the more I looked into it, the more I liked it. I searched the internet and I could find four universities that offer the joint M.A. in History and Library Science. Indiana University, University of Maryland, University of South Carolina, and Wayne State University (in Detroit).
Now, graduation is about a year off, and all my applications for Grad School would be due shortly before that, but that's not the important thing. The important thing is the poll at the top of the page, because I want to know what you think. Where should Patrick go? I'm interested to see what you say. Poll closes at the end of the month. And leave a comment here, too.
Long and drawn out enough for you?