Random Bright Spot

So as I scramble to finish my thesis, I'm trying to get a few more interviews in to expand my data set.  Yesterday I called the local chapter of a major disaster relief organization and "plead my case" to the administrative assistant that answered the phone.  She was very kind but said she just wasn't sure who could answer my questions...could she put me on hold?  (Of course!  I'd be HAPPY to hold!)  About 2 minutes of piped jazz music later she came back on the line and said in a shocked voice that the CEO just happened to be visiting their office that day and had said he'd be happy to help out the grad student on the phone!  So he granted me an interview which was very cool if not entirely informative (as CEO he's more on the business side of things than in the actual trenches of a disaster, but nonetheless, he was amazingly accommodating and did give me some excellent information as well as some other contacts of people that might be able to give more insight into some of the more specific parts of my questions.)  Anyway.  It was just very encouraging to find someone in a high position who was still excited about helping out a student, and of course to have more information for my thesis.

Still biting my nails until we get results from COMPS.  Hoping that will be soon.