My friend Jess called me yesterday from her job a Verizon store. She wanted to tell me that my favorite professor, Dr. B, his new wife, and new baby just stopped by to buy new cell phones. She knows this prof from her days at my university, she introduced herself and dropped by name to him. They apparently had quite a discussion about me while deciding on cell phone plans. Jess disclosed that I am having a tough time in grad school. She said Dr. B praised me to no end and also said that my major prof is very picky about which students he allows to join his lab. He only chooses students that he really wants to work with, basically the brightest of the bright. Dr. B told Jess to make sure that I know that. It brightened my day to hear that.