When I was a graduate student at the State University of Iowa studying writing, well, I had just been there forever. I was there so long, they said I was the only graduate student with tenure. But that tenure finally ran out. You know, they called me in and said, 'Look, Snodgrass, it isn't that we don't like having you here. But if you're going to stay this year, take the PhD exam'. Well, I knew that if they were going to act that way about it, I… I had to get out of there. I mean, in 10… in 10 years as a graduate student, I had learned one thing: I wasn't ready for that exam. And… and if anything, every… every year I was a little less ready because, well… well you know how other people make resolutions on January 1st? Graduate students do it on September 1st: they will learn PhD German; they will learn PhD French; they will read Beowulf; they will read The Battle of Malden. You know, and… and I would make a list like this and start out on it, and for a week or two, you know, I… I would be very busy doing these things. And then other things would come along, and I'd… I'd get busy with my family or… or I'd read things that you don't have time to read. I mean, instead of reading an authoritative book about Anthony and Cleopatra, I would read Anthony and Cleopatra. And you don't have time for that. You're going to be doing that the rest of your life. And so, you know, by… about 10 years, I was one of the best list makers they had there. But I wasn't ready for that examination.