Well, after the weeks of studying blurred sufficiently together, I took my preliminary exam. Yesterday as of 4 p.m., I became a PhD candidate.
WHAT A RELIEF. I was never really worried that I wouldn't pass, I felt prepared, but it was still just this weight for so long. So now I can get back to lab work and planning for my fieldwork this summer! And editing my paper, I hope to submit it by the end of March to really tie up loose ends (until edits for the journal, of course).
But today will be spent making and eating lemon poppyseed muffins, watching Friends, and snuggling with my cats. Relaxing.