Cooking the Books?

Had to share this, from an email from Mr Mitchell, which made me laugh so hard it sent a smoke ring through my nose:

I take it that your thesis isn't progressing at a rate you would like. Summer is indeed a treacherous thing. That said, I am very curious about the state (and contents) of your dissertation to date. I'm afraid that our several conversations about it, over the past couple of years, have wetted my appitite so, that I would regard its still-birth as a great dissappointment; like ordering a veal-cut from a renowned chef and recieving placenta.

If that doesn't encourage me to come up with something, however miraculously, I don't know what will. ;-)