I apologise for putting this here instead of the Clubhouse, and hope the Cap'n will forgive me; there's someone who can't go there, who I'd like to see this.
I'm kind of stunned and crying.
Just got an email from my advisor. We're trying to herd cats right now and get all 5 members of my committee and myself into a room at the same time for 2 hours for my proposal defense. For the non-Americans, we have to defend our proposal, then write the dissertation, then defend the dissertation.
But anyway, this is what he says:
Had another look at final draft of your proposal text--very very very impressive (it's your topic, your voice, I just tried to help it come out with my suggested revisions)--you have nothing to worry about, no matter what the date or the committee composition. I think there will be a competition to be on your committee! Room besides phil sem rm is ok and pro forma. Start with dates/times--like you said, we can find a room anywhere on campus. Don't wait for proposal defense to continue writing! And again, don't think you're writing just a diss., but also a publishable book manuscript you can send off virtually as is when done.